The San Francisco call., 1907-03-24

members of unions affiliated with the
Labor Council are requested to ask for
the janitors' button whenever oc-
casion offers.
II is announced that the Order of
Railway Conductors and the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen have COM
pleted a vote for a strike If certain
demands are not complied with. The
result of the vote has been forwarded
to Chicago, as far as il relates to con-
duetors. The joint ultimatum demands
an increase in the road schedule of
IL per cent and a nine-hour day for
members Of the organization work
ing on railways west OF a line drawn
between Chicago and New Orleans.
The family reunion and annual out
ing OF Longshore Lumbermen's Union
will be held at Shell Mound Park next
month. Valuable gate and game prizes
will be distributed.
Professor John Bascom of Williams
College has written an article on the
Primary Purposes of Trades Unions"
which should be in the hands Of every
wage Garner in the land. He claims
that the central purpose of the trades
union movement is to secure and main
tain fellowship of skill, economy and
comfort. each in its very best form.
1t works with natural forces to full
fill them, to anticipate and thrust
back all contravening causes which
baffle the workmen in the pursuit of
prosperity. In part he says:
The trade union is established to prove The
coherence OF the industrial life-its ability TO
make these three, skill. economy and comfort.
travel together. The doctrine Of Nautilus. the
doctrine OF every economist who accepts the
poverty Of the poor. the defenselessness of work
men IN the process Of production. does II by re-.
csrding them rs incapable OF taking care and
executing counsel. as mere waits on the stream
union IS 10 contradict these Views. to show that
labor. even II It gropes IN obscure beginnings.
of life; that il is the least intelligent and pro
ductive labor that is constantly sinking and
carrying with Il the hopes and fortunes of sn
entire class. II Is no law OF the world that
those who labor shall not enter into their
labors. The law that is being illustrated by tie
failure OF workmen is that there must he an
cess; the division is fatal 20 their common pros
perity. Their experience Is simply
enforcement OF the ethical obligations
each other. 1t is this truth which it is the
primary purpose Of the trade union TO make
plain. The union that is I'm fullest possession
Of IL viii have least occasion for warfare and
power TO wage il successfully. II skill.
economy and comfort in that eternal accord
in which we believe them 10 be- the position
OF the trade union is impregnable. The skilfuI
ere driven hack by the unskilful, not because
the best workman is not best worth his wages.
hut in the hope upon the part Of the employer of
returning shortly TO the good workmen at
lower price. reasonable standard OF living
means. and must be made every moment TO
mean. superior productive capacity. When all
forces, conflicting and concurring, have been
sifted. that fact remains as the last result II
Is the business OF the trade union TO believe
in it. push it into the foreground and emblazon
IL beyond denial.
the last meeting of Street Railway Con-
structors' Union. Five candidates We're
obligated and several applications for
membership received. The union will
discuss the decision of the board of
arbitration at its meeting next Thurs
day evening. At that the charter will
be closed and the initiation fee will be
raised 10 81.
The Amalgamated Engineers So
ciety OF Great Britain claims to be the
richest labor organization in existence.
In a recent statement ii was shown
that this association was in possession
OF funds amounting to s3.500.000. The
major portion of this was invested Sc
curely. bringing in handsome returns.
The membership on January last
was lO5,1SS. Sick, death and super
annuation benefits are paid. Recently
9 demand for an Increase of two shil-
iings a week was made and gained,
and IL is now announced that by the
end Of another six months an addi-
tional increase will be demanded.
IT is stated that the trustees of the
American Bank Note Company have
appropriated $4,000 with which to
tablish a pension system for its en-
ployes. A committee of five of the
oldest employees in point of service will
determine the basis upon which the
pensions are to be paid. The plan OF
the company is TO provide a graduated
scale Of pensions, but in every case
the sum Will be sufficient to support
those who have no other means. The
company employs 1000 persons in New
York, Philadelphia, Boston and ottawa,
Canada, 900 Of whom are women
There is a project on foot to ANAL
gamate the boards OF business agents
Of the building trades in New York
City. The object is TO secure more ef-
fective work during the busy season,
which will begin shortly. The Man
haitian and Bronx boards. represent
ing s., 200 workmen. have already de-
clared for amalgamation.