The San Francisco call., 1907-03-31
EDITED BY o. NJ. BOYLE

Tomorrow is the Day scheduled for
the members Of Steam Laundry Work
ers' Union to go on strike IL the new
scale OF wages IS not granted. The
Independent Laundry has signiheo
willingness to settle the controversy by
arbitration, but the communication was
somewhat vague and the union Is not
inclined TO take UP that phase OF the
question at present. The girls en-
ployeo claim that they are poorly paid
and are willing 10 leave II TO the public
who pay the present high price Tor
washing as to whether they should not
receive more than $3.50 q week The
work is arduous and is carried on IN
many cases IN unssnitary places The
union has prepared the following state
ment 70 the publics
The steam laundry workers wish 20 make en-
phatic denial ot certain statements, or rather
misstatements made % the press by the laundry
owners. 1t Is evident that the laundry owners
wish 70 misIead the public. rather than 70 en-
ighten them regsre2s me ~ T. nr rne vor
The statement that they have alreaoy
Granted voluntary increase is tue, put y wa.
each other for the help. The statement that tne
new agreement OF the laundry workers is 90
per cent increase the existing wage IA an
absolute and Intentional eouivocation-
The fact OF their ob3ecting 70 the visit OF The
business agent OF the laundry workers is an ut
ter absurdity, a this condition has been incor-
pors ted IN every agreement the laundry workers
have ever presented and has hitherto never
Their contention thsf IN order to meet the de-
mends OF the laundry workers they would be
n ths price Of isundry work is as fsnsciOus as
their other statements and Is made solely to
mislead the public and 10 throw the balance OF
their strueSis for conditions that bear the stamp
The girls OF the laundry craft always have
hear nd sri 20 nR az I
and their demand for wages that would enable
them to exist properly should receive the hearty
that they are required to DO fs hard and is per
formed under unhealthy conditions, and the
minimum wage OF $3.50 per week is a small
GUY F. rHURBER.
President Steam Laundry workers Union No. 2s.
A conference with Railroad Brother
hood Representatives. at which a decia-
Legislation limiting to the United States
Supreme Court the power 20 declare
acts OF Congress unconstitutional, and
the consideration OF q number of i'm
portant cases submitted by subordinate
bodies marked the third days session
OF the executive council OF the Am
erican Federation OF Labor in Wash
fIEton. ID. Q. A number Of topics were
discussed at the conference. among
them being the following; The deci-
sion Of Federal Judge Evans OF Ken
tucl1y snnulling the law forbidding the
discrimination against or discharge OF
employees Of interstate common carriers
because Of their membership in labor
ORGANIZATIONS; the decision declaring
the employers liability law unconsti-
tutional, the law recently passed by
Congress limiting the hours OF railroad
men TO sixteen hours per day; the in
junction processes issued by Federal
courts in labor disputes and the rela-
tion Of international trades unions sf-
fiiated with the American Federation
Of Labor and the railroad brotherhood.
A resolution was adopted declaring It
10 be the sense Of those present and
those whom they represented that q bin
should be introduced into next Con-
Eress and pressed TO a conclusion pro-
viding that the Federal courts inferior
70 the Supreme Court OF the United
States should be deprived OF the power
TO declare unconstitutional any act
passed by Congress.
The Journeymen Stonecutters OF
America made application for charter.
and the document will be issued as soon
as the representatives OF the Stone
cutters and OF the International Marble
Cutters Union enter into an agreement
regarding Jurisdiction. The marble
workers objected to the granting Of the
charter pending such agreement
The council on appeal refused to re-
verse its former action in revoking the
charter OF the Columbus (Ohio) Trades
and Labor Assembly for refusing 20
abide by the Minneapolis convention
OF the federation, and the council con-
hrrned the charter issued to the Co
lumbue Federation Of Labor. Presi-
dent Gompers was directed to advise
the af51liated international unions
whose local organizations in Colum-
bus are unattached TO the Columbus
Federation TO instruct their organiza-
tione to Join the Columbus Federation
Oficers OF the Brewery Workers and
other organizations spoke In behalf
OF the Columbus Trades and Labor As
sembly.
Argument was made for a charter
for the dock laborers OF Chicago. Ar
guments also were made before the
council in the 5urisdictional disputes
between the Double Drum Holsters OF
New York and the international Union
OF Steam Engineers and between the
Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers' Union
and the Bridge and Structural Iron
workers international Association
The woocsnen and sawmfu workers
in Boulder Creek, IN the Santa Cruz
Mountains, have organized local un-
ion OF the International Brotherhood Of
Woodsmen and Sawmin Workers. The
following officers have been elected and
VIII soon be installed by the business
agent OF the Santa Cruz Building
Trades Council: President, f. r. Ray;
vice president, Frank Smith; secretary,
Harry Prince; treasurer, Chris Barney.
One OF the objects OF the union viii be
to get shorter working hours for the
members and to provide fund for
those who may be injured. II aims
TO erect later on q hospital under
union auspices. Friendly relations
with the employers viii also be one
Of the aims Of the new organization
r. w. Cotterill has been chosen pres
ident OF the Washington State Fedora
ton OF Labor. The other officers are:
FIRST vice president, J. z. Campbell;
second vice president, Thomas Ivey;
third vice president. p. V. Copeland;
fourth vice president, W. c. Lloyd;
NTH vice president, NJ. X. Cutting; sec
retary-treasurer, p. w. Dowler.
The San Jose Laundry Workers
Union is hampered greatly by the
many JaDanese and Chinese laundries