The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-11-22
CGGARMAKERS' UNION.
Benefits of Frequent Meetings Proved
at Recent Convention.

at Recent COnNenttOns
The story of the Cigarmakers' Inter
national union convention recently
held In Baltimore, lasting three weeks,
is one Of the interesting chapters In
the labor movement of America. The
international union had not held
convention for over sixteen years, but
had transacted its business, including
the nomination and election of officers,
by the initiative and referendum. II
any one fact was more clearly demon
strated than another it was the neces-
sity of international unions holding
conventions oftener than the cigar
makers have held theirs. says Samuel
Gompers.
Between the time of the previous
convention of 1896 and the one of
1912 three elections for officers had
taken place by the initiative and
referendum. and during these cam
paigns and in the interim a persistent
effort had been made to discredit the
officers and create suspicion and de-
stroy confidence in them without the
slightest opportunity for these officers
to defend themselves against the
slanderous insinuations against them
and the suspicious aroused as to their
course. In addition, the international
president and the executive board
have been required, under the law. to
render decisions. Often these deci-
sions. when adverse, were not taken
kindly by those against whom they
were rendered. These also had been
the cause of creating considerable bit
ter feeling.
Efforts were made by some local
unions TO hold a convention, but ac-
cording to the interpretations of many
of the SANDER mongers these efforts
were opposed by the officers Of the
international union. AS a matter of
fact under the law, a two-third vote
of the referendum was required to
order Il convention, and it was impos-
sibe TO secure the two-third vote.
Consequently one local union proposed
change in the law so that but a
majority of the referendum should be
empowered to call for a convention.
That amendment was adopted. A
proposition was then submitted for
holding a convention and was carried.
President Perkins and the other off
GERS were in favor of a convention, but
preferred the membership to decide for
themselves without being influenced.
After the convention was ordered
proposition was made to defer holding
it. President Perkins wrote an edit
torial in the official journal against
deferring, and the proposition TO defer
was defeated, and the convention was
duly held
President Perkins report to the con-
ventiOn contained much of good cheer
His report showed increasing longevity
of the workers and better wages.
On May 1. 1856, the Cigarmakers'
International union established the
eight hour workday, which has been
In force ever since. The effect Of the
shorter workday upon the health of
the cigarmakers is manifest. Tubercu-
losis and other preventable diseases
had been destructive to cigarmakers.
In 1888, two years after the Inaugural
ton of the eight hour workday. 81 per
cent of the total number of deaths
was due to tuberculosis. This percent
age has been decreased by 80 per cent.
The portion of the report containing
the record Of strikes and lockouts
showed In a general way increase in
wages.
Of the 365 applications for Increase
of wages, approved since the last re-
port (Sept. 1, 1900, involving 1911
members. over Sc per cent, or 314 diff
culties, were successful. OF the 1876
applications against reduction of wages
approved since last report, involving
1921 members, over 60 per cent were
successful.
Of the total number of strike appli-
cations approved since the last report,
1910 in number, involving 60,510 men,
bers, the percentage of successful
strikes is little over 70 per cent