Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-10-03
Cigar Makers
Convention

L 7
Baltimore, Nd, Oct. 3.-The Inter
national Cigarmakers' Union opened
its first convention in sixteen We IS
in this city on september IT.. Presi-
dent Perkins' report dealt with every
phase OF the organization and incor-
porated many historical events. Presi-
dent Perkins said: 'eThe first organiza-
ton of cigarmakers, according to
available history, was in Cincinnati in
1845, and it is claimed that some sort
Of an organization has been in con-
tinual existence in that city. The
next place to organize was Baltimore,
Md, where an organization was eff
fected i'm 1851. The first recorded
strike was in that city. At that time
Baltimore was one of the centers Of
the cigar industry. AS result of
the strike the industry was moved
northward and quickened in New
York and other points in the Eastern
states. One of the first big strikes
was against the introduction of molds.
Low dues and no benefits and no funds
was the prevailing rule until 1879
Under the rule of low dues and no
benefits the membership fluctuated.
and was largely governed by trade
conditions" THE report shows that
in 1859 there were $500 members,
with a continuous decrease in mem
bership until 1877, when the entire
membership only numbered LOIS. A
revival took place in 1879, which show
ed 1850 members. From 1879 tQ01881
the membership increased to -, 400
members, and then maintai ed a
steady increase each year A9lT 4 1904,
when the membership real 41,536.
The real progress of theA irrational
union started with the ina 6ration of
the system of high dues &hd a chain
of benefits in 1879. For June, 1912,
the number of members reported on
the monthly financial reports reaches
total of 49,512. It must be remem-
bered in considering this report that
the organized cigarmakers have been
compelled to combat one of the most
gigantic corporations in the entire
world, the Tobacco Trust, which en-
ploys in its cigar factories women
and children, which has tendency to
continually force the price of labor in
cigar factories to the lowest minimum.
Notwithstanding this fact, however,
the cigarmakers have been able to
secure accessions to the international
Cigarmakers' Union;' with a cores
ponding increase in wages and better
ment of working conditions.
4e8 Local Unions.
The International Cigarmakers' I'm
ion is comprised of 488 local unions,
the largest number of local, unions
ever affiliated in the history of the or
ganization. OF the S65 applications
for increase in wages approved since
the last report, September 1, 1901, in
volving 33,171 members, 80, 40 of
whom were entitled to benefits, also
3.O7O non-unionists, a fraction over 86
per cent or 314 difficulties were sue
cessful. Of the total number of strike
applications approved since September
1, 1901, 1,010 in number, involving
6O.51O members, a fraction over Sc
per cent, were successful. In addi-
ton to- the foregoing may be added
that Of the strikes approved, Az per
cent were compromised and in almost
every instance with concessions that
were favorable to the union and mem
bers thereof, which brings the percent
age of successful strikes to 7412. The
total amount of money paid out IN
strikes during the period Just referred
to was $610,578.47, or an average per
wear of $55,498.04. The grand total
of benefits. including strike, death and
total disability, out of work, etc.,
amounted to, in the last thirty-tWo
wears and two months, SLOPES, 842.71.
In 1883 the report shows that the aver
age length of lives of the members
was tifirty-one years four mouths and
twenty DAYS, while in 1911 the aver
age was fifty years and one month.
This shows an increase IN the average
length of the lives of members OF
eighteen years eight months and ten
days since 1888, for period OF twenty
three years. In the financial state
ment for the year ended June 30, 19lz,
it is shown that the average member
ship in that period was 50,O39, with an
expenditure of IS ITO cents per mem
Der per year for all expenses IN une
conduct of the international union. II
conclusion, President Perkins makes
this observation: Impatient though
we and others may be for q more
rand advancement, the facts seem to
ha that we cannot, with amy degree
ef permanency, go beyond the ready
comprehension, acquiescence, and CO.
operation of the more deliberately
moving mass. I believe, 1t would be
mistake to supplant trade autonomy
nv forced industrialism. A closer
nnity of purpose, with the ultimate
unity of action in view, should always
he encouraged in each industry. The
! same principle should be the rule ana