The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-01
IN THE FIELD
- OF FLABOR

Meetings Sunday:
PAYERS and Founders. Labor Temple.
Brewers. Labor Temple.
Truck Drivers. Labor Temple
Material Drivers. Labor Temple.
Coal Teamsters Labor Temple
Cab Drivers. Labor Temple.
TRADE UNIONS FOR WOMEN.
The women workers OF the world are be-
ginning to sit up an think They are be-
ginning to ask themselves why they
should not receive the same wages as
men. where they are often called in TO
do the work which men have been do
ing and. in many cases, they do the work
better. OF course, this does not apply TO
all trades.
For instance, a man holds a Job and
finds the wage paid him not a living
wage; he has Joined a union: the demand
is made for better wages, for shorter
hours, for fairer conditions. IL the de-
mand is refused a strike ensues and the
place OF the strikers is filled by young
women. many OF whom have been brought
to the city by advertisements for work
found in their country papers. What hap
pens? The girls work at the lower wage;
other employers feel the added struggle
of the competition OF cheaper labor. an
other strike ensues, another group OF wo-
men are brought in and another group
OF men thrown out OF employment
The position taken by these girls has
made the work OF the union for a living
wage a thousand times more difsicult-but
that is not all. IT often happens that the
man whose job has been lost TO him by
the girl. meets her at a dance, they get
TO know each other-they learn TO love
each other. they marry and start their
home. Will any one deny that the wife
and the mother must bear the heaviest
burden OF the lesser wage? And yet she
herself has competed against her own
home
The Women's Trade Union League was
organized In 1903 at the meeting OF the
American Federation of Labor in Boston
and three state leagues were Immediately
formed. one In Massachusetts,, one in
New York and one in Illinois. The work
of the league is to help women organize
into trade unions TO be affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor and to
make public the degrading conditions un-
der which thousands OF women work
The girl who holds herself aloof from
the trade union movement because her
own skill can command n decent wage
is every bit as responsible for the mis-
erable lives OF women and children in
lege who refuses to recognize her kinship
with the workers OF the world.
CARPENTERS DISTRICT COUNCIL.
The Delegates to the Carpenters District
council met last evening i'm their rooms,
Labor Temple. There was a good attend
ance and business of Importance was
transacted. 1t was voted to call all the
carpenters working for the Narragansett
Brewing company out, the company hav-
ing refused TO give the men the Saturday
half-holiday. Reports from delegates hav-
ing the Saturday half-holiday movement
in hand were received.
Two delegates to attend the New
England convention OF carpenters were
then elected. William b. Mckenzie
and John B. Mcdonald were the fortu-
nate ones. The meeting then ad-
journed
100 MEN LAID OFF AT VANITY
FAIR.
Owing to lack OF funds and the de-
sire TO curtail expenses, the pro-
moters of Vanity Fair laid off in the
vicinity OF 100 men last night. These
were mostly carpenters who had been
hard at work upon the buildings which
are as yet unfinished. Last night about
Is feet OF the bottom of the Lagoon
dropped and let the water out.
PLUMBERS MAY GO OUT MONDAY.
A well attended meeting of Local rs
of the Plumbers union was held last
evening in the big hall. Labor Temple.
The report OF the business agent on
organization work was received and
showed considerable good work done.
The matter OF the agreement with the
master plumbers Of this city was the
next matter TO receive attention. IL
was decided TO wait a few days TO give
some OF the master plumbers time to
sign. The new agreement calls for
81 per day. an increase OF so cents.
There are about 10 union plumbers
in the city and they are all at work.
and a great deal OF work would be
tied up should the union decide TO call
out the men. The plumbers employed
at Vanity Fair are receiving Boston
wages OF 81 a day as they are work
ing for a Boston contractor. The
master plumbers OF Providence are
rather opposed TO paying the increased
rate and may fight the issue.
MACHINIsTS' DAY.
Today is Machinists' day at the new
summer resort. Vanity Fair. and since
early morning the machinists. their
wives and families with their picnic