The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-07-04
HOW LABOR IS FARlne.
First -Four Msnths Of This Year ths
6uslsst en- Record.

6uslsst en- Record.
For one desiring to know something
OF the union labor situation through.
out the country-to get at glance an
Idea OF how labor Is faring during the
hrst third OF the year-there is nothing
better than the regular monthly state
ment which Ia prepared under the
auspices of the American Federation
OF Labor. showing the percentage of
union labor unemployed for each
month. with comparison with the
same month for the preceding year,
writes Samuel Gompers.
The year 1907 has SO far the best
record that has been made. January
opened up with fraction over 2 Der
cent unemployed. as compared with 7
per cent unemployed during the month
OF January. 1905. February and March
Of last year saw rapid improvement
over January. the proportion of unem-
ployed dropping rapidly In sixty days
until 1t was less than per cent. But
this year the improvement has been
even more notable. For February the
unemployed were but $40 per cent.
which in April dropped to 1 2-1O per
cent which Is the lowest April percent
age OF unemployed In our tabular rec
ord.
In noting this favorable start In 1907
1t Is interesting to note also that the
year Of 1900 was. on the whole, an i'm
pro'ement over 1905. That year start
ed with Z per cent unemployed as
against Q per cent in January Of 1905.
but the percentage quickly dropped be-
low the percentage OF the year before
and remained below It during practic-
ally NIL the twelve months. May was
the busiest month. our tables showing
that less than I per cent OF the union
labor was that month without employ
ment During May Of 1905 the per.
centage was between and 2.
In midsummer, In August, 1905, tho
percentage OF unemployed rose to Der
cent: in 1905 the proportion kept below
z per cent until September, when It
rose little above per cent. In the
TALL again, the last OF October, In both
years. the proportion of unemployed
dropped to less than 1 per cent. In
December. 1905, there was a lst-up
sgain to per cent. but the new year
saw. as we have seen, all but 2 Der
cent ut work, and this percentage has
been lessening up to date.
These percentages tell double story.
They reflect the conditions of the Ia
Dor market rs to strike disturbances
and to industrial disturbances. ANY
widespread strike throws number of
people out of employment and fluids
expression In these figures. 80 any
letting up Of good times, any slowing
down Of tho wheels of industry. In
creases the number OF the unemployed
and affects these percentages.
The percentages are the result of re-
ports made to me as the editor Of the
American FederationaIist. They arc
passed on returns from some $50 local
unions. The trades arc diversified and
are sufficiently typical so that the fig
ures unquestionabiy represent the gen.
eral conditions as they prevail.
Cooperation Success In aree. sT...L
The report Of the Cooperative So
cfety of Great Britain indicates n sue
cess which Is really astonishing The
wholesale society is one of the largest
commercial concerns In the world. The
sales for 1906 amounted to over $11O.-
100000. IN increase Of about SO,OOO.-
600 over 1905. The net profits for 1000
amounted to $1.1OO.OOo. the dividend
per cent, with 6hflNngS on tho
pound to nonmembers.
The Royal Arsenal Cooperative So
ciety Is also in a most Hourishing con-
dition. 1t was organized in 1900 with
forty-seven members and 1926 capital.
In 1906 there were 2S.s26 members.
with capital Of $1.o5O.OOo. The sales
for 1906 amounted to 100000 and
the dividends to $4,000. Besides the
dividends. the earnings included pay
ments for interest, reserve. insurance,
educational and mortgage funds, to-
Eether with payments of employers
share Of profits and dividends to nom
members.
The man who invented the
fountain pen doubtless gained
early wealth and lost his own soul.