Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-25


the membership of the union was 105 1888.
The union pays sick, death and superannu-
alton benefits. The organization has just
presented a demand for an increase in
wages of two shillings a week, and an
nounces that 1t may ask for an additional
increase at the end of another six months
twenty-five thousand children between
fourteen and sixteen years of age In the
state of Massachusetts are not at school,
was the statement in the caption of the
charts made from the report of the COM
mission for tie industrial exhibit in Bos-
ton.
British unionists strike at the root of
evils that assail them. Realizing that
injustice under the law can only be re-
moved by changing the law. they get
into the law-making bodies and change
them. This ought to be an object lesson
to us Americans. We, petition for laws;
our British brethren enact laws.
A writer on labor topics says that the
man who does most for labor is he who
is thrifty and sober and provides for his
family; he who has the good sense to
know that the success of the union de-
ponds upon getting others to join it;
he whose sense of honor will not permit
him to take advantage of a fellow work.
er; he who is opposed to disorder at meet
ings and shows due respect for the pre-
siding officer, assisting him in all efforts
to conduct things decently and in order:
he who loves peace, preferring not to
fight the employer. yet is sensitive to
unjust treatment. and is not a coward;
he who, when he goes on strike stays
out until the wrong is righted: he whose
card Is always clear; he who is not a
knocker, but by force Of logic opposes
all foolish motions and insists upon the
passage of all good ones: he who is men,
tally broad enough to perceive that there
are other honest ones besides himself
The Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners has gained 141 new unions, and
books in good standing than was the
case one year ago. The total member
ship in good standing on the books at
the international Office is 100. 1913, which
means that the brotherhood has actually
more than 80 600 members
Under the new law which has lust
gone into effect in Massachusetts it is
unlawful for any person or corporation
to require an employe to work Sun
day unless the employee is allowed twenty
four consecutive hours without labor dur
ing the six days ensuing.
Bishop Edwin S. Lines of the Episcopal
diocese of Newark said in tie course of a
speech made before the diocesan conven-
ton in that city
Il know that many things have been
done and said in the name of organized
nor worse than have been said or done
on the other side. Let not men COM
plain of what wage earners have done
through organization to improve their
condition while complaining not of the
corruption of legislatures and municipali-
ties by greedy corporations. regardless
of the common good. 1t will never do
TOR the church to be In sympathy with
those who are in the privileged places
in life and out of sympathy with the
"a n y11er1 md Tho
are doing the worlds hard work"
Some progress has been made in the
organization of women wage earners. but
1t has not been of such character as
to be gratifying or satisfactory" said
President GomDers at the jamestown
convention Our organizers have made
many efforts and have accomplished fair
results. The representatives of labor
including myself, have done what lies
within our power, uut much more re-
mains to be done. The Woman's Trade
Union League has been active, with a
med arate degree of success.
The Woman's International Union
Label League has performed exceedingly
effective work in the dissemination of
Information upon the subject of union
labels. 1t has aided greatly in creating
larger demand for union-labeled prod
ucts.
There is none of our fellow workers
who is entitled to gre alter consideration
I at our hands than the woman and girl
wage earners. Our fellow un:onists the
continent over should regard it as their
duty and of paramount Importance to
help to the fullest in the better and
more thorough organization of these de-
serving toilers along true trades union
lines.
The retail clerks formerly would start
| an early-closing association, and whenever
a temporary success was obtained they
dasbanded their organizations. Condi-
tons and hours OF labor would then re-
morning until late at night so long as
there was the hope or the prospect of
some patron entering a store. Since
The formation of the bona fide retail
clerks unions and particularly since the
formation Of the Retail Clerks Protective
association, they have not only reduced
The hours of labor. during the week. but
have obtained earlier closing on Saturdays
and in many Instances half holidays dur
ing Saturdays Of the summer months
But apart from this, realizing the
mlserably low wages paid to some clerks.
he last convention of that organization
look positive action to establish some
sort of a life line living wage, and
declared for a minimum wage scale of at
least 80 per week. When such low
minimum is sought 10 he established il
can readily be appreciated how necessary
was the action OF that convention and
how earnestly We should all strive to
render every assistance WITHIN our power
10 its achievement