The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-11-07
GREAT PROGRESS MADE
BY Carpenters UNION
Its History Is One of Steady, For
ward Strides Towards Bet
ter Conditions.
Excerpts from the Report of the
General Secretary Of the
Brotherhood.

> Frank Duffy, general secretary Of
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners of America, in his report
to the national convention recently
held at Salt Lake City, tells of the
great progress made by his organiza-
ton. In speaking of the two years
just past he says:
Review fof the Past,
To compare the two years jointly
would hardly be fair. The first year
was one Of fullness and plenty, while
the second was one practically of
blight. decay and hard times brought
about by the money panic that oc-
Cured in the fall of 1907. and from
which we have not yet fully recovered.
To say that the year ending June 30,
1907, was successful one it but put
ting it mildly; to be truthful it was
the most successful and prosperous
year nthe history of our organization
in every particular and in every re-
spect, Although confronted, opposed
and hampered by employers associa-
tions, alliances and organizations our
Local Unions grew and prospered be-
y0nd our expectations, new unions
were formed in all sections and In all
states, old unions were revived and re-
OF ganized, delinquent members
squared up, suspended members were
reinstated, and new members were
added by the thousands to our ranks.
1t was evident that our members, Lo-
izers were doing their full duty in
building up our organization to be the
greatest and best in the world. In
hundreds Of instances wages were in
creased, hours of labor reduced and
better working conditions established.
Besides that our general treasury
gradually increased, placing us on
such a financial footing as to be able
to pay all just claims made and legiti-
mate debts incurred and to have a
snug sum left for other purposes
Policy in the Past.
It has been our policy In the past to
husband our resources SO that in
times of trouble when strikes and
lockouts occurred or when law suits
were entered against us we might be
in! a position to protect and defend
Our organization in it's entirety or any
subordinate part thereof, and yet we
have been found fault with for not lib,
orally supporting men while out on
strike; but when it is taken into con.
sideration that we only receive per
capita tax of rs cents per member
per month, or $500 per member per
year, it cannot be expected that we
financially assist and support, to any
great extent, our members involved in
strikes and lockQuts, And let it be
here understood that We are not sor.
gant2ed for the purpose of creating
strife, discord, strikes or industrial
upheavals OF any kind; on the con
trary, our mission is one of peace and
good will.
Objects Of the Organization.
The objects of our organization as
specified in our General Constitution
are:
1. To discourage piece work:
20 To encourage an apprentice sys.
tenn and higher standard of skill.
3. To cultivate feelings of friend
ship among the men of the craft.
4. To assist each other to secure
employment.
5. To reduce the hours of daily toll
6. To secure adequate pay for. work
done.
T. To elevate the moral, intellect:
ual and social condition of our mem
bers.
8. To improve the trade.
9. To furnish aid in cases of sick.
ness, permanent disability and DEATH
A Phenomenal Growth.
These are worthy objects and should
not be sneered at by any one much
less belittled by men of our own craft.
We live In an organized age, therefore
it behooves every man handling edged
tools In the woodworking industry to
belong to our organization and our
organization alone, for this country, as
big as it is, is not big enough for more
than one organization of any trade.
The work of organizing the men of
the craft has been kept up unceasing,
ly durin gthe past two years with un-
abating szeal and ambition Many of
the delegates to the Niagara Falls
convention expressed the hope of liv-
ing long enough to see us cross the
100000 membership mark-that hope,
that wish, that desire, that ambition
is now about realized, for on the last
day of June, Is 08, we had 17S,5O3
members in good standing, entitled to
all the rights, benefits and privileges
of this organization as guaranteed by
the General Constitution.
JUST A FISH STORY.