davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
Prison Labor IN Texas

Galveston, April 10.-Recently a.
series of articles appeared in the Gal
weston News dealing wit hthe recent
tons of the Rate by Governor Col
quit and otl I 5, in which it is stated
that the governor wants. prison fac
tories and believes trade instruction
an aid to convicts. 1t is stated that at
one of the institutions a sash weight
foundry is running at full capacity.
The master mechanic in charge of this
portion of the work asserted that
nearly every large and modern build
ing in Texas is equipped with peniten-
tiary sash weights. A box and crate
factory has also been installed to en-
ploy seventy men. This institution is
at Rusk. At, Huntsville a clothing fac
tory has been installed, operating
twenty-eight sewing machines and
employing forty-seven men. The pri-
son department is also operating shoe,
wagon and ufmiture factories. 1t is
further asserted that it is the COVER
nor's intention to develop these indus
tries to their utmost capacity and to
install others as these installments be-
come practical and desirable. The
governor believes that through this
plan of operation will come one OF
the most powerful aids to the final
success sof the penitentiary in the full
achievement of its primary purpose.
The opinions of the governor and his
activity in promoting increased con-
vict labor production with the result
Of competing with free labor is in
odious compariso nwith the methods
employees in other states. The ten
dency in many states now is to elimin-
ate entirely the products of convict
labor with that of free labor, employ
ing convicts in the production of ma
teriafs used Ny the penitentiary and
corrective institutions of the state
and the building of state roads, The
manner of the employment of con
Victs in California is in striking con-
trast to Texas. In the latter state
laws have been enacted whereby the
labor OF convicts is used exclusively
by the state in maintaining its penal
and corrective institutions. Many
other states are gradually eliminating
the product of Tconvicts from competi-
ton with free labor. If the report
from Texas strue. that state is going
backward instead of forward when
considering the sentiment being de-
veloped in other states of theu Mon.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

agencies 92,4S1; management ex-
penses G4,612.
The total expenses for benefits
amounted to G95,795 of which only
fractional part, e120, was paid in
kind. Fourteen funds granted Christ
mas allowances to unemployed mem
bers; local unemployment and travel
ling benefits were granted by all
funds throughout the country; q
funds provided removal allowances;
payment in kind was made by funds.
In the year under review 81 funds had
expenses for employment agencies,
their membership being 1926. The
balance in hand of these funds amount
ed to 888,107, or 1873 per head.
In general the report shows that
voluntary unemployment insurance
with public grants in Denmark 0trave
reached pretty high standard The
contributions members pay are rather
high, only about a sixtt hpart of them
paying less than 10 kronen yearly.
At the yearly meeting of the I'm
employed Funds the State Labor In
spector complained bitterly that the
employed not only fight unemployment
funds with public subsidies (Which
have existed for years. but also are
attempting to bring about at the
coming revision a deterioration of the
law which regulates these matters.
The Insurance Funds have forwarded
a number Of proposals for improve
ments to the Revision Court.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

entitled History of Typographical
Union No. g. The volume has ne
les sthan 668 pages of interesting labor
matter and provides educational read
ing, for all.
Treating the rise of the modern ID
Dor movement it says that in the clos
ing days of 1849' formations of unions
began among a few METROPOLITAN
trades, the printers being in the van,
and the following spring the modern
labor movement was firmly launched
A central association, the Industrial
Congress was established in June 1850
which petitioned the Common Council
OF the city in regard to. labor condi-
tons and the housign question The
Congress took up the latter question
in October and raised $1,00O,000 for
the purpose. The movements among
the leading trades are Briefly describ-
ed, but it would take too much space
to go into details here.
The Typographical Union No be-
ing most important, an outline of it's
progress will not be amiss. No less
than six protective organizations of
printers preceded it, three in the
eighteenth and three in the nineteenth
centuris. 1t was in the Revolutionary
war priod that small body of crafts
men assembled one winter evening
with the sole purpose or insisting on
an advance in wages A strike fol-
lowed the refusal of their demands,
which, however, went in their favor.
The association was then dissolved.
This is interesting as being, doubtless
ly, the first strike in the printers trade
in America. Following this ephemeral
organization came the Typographical
Society in 1884, and the Franklin
Typographical Association in 1898.
Other trade unions were quiesent,
only. two trade sin New York were
organized strong enough in 1895 to de-
mand Improvements, the carpenters
and the masons. In 1900 the Franklin
Association prepared the first com
plete wages scale ever adopted by New
York city printers and declared
strike for its enforcement.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
The British National Centre Of Trade Unions

ponding to the Importance vi the trade
union movement in Great Britain. This
accounts for the greater part of the
British trade unions not belonging to
the International Secretariat and
also having no firmly established rela-
tions with the trade unions of other
countries. The relations with the var
ious International Trare Secretariats
are also, for the most part imperfect
In case of great labor disputes and
whenever financial assistance for the
unions of one or the other countries is
warranted, this state of affairs, of
course, is not satisfactory to either
side. For the whole trade union
movement it would certainly be bene-
fetal If the greater part of the trade
unions still outside the National Cen
tire could be, induced to Join, as is
the case in all European countries and
in the United States where the mod
ern trade union movement has estab-
1ished its own powerful national cen
tres. The National Centres are con-
sidered to be natural exchange for
all matters pertaining to the common
interests OF those affiliated, and
whose object Is not only to provide
for mutual assistan ecbut first of all
for propaganda and organizing work
in backward districts and trades, the
preparation of inquiries and statistics,
drafting of labor legislation, and so
on. The Parliamentary Committee,
body established by the majority of all
unions, cannot be considered an ade-
quate substitute for a National Centre
as described above as its activity Is
limited to jiont actions and legislative
matters, while it does not cover the
Aforementioned objects which appear
to be absolutely necessary from a
unions of any land want absolute unity
trade union point Of view Il the trade
q actiO nand purpose.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
LOS ANGELES CAMPAIGN

Los Angeles, April 1O.-At the re
cent meeting of the Executive Council,
of the Building Trades Department, A.
F. Of L., it was decided that a general
organizing moveemnt should be inau-
gurated in this city, to be opened on
April L. 1t was arranged that Presi-
dent Short, of the Building Trades De-
partment, together with the officials c.:
the local unions in this city, should
jointly direct teh campaign. The Off
Gals of the International unions have
been requested, and some have al
ready responded favorably to detail
organizers to this city to assist in the
work. The prospects look brighte,
for an increase in membership as the
result of agitation than at any time il
the past, and indications also-point tt
the fact that the unorganized are be
coming FESTIVE, which will undoubted-
ly result in the formation of many
new organizations
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

been upheld by the Supreme Courts of
these states.
The optional plan for New York
provides scheme of compensation or
insurance based upon the consent of
the employer and employee to operate
the law The amendments are Abol-
the assumption of risk defence; abol-
ish the defense of contributory negli
gence, or substitute comparative negli.
gence rule for contributory negligence
rule; increase the duties of the EN-
ployer as to accident prevention. Com
pensation should be based on loss of
wages, or a pension ysstem based on
injury or combined pension, insurance
and compensation. Each plan should
include first aid relief. AS regards
first aid California has limit of 80
days and $100; Illinois-.8 weeks and
5000; Kansas, New Hampshire and
Nevada to where employe dies leav-
ing no dependents-really provision
in favor of creditors, New Jersey to 2
weeks and 500; Massa husetts to 2
weeks and 500; Ohlp to not over 5000
Michigan reasonable for three weeks,
Washington something by way of add
ed compensation in case of total dis
ability, Wisconsin to first 80 days,
t limited only by the term reasonable :"
In relation to payments: In England
the employer pays all the compen a.
ton; in Germany the burden for the
first months is b. rne in part by the
empIoye, in all the American state
the burden is put on the employers liz
the first instance. excepting Ohio
where 10 per cent is taken from the
employee. M,
Wisconsin's experience for the first
eigh tmonths of the working of the
law was satisfactory. About 40 per
cent Of the employees in the hazardous
occupations were then under the act,
SO per cetn of the claims being paid
by the employers without the interyen-
| ton of the commissioners.
| On the opportunities and obligations
OF commissioners of labor it was
stated that there we're still a number
of states having no adequate legisla-
tive authority for the collection Of in
, dustrial accident statistics but bills
were being drafted for new legislation
| in 1913 Closely allied with the ac-
cident class of industrial industries is
a group Of work hazards known as
diseases of occupation. During the
past two years 8 states have enacted
laws requiring physicians to report on
cases of poisoning from lead, arsenic,
mercury and phosphorus. as we'll as
anthrax and compressed air illnesses.
Another object for legislation is
Sunday observance as day of rest
The Minnesota bureau of labor has re-
ported that in that state 1876 rail
road men,. $40 5trolley men, 1920
men in heat, light and power plants
1850 in hotels and restaurants. and
1881 clerks in drug stores, worked Z
| days a week In New York, 1910, 1000
photographers and 2,244 stationery en-
gineers reported 7-day week. The
Nnited States Bureau of Labor repotr-
ed in the summer sof that year that
so per cent of the steel workers were
working II hours day and 81 per
cent days a week.
| The goth annual convention will be
| held in Chicago. May 9Th to 9Th, this
year. The 9th annual convention Of
the international Association of Fac
tory Inspectors will be also held in
Chicago on the same dates. III
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
Stick By Union

Trenton, n. j., April 10.-Recently
the Roebling Company met a commit
tee of the recently organized union,
which is now on strike and submitted
a proposition that the company would
increase the pay of the strikers 2k
cents per hour, and reinstate all who
went on strike, provided the American
Federation of Labor charter would be
destroyed. At meeting held imme-
diately after this proposition was sub
mitted, and attended by 700 strikers,
it was unanimously voted to accept the
increase, but also unanimously voted
to refuse to destroy the charter of
their organizations The members OF
this union understand that the forma-
ton of the union was the one fact that
had the influence upon the company
to offer an increase, and they propose
to keep intact the organization for the
purpose of maintaining any increase
which may come to them as a result
of this strike.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

The General Federation of Trade
Unions, which is affiliated to the Inter
national Secretariat, is recognized as
the National Centre Of Trade Unions
of the United Kingdom. Unfortunate
ly the Federation is not sufficiently
appreciated in British trade union cir
cles. 1t is regarded only as strike
insurance society to which such trade
unions should affiliate which fear they
may need the help of others in eco
nomical troubles. Therefore. the larg-
est and most powerful trade unions of
the country do not belong to the Fed
Grafton. There is greater tendency
among the smaller Organizations to
affiliate. The Federation does not
cover third of the trade union mem
bers for these reasons. How much
affiliation to this National Centre is
considered particularly from a bust
ness point of view is shown by the re-
ports of some of the affiliated trade
unions, which publish a special ae-
count of how much they have paid to
the National Centre and what amount
they have received for support in re-
IuIu. OuCH spuD1CdG1OuS SHOW 6On~
orally that. the National Centre has
profited from these affhations-in
other cases it appears that these facts
are omitted. This is for part of the
members and particularly for the non
affiliated trade unions one of the most
certain proofs that utilization does not
pay. Such a view is very short-sight=-
ed and to be regretted Out Of it
arises more or less sharp rivalry
with other bodies which have Id
course of time been created within
the labor movement, and this results
in the General Federation as trade
union national centre. neither in Eng
land nor In the Trade Union Interna-
tiOnaI. not occupying Q position cores
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

kind to him since he is a friend of
Teddy's.
In addition to his coal operations
he is president of the United National
Bank OF Scranton, secretary and treas
urer of the Scranton and Binghamton
Traction Company, a director of the
international Textbook Company. the
International Educational Publishing
Company.
"A K. Grihith OF West Pittston, Pa,
is vice president of this same coal
company, being also a director Of the
Latrobe Trust Company, First Nation
al Bank of Latrobe, the international
Textbook Company and the Interna
tional Educational Publishing Com
pany.
T. ]. Foster. b Scranton, Pa, is
treasurer. Mr.. Foster IS the founder
and president of the international
Correspondence Schools of Scranton
Pa. The International Textbook Com
pany owns the schools.
In the twenty years since its organ
ization, the Textbook Company has
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
Protection OF Workers
In The United States

The report of the twenty eighth an
nual convention of the International
Association of Officials of Bureaus of
Labor Factory Inspectors and Indus
trial Commissioners, heir last May at
Washington, has just been published
1t contains great deal of interesting
information on the trobulede question
Of the protection of labor, review
of which will not be amiss. Attack
was early made on the system of work
mems compensation and accident pre-
vention which is worked on differ
ent system in nearly every state. In
same cases. compensation is too small
while the laws apply only to certain
Industries and in other cases seem
TO indicated istinctly class legislation.
In relation to this question speaker
1T the convention stated that a great
deal had been said and written about
The exohbitant rates charged by stock
companies for Workmen's cOmpenSa-
ton insurance, the general impression
being that,-this should cost no more
than common liability. However, I'M
der common liability workman was
not supposed to be able to recover
amages unless it were proven in a
curt, of law that his employers had
been guilty of gross negligence. Sta
tistics show that only Is to 20 per cent
IF all industrial accidents can be
harged to this account, therefore, un-
Ter common liability only this per-
entage of injuries would be recogniz-
ed for compensation. 1t was further
aid that America could not success
ully initiate any European system to
meet her needs. The chief concern
should be prevention; men should not
re allowed to lose their lives because
If poisond aair, badly protected ma
Hhinery, earelessness, etc.
In the state of Wisconsin, it was
bserved, during the year ending
Iune 7th, 1908, there was lost as a
1000 men which, based on the aver
| age earning per employee would amount
to something like 100000. The sum
Of 100000 would more than compen-
safe. every person in the state to
, whom any accident occurred ma basis
of IS per cent loss of wages, and leave
the insurance companies quite a mar
gin.
! Another question OF importance
i which came-up was the unity of pur-
pose among state bureaus regarding
which it was shown that unity of pur-
pose could accomplish the working out
|. of desirable laws bearing on statisti-
cal reports, age limit and educational
qualifications for children restrictions
of the labor of women, hours of labor
in factories and shops, safety devices,
fire escapes, sanitary buildings and
surroundings, and for inspection of all
these phases of work.
| The fifth session of the convention
reverted to the question of workmen' s
compensation and it was mentioned
that eleven. states had some form of
compensation laws modifying the COM
pensation laws modifying the COM
mon law liability. These states were
California, 4 Illinois, Kansas, New
Hampshire. New Jersey, Wisconins
Nevada, -Massa chusetts, Ohio, Michi'
gan and Washington. New York has
compensation law which was declar-
ed unconstitutional by its Supreme
Court The Massachusetts, Ohio,
Washin, ton and Wisconsin acts have
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
The Negro Question

are prevented from polling Ths.u
are: ~ every <pter must be AM. -
read. (2) Every voter must be m nos
session of certain private means vs.
poll tax; ca the voter must give nroo.
of permanent employment. an IN
diers. old warriors and their offsnrsno,
may vote; (6) the voter must De- ahsa
to prove his good character. A7l ~
we'll known grandfather clause &C ord
ing to which perhons wohse foretifb.
ers were snfranchised before tha he.
freeign OF the negroes may vote ~
the voter must be able to exul4ln
some passages Of the. Constitution "a,
ected by the election committee a..
the reader may recognize, the half NJ
.hese regulations consist of clauses Nv
which the whiteman, losing his Vote an
one would regain it on another whire
he colored man is adversely affected
by at least one clause. Then there is
the base partisansip of the election
committee, the final authority &Aico
always decided against the negro
In Louisiana the population in lNBl,
onsisted of 729,6l2 whites and $40 s4
aegroes3 of these there We're l7N.sa5
whites and lat, 348' negroes over. n
yeras of age; 146,219 whites and 9..aNb
negroes could read and write, MA..e
he il1iterates were 80, 1875 whites aid
}0,262 colored persons Eight yafr>
alter in 1908, however, there were.son
he voters register 153:135 whites I'D
altogether. only 174S negroes A.
though in the year 1900, $1,000 negrs IS
lived in the state who were abse -
read and write, number which, tiieie
is no question, had increased eonsid, r
IDLY in 1908, only LOO We're Able
o vote.
That is the position the negroes in
he southern states are confronted
With today. They are prosecuted. Wor-
ried and chared with savagery, their
cultural development is hindered. and
they are termed stupid money Is.
1raWn from the colored population for
| the fitting and upkeep of educational
| establishments for whites and as far
as possible the doors of schools are
closed on negro children. AS All ex-
ample, in Virginia, the total eXpendi-
| ture, on negro schools is 14.7 per cent.
although colored persons make up -
per cent of the population. The same
luties devolve on the negroes as on
The whites without the former how
ever, being granted anything like the
;ame rights.
In such circumstances it must be
a tremendous task for the trade an
ions to organize the negroes. Tie
American Federation of Labor has ri
ways declared for the trade union Or
ganization of negroes, and compelled
kaf1hated trade unions to admit color
ed persons. However, this has had
no effect in many local unions where
opposition to the negro has. not been
overcome.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
THE STRIKE MOVEMENT IN LONDON

The cabinet makers, chair makers
and machinists in the joiners' shops
of London West are on strike for an
increase Of I'D an hour and reduc-
ton of hours from so to 4S per week.
The International Woodworkers' sec
retariat informs us that their English
colleagues iare seeking help to pre-
vent all immigration of workers dur
ing the movement.
The London Hotel and Restaurant
Workers Union has telegraphed to us
that their strike is assuming great di-
mansions. The victory of the bakers,
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
Here's The List
OF Coal BarOIlS

We have come into possession re-
Gently of prospectus of the Lackawa,
ma Coal and Lumber Company, which
owns and controls the Paint Creek
Golfers Company where the fiercest
exploitation has been going on and
find "the men behind" this company
about whom the prospectus boasts so
much.
They are W. L. Cornell OF Scranton,
Pa, president Of the company, we'll
Known exploiter in the hard coal field.
the very same whom Teddy appointed
in 1918 to the Board of Cancellation
for the great anthracite strike; posi-
bly, this is the reason the Leader is. so
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

with whom they have much in com
mon, seems to have assisted the move
ment so that success has already been
achieved in several large places. The
greatest danger to the union threatens
from the continent from where at this
time of the year thousands of young
walters go to London and work
cheaply and hard in order to learn
the language. The organization de-
sires, therefore, to hold this pilgrim
age back, Especially is it hoped that
offers of work from London be de-
clined.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
Modern Labor Movement In America
The Rise of Great Union

The story of the labor movement in
America, particularly that of the New
York Printers since the revolution to
the present day, is well handled, by
Mr.. George Abbott Stevens, senior
statistician in the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, in the annual report of the
New York State Department, part /,
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

divided seven million dollars in profits
and its stock is now closely held at
$4,000 per share.
From the above statements you may
know what a philan thropic organiza
ton is behind the l. C. 8. They are
simply overcrowding the skilled labor
market and beating down the wages
of those workers. and then pose as
great benefactors of humanity-Jus-
tice..
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10
NOT COMPETENT JUROR.

Harrisburg. Pa, April 1O.-The su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania has held
in the case Of Huffnagle vs.. Delaware
and Hudson Company, that an en-
ploye of corporation was not COM
petent juror in an action against it.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

THE MAJORITY can supply You with
photo enEravings bearing the Union
Label Of the International Photo En-
gravers Union. The union label ap-
pears In the printed picture. When
ron do not zee the label. the eut Vas
net 0Alo4 0A40.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-10

CONTINUED ON PAGE .