davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
CHAIRMAN WALSH OF WAR LABOR BOARD

One of the most important phases
of the work incident to the prosecu-
ton of the war is the maintenance of
industrial peace. This task is largely
in the hands of the National War
Labor board, which is composed of
five representatives of labor and five
Of business, and two joint chairmen,
former President w. H. Taft and
Frank P. Walsh, the latter having
been named by the labor members of
the board. Ralph Block in the New
York Tribune says the following about
Mr.. Walsh:
'The times have changed; Walsh
hasn't. In 1915 it was contrast that
made him appear strident, contrast
between the life he was scrutinizing
and the attitude he bore toward it.
AS chairman of the presidents in
dustrial relations commission he came
down on the modern mechanism
with a heavy hand, tore at it unspar-
ingly to discover it's intention and it's
objective. But if Walsh's voice was
rough, the cQnntry's was p1aintive and
offended. They were quits on that
score. Even liberals-who must be
found Walsh too strong a medicine.
When the commission automatically
ceased to. exist Walsh eretired from
the prints for time.
HE is back now, unchanged. But
a different world greets him. Demo-
cracy has come to be something more
than a phrase.
At Long Table.
HE sat in his office on the eighth
| floor of the Labor Department office
building, in Washington, few days
| ago, sat on one side of long board
table, and explained what the War
! Labor board want ted to do. As one Of
| the joint chairmen Of the board his
explanation has the quality ~of auth
ority. =
walsh talks concisely, definitely,
but not with the thin allowance of
imagination that betrays SO, many
concise men. Instead, his speech
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13

has pleasant am plitude about it,
though failing nowhere to hug the
line toward his point.
The theory that generally pre-
vailed before the war; he began, was
that the wages for labor were fixed
by supply and demand. AS an ex-
PLANTATION of economic processes that
theory is a shanaa, and a delusion.
Many other Influences creep in to set
aside any <possible authority that
economic principle might have. In
the large industrial centers, where
most of the workers are gathered, the
wage is fixed by the great employers.
For instance, in Chicago it is fixed by
!: the great packing interests, by the
International Harvester company and
by the Link-Belt company.
Right to Fight for 1t. {.
The effect of this defenceless po-
sition of the worker upon industry
and the life of the nation is manifest.
Every man has a. right to a living
wage, roof over his head, enough
to eat and drink. If he hasn't these
he has the human right to fight for it.
If society will not let him fight for
it, he is left to work and sweat all his
life, with nothing to look forward to-,
and perhaps the potter's grave at last.
It is terrible end to look forward to.
To make sure that society's work will
be donetwe bolster up these men with
associated charities and public hos
pitals.
"'We mean to substitute something
else for that. The work Of this War
Labor board, the end it is trying to
achieve, stands for economic justice.
The board has laid down certain prin-
ciples on which labor and its employ
ers will stand. During the war we
! need continuous stream Of produc-
ton. There can be no gaps in it..
There can be no ground for disagree
ment and discord. The war is the
| country's first object. You have read
the report Of the War Labor Confer
| ence board, that there shall be no
i strikes or lockouts in war time, that
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
huns: AT home REVEALED
by FEDERAL COMMISSION
Report to Congress Scores Packers, Aillers, Steel
Maenates and Others for Exasting Excessive
Profits From People During National Crisis.

WASHINGTON, July 11-Au doubt to the existence Of
ciou and widespread profteerng by special interests in the
nted has been aside by the federal trade commits
ons report June 2S This commission reports
lows:
profeering by American exists, in
alarming degree.
That leather profits increased high five times
years.
That % typical bmnous coal mines central Pennsylvania
eraged 80 cents ton in 1917 against 20 cents ton
1916.
That in 1917 the steel companies made abnormal profits in the
rod prior the prve fxing and that number
continued make unusually heavy profits that policy
inagated Their profits instances have ranged from
10 to 319 per
the average profits in the copper industry have been
than doubled those Of normal years.
That milk and salmon and other food product
made exorbant profits in the Salmon
of for instance approximately 528 per cent net in
1917 The Hevetia Milk Condensng made
r it's investment.
The outstanding the industrial survey which the
made declares the lis the heavy
the packers and by those allied with Them
the flour milers
heir the packers) manpuaons of the market embrace
cry that is useful to them without regard to law.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13

workers shall have the right to or
ganize, that there shall be no limita-
ton by the workers on production,
that living wages shall be paid and
decent hours of employment fixed.
This board is here to see that these
just and equitable bases Of industrial
progress are observed through the
country
Built for Hard Hitting.
HE is a compact man, closely knit,
without room for waste strength or.
energy, His face might be described
contradictorily as an Irish face built
on the Greek system. 1t is round
ing face, but seems gathered every
where for economy Of power The
nose takes every advantage of being
nose, but refuses to go any further
that that. His eyes are not too
deeply set, placed just at the proper
depth to inspire confidence. little
lines of humor radiate from them.
More energetic lines run down from
the tip of the firm nostrils to the side
of the mouth. And the mouth is firm
and full, opening sometimes in con-
versation, which is vigorous. to dis
close unostentatious rows Of strong,
regular teeth. The total impression
is of a man built for hard hitting.
HE has done lots of it. He could
have been a Democratic governor of
Missouri, but preferred to stay out
side Of regularity and speak his mind.
He began as a messenger boy, was
railroad clerk, became stenogra-
pher, studied law, developed a large
corporation practice, which he later
discarded, and took part, in some OF
the most interesting legal fights in
! Missouri e; =
| HE is emotional and has the rare
| gift of feeling intensely and think
ing straightst the same time. When
| he talks he looks as If he meant every
word Of it. .~r ,.
e"If war has any effect on us it
pwill be to disclose and develop others
like him. WALSH is one, Of the signs
of the time" .==s
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13

National Protest. Day
on July @ Against
Hanging Of Mooney

~
SAN FRANCISCO, July 1.-THE
warrant for the execution of Tom
Mooney is signed. The date of
MONEYS death is set for Aug. %.
President Wilson has telegraphed
Governor Stephens of California for
the third time asking him to find
some way to grant Mooney a new,
trial. All the ! powerful interests
opposed to labor are endeavoring
to have Governor Stephens COM
mute MONEYS sentence to life inn
prisonment, and thereby entomb
him for life along with Warren k.
Billings, in order to save them from
further exposure in this frame up.
Mooney and Billings have long
proved their innocence. Billings
cannot speak for himself for he is
behind the walls of Folsom.
Mooney wants no compromise
which leaves a stain or even a s,ls-
picion of guilt against his character.
The unions composing the De-
fense league have adopted the sug-
gestion of Chicago and Seattle
districts asking that national day
of expression and protest on the
Mooney case be set. Sunday, July
%, has been set as the most ap-
prOpriate day for national con-
sideratiOn Of these cases.
The defense is asking all union
councils over the states to appoint
committees to arrange for mass
meetings on this date and send suit
able resolutions to President Will
son and Congress, in accordance
with the spirit OF the resolution of
the American Federation of Labor
sent some time ago.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
Will 0PENLANb
TO SOLDIERS AT
END OF :ThE:W|AlI'R
Interior Department Is Consider:
ing Plans to Absorb
Vast Armies. -

WASHINGTON, July 11-Plans
are being worked out by Secretary,
Lane of the Interior department to
connect Uncle Sans soldiers and
sailors with the public domain when
they return from the war after peace
is declared. !
Every country is planning to provide
land for their defenders as sort of
shock absorber to take care of the
vast armies that will be turned back
into the channels of industries. Eng
land, France, Australia and Canada
have been considering land projects
for soldiers in various parts of their
wide domains.
In this country after the Civil war
many of the returned soldiers went
portant factor in settling the west.
on government land and were an i'm
Now the conditions are different Most
of the good raw land is gone, but
there are millions of acres that may
be made productive by drainage, by
irrigation and by clearing away the
stumpage.
Secretary Lane proposed that the
soldiers shall not be sent to this land
in it's raw state, but that the gov
eminent shall engage in reclamation
projects and that homes shall be pro-
vided on farms that are all ready for
occupants to operate. Some plan of
allowing long term payments for the
improvements will be worked out.
Congress has already placed 100000
at the disposal of Secretary Lane as
a preliminary appropriation.
There are 100000 acres of dry
land in Nebraska in the North Platte
irrigation project, there are great cut
over and burned over tracts in Idaho,
Montana and Minnesota, and it is esti-
mated that 100000 acres may be
reclaimed by drainage Of swamps
along the Mississippi.
Farm tenancy is on the increase in
America as noted by each new fed
eral census. In Denmark, Ireland and
New Zealand it has been on the de-
crease for some years because intelli-
gent efforts have been made by the
government in these place to return
the land to the workers by means of
long-term payments and by encourage
ing cooperative institutions.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
SET WAGE FOR MECHANICS
IN PACIFIC SH|PYARDS

VANCOUVER, B. c., July 11.-A
daily wage of $3.50 per mechanic, a.
Saturday half holiday and control of
shipyard employment by the union
are main features of the new agree
ment recently formulated by the ex-
ecutive board of the Pacific coast
council of Boilermakers, Iron Ship
builders and Helpers. The new ar
rangement became operative July 1
and has been ratified by all locals on
the coast except San Francisco. A
territory extending from the Mexican
border to Prince Rupert, Can, is af-
-fected by the new order.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
ASK WARLAb0R
BOARD TO make
. y. REIMBURSEMENT ):
Fitty-three Bridgeport Concerns
Recognize Futi|ity Of 0ppos-
ing Their Employees.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE city
of Bridgeport, Conn.,, has furnished
the best example of the effect of war
labor conditions upon the willingness
of employers to be reasonable. Fifty
three concerns, employing $4,000 men
and women, have asked the War La
Dor board to readjust the whole
scheme of industrial relations as it
now exists there. Former President
Taft and Frank P. Walsh, joint chair
men. with William H. Johnston Of
the Machinists and Loyal A. Osborne
of the employers side of the board,
have begun the hearing Of the issues
in the ease. Frederick N. Judson Of
St. Louis has been named by Taft to
act as his substitute during part of the
proceedings.
This wholesale offer to take what
ever terms the board should agree
upon was made when the board-was
about to readjust the employment con-
ditions of the Machinists and some
other skilled trades in these plants.
The employers told the board that if
tIc Sh4llcu 11lc1l SOL 1IlOIe pay anu DSl-
ter conditions, it would be a matter Of
! only a few days until the unskilled
labor would begin to make trouble,
too. They were ready to have the
! whole business settled at once.
! The fact is, these employers were
ready to surrender in a war they had
been making against the labor move
ment in Bridgeport for the past six
months. The first proof of surrender
was their agreement, at the order of
| the board, to reinstate all men who
had been: dismissed for union activity
| or affiliations. Ten thousand men had
struck and more were on the point of
striking when the white flag of these
| big employers was rung up. The
board announces that it's award will,
of course, conform to the principles
proclaimed by President Wilson, in
cluding the 'health and comfort
standard of wages.
One of the employers involved is
the Remington Arms company, which
with five other firms, makes SO per
cent of all the cartridges used by the
American armies abroad
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13

"HOWeVer delicate dennltlOn IS
,med for profit eering' these packers
We preyed upon the people uncon-
onably.
I'm the three war years from 1915
1917 their total profits (Armour,
= 'ift Morris and Cudahy) have
,ched the astounding figure Of
4O,0O0o00, of which s121, 100000
presents excess over their pre-war
ofits.'
Big Profits in Flour.
Flour millers made unusual profits,
tn average earnings up to June 80,
-17, of nearly sS per cent. In face
the regulation of 25 cents per bar
maximum, the average profit per
rrel on this flour "a 100000 barrel
tput investigated) was about As
ITS a barrel, or over three times
normal profit. The profits of job
rs in 1917 were over twice the
NAL.
These conclusions carefully arrived
by the Federal Trade commission
sufficiently serious condemnation
the attitude of our monopoly in
.ests toward the nation in time of
r. but the real facts are stronger.
e commission had to rely on reports
1t to it by the corporations. The
cans and the temptation for con-
alment in these reports are almo
thout limit. and what doctoring of
ures the commission has discovered
in the case of the millers, must be
ly small part of what has been
ing on. Inventories have been
,gled depreciation increased be-
nd reason, and officers salaries
-dded. One concern, for instance.
American Metal company, Ltd, of
w York was found to have charged
expenses nearly $2.ooo.000 of
aries and commissions.
New Wave of Trust Propaganda.
Just as the earlier revelations made
profiteering especially in regard to
IL profits, were met by a nation
de campaign of abuse, these new
oofs of profiteering also will be
It by a renewed big business pro-
ganda. Swift & Co. is already out
tn an elaborate and specious de-
lse. Other companies will follow
lions will be spent for advertising
d news stories. Lobbyists will be
shed to congress to lie, argue, and
.eaten. = Give your congressman
oport in the fight against the pro
,ers by letting him know where you
nd on the issue. Write or wire
n at once that you expect him tc
100 per cent American in the
uggle against. the robbers within
rgates. ~r:r
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13

W. J, Farmer Only Union Man in
Fie|d;; Election to Be
Held July 20.

There are eight candidates for the
three vacancies on the school board
which will be created by the expi-
ration of the terms of Directors G.
Francis Colman, DR.. j. G. Armand
and F. A. Brewer. The election to fill
these places will be held July 20.
c. r. Colman and DR.. J. G. Armand
will seek reelection, but F. A. Brewer
will not be candidate. Others who
have filed are Frank Crassweller, w.
]. Farmer, Frederick D. knight, John
N. Peyton, Rev. J. G. Schaibley and
L. U. Young
=: w. ]. Farmer, who is a member of
Duluth Typographical union No. 1876,
is the only union man in the field. Mr..
Farmer has lived in this city for more
than 10 years and is we'll known in
labor circles. 1t is expected that
working men and their wives will give
him their undivided support, thereby
assuring his election.
l.. U. Young, a resident of Wood
land, and an intimate friend of>Mayor
Magney, was induced to make the race
by large number of friends. He took
an active part in the campaigns to
make Duluth dry, and his extensive
acquaintanceship throughout the city
will enable him to make strong
showing.
DR.. J. G. Armand, who has served on
the board the past year, has a splen-
did record, and it is believed that he
will be returned for another term. =
To submit Bond Issue.
j The question of the issuance of
100000 worth of bonds for the
: erection and equippins.of new schools
and additions to the old schools will
be submitted to the voters at that
election. Among buildings proposed
are the Park Point and Riverside
: schools. The last-named school would
provide for the children of the en-
ployes of the McDougall-Duluth ship
yards. =
AS yet no report has been received
from the capital issues committee of
! the federal government, which COM
mittee passes on the advisability of
offering these bonds for sale. This
step is taken to prevent the competi-
ton Of school bonds with Liberty
bonds. K
This is the one election in Duluth
at which women will vote. The same
qualifications for voting apply to the
women as to men. The polls will be
open from s a. m. to z p. m. .
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
SENATE BILL FOR j. S.
TRANSPORTATION BUREAU

. WASHINGTON. July 11.-senator
Lewis, Illinois. has introduced a bill
creating department Of <transporta-
ton and telegraph to manage rail-
roads and telegraph or telephone lines,
owned, operated or controlled by the
government. Lewis bill also creates
a new cabinet position--secretary of
transportation and telegraph-who is
to have supervision of rail- and water
telephones.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
'::WSBoyS' Strike IN -.
MINNEAPOLIS SETTLED

MINNEAPOLIS, July z11:-The
ike of newsboys in this city which
gan last Tuesday,. was settled Sun
y when representatives of the pub
hers and strikers came to an agree
mt on the wholesale price to be
arged for papers. The morning
itions will be sold for $1.25 hun
ed to the newsboys and carriers,
lille the price to the carriers for
ening editions will be $1.25 and for
w1ltown newsboys $1.10 per hun
I'd. The strikers demanded price
81 per hundred.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
TEACHERS ORGANIZE.

ST. PAUL, July 11.-MQre than 800
lool teachers were organized dur
!, the convention of the A. F. Of L.
der the name of the st. Paul Fed
alton of Women Teachers, at a joint
',eting Of the Grade Teachers Fed
alton. and the School Women's club.
ey will receive a charter from the
nerican Federation of Teachers,
.icago.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
GAIN IN WAGES; LESS HOURS.

GAIN IN WAGES; LESS HOURS.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 11.-As a
result of an agreement reached be-
tween representatives Of the Milk
Wagon Drivers union and the Milk
Dealers association, the wages Of the
workers were increased in the milk
industry on both sides Of the bay.
The employers agreed to pay drivers
$125 per month and the inside work.,
$ers $104 for q nine-hour day with
tour days off each month. 55
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13


operations" at Bethlehem. This Of
ficial Is to act as the umpire between
the company and the shop committees
when differences arise between them,
and he is to carry out his decisions
with the backing Of the government:
Two Courses Open.
This is a. new thing in. American
government It is union
covering the entire industry, as rep
resented in the plant. It is not gov
erned by an international union, nor
has, to the extent that it's demands
meet the standards laid down by
President Wilson and the War Labor
boaord, the full support of the gov
ernment Manifestly, it cannot long
exist as an independent union. Either
it must join with other similar unions
which may be formed in the plants of
the United States Steel corporation
and other steel concerns, or it must
divide it's members among the various
international unions in tn esteel In
dustry-the internationals which took
part in the conference alta st. Paul
last month, on methods of organizing
the workers in steel.
Will Be Grateful to Board.
Chances favor the latter course The
various international unions will get
together on a program and will
agree upon jurisdictional lines, so
that all steel workers will fit into one
union or another as fast af the organ
izers can get to them. While the
present tendency is toward bigger and
bigger organizations, and fewer OF
the, it is not toward local or expert
mental unionism. More important
still, the War Labor board is estab-
fishing a standard wage that is enough
to maintain the workers family in
health and comfort and this wage
comes to the worker in the plant ,re-
gardless of whether he is trade
unionist or industrial unionist or no
unionist at all. No local leader can
properly claim credit for getting it
for the workers in a plant. Hence
the worker will naturally turn in ap-,
probation to the men on the War
Labor board who establised this
higher wage standard. He will find
the board made up of representatives
of five big groups\ of employers, five
big trade unions, and a lawyer cho- :.
sen from each group. Its character
is national-nOt local.
Private Unions Failure.
That is what makes the private
union formed by John D. Rockefeller
in the refineries of Standard Oil in
New Jersey and elsewhere, fore
doomed to failure. 1t is not an or
ganization Of protest, nor Of deter
mination to establish higher wage
standard as matter of justice; 1t
is an already-made plan drafted by
the company and handed out to the
men, permitting them to perfect a
poor imitation Of an old-fashioned Ia
Dor union. When the War Labor
board gets around to Standard Oil.
this union will either dissolve and
make way for a'real labor organiza-
ton, or it will pluck up courage to
assert it's right to a partnership in
governing the industry,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
54-HOUR BILL ENACTED.

BATON ROUGE, La, July IL
After a long contested and bitterly
fought battle the legislature finally
passed the bill providing minimum
work-week of 54 hours for women
and children. It was carried by only
one vote. The employers used every
influence they could bring to bear on
the members of the legislature to
prevent it's passage.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
REDUCED HOURS.

WHEELING, w. Va, July H.
Drug Clerks union No. 248 has Sc
cured greatly improved working con-
ditfons under their first contract with
the employing druggists. 1t provides
for 63-hour week and strictly union
stores
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
ALL IN THE NEW UNION.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, July 11.-When
the new Roofers' union was organ
lied here last week every man, work
ing at the trade in the city had at
tached his name to the unions ros-
ter, an unusual procedure.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
SHORTER, DAY FOR ICEMEN.

SEATTLE, WASH, July 11.-This
city claims to have the distinction of
having the. best paid icemen in the
world. Their hours Of labor have
been reduced from II to basic
s-hour day, with higher pay for over
time. Their wages are 1925 per
month, with IS cents for overtime.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
SCALE IS CENTS AN HOUR.

f ST. LOUIS, July 11.-Negotiations
have resulted favorably for Sheet
Metal Workers union No. Sc and
commencing Immediately the new
rates will be Is cents per hour.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-13
ENGINEERS GET 81 DAY.

ENGINEERS GET 81 A DAY,
FRESNO, CAL, July 1.-the Hoist
ing and Portable Engineers union has
secured an increase of 81 per day.
The new scale gives the engineers 81
day and was put into effect with
out any trouble.