The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-08-30
For Union Workers
Important Happenings in
 Industrial Circles in This Country and Europe

HI duuTeSS Qe1VereQ at Lewiston, said: Organized labor has given to the state of Maine her Australian ballot law, organized labor has given to the state of Maine her initiative and referendum, and on September 12 organized labor will give to the state of Maine a primary election law. The words of the governor proved prophetic, for on September 12 the cities of Maine declared for direct primaries by a vote of 55.S40 to 17,751
 The agreement reached by the strik- ing Fifth avenue, New York, tailors and the Employers association was made public recently. A permanent board of arbitration is to be arranged for. Fifty hours is to constitute a weeks work. No more than two and one-half hours overtime a day and no Saturday overtime, except between March 13 and May 1, is allowed. Twenty-four dollars is to be the mini mum pay for tailors, with SIS for male and $15 for female helpers. All work to be done in factories.
 The Domestic Workers union of Auckland recently protested strongly against the unfair competition in volved by the practice of a system of importing colored boys into the Do minion for domestic service. The minister of labor stated in the house of representative that inquiries will be made into the matter and if it is found that the importation of this class of labor is likely to affect New Zealand workers, steps will be taken with view to stopping the practice.
 Thirty-six sawmills in Texas and Louisiana are now closed, and it is feared this number will be increased to 50 in less than a month unless there is a decided change in the status of the dispute between the mill owners and the Timber Workers Brotherhood. The timber workers want better working conditions, with a small increase in pay and the right to buy where they wish instead of being compelled to purchase from the company commissaries.
 The Cigar Makers International proximately 50,00O, enrolled in about 400 locals throughout the United States; Canada and Porto Rico with headquarters at Chicago. The union has established the eight-hour day with a. living wage. and has a splen- did system of benefits consisting of death benefit ranging from $50 to $550, a sick benefit of five dollars a week. and to travelling members the privilege of drawing $20 is allowed.
 George Gearing Hiatt, who has been in the United States IS months studying industrial conditions in be- half of the tariff reform party in England, declares that while the wages of the American workingmen are higher than those of his British brother, he is no better off than the latter. At the end of the week." he says, "the American has not a cent. more in his pocket than the British workman
 Victor, B. C., motormen and con- ductors earn from g to 31 cents an hour. Here Is a fare schedule copied from the Victoria car bulletins: Tick cts. six for 25 cents; at the office, 25 tickets for $1. Tickets for use be tween 6 and a. m. and to p. m.. eight for 25 cents; children's tickets, to be used between a. m and D. m., 10 for 25 cents.
 A loaf of bread 16 feet long, said to be the largest one ever baked. was feature in Pittsburg's Labor day parade. It was the handiwork of members of Local No 12 of the Bak- ers' union and was carried by six of the members. It weighed 200 pounds.
 "The demand for union cement workers has never been so great as it is right now" said w H. Kemmer- ling, business agent for Milwaukee cement workers. "Contractors want union men and we are having a hard time supplying them"
 According to statistics there has been a gain of 25O,0OO in the member ship of the unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor dur ing the last year. Los Angeles has the honor of gaining the greatest percentage.
 Twenty-Five hundred woodworkers employed in the shipyards at Belfast, Ireland. have secured an increase in wages. They also received a guar antee that there would be no reduc- tion in the rate of wages for five years-
 Councilman Austin E. Griff1ths' reso- lution providing for submission of the question of single tax to the people of Seattle as a charter amendment was recommended by the judiciary committee of the city council last week.
 Since the first of the year 1896, when the International Molders' union introduced the sick benefit clause, it hoc id in han fc tn horc ho sick list, $1,S70,784. It also paid with in the year 1910 the sum of $59, $50 in death and disability benefits and $146.- no in out of work benefits.
 The scheme to amalgamate the two