The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-22
UNORGAN|zEO LABOR
HERE CHECKS WAGE
ADVANCES ELSEWHERE
Organizer Flynn Argues That
Richmond Retards Growth
of UniOnism.
ATTACKS LOW SCALE
Local Factories Underbid
Others Because of Cheap
Labor, Flynn Holds.
BY w. 2. PouNpsTONE.

BY w. r. POUNDSTONE.
Non-union labor in Richmond keeps
down increase of wages, perpetuaun8
a low standard Of living IN other cities,
and permits cheap and unfair compe-
tition against unionmade goods in
the open market, was the structure
passed on labor conditions here by
r. II. Flynn, organizer of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, in an address
before more than two hundred workers
at the K. of +. temple last night.
Richmond adVertises that children
work here, many crafts are unorgan-
lied, labor troubles unknown, women
toll for a small wage, and factories
are seldom visited by factory inspec-
tors" said the speaker the result
being that industries employing union
labor, which must compete with your
manufacturers, are handicapped be-
cause Richmond factories, with cheap
labor, underbid them in the markets.
AS q consequence, increased wages
elsewhere can not be obtained"
Non-uniou Men Present.
The crowd which filed the hail.
seemed TO give enthusiastic reception
to the observations of MI Flynn, VINO
is here to complete uniOniZation OF
all the crafts and trades OF the city.
Union men We're present in goOdly
numbers, but for the most part the
attendance which heard Mr.. Flynn,
Lucius Harrison, president of Rich
mond Typographical Union and ". q.
Shea, of Louisville, general organizer
OF the Painters, Decorators and Paper
Hangers Union. was made up of non
union plumbers, electricians, fathers,
teamSterS, garment workers. bakers,
cement workers, laundry and wood
workers..
After adjournment, representatives
OF several unorganzed or imperfectly
organized trades conferred with Mr..
Flynn regarding unionization. The
laundry workers are expected to form
a union this afternoon, and Sunday
there will be a meeting of various
building trades to take initial steps
in uniorfizing the unorganized, perfect
ing the organization OF those which
have unions, and to create a building
trades council.
Flynn to Remain.
Mr. Flynn, it is said by labor lead
ers, iii remain in Richmond at least
month to supervise the working out
of the impressive subject of complete
ly unonzing the numerous crafts
which find employment in this city.
1t is understood that 10 will play an
important part in placing the new
Car Mems Union on a substantial ba-
sis and lend services in the negotia-
tons with the street railway company
for an advanced wage scale. and that
he will take a hand in the fight with
the Stage Mechanics Union to COM
pei a recognition of that union by the
management of the Murray and Gen
nette theatres. The Union musicians
employed at these two theatres are
now out on strike in support of the
stage mechanics union.
Few Unions Here.
In calling the meeting to order,
Chairman Harrison announced that
the object sought was to ascertain the
sentiment of the working people of
Richmond on the organization of the
various unorganized trades.
mo state in the union IS so far be
hind in the trades union movement
as Indiana, and Richmond has as low
a union rating as any city in the state, -
he said.
Chairman Harrison also announced
that within two or three weeks another
mass meeting would be held. when
ne hoped, the work OF unionizing the
unorganized crafts would be we'll un
der way.
Mr.. Flynn explained the benefits ac
cruing to the working classes from the
national trades union organization
pointing out the active part unionism
has played in obtaining better wages
for workers. He pointed out that the
trade unions brought about child la
Dor laws, improved conditions in fac
tories, mines and sweatshops. and
humanitarian legislation and how the
organization had raised the standard
OF American womanhOod.
Unions Necessary.
Organization of the nations work
ers is necessary, he held, to keep ir
step with the progress of the times
He said special privileges had raised
the standard of living and that it was
necessary for the working classes &c
hold their own in the frenzied strug
gle for existence. to secure wage in
CreaseS in proportion to the inCrea ses
in prices OF the necessities of life
Monopoly today even controls the
market of the cradles IN which we
rock our babies. and from the cradle
to the grave We meet az every hand
the constantly increasing cost of liv
ing. The Casket Trust makes it al
most TOO costly to die" said the
speaker.
Mr.. Flynn averred that even the law
yers are now OrGanized calling the
bar association the "lawyers union.
and the Judges Of the courts their
walking delegates" He charged thai
while the courts recognized the right
of lawyers 10 organize. such effort or
the part of workers was frequently
discouraged by sentencing labor lead
ers to prison.
Pleads FOR Shorter Hours.
Union labor. Flynn said. fought
for eight-hour working days as we'll az
living wages. and it was the stout
champion of all undertakings to i'm
prove working conditions and uplif
the American home
He said that every effort TO improve
the conditions of the workers. as 6
rule. met with the opposition of the
powerful National Manufacturers AS
sociation, which spent its money free
~ in its fight against union labor.