United labor bulletin., 1914-11-14
Labor's National Congress
Meets at Cradle of Liberty
Continued from Page One. ]


for mental training; the churches which
minister to their spiritual needs; the
stores from which they buy their cloth
ing, food and other necessities; the post
offices where they get their mail, money
orders and conduct their crude banking
transactions Every detail of mining
life is under supervision of the mine
operators through their power of owner.
ship. In time of strike the mine opera
tors have the power of eviction and have
forced hundreds of strikers and their
families to seek shelter in tent colonies,
with the constant danger of exposure.
There can be no real freedom under
such conditions of industrial tyranny.
Employment of Guards.
I'm addition to problems arising from
feudal ownership of land, the mine op-
orators have assumed police power.
They employ armed mine guards to
maintain their regulations and to guard
mine property. In times of industrial
peace the mine guards serve as police
and prevent undesirable persons from
trespassing upon the land of the mining
companies. The elastic term trespass
has been interpreted to mean all man.
ner of organizing activities. In times
of industrial disputes the mine guards
are increased and more heavily armed.
These conditions beget violence and in
dustrial disputes in many OF these dis
triets are now practically civil war.
Membership Now 2,o2o,67l.
The use of armed troops by mine op-
orators and the power resulting from
ownership of large tracts of contiguous
territory and the subversion of civil
government to military rule are some of
the most serious of modern industrial
&l.t
the various State Federations of labor
endeavor to secure legislation prohibit
ing this brutal practice, which is sub
versive of all industrial justice and free
DOM
Statistical reports show the member
ship this year to total 2,020,67l, as
against l,996,004 last year. The ! cent
assessment fund to defray expenses OF
the United Hatters and contempt cases
shows that Sl5,0lS was collected and
that the sum OF Sl4,752 has been ex-
pended, the largest item being attorney
fees to Alton Z. Parker for both cases,
amounting to S9,547. Charters issued
this year TO various unions numbered
225.
Carpenters Fight Continued.
In connection with the jurisdictional
fight between the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and the Sheet Metal Work
ers' Union over the manufacture and
erection of metal trimmings for build
ings. the convention adopted the recon-
mendation of the executive council that
a committee OF nine be appointed with
the purpose OF bringing about an agree.
ment between the two crafts. the COM
mittee to report not later than next
Monday.
The following committee was named
To act in the matter: James Kirby, p
II. Mccarthy and John A. Metz. for the
carpenters; John J. Hyncs. Thomas Red
ding and Hugh +. Sayne. for the sheet
metal workers. and Matthew Vol,
photographers James j. Sweeney. gran
ite cutter. and William Green. miner,
representing the Federation.
Resolutions introduced.
Among the resolutions presented and
referred were these:
rendering the good offices OF the Fed
Grafton to bring about peace in Europe;
giving central labor bodies power to
carry out decisions made by the Fed
Grafton in jurisdictional disputes; re-
questing the president of the United
States to prohibit the United State ma
rine band from entering into profession
al competition with other musical or
CARNATIONS: favoring the organization
of an independent labor party; advo-
eating a six-hour work day; fayoring
organization by industry; condemning
the piece system in government work;
increasing the number OF vice presidents
of the Federation from eight to nine,
urging the revocation by the public au-
thorities of the licenses Of detective
agencies that furnish workmen to EN-.
ployers in time of strikes.
Want Federal Operation.
Delegates from miners unions to the
American Federation of Labor conven-
ton announced their intention OF press.
ing before the convention Il resolution
demanding that the United States gov
crnnent operate the mines in Colorado.
The miners hold that the government
ownership of the Alaska railroad fur
nishes u precedent for the ownership of
the mines. canvass of the delegates
indicates that they generally approve of
the plan.