United labor bulletin., 1913-10-18
General Advances Shown by
Secretaries of the Various
Organizations.
MINE WORKERS ARE PLEASED
Union Has Had Phenomenal Growth,
According to President White
Figures of the Government
Department of Labor.


very active and successful one for
trade unionism throughout the coun-
try, according to the reports of offi-
GERS of international organizations A
symposium of the achievements of
constructive trade unionism is given
by officers of international unions In
letters printed in the American Fed
erationist, the official organ of the
American Federation of Labor. 1t
is gratifying to be able to state that
In the spring of 1912 successful wage
scales were negotiated in every min
ing district. bituminous and anthra-
cite. carrying with them an increase
In wages and improved conditions of
employment" says John P. White,
general president of the United Mine
Workers of America. In addition to
this. the interstate joint movement
was rehabilfated and reorganized
along new lines This includes
western Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana
and Illinois, and at the conferences
of the interstate movement agree
ments are reached which form the
basis for wage scales throughout the
bituminous fields of the country. The
growth of our union has been phe-
nomenal within the last year: its
membership having been increased
by more than 100000 new members.
Our membership Is now more than
100000. In the month of February OF
the present year our paid-up member
ship reached the high-water mark of
399 800 For that same months there
were exonerated from the payment OF
dues in accordance with our laws. 49,
1i9 members. making a grand total of
412.959 members"
Neutrality-suspicious. increase
in wages. combined with a decrease
in working hours. has come to the
almost 100000 men employed in the
lumber. millwork. and furniture man
ufacturing industries of the country
during the last 90 years, as shown by
figures prepared by the department
of labor. In lumber manufacturing
since 1890 there has been an increase
of 90 per cent. in wages, while work
ing hours have been shortened almost
four per cent: in millwork the wage
gain has been 33.4 per cent, the
working hour decreased five per cent.
and in furniture manufacturing. 34.4
per cent. wage increase. and T.3 work
Ing hour decreased. The departments
information on which its statistics
we're based covered more than three
fifths C: the employees in the various
occupations.
Was1ington.-Great growth by the
American Federation of Labor was
shown at the quarterly meeting OF the
executive council Secretary Nor
rison's report for the eleven months
of the fiscal year ending August 81
showed that the membership of af-
filiated organizations for August last
was 2,O7S.5 .597. against l.s29 $50 for Au-
gust last year, gain OF 249,047- A
total of 304 charters to unions were
issued from October I. 1912. to Au-
gust 81 last. compared with 2i3 for
the same period of the preceding fiscal
year.
Washington.-Samuel Gompers and
Frank Morrison OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. and the seven vice
presidents composing the executive
council. formally thanked President
Wilson for his appointment of William
8. Wilson as secretary of labor The
council discussed at length with the
president several pending labor meas
ures.
Charleston, w Va-Thomas Cairns.
president of District No. II. United
Mine Workers OF America. has issued
an order that no more strikes are to
be tolerated unless approved by the
proper authorities. President Cairns
order was the result OF walkouts of
miners throughout the recent trouble
zone of West Virginia.
Indianapolis.-P. j. Doyle, formerly
an Indianapolis newspaper man. has
accepted the position of associate
editor of the Carpenter the official or
gan of the United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners OF America. which
is published in this city.
London misunderstanding to the
report of the British factory inspec-
tors the number of deaths in factories
caused by accidents was 1850 in the
year 1912. as compared with 1882 in
1911. and 1.0s0 in 1910.
Brussels. Belgium.-A state insur-
ance plan for old age. sickness and dis
eblement, after the English pattern.
has been placed before the Belgian
parliament.
Washington.-Of 32.4O9 workers.
whose actua! wages were copied from
the pay roll of southern mills. only
1,444 earned from So to 50 a week
London, England.-The British Med
icaI association. at its annual meeting.
seriously debated the advisability of
organizing as labor union.
Melbourne, Australia.-Three recert
Australian laws dealt with the erec-
tion of cheap residences to be sub
sidized by the government.
Washington.-A new trade union
house of the woodworkers of Germany