The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-26

AesAA ~ ~
were also satisfied with my statement
that no treaty a been thought %
betWeen our unions and the Italian
government or the Southern unions
Before 1t should enter in any nego-
tiations with other organization in
Italy, the American Federation Of
Labor would doubtless recognize the
Italian Confederation. AS to the
Americans joining the International
Secretarlat that was a separate qles-
ton, Yet to be acted upon ut ou. an
nual convention.
The Confederation Of Labor Of Italy
has a total membership OF about G25.-
900, as reported by General Secretary
Rigola in Turin. In composition and
form the Building Trades Union, whose
headquarters / visited. represents the
common type, which IS or the indus
tria system. The national union.
with about $1,000 members. takes in
on a common basis OF membership a
considerable number of the various
trades whose work is connected with
house building. In all but the larger
cities these trades have but com
mon MO They have one kind OF
travelling care within Italy, hut for
international transferrui there Is a
special card given only to certain
rades Nearly one hundred thou
sand Italians who Go the rough work
on buildings migrate every spring to
other European countries. TO return
home in the winter. The General
Secretary asserted that through the
exchange of International cards. the
Italians had entirely ceased black
legging," formerly ommcn with
them. They now uphold the foreign
scales of wages. He wished to have
established a similar international un-
derStanding with the American build
ing trade unions.
To what extent such an
nent would affect either the Italian
workingman or ourselves cannot be
said offhand. The proportion of the
immigration from Italy coming TO US
from the Northern provinces il hardly
a twelfth. On a map Of Italy hanging
on a wall in the Building rad offices
were drawn many little circles show
ing where local unions existed
throughout the country. About Turin.
Milan and other cities OF the North
they were as thick as birdshot fired
from a gun. But about Florence they
were few, and in Southern Italy.
hardly n appeared. The books of
the uniOn made the contrast even
worse. The national union had 10
branch in Calabria or Sicily, whence
q great majority of our immigrants
come. 1t would appear, therefore,
that the whole question, with the al
legged grievances OF the Italians
against, growing out oil 1t. Is almost
purely talk. This suspicion Of a wrong
somewhere arose originally from the
ruck Of indefinite and ~unfOunded
charges drawn up by poIt1clal and
! Look Socialists hunting for 4 grievance
against American Trade unionism.
But scant ~forty-eight hours were
left me at Paris to make preparation
for the ~honeward voyage. our party
Of five, reunited, took an express
train for Havre, Friday. October I,
and here is our steamship now, Oct.
S, in sight of the lights OF New York
Harbor. But quarantine and customs.
regulations are to hold us back from
landing until tomorrow. Ship enSi-
neering and navigation have done
their best to finish cur ocean journey
with speed; the ineftieciencies of De
~partmental administration, which OPP
crates only by day, are the cause of
frightening the voyage by one more
uncomfortable night. Science scores
against governmental red tape in every
competition.
The four months trip done, rcfIec-
tons upon it are in order. 10 | re-
turn a better Americana Is the
American labor movement ahead oT
the world?" What do [ think Of Euro
pean Socialism? Do I bring back sug-
g~estiOnS for social improvements"
What Of the movement in Germany
in Hungary? in France? in ltalt? in
England? What is the general tend
ency of the working class ideals III
Europe? And what as to the leaders
whose names stand for certain tend
encies? Eetc.? etc. ? Already questions
such as these have been sent over
seas. I may expect many more. some
asking for details, in the next few
weeks. And then. there are the re
porters. In reply [ have to say that
the boxes of books, pamphlets, re
ports, etc, which [ bring back With
me. must be drawn upon to some eX-
tent in answering questions. Besides.
Various notes are yet to be gone over
and digested. I feel [ have yet some
thing to say about the great trip ana
the editor Of this paper has directed
me to continue my series Of letters.