Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-22
Christnas Stocks Service Highest Pitch of Excellence
IN LABOR CIRCLES

The recent Cherry mine disaster in ILL
nois is employed as IAN object lesson by
James +. Gailbreath, jr.. who is urging
the establishment of national bureau of
mines in this city. In referring to the
loss of nearly 800 lives at Cherry. he
says, had there been a properly equip
ped bureau of mines, the first telegram
from Cherry on that Inflated Saturday
afternoon would have been sent to the
bureau of mines and the rescue corps
would have reached Cherry twenty-four
hours earlier. Had there been no delay,
who can say they would not have sue
ceeded in extinguishing the fire in the
shaft. allowing the men to walk out of
the mine alive. Such emergencies call
for the service of the best mining expert
III the United States.
Again Mr.. Gailbreath says:
"A bureau is needed and demanded by
an industry that employs 100000 men
and has a yearly output aggregating
S2O0ocoo,oo0. 1t is sad to relate that in
this. the second of the greatest industries
of the country. one life is sacrificed for
every half million taken from the ground.
1t must be remembered that the record of
Fatalities in metal mining and in the
quarries is about bad as In the coal
mines.''
Referring to the pending measure for
the establishment of the proposed bureau
or mines. Mr.. Gailbreath concludes:
However, | feel certain that the bill
Will pass at this session President Taft
told the mining men in more than half
dozen cities of the west on his recent
trip that we had II S heartiest co-opera-
ton in any attempt to benefit the indus
try and l believe he will come out with
CIV yy11o
mines in his special message on con-
servation of the natural resources, for
there Is no more precious resource than
human life. Secretary of the Interior
Ballinger Is looked upon by the mining
men of sthe country to give much en-
enlargement and aid to this movement.
At the recent session of the American
Mining Congress at Goldfield, New, he
wired: VIII urgently recommend the es-
taDl1Shment OF Il bureau of mines men
toned in your message of September -.
Ballinger- The convention cheered this
telegram to the echo and the mining
men, not only the owners of mines. but
the miners themselves, are looking for
ward to a vigorous recommendation to
Congress from the Secretary of the great
Department of the Interior.
The labor unions of Washington are
electing their officers for the year 1910.
Some of the recent elections Are as fol-
lows:
Carriage and Wagon Workers Local,
No. 72-President, John w Baker; vice
president. Frank Wilcocks McBryan: re-
cording secretary, Charles b. Wandel:
financial secretary, Sam +. Murdoch;
treasurer. Robert f. Jonscher.
Sheet metal Workers Local, No 1Oo-
President. P s. Murphy; vice president,
NJ Burns; recording and corresponding
secretary. Henry c. Klinge: financial
secretary, Herbert Leach: treasurer. ].
II. Steffey: conductor. Godfrey Collense;
r-fI I..xlx- hrrs,i
Charles Dausch; trustees. j. w. Cons-
dine, ID. NJ. Desmond, ]. r. Egloff: exec
utive board 1.-TWO to be elected, Thomas
+. Ryan and Dan NJ. Desmond.
Local No. 49,. United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners President,
George Myers: vice president. John A. |
Barkley; recording secretary, Thomas G.
lglehart: financial secretary. l.. W. Mat
Thomas ". Wolff; warden. W. w Ad- |
amson; trustee j. S. Powers; auditor, |
George S. Rossen; executive committee, !
+. b. Byrne. L. W. Lloyd, j. ]. Phillips. |
{. H. Adams. Thomas 6. Iglehart and
John Dinneen.
Blank Book Relief Association of the
government printing office-Luke +. Lud-
low, president: Forrest c. Pendleton. vice
dpresident, and Martin Dries. secretary
treasurer. All three are delegates to the
Central Labor Union from the Bookbind-
ers.
IultUTiti III the Bakers journal. cur
rent issue: THE trade union enables the
fair employer-who. like the fair union,
list, predominates-to estimate his labor
on a living basis This system is a good
deal preferable to figuring on what his
unfair competitor can procure his cheap
est help for. Not only that, but it is a
protection for the merchant. 1t enables
the trade unionst to live as becomes an
american citizen and has powerful in
fiuence In procuring fair compensation
for the individual whose conscience will
not permit him to join any combination in
this free 90 competitive age. Again the
union headquarters act as clearing
house for the employer. 1t is convenient
TO send there for additional help.
The trade union is not fiawless by any
means. 1t is a good deal easier to tear
down than to build up. but the latter
course applied with intelligence to the la
Dor movement will overcome many of
its deficiencies. The gains are greater
than the losses. While the dominant
trait of human nature is seifishness, Just
so long will we find both sides endeavor-
ing to get the best of the Industrial stu
alton. The trade union has come to stay
IT is natural outgrowth of present-day
cnndifinpS