The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-17
UNION LABOR SEEKS
To ORGANIZE EVERY
CRAFT IN RICHMOND
7. III. Flynn, General Organ
iZer of A. +. l.. Names
Leaders i'm Movement.
MEET TUESDAY NIGHT
Higher Scale, Shorter Hours
Held Out to Non-Uni0n
Men.

Unionization of all the crafts IN !
Richmond was given its initial impe-
tus yesterday morning at Central La
Dor Union hall. when 7. II. Flynn, OF
Pittsburg, general organizer for the
American Federation OF Labor. launch
ed a campaign which will have for its
aim the organization of all non-unton
laboring men OF Richmond. and the
strengthening of present labor organ
nations.
Mr.. Flynn will address a meeting
OF the Trades Council tomorrow night.
following which a cali Will be issued
for mass meeting of all the laboring
men in the city, both organized and
unorganiXed.
AT this meeting Mr.. Flynn will make
a general appeal cor the unorganized
laborer OF the city TO come into the
fold and enjoy the shorter hours. high
er wage scale and better working con-
ditions which unionism holds out as
an indueement TO the man who tolls
Organizers to Help.
The general plan for the campaign
| in Richmond has not yet been decided
upon. the methods OF procedure differ
ing in various localities. according to
local conditions. National organiER-
tons which are not represented by
| locals in Richmond. will be asked To
| send organizers her TO assist in the
work.
Mr.. Flynn arrived in the city Friday
evening, travelling under Instructions
| from Samuel w. Gonpers. president OF
the American Federation or Labor. who
who has direct supervision OF the
sixty general organizers OF the feder-
| alton
The call for the meeting was issued
by the local Trades Council, which
Will cooperate with Mr.. Flynn. A spe-
cial committee composed of a repre-
sentative OF the fifteen labor organiza-
ton in the city. OF which Lucius Har-
| rison, of the typographical Union. is
chairman. was selected to have gen.
eral charge Of the arrangements.
Following the meeting yesterday
morning the committee held a meeting
and selected number OF sub-commit-
tees to carry on the different details in
preparing for the campaign.
Declares Wages Low.
Mr.. Flynn said today that the wages
OF unorganized laborers in Richmond
are unusually low. when compared
with the money paid TO unorganized
labor in other cities, in many cases
running forty-1ve per cent lower than
wages commended elsewhere by non-
union workmen.
81 was told of a case yesterday" no
said, where a grandson is working on
the same job held previously by his
father, and before him by his grand
father. The grandson's wages are ave
per cent lower than those paid his
grandfather for doing idenfically the
same kind of work or course this is
an exceptional case.
The wages paid mechanics in Rich
mond are almost fifty per cent lower
than they should be. while the plumb
ers of this city are only paid half what
| they are paid in indianapolis. The
street car men in this city are re-
ceiving considerably less than they are
in Indianapolis. although the lines are
owned by the same company"
To Stay Here Six Weeks.
Organizer Flynn thinks that bis work
here will require his presence In the
city for at least six weeks should he
be called elsewhere before the work
is completed. the national organisation
will send some one else to take his
place.
Things look exceedingly good all
over the country for a strengthening
of unionism." said Mr.. Flynn in dis
cussing general labor conditions. an
dications are for the return of the
great days OF 1891. when unionism
grew and flourished over night IN
places where il had never before been
heard of Last year over half a mil
lion laboring men were taken into la
Dor organizations in the United States
alone"
Visited Here Before.
Mr.. Flynn has been in Richmond
a number OF times before. He was
last seen here six years ago. when
he was campaigning the state with
William Jennings Bryan in behalf OF
Thomas r. Marshall, candidate for
| governor against James r Watson.
who was in the bad gTaces of tbs
} American Federation of Labor and or
| ganized labor in general Mr.. Flynn
is boilermaker by trade. but for the
last nineteen years has been identified
with the work Of the federation.
The unionization Of the city viii not
mean labor difficulties. according TO
Mr.. Flynn The American Federation
! of Labor always insists that new or
gsniZations shall wait at least a year
before they ask for an increase in their
wage scale. In this length OF time they
are in shape to present their demands
and secure a favorable adjustment
without difficulty.
The number Of strikes over the
country is steadily growing less eacA
year" explained Mr. Flynn. In very
: rare instances is an old labor organ
ization called out on strike Most Of
the differences between them and their
employers are adjusted satisfactorily,
without the men being thrown out Of
. work Most of the strikes are engin-
eered by non-union bodies OF laborers.-
ATTACKS WOMAN