The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-10-22
UNION BENEFITS.
Amazing Progress Of the Broth
erhood Of Teamsters.
SUNDAY WORK ABOLISHED,
Wages Increased and Men Are No
Longer Forced 70 Labor 0vsrtims
Without Pay-A Convincing Arsu-
mont In Favor Of Organization.

without pay-A convincing Af9u.
mont In Favor Of Organization.
The International Brotherhood Of
Transfers has perhaps done more for
its membership within the past 1--we
years than any other organization Of
labor, writes President Tobin In the
American Federationist. 1t Is well
known fact that before the Transfers
OF this country became organized the
at that craft In the large cities and
towns was perhaps the hardest kind
OF an existence for workingman-
Unusually hard work. long hours and
small pay were the conditions that
surrounded the life Of the tcamxters
up to within few years ago. Sunday
work was almost us common as en-
ployment during any other day Of the
week. because II the teamster was not
working on the street or around the
warehouse on Sunday he was usually
busy around the stable taking care Of
horsrs. harness. wagons. etc.
Naturally this kind Of work Is hard
work anyway. because Of the hard
ships and privations which men Of this
craft have TO endure and are subjected
to. especially in the cold and inclement
weather. and 1t Is almost impossible
for any person to realize the nature Of
this employment without personally
experiencing those conditions. Rut
since organization has taken place
among the men complete change has
been brought about. Wages have been
increased within the past SIX years
perhaps from 30 to GO per cent in all
the large Industrial centers The hours
of labor have been regulated. and over
time is now being paid in nearly every
section of the country where men work
over certain number Of hours. Usual
~ the work performed on Sunday is
merely.the stable work. taking care of
horses. etc. and this is done by men
employed specially for this task. and
the rank and file Of the Transfers are
not required to put in an appearance
at all ut the stable on Sunday.
The carriage and automobile branch
Of our trade we have regulated as to
Ghu N.iiASo IuCicStsCo III WdSCS
and generally bettered conditions. II
IS impossible to dispense with the
work OF those men on Sunday. but we
are now endeavoring to regulate this
class of employment so that a man
can have at least one Sunday In four
with the members of his family and
for the purpose Of attending church
service If he so desires.
Comparing the present with the past
1t is hard to realize that such a com
plete change has taken place within
u few years. but this condition has
unquestionably been brought about
through organization Of our craft and
our utilization with the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. Very true. there is
plenty Of room for improvement, but
we are moving slowly. conservatively
but surely onward every day.
At iirst 1t was rather hard task tc
make the teansters Of the country
believe that any good could be gained
by the formation of labor organiza
ION. but as time went on those men
became slowly convinced that their
only protection was in banding toseth.
or into al organization.
Today the membership Of the Inter
national Brotherhood of Teamsters
would PERHAPS give up anything they
have in the world rather than surren
der their labor union. which has done
so much for them and their families
The teamstcr has been made q better
man. better feeling exists among the
individuals working day after day on
the streets Of our great cities. as the
teanster has been somewhat educated
through his meetings and through the
labor press. He feels more like a mar
than before.