United labor bulletin., 1912-11-28


der what conditions the inmates are be
This matter came up through Secre-
tary Hines OF Union Label League, who
reported that the league had appointed
a committee to look into the matter. and
he asked that committee from the as
sembly be named to assist that commit
tee. On motion. the request OF the
league was complied with. and President
Bryan asked for volunteers for the work.
James A. Conkle. Fred Vessel and
Jesse Vetter volunteered their services
and were accepted by the chair.
Detrinnen entai to Free Labor.
The root oil the evil existing in the
Home of the Good Shepherd doing laun-
dry for the commercial trade seems to be
this: The state sends certain number
OF incorrigible girls to the home yearly.
for which a very small sum is paid to
maintain them in the home. and in order
to maintain them and others that are
made inmates of the home from other
sources the management Of the home So
licits laundry throughout the city. This
work is gathered in large Quantities by
an automobile truck and is washed and
prepared at such low price that the laun-
dries throughout the city cannot COM
pete with the home and pay even fair
wages. Wages in all the Independent
daundries In therefore reduced to such a
basis as to reduce those working in them
to the direst poverty. In turn this makes
destitute many families who have no
other way Of making living. and many
of these girls or members OF their fam
ilies. through want. go into the street TO
make an existence. and are in turn sent
to the Home OF the Good Shepherd by
their parents through the courts. These
girls are put to work undermining the
wages OF other girls working in city
laundries, and thus an endless chain ex-
lists to supply the home with incorrigible
girls The subject 10 OF great import
ance and legislation fs needed to prevent
institutions In which dependents are
placed by the state from competing with
free labor.
Note TAKEN Up.
Secretary Bedford reported thar the
board OF directors had paid on the note
held BY the Theatrical Stage Employees,
and on motion OF C. ]. Common the note
was ordered destroyed. The note and
interest was for more than $500.
Organizer Reports.
Organizer Hoage reported that his
committee had succeeded In getting
sufficient number of city laborers to-
gethcr TO organize union, and that a
charter would soon be sent for. A meet
ing will be held the FIRST OF the week 10
GOuhlutmAit Aut
Finance Committee Report.
Chairman Torpey of the nnance com
mittee reported that his committee was
making progress in auditing the report
of the labor Day committee, and would
be able TO report by the next meeting.
willis L. Moore Endorsed.
A resolution introduced by the Wash
ington Central Trades Council. endors-
ing Willis l.. Moore for reappointment
to the ONCE of chief OF the weather bu-
reau. and making him cabinet officer
of the president. was concurred in by the
assembly after some debate.
Recall Adopted.
Delegate Harrison introduced a reso-
luton for the recall OF all elective OH
GERS from Office In the assembly. The
resolution was reported on favorably by
one OF the resolutions committee. Dele
gate vetter, while one opposed II. and
one refused TO sign either report The
resolution was not clear In Its language.
II did not specify what procedure was to
be followed, and what percentage OF the
vote was necessary for the recall mo-
ton was made to refer the resolution to
n special committee for n report at the
next meeting. II was the intent OF the
motion to amend the constitution SO that
the recall would be operative.
Arbitration Committee Reports.
Toe arbitration committee reported
pMNkress through Chairman Farrell. The
committee has had in hand the Holland
bar, the Old Homestead bakery. and
Granada hall. Chairman Farrell reported
that the manager OF the Old Homestead
bakery had refused to meet the commit
tee.
Biacksmiths Withdraw.
communication was received from
nj ~~fa ~ s.w<l~ aea lnr M IN
organization had withdrawn from the
assembly. The communication was re-
ferred to the organizer.
owls Club on orIddie.
The Owls club. being built by the fra
ternnl organization OF that name, was
given scoring at the assembly meeting.
II seems that the work on the hall was
left to Fred Williams. and that he had
given most OF the contracts to unfair
firms A great part of the membership
Of the organization are union men. many
delegates to tho assembly. The matter
was put into the hands OF the arbitration
committee with power to act.
viii Fire Girls.
Delegate Hamilton. president OF the
Laundry Workers union, stated on the
floor that the management OF laundries
Ind told him that the laundries would
not reduce the wages OF girls on account
OF the eIght.hour day going into effect.
He said they intended to FIRE the girls
land hire others at dollar less week.
The most Of them now receive IS.
Trouble at Standard.
Ernest Kemmler, business agent for
the Soda Water Bottlers. reported that
his organization was having trouble with
the Standard Bottling Company. II
! seems that other organizations are hav-
ing grievances Mt the same place. The