davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

While 1t IS one thing for the master builders to be organized they can see no reason why the laborers should seek to do their bargaining collectively, but MT. De Falco IS satisfied that he will have the signatures of all the other local coptrac- tors and will then let the master builders continue to pay their higher rates amounting to more than 5 or 40 cents an hour more than the union asks If they feel so disposed.
 In the absence of President Leonard, who had been away on a visit to Cali torn1a, all negotiations were carried on with the master builders through the secretary, MT. Champion, located at IOo Elm street, and today officials of the union notihed the men not to pay any at- tentlon to any calls for help issued from that address, but to report at the office at Ilo Meadow street, where they would be informed whether everything was all right or not before they started to work. The local Hod Carriers union was or- ganized about a year ago and has now
 more than 1000 members at the present time, Included in the list of the mem bers are a great many of the men for merly employed in the shops of the New Haven road, who went on strike last July and these men are once more thrown out of work
 Along with the local master builders another place where the officials con- ducting the strike have been unsuccessful Tn arranging a settlement is with the Thompson Starrett company, an out of town concern which is erecting buildings for Yale University While the Thompson Starrett company have always been fair to workers and even at the present time would prob ably sign the agreement with the la borers union, the matter has been taken out of their hands and left to the trustees of Yale who claim they are unable to give in to the demands of the men owing to the fact that the building is being erected through an endowment fund, which fact does not interest the men at all.
 Pledges of financial and moral SUD- port were given the workers by the Building Trades Council at a special meeting of that body which was held at Trades Council hall last Wednes- day evening, an account of which will be found in another column.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
TROLIEYMEN ASK INCREASE
 OF 25 PER CENT. IN WAGES
Agreement Will Be Presented at Once to General Manager J. K. PunderfOrd of the COnnecti- cut Company for Consideration of
 Board of Directors.

An increase of approximately 25 per cent in the wages of the Trolley men, elimination of the 10 week working agreement, regulation of the hours of employment for those op- erating the "one man" or safety cars, and several other matters of a minor nature governing working conditions are contained in the new agreement now in the hands of the members of the executive board who are holding a session at the Hotel Volk today.
 The agreement has been whipped into final form and will be presented to General Manager J. K. Punderford probably some time today or tOmor- row morning at the latest and he in turn will take the matter before the board of directors for their approval
 It is expected that when the board of directors have a chance to look over the agreement, the members of the executive board will then be in vited to hold a conference with the officials of the company In the event of a disagreement the matter will then be referred back to the men for a referendum vote on any changes that are suggested to the agreement as finally drafted and accepted by the men.
 Outside of the increase in wages the most important of the other mat ters which are contained in the new agreement is that in reference to the employment of new men. Under the
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
RAILROADS PAYING PENALTY FOR LOCK OUT OF SHOPMEN BY
 INCREASED COST OF OPERATION
Lines Which Entered Into Agreement With Men Are Operated at Greater Efficiency and at a Lower COst-A Lesson Any
 Citizen Can Learn.

House cleaning being the order of the day each spring, 1t also holds good for the departments of the Federal Gov- ermnent which compile the statistics of the railroads. The most recent figures published give an accurate account of the harm that has been done to those rail- roads who have to date not settled the shopmen's strike.
 The rapidly increasing prosperity of the railroads IS due to two factors. First, the large amount of traffic they are be- ing called upon to handle on account of active business conditions; second, the great advantage extended to them by government agencies which reduced wages more than they reduced rates.
 Many of the railroads the New Haven among them, are however not sharing in this prosperity, because of failure to settle the shopmen's strike, which is now in its eleventh month. This is seen in the figures of operating ratio, or ratio of expenses to revenues.
 Ten of the railroads which settled the strike had an average operating ratio of 7073 for the three months before settle ment, and 75.92 for the four months after settlement.
 Ten of the roads which have not yet settled hand an operating ratio of 84.46 for the first period (July, August and September, 1922, and one of 8521 for the second period October, November, December 1922.) The lower the operat- ing ratio, the larger becomes the net in come
 The Baltimore & Ohio, for instance,
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
Hod Carriers And Laborers Win -==
 Strike For Increased Wage Rat
MEN PLEDGED SUPPORT OF
 OTHER BUILDING WORKERS
Central Bodies Recognize Justice of Demands Made and Tender Both Moral and Financial Support, Which Indications Are
 Will Not Be Needed.

common laborers in this city decided to give to the labOrers the proper moral and financial support to which they are entitled.
 The council also took into consid- eraton the fact that since certain in terests in this vicinity became active that there has been continual strife in the building business. The many delegates in attendance at the meeting produced facts to show that efforts have been made to meet with employ CTS for the purpose of arranging con- ditions in the building business that would stabilize and reduce building ,costs, and that in every instance the disposition of the employer was to ig- nore requests for conferences so of fered.
 "In order to again demonstrate to the public that it is not the employees in the building industry that are caus- ing the cessation of work almost con tinually for the past five years, 1t was voted that a committee be appointed to confer with the building employ CTS, the primary object being to stop strikes in this city and vicinity"
 The leaders of the union building crafts last night placed the blame for the bod carriers and labore1s' strike upon the New Haven Master bu1ld- CTS Exchange by saying thls rn1s body has been the source of all the trouble for the last five years. Union leaders said that the builders ex- change is composed of but a fraction of the whole number of contractors, in that it has but Is members out of I63 building contractors in this city. However, practically all the largest contractors are members of the ex- change.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
BAKERS HIRED BY WARD BAKING co.
 REFUSE TO WORK
Claim They Were Informed Increased Business Demanded More Help. Did Not Know They Were to
 Be Used as Strike
 breakers.

Strikebreakers recruited from New 1ork, Boston and Providence and shipped into Pittsburgh to take the place Ot the bakers who have gone on strike III several of the large baking concerns including the Ward Baking Company of that city, refused to go to work when they discovered they were being used as scabs. Twenty of the men who refused to go to work were then arrested on charges of vagrancy.
 A great many of the men were very indignant when they found out the game that had been put over on them by the Walsh and Bush agency in New York City, and demanded that they be paid This the company refused to do and for a time 1t looked as if there would be serious trouble at the factories, SO the police were called out and stationed at all the factories where a strike was on.
 All but six of the more than 750 mem bers of the Local Union, Mo- F, of the Bakery and Confectionery Workers In- ternationa1 Union quit work in Pitts burgh on the first day of May when the Ward Baking Company and several other large baking companies attempted to install the open shop in Pittsburgh
 So far the union has been able to sign up 45 independent bakeries under a new agreement calling for IS per cent in crease in wages and recognition of the union. With the signing of the 45 in- dependent employers the union is conf dent of winning the strike A bread averted by the action of the union in go- ing into the baking business temporarily themselves. Saturday they put out ten wagons each one selling 500 loaves of bread The public Is giving the strikers generous support.
 The independents who signed up are working their plants to full capacity and that is expected to work distinctly in the strikers favor. The 250 bakers employed in these plants have assessed themselves one days pay each week for will go to the strikers.
 We are going to show that the Bakers Club cannot break our union, Kerker declared today. "We will show them that George s. Ward cannot turn us into submissive slaves. They can not tell us what union we should join and how much wages we are to receive. We have adopted the slogan that the days of pauper wages and sWeatsfop conditions are gone fOrever.'
 The men sent there to take the places of the strikers declare that they were not told there was a strike in the baking establishments in Pittsburgh. On the contrary. they were informed that owing to the demands of growing trade the local unions were unable to furnish enough help for the new plants being erected to take care of the increasing business.
 Practically all of thehp are penni1ess and had no places to sleep when the companies refused to pay them. The Pennsy1vania Labor Department was appealed to for assistance, but the Labor Department turned a deaf ear to the pleas for aid.
 The twenty men who were arrested on vagrancy charges were later released when the union intervened and promised to supply them with a place to sleep.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

$1,o5o and $I85o, the rate increased tc I27.I; when the earnings fell be- low $I,5o5, the rate rose to 1878: More than a fourth of the babies of native white mothers, but less than one in 12 of those having foreign born mothers, were in families whose chief breadwinner earned $I,85o or more"
 At the time of the study certain districts of the city embodied many of the conditions of pioneer life, the re- part states. Squattcr's rights on land might be purchased for yearly fee of ST to $2 and a shack put up, pieced together with scraps of boards and tin cans. Not onl y these buildings, but many regularly constructed houses were without water or sewer connection. No reference has been made to building conditions the past year.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
Food Costs Go Up

Washington, May 1I-The United States bureau of labor statistics re- ports that food costs increased as follows from March I5 to April Is: Denver and St. Louis, 3 per cent; Cincinnati, Detroit, Little Rock, Louisville, Milwaukee, Newark, Nor folk and Omaha, I per cent; Wash ington, D. C., less than fve-tenths of I per cent.
 There was a I per cent. decrease in Boston, Fall River and Portland, Me, and less than fve-tenths of I per cent decrease in Bridgeport, Butte and New Haven.
 For the year period April IS, 1922, to April IS, 1923, the Y cities show ed these increases: Bridgeport, 7 per cent; Denver, 6 per cent; St. Louis, 5 per cent; Boston, Detroit, Fall River, Little Rock, Milwaukee, New ark, New Haven and Portland, Me, 4 per cent; Louisvville, per cent; Cincinnati, Norfolk, Omaha and Washington, D. C., per cent; Butte, less than fve-tenths of I per cent
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
Child Neglect Scored

Richmond, Va, May I1.-Speakers at the annual convention of the asso- citation of governmental labor officials of the United States and Canada said the United States is helpless in deal ing with child labor. In referring to recent decisions of the supreme court, one delegate said:
 Tt is now clear that the national government - the government 10 which you and I owe first allegiance, the government which can draft our boys for war and take away every dol lars worth of property for lawful use cannot move a peg for taking care of it's children, it's future citizens, even if they are being worked I2 hours or longer each day"
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

At a special meeting of the Build ing Trades Council held at Trades Council hall last "Wednesday evening financial and moral support was voted the members of the local Hod Car riers' union who went on strike in this city last Monday morning.
 The meeting was called for the express purpose of discussing the situation and the effect 1t might have on other crafts listed among the building trades and after an investi- gation into the cause of the strike it was voted unanimously to stand by the bod carriers and render assistance in every way.
 The moral support pledged by the building trades means that contrac- borers' union will more than likely as the skilled craftsmen have declared their intention to refuse to work on jobs with non-union workers.
 This danger, however, has been since eliminated, for the latest reports from the headquarters of the strikers show less than 100 of the I,o7o mem bers of the Hod Carriers union are idle, employing contractors having signed the agreement which calls for 65 cents an hour for the bod carriers and laborers in the building trades.
 At the conclusion of the meeting on Wednesday evening the following statement was issued by the Building Trades Council:
 "The New Haven Building Trades Council at a special meeting held last evening which was called for the pur- pose of looking into the situation in the building industry caused by the cessation of work of the building and
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

Building construction throughout the city of New Haven was brought to a halt last Monday morning when practically all the laborers employed on building projects laid down their tools and went on strike to enforce their demands for 6 cents an hour and an eight hour day with time and a half for Saturday afternoons and double time for Sundays and holi- days.
 The strike which has been pending for several months was originally scheduled for May I, but through the efforts of Vincent De Falco, general organizer of the International Hod borers' Union, who had been sent here at the request of the local union to handle the strike, 1t was held over until this week to avoid any claims of it's being a radical movement being made by the local building exchange
 Demands for 6 cents an hour were prepared and presented to the con- tractors on February I to go into ef- feet on May I, but the contractors absolutely refused to consider the de- mands of the men and 1t was then that De Falco was sent for to come here and arrange for conferences
 So far he has succeeded in signing up 6 local contractors but the New Haven Master Builders Exchange, of which Harry N. Leonard is the presi- dent, has absolutely refused to con- slider the demands Of the men and will treat with them only as individu- als and not collectively In other words they refuse to recognize the union at all even though they are at the present time paying the non-union carpenters and other building trades- men in their employ more money than the laborers have asked for the same kind of work
 This IS the only reason why the larger contractors have been able to continue with their building program in spite of the strike. The Master Builders Exchange have been conduct ing an open shop and the men employed as carpenters are now doing the work of the building laborers proving beyond all doubt that 1t is not the increase in wages that they are opposed to, but simply recognition of the union.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

old agreement, which expires on June I, 10 weeks in the year the men are supposed to report three times a day in order to receive the guarantee of S2I a week. This was decided upon by the board of arbitration after both sides had failed to arrive at any satis- factory settlement last year.
 Those in attendance at the session of the executive board of the Trol- leymen are Leo J. O'Connor and Fred F. Walker of New Haven, Frank O'Meara, chairman, and Edward P. Lawton, Hartford; Martin Kelly, Waterbury; F. King, Derby; Bernard Flanagan, Bridgeport; w. s. May hew, Norwalk; E. M. Scott, Stamford; John L. Sullivan, Middletown; Malloy Shelton. Meriden; and V. N. Rich mond, Hartford.
 P. ]. O'Brien, international vice president of the Street Railway Elm ployes' Union, is also present at the session of the executive board, acting in an advisory capacity to the men.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

had an operating ratio of BPS last July, and this figure was much higher in the following two months of strike. Now, after several months operation under the settlement, the roads operating ratio dropped to 72.8 in December, and to 76 in January. The Pennsylvania on the contrary, which had an operating ratio of 86.3 last July, was showing an in crease to 859 in January. This trans lated into dollars means a loss in income for the Pennsylvania f>$6, ,844 ,O65. The Lehigh Valley actually had a ratio of ll2.3 in January-1neaning that ex- penses were 12.3 per cent. higher than income from revenues on freight and passenger traffic. The New Haven rail road for January had a ratio of 94.1, and its losses amounted to more than two million dollars for January, but no one any longer expects the New Haven to show earnings, it's stockholders have be- come calloused to dividend disappoint- mentS.
 These figures disclose that the New Haven is second in the race for most ex- Densively operated roads at this time, but give 1t half a chance and they will lead, were it not for its income from properties other than steam railroads the New Haven would be showing its heels to all other railroads in the race to bankruptcy.
 The improved showing being made by other roads which have settled the strike ought to be an example to the New Haven. but railroads like some people, never learn, and never forget, because of fear or ignorance.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
Pres* Samuel Gompers Wins
SUIT OF P. J. RYAN FOR DAMAGES AMOUNTING TO S25OOO AGAINST FEDERATION HEAD AND OTHERS DISMISSED BY
 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SUPREME COURT
(Secial to The Labor News.)

city, charged MT. Corners had order ed the local plate printers union to cancel his membership after he had given out an interview. in which he asserted MT. Gompers could not swing the labor vote to Cox in 1920.
 On the witness stand MT. Gompers denied he was engaged in partisan politics, declaring he had at various times opposed both Republican and Democratic candidates for office.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
RAILROAD IS
 WHITEWASHED
 BY COMMITTEE
Legislative Report Is But Copy of Statements Put Out By Rail
 road Officials.

After an investigation extending over period of several months into the condition of service rendered by the New Haven railroad, conducted in accordance with the resolution adopt ed by the state legislature on Janu- ary 26, the railroad committee pre- scented what they called report but which turned out to be a very earnest plea on behalf of the railroad at last Tuesdays session of the legislature.
 The report was very lengthy one but said nothing that had not been given out for public consumption by the railroad at various times since the strike of the shopmen on the New July Ist of last year. In fact the entire report bears striking similar ity to those statements and would report was written by officials of the New Haven road instead of a commit tee representing the citizens of the state of Connecticut.
 The Railroad Committee of the state legislature had charge of the in vestigation and along with holding cials of the road and representatives 
 a chance to present their versions of the reason why the railroad service was so rotten, they also went on a tour of inspection of parts of the sys- tenn in two special cars placed at their disposal by officials of the New Ha- ven road.
 At the first hearing held, the time was given over to officials of the New Haven road and it Is probably a steno- graphic report of what the officials of the road said at that hearing, which has been used by the railroad commit tee in making the report of their in vestigation with the exception that the charges of sabotage made at that time, proof of which was demanded by the strikers, has been eliminated
 It will be recalled that the meeting broke up in an uproar when leading members and officials of organized la bor who were present at the meeting asked the reason for the presence of the armed state policemen who were stationd at strategic positions throughout the hall where the hearing was conducted.
 Great publicity was given to the personally conducted tour of investi- gation, when officials of the New Ha- ven road placed two parlor cars at the disposal of the railroad committee and then issued invitations to the wives of a great many of those expected to take part in the trip. As a sample of what was accomplished on this trip it is only necessary to state that Sen ator Joseph Tone, who had been in vited to make the trip, although not a member of the railroad committee, left the party at Danbury to attend a meeting where he felt he could be of more benefit to the striking shopmen Incidently he predicted that the in vestigation would result in a white wash for the railroad
 Chairman of the System Federation John C. Ready, who has been in charge of the strike and all activities since it went into effect, expressed great surprise that such a report would be issued in face of the mass of evidence at the disposal of the in. vestigation committee. He stated hi.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
Babies Can Not Live
 Under LOW-Wage Plan

Washington, May II.-Gary, Ind, a steel trust town, is an illustration of what low wages, poor housing and sanitation and lack of public welfare activity can have on the lives of chil- dren.
 In study of Gary by the United States children's bureau, it is stated that "an increase of infant mortality with a fall in the earnings of the fathers for chief breadwinners was again demonstrated, as in the preced- ing studies"
 For the year of the Gary study, when the chief breadwinners' earn ings amounted to at least $I,85o, the infant death rate was 8o.4 per 1000; when the earnings were between
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

Washington, May 1O.-Damages amounting to S25,OOO, demanded from Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, and other labor leaders by P. J. Ryan, former editor of the Plate Printer, were dismissed today in the District of Columbia Supreme Court.
 Ryan, who was Vice-president of the Harding Democratic Club of this
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
DESERT LUMBER CAMPS.

Eureka, Cal, May I1.-Young chaps from the east, who were lured into the red woods by company agents, are deserting. Some of them quit after eating one meal at the camp. It is declared that the unwho1esome meat, sour bread, and a total disre- gard for cleanliness makes these camps unfit for humans.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11
GUARDS COST MILLIONS.

Chicago, May I1-Attorney Gener- al Daugherty's assistants testified in Federal Judge Wilkerson's court that nearly $2,ooo,ooo was spent by the department of justice for special deputy marshals and their expenses during the shop strike.
The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-11

The Trade Union is the business organization of the worker. It is his Board of Trade, his Chamber of Com merce-the Organization through which he protects the only commod- ity he has to sell on the market of the world, namely, his LABOR.