United labor bulletin., 1910-01-28

| are those who have heretofore used us to
their advantage who are sitting up and
taking notice. Will you Join with your
fellows for mutual benefit. The first
years dues and initiation amount to
as we get a fair working number of mem
bers. Well have our own label ready in
a short time.
WILL NJ. MAUPIN.
Secretary-Treasurer.
| Editor "Wageforker."
r r + = +
UNIONS OF GERMANY
AHEAD OF OTHERS.
Samuel Gompers Says Unionism In Ger
many Has Done Much for Better
ment of Working Conditions
England Not So Well
Organized
| +
| Reviewing his recent observations on
trades unionism abroad, President Sam
uel Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor said the organizations of work
ngmen in Germany are more nearly like
| those of America than are the organiza-
| tions in any other European country and
have accomplished more in the way of
influencing legislation for the betterment
of the working people.
| The remarkable growth of unionism in
| Germany, Mr.. Gompers said, has been ac-
companied by developing independence,
| in spirit, organization, leadership and
activity. The obvious gain through union
processes has appealed to the general in
telligence and practical turn of mind of
the German workers. The "centrals' in
such cities as Berlin, Munich. Cologne,
and Hamburg are really union headquar-
ters. The official reports relate to union
effort. The objects of the organizations.
as shown in their publications, are clear
| ly defined within the scope of trades
unionism Time and again, when going
about the cities named with prominent
labor men, he asked the question, ITO
| what source is due the actual change for
the better in the standard of living of
the working classes in your city?" The
reply invariably was, ''The trades unions,
first and foremost"
The modern "housecleaning" of Ger
thropies exhibited in working class insur
ance fell far secondary to the results of
! direct union action and in fact, without
union influence much of the legislation
for the benefit of the workers would re-
main unenforced. On the whole, Mr..
Gompers asserted, it can be said that the
German trades unions of today more
nearly resemble the American trades
unions than do those of any other coun-
try in Europe.
Aside from Germany, Mr.. Gompers
says, the continental countries make a
poor exhibit financially in their unions
as compared with American unions. For
example: In Austria the total income
in 1907 of the labor organizations, with
about half a million members, was ST.
100000, expenditures sl,400,000. In the
same year the receipts of the lnterna-
tional Typographical union in America
was 81 100000 and the expenditures ST.
$40, ,OOO-a strike year-while in 1909 its
receipts were s47S 900 and its expendi-
lures s45S,OOO.
The total benefits paid by all the Aus
tran unions combined were: Travelling,
$780, 900; out of work. s23O,OOO; sick, fu-
neral and infirmity, s23O,OOO; distress" "
$4,000; total. $573 900.
OF the British trades unions Mr.. Com
pers says: "The claim may be made
positively that not one of these delegates
found his own trade as well organized in
Great Britain as it is in America and that
not one of them. viewing as a whole the
trades union movement in Great Britain.
can say it is as scientifically organized.
as well prepared for militant action or
as free from the Interference of hurtful
external influences as the movement in
America In certain of the British unions
there is some superiority in their varied
forms of industrial Insurance. which in
their country is occupational rather than,
as in America, social
; "In mentioning these conclusions there
is no intention to make derogatory state
ments Facts only are set down, their
virtue and point being in their truth.
Space here permits of only a few illustra-
tions of the general TACT. The American
| Federation of Labor's rule that there can
be only one national organization for
each calling has no existence in Great
Britain.
I'm the British trades union congress
there are delegates representing ma
tionaF or even district trades or labor
organizations which may have quite un
defined jurisdiction either as to occupa
tion or geographical area. For example
there were represented at the Ipswich
congress three organizations of insurance
agents, three of bakers and confection
ers. two of bleachers and dyers, three OF
bookbinders, two of boot and shoe work.
ers, two of carpenters, five of teamsters
two of cigarmakers six of the garment