The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-06
PRINTER TALKED TO
LAb0R|NG MEN
Foreman of Tacoma Ledger
Addressed Open Meeting
of Carpenters:

ne local carpenters Union NO.
1911 held an open meeting last even
ing at l. 0. o. F. hall, the principal
feature of the program being an ad-
dress to working men by Charles
Perry Taylor, of Tacoma, secretary
of the Washington State Federation
of Labor. Nearly one hundred men
gave close attention to Mr.. Taylor's
address, following which short talks
were made by local members of trade
unions.
Secretary Taylor gave an exhaust
i've address upon the aims and pur-
poses of labor organizations. his sub
ject being Trade Unionism in the
State of Washington Alone" The
speaker said there were approximate
ly $4,000 union men, outside the
women and girls and boys, who were
organized in the cities. These or
CARNATIONS comprise every branch
of labor, skilled and unskilled, work
ers engaged in the building, transpor-
tation, provision. iron, coal, lumber
and printing trades. In the United
States there are over 100000 union
| members and the organizations are
enjoying splendid growth and are
prosperous.
Not a great many years ago,
said the speaker, working men who
organized themselves into unions
were subjected to much injury and
| mistreatment, but today our unions
are recognized as perfectly proper
societies of workers for the improve
ment and benefit of our members
Where prejudice once existed against
| us, now the world recognizes organ
! ization as a duty and a necessity fol-
those workmen who desire to secure
improved conditions of daily life
There is so much human welfare
bound up in the efforts one makes
| to secure living wages, reasonable
hours of toll and fair treatment that
| the sympathies Of fair-minded peo-
pie are with us.
Trade unionism may be summed
up in the words, self help and broth
erly assistance among working men
In our unions we learn the biblical
text, The laborer is worthy of his
hire We also learn to answer yes
to the question, Am l my brother s
keeper
1.-The activities of unionism are
not limited to these, however. In
addition to endeavoring to secure fair
wages, reasonable hours, etc, union
labor organizations embrace many
of the beneficial features of frater-
nal societies, sick and death benefits
etc. For instance, the Carpenters
Union not only pays to dependent rel
atives benefit for funeral purposes
upon the death of member, but
pays a funeral benefit to members
upon the death of the carpenter S
wife. A Cigarmakers' Union pays a
benefit from the treasury to the
members out of work, advancing
money for travelling expenses while
he seeks employment. A Typograph-
ical Union pays a pension to super
animated members and maintains a
union printers home at Colorado
Springs for debilitated and members
suffering from tuberculosis. So the
labor unions carry on this beneficial
and fraternal work, caring for the
unfortunate and burying the dead.
In every phase of trade union life
we find the working men, through
their union, not only helping each
other toward employment and sue
cess, but in adversely and misfortune
extending a helping hand.
MANY of the occupations are haz-
ardous, and in some trades our work
ers run great risks to life and limb
and health One of the objects OF
unionism is to secure the enactment
Of such laws as will guarantee to in
jured men compensation for injuries
thus received.
AT present through the laws de-
lay, the laborer loses the lions share
Tof all judgments and legal expenses
eat up the verdicts. Organized labor
desires enactment of system more
Just