The San Francisco call., 1910-02-26
Labor Notes

The district council of gas workers,
which includes all the locals from San
Jose on the south to Marysville on the
/ north, has adopted new working
agreement. This provides better CON
ditions for the workers and Increases
the pay Of the men in Oakland and
Marysville Business Agent Bel left
yesterday on tour of inspection in
the district north OF Oakland.
The electrical workers union No.
Isl last Thursday night heard a re-
! port from the business agent TO the
effect that business is fairly good and
that the men in the Pacific States tele-
phone company in all branches are be-
ing unionized. Fifty dollars was do
mated TO two members IN distress, ten
candidates were initiated and two
members were reinstated.
The cooks union a lis meeting last
Thursday night decided that for the
present il can not establish the pro
several limitations and il was voted to
increase the reinstatement fee from IS
TO $3.50.
international President Robert ].
Checking OF the international brother
hood of book binders, in report 10 the
local union. declares that the trade all
over the country is good and that the
Organization is in prosperous eondi-
ton
The bakers and confeetioners' union
local No IA having settled its DIFF
ferences with the Hilderbrand bakery
in Campbell avenue, the union has
lifted the boycott
San Francisco lodge No. ss of the in
ternational association OF machinists
has received the following on The sub
9ect of urging the passage of the bill
I'd r. l5,44l) now before congress that
provides for the eight hour system for
the employees of the federal government.
and there is suggestion that every
member be urged 10 do his best for the
measure and urge each individual 10
write TO some member of congress
urging him 10 have the bill enacted
into law:
am sending you these few
lines TO call your attention 10 the
fact that this great country of ours
IS one of the largest EMPLOYERS of
Iabor IN the world. It gives en-
pioynent TO thousands of men and
women in the different departments
OF the government and in build
lng the Panama canal. practically
hours g day, in accorda nee with
the eight hour law passed in 1892
While these men and women di-
rectly IN the employ of the gov
ernmsnt are enjoying the advap-
tages of the eight hour work day.
there is greater number en-
contractors or subcontractors, who
are permitted 10 satisfy their
greed Tor prohts by compelling
their workers to labor 10 and in
many cases y hours a dav
The government in the last
analysis. is the people of whom
you and are a part. For my part
9sman though il may ,be), be-
ieVe our government should be
fair employer, whether il employs
its workers directly or through a
contractor. and that the eight hour
work day should be established on
all government work without the
use of strikes or loc1outs. with the
suffering and loss that always go
with them.
am addressing this letter to
YOU, TO request earnestly that you
and all your friends write to the
men who represent you. and ask
them 10 vote for this bill Remem-
Der that procrastinatio is the
thief of time, therefore do not in
5ure the movement by delay Write
at once TO your United States SEN
afors and congressman.
If you have not time just now to
write as suggested above. do not
tunity. for, until we have sense
enough 10 send men 10 represent
u.s. who will represent us this is
the only means we have of making
our wants known and what we de-
sire in the form of legal enact
nents.
A labor leader in the east offers the
following suggestion along the line of
a training school for labor representa-
tives:
1t has been suggested by some Of
the ablest labor leaders of the
country that a training school is
needed for the labor representa-
tives
Only those who have fought la
bors battles on the firing lines for
years can appreciate this suges-
ton The rank and file little real
fzes what it has cost to send out as
agents, be ii to secure a labor con-
tract or settle labor controversy,
men without experience.
II has often been said and il is
true that il is much easier TO Sc
cure an unreasonable demand
couched in reasonable language
than it is 10 obtain a reasonable
demand couched in improper Ian
guage. A full blooded American.
be he employer or employe, resents
being told 'you must" and it too
frequently occurs that demands of
labor are made in just this manner.
One who is sent out as a labor
representative should be a diplo-
mat: should have full knowledge
of the employers business and be
able to prove in every way neces-
sary that what the unions are
asking for is not only Just, but
that il is something the employer
can not refuse
Labor politics have spread from the
United States to Canada A labor party
has been organized in Toronto. and il
is getting into shape to take an active
part in the next municipal campaign.
with the expectation of electing a
number of candidates from the ranks
Of la bor TO municipal Offices
The latest semiannual report Of the
international association of machin-
lists shows that the receipts from all
sources during the preceding six
months were s211.1II-02 and the ex-
penditures during that period sI76.-
4ss12 The union has invested in gov
ernment and others bonds ss4558.75
The officers of the British navy alone
s<7., {ar. e.