Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-29

most capable and dignifed delegate.
He Is a candidate for delegate to the st.
Machinists and his chances for reelection
are excellent, having an army of stanch
admirers in the navy yard.
Work will be suspended on June 1 IN
every mine In the Pittsburg district, in
which the Pate steam dump is still In use,
unless the dumps are removed. Orders have
been sent out to this effect from the dis
trict executive board to all the locals COM
posed of miners working In the mines
where the dump is operated.
The circular states that the commits
sion appointed to investigate and effect
a settlement Of the dump question has
reached final agreement and the operators
of the several companies have been notified
to discontinue their use, and that having
refused to comply with the request, and
realizing that the use Of the dump is a re-
duction In the wages Of miners where 1t Is
used and under instructions from the execu-
tive board of district No. 5, the members
of the organization employed at the mines
where the dump is used will suspend work
on June /, until the company by which
they are employed discontinues the use Of
the dump or until they receive further in
struction from the district officers.
Writing on The Labor Movement and
the Press" William Upton Talbot says:
"A striking Illustration of the progress
which has been made by unionism in this
country Is the tone of the press in deal
Ing with labor troubles. While what is
said In criticism of the labor movement
may sometimes sound unfair and I'M
necessarily harsh. yet we think there is
an evident recognition Of the trades union
as an important and useful feature OF
modern business life. While formerly the
labor editorial very frequently had a per-
Iunctory sound, where it did not talk
down to the toiler from a height of su-
perior wisdom, there now seems to be a
disposition to meet the unionist on his
own ground and to recognize the diff
he natl Of j.\,-
tious labor leaders.
This changed attitude of the press en-
courages the hope that the labor problem
may prove easier of solution in the prog
ress of modern civilization than may
seem possible to some pessimistic as we'll
as materialistic souls. 1t should be re-
membered that, as we measure the prog
ress of human events, the trades union
In this country is young. For a decade
its development has been rapid, with a
constant tendency in the direction Of i'm
proved methods. But it may be truthfully
said that it is still in it's early formative
period.
The dismal idea that periodical labor
outbreaks cannot be avoided is not
generally entertained it was few
years ago. There are many in the ranks
OF un1onfsm who are already anticipating
a time when by means of saner methods
and more temperate attitude on the
part of both labor and capital, strikes,
lOckouts and boycotts will be virtually un-
known. And for this reason the labor
leaders of the present day dread any
thing in the nature of physical violence
in connection with labor difficulties. They
seek by every means at their command
to encourage good feeling between en-
ployer and employee. 1t is a pleasing
augury that there is some disposition
on the part of the press of the country
to give fair consideration to this fact"
In the course of an address on THE
Labor Problem Prof. Jacob N Hollan der
of Johns Hawkins I-niyarSty coi
Trades unionSm is natural and proper
institution in modern industry. But let
1t be clearly and explicitly understood that
it is trades unionsm and not necessarily
trades unionists that thus indicated.
Trades unionism is. in short. what trades
union1sm does. AS an economic institution
it is to be appraised by it's possibilities and
its tendencies, not by it's occasional mani
festations. Trades unionism may be wise
and sound, and yet trades unionists may do
wrong or foolish things. The same is
true of religion and of democracy. In every
case we cherish the system and blame those
who violate its principles.
Now and then, flushed with success or
drunk with power, industrial liberty degen-
crates into industrial license, and the trades
union becomes In the hands of corrupt or
self-seeking leaders an instrument Of brutal
coercion that carries with it the seed of
Its own speedy destruction. More often
foolish rather than vicious tendencies pre-
vail. In short, as long as the trades union
attempts to do those things for which alone
it exists-the protection education and i'm
provement of Industrial classes-and to do
them by methods in consonance with social
order and economic reason. it should be
appreciated and supported a wise and
beneficent institution even though its actua:
achievement falls far short of its program
and be even marred by unfortunate and
unwise Incidents"
Data regarding the labor of con,.cts In
the penitentiaries and other penal institu-
h.t- haa 1n1
follows:
Convict labor produces goods TO the value
of S35 100000 annually.
More convict made goods are produced in
Missouri than in any other state.
Blacksnake whips, whip lashes and rid
ing quirts are practically all prison made.
About one-half of the prison-made wares
are produced under the Contract System'
The value of the food consumed annually
by a convict is, on the average $01.37.
The average cost of guarding and attend
ance for convict for year is 5000.
One prison contractor owns and controls
the clothing output Of eight prisons in six
states.
The average annual product of convicts
exploited under the prison contract sys-
TEN is 1854.
To produce with outside labor a years
output of prisons would require $14 1928, 429
in wages
Penal and reformatory institutions have
invested $4,JOO,0CO in machinery used by
convicts.
Ninety per cent Of the trees frames
for riding saddles made in the United
States are prison products.
In Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and
Virginia convicts worked as to be
source of profit to the state.
1t is estimated that in productive eff
f1ciency three outside laborers are equal to
five convict laborers. on an average.
Practically all the wood-bound cooperage
used by Chicago meat packers is supplied
by prison contractors and made by prison
labor.
Eight hundred union BARRIERS in Chicago
have been granted the following new sched-
ule of wages and working conditions by
their employers:
Eleven and one-half hours constitute a
days work, but must be done in thirteen
consecutive hours, except Saturdays, and
then thirteen and one-half hours constitute
a days work, but it must be done in If
teen consecutive hours. On Sundays and
holidays five hours shall constitute days
work. No journeyman shall be expected
or compelled to work on Labor day.
1.-THE minimum wages shall not be less
than $13 week, and 90 per cent Of all re-
ceipts for his work over 500
"a day or part of a day, with the excep-,
ton Of Saturday or Sunday. shall not be
ant nf oil