The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-12
LABOR STRONG
IN GERMANY
UNIONS IN RHINE COUNTRY SOL
IDIFIED AS PARTS OF OUR BIG
MIGHTY MACHINE - EMPIRE
MAKES PROGRESS REDUCING
PREVENTARLE ACCIDENTS.

The first thing that strikes an Amer
lean workingman when he studies la
Dor conditions in Germany is the al
most complete solidarity of the trade
unions and the German Federation of
Labor. The federation is a huge ma
chine, and each and every trade union
is cog all of them working in the
same direction without friction. Sure
ly here IAN injury to one is the con-
Icern of ALL"
5aumsister Busy but Hospitable.
One Of the most active men in the
labor movement of Germany to whom
have referred in a previous letter is
A. Baumeister, the assistant Sec
rotary of the federation and inter-
national secretary Of the Hotel, Res
tuarant and Cafe Angestellten, Mr.
Baumeister is the Jere Sullivan of
Germany, for he has perfected a big
organization in a calling which is SO
difficult to unite. He speaks English
Huently, and If it were not for him I
am afraid | should have learned little
or the labor movement or the work
ingmen's compensation act in it's an
pllcatlon to labor, He is a man of ex-
ceptlonal energy, and one wonders
now he finds time to do so much.
England has been sending to Germany
number Of delegations of working
men to study the effect of the protec-
tive tariff on that country. Mr.. Bau
meister, because of his position. and
the fact that he speaks English we'll
is called upon to escort these dele
cations about. / had learned this in
advance, and therefore / did not ex-
pect that he would give me much of
his time. However, in spite of NV
apologies, he closed his desk. and
spent two full days escorting me about
to every place of interest in Berlin.
He is coming to America some day.
and should he get as far west as Min
nesota it is my wish that he be made
the guest Of the trade unions of our
state. The only letter of Introduction
had to present to him was INV
plumbers union card, but 1t was
sufficient, and no time was lost in CIV |
ing the assurance that / was his well
come guest.
Lockout in Building Trades.
Germany has its strikes, just as we
have them in America 1t also has
its manufacturers associations. and
the very methods and tactics of the
National Manufacturers Association
OF America are in vogue there The |
building trades of the country are in |
the throes of a great lockout, with the |
exception of the building tradesmen |
of the cities of Hamburg and Berlin. i
There are $4,000 men involved. |
Strike breakers have been secured in /
some instances but they have proved |
very unsatisfactory. and now there is |
a complete tie-up outside of the two /
cities named. which are not affected.
While recent developments in indus
try have compelled the working men
to turn out a greater quantity of |
work yet the German people are I
sticklers for quality Therefore the
incompetent .workmen among the /
strike breakers was not satisfactory
to the owners Of buildings under con- I
struction and their services were soon.
dispensed with.
NJ. M. A. Of Germany.
The lockout is conducted by the
Central Employers association, which
has been preparing for FIVE years for
this conflict. The association has an
immense war fund, and 1t is being
spent lavishly. Its officers boast of
having sent 100000 marks to the
Swedish manufacturers to help them
defeat the workingmen of that coun-
try. On the other hand, the trade
unions of Germany sent TO their
brothers in Sweden 1,25O,O00 marks
Is contribution and made a loan
of 100000 more to the Swedish
Inions
1t was the hope Of the Central AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers to involve j
he building trades employers of Ber-
In and Hamburg In the controversy,
,ut these could not be induced to join /
he big movement. Now the central /
association Is attempting to compel
he Berlin and Hamburg builders to
DIN by cutting off their supply OF
Materials. AS a result, several large /