The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-04-12
Edited by o. M. BOYLE

the wage increase observable in eastern
quarters will not long be delayed on
this coast.
Some of the advances in wages in the
east have been voluntary. Arbitration
has served to prevent many strikes, and
invariably the findings have been
favorable to the workers.
Eight thousand painters of Chicago
recently obtained a raise from 50 to so
cents an hour.
The Chicago bill posters union, after
a five months strike, secured an in
crease for its members of So per week
The elevator conductors of Chicago
likewise have received a raise.
John Williams, commissioner of la Dor
for the state of New York, says:
1T is perfectly safe to state that
conditions among the working classes
in New York have steadily improved
during the last few months. There
have been substantial increases in vari-
Gus parts of the state, and especially
among the building trades"
Eighteen hundred Boston painters
have just obtained an increase of S196
each a week, making a weekly wage
of $50
The house of representatives has
passed bill making 81 the standard
wage for laborers on government work
These men have been receiving from
$1.25 to s1.75. Marble settlers in Wash
ington, D. c., secured an increase of
so cents a day and their helpers are
now getting from 81 to $3.50 per day
Carpenters have applied for a 10 per
cent raise, to take effect June l.
In Rhode Island the industrial popu-
lation has received many advances in
wages. The cotton mills have been
running full time, Notwithstanding a
curtailment agreement. The outlook
shows steady employment for 10000
operatives.
The jewelry works worsted goods
manufacturers and lace mills report
prosperous seasons.
From the above it will be seen that
increases in wages are not confined to
any particular locality. The wage earn
ers of the Pacific coast are anxiously
awaiting the arrival of this eastern
wave of prosperity.
In a telegram to the secretary of the
labor council Congressman Hayes saws
that the Pacific coast delegation ex-
poets to succeed in having two torpedo
boats for the navy built in San Fran
cisco, and adds that as a result of the
delegations labors the building of four
battleships viii be authorized and that
1T is expected two will be built by San
The strike in the Calm Nickelbere sboa
factory of Oakland, called by order of
the joint board of boot and shoe work
ers' union No. ZIG and shoe cutters
union No. 239. was brought about by
refusal to continue the conditions that
were stipulated in the agreement prior
TO the first of the current year. One
OF the officers of the shoe workers
union, in discussing the situation, said:
Ever since we signed the arbitration agree
ment in 1907 we have had trouble in the
factory We had union this side of the
bay, but the management waged relentless
war upon Its officers until it was forced to
give up its charter and the members affiliate
with the San Francisco union in order to get
larger union membership backing AS fast
as the members were elected to office in our
union they were either discharged their
situations made onerous as to be unbear-
able and they were forced to quit. At that
time the Boot and Shoe Manufacturers asso-
citation included all of the factories in this
part or the state, and il a man quit one
factory or was discharged he could not OBJ
tain work in another factory In California.
In 1908 the association ordered all fac.
tories to throw out the union stamp: Since
then two factories, the Kutz company and
the United Workers shoe company, have
withdrawn from the association and nut the
stamp back in the factory. This leaves only
two factories in the association. Since the
stamp was thrown out conditions have be-
come gradually worse. Hands have been
and the schedule of wages has diminished
from 40 to so per cent.
The superintendent and foremen formerly
held like positions in the penitentiary at
Jefferson City, Mo-, and were constantly
reminded that the men there had to do GER
tain things and that were expected TO do
the same. We made every effort to adjust
matters before decided to strike, but
without success.
The following named will serve the
shipwrights' association as officers for
the current term:
Thomas Mcconnell, PRESIDENT; R. W. Gotty
Alexander Mcdonald. Charles Cheffers and John
Johnson, vice presidents; C. H. Cheffers secre-
Rotary: Edward Rogers and w A. wayhaut
trustees; William Miller sergeant at arms.
The association has instructed its
executive committee to secure a site
upon which to build a hall to be known
as shipwrights' hall. 1t has decided to
enforce more closely that portion of
the trade known as ship calking A
communication from the Oakland asso-
citation conveys the information that il
will work with the San Francisco body
in the matter of preserving calking to
the shipwrights.
At the meeting of lodge No 205 of
international boiler makers ship build
ers and helpers of America this evening
there will be several important trade
matters discussed a large class of can
didates will be initiated and the COM
mittee on picnic will present report