CHICAGO LABOR NOTES. BY P. J. MAAS. THE upholsterers' strike is still on, both firms standing firm. THE labor unions of Blue Island have formed a central body. THE sewer laborers of Blue Island have organized a federal labor union. AMERICAN Boot and Shoe Makers' Union No. 16 has joined the national union. A JEWISH Choral Union is the latest organization here to join the A. F. of L. THE trades unions here are opposed to the "Bible Reader" in the public schools. ALL the Waiters, Cooks, Bartenders and Oystermen's Union of the city have amalgamated. PROGRESSIVE Lodge No. 126, I. A. M., has voted unanimously to demand an eight-hour day May 1. FREEMAN & LANOFF, cigar manufacturers, were fined $100 for using a false blue label on their products. CONGRATULATIONS to the contributors of labor notes from Indianapolis and Kansas City. Lots of towns to hear from yet. It is reported that an International Union of Press Feeders and Job Pressmen is about to be organized with headquarters in Chicago: THE Union steel mills, at Ashland and Archer avenues, which shut down Jan. 2, resumed operations this week with a full force of men. THE Allied Printing Trades Council has been re-organized under the agreement between the three international unions of the different crafts. JOHN BEEGAN, badge and lapel button manufacturer of this city, has completed designs for a gold lapel button for the International Typographical Union.' THE Brickmakers' Alliance has made an agreement with the manufacturers to pay the workmen in the country towns the city price-28%1⁄2 cents per hour. THE Bohemian printers who for some time past have held a charter from the K. of L., have surrendered the same and have joined hands with the I. T. U. local of Bohemian printers. ARRANGEMENTS are being made for a lecture in this city by John L. Gehr, who was one of the imprisoned Tazewell county coal miners, and who was recently pardoned by Gov. Altgeld. THE scab cigarmakers, employed at Eugene Vallens & Co.'s "incomparable" factory, went on strike recently because their wages had been cut so that they could scarcely earn more than $3 per week. THE "rat" printers on the Freie Presse, Republikaner and in John Simon & Son's German "patent inside" concern have joined Sovereign, Lindholm & Co.'s "branch" of the K. of L. Comment is unnecessary. WITH a general lock-out and strike of the clothing cutters and trimmers, two factions of painters fighting each other, a strike threatened by the cigarmakers, and the uneasiness among the carpenters, labor news is plentiful. THE Western Glove Makers Union is growing wonderfully, and soon all experienced mechanics in that line will be members. A number of experts or "rushers," who had come here to work from Gloversville, N. Y., have returned home sadder but wiser men. THE Voting contest for the most popular uniou and the most popular secretary of any union in Chicago at the entertainment and ball given by the Harmony Club of the Chicago Labor Congress, Sunday, resulted in a victory for Clothing Cutters and Trimmers Union No. 61, and Miss Bertha Neiss, secretary of Tailors Union No. 78. ELECTION of officers by unions have resulted as follows: Building Trades Council-President, J. J. Mitchell, plumbers; vice-president, E. A. Davis, hoisting engineers; recording secretary, George W. Geary, bridge and structural iron workers; secretary and treasurer, Fred Kitchen. Local No. 93 of the National Boot and Shoe Workers' Union-President, William Jones; vice-president, James Parker; recording secretary, P. J. McCarthy; financial secretary, C. C. Holter; treasurer, Henry Daniels; conductor, Joseph McHugh; trustees, Lewis Sweet, Daniel Curley and J. B. Johnson. Woodworkers Council of Chicago-President, James H. Payne, boxmakers; vice president, John Prieber, machine woodworkers No. 7; recording secretary, Edward V. Pierce, machine woodworkers No. 7; financial secretary, Vaclay Somer, machine woodworkers No. 30. SECRETARY T. J. Elderkin, of the International Seamen's Union, has issued a call to firemen, ship carpenters, calkers, engineers, pilots and all other marine organizations. He asks them to become affiliated with the International Seamen's Union and through it with the American Federation of Labor and all maritime organizations. THE joint arbitration committees of the Chicago Masons and Builders Association and the United Order of Bricklayers and Stonemasons completed their work. The six-hour day was not asked for, but it was agreed that seven hours should constitute a full day's work on Saturday, and that the men should be paid for a full day. The first Monday in September was made a legal holiday, and hereafter double pay will be demanded for all work done on that day. The same rule will apply to New Year's, Christmas and the 4th of July. Hereafter the term of apprenticeship is to be four years, and the employer is required to see that the apprentice attends school at least three months of each of the four years. Of this time the boy is to attend public school for two years and some technical school during the other two years. During the months of January, February and March apprentices will not be permitted to work at brickmaking. The master masons were represented by James Bloomfield, president; A. Landquist, W. S. Josyln, Adolph Nelson and Abner Price, and the bricklayers by P. J. Miniter, president; Thomas R. Preece, William B. Smith, Joseph Douthit and M. R. Grady. Judge Elbridge Hanecy acted in the capacity of arbiter. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. THE National Association of Commissioners will meet at Albany, N. Y., June 23. FEDERAL Labor Union No. 6643, of Omaha, Neb., organized Feb. 20, with 11 members. REV. D. M. FISK, Toledo, O., will speak on the eight-hour question Sunday, March 1. IN Argentine, Kan., is located the largest smelting works in the world, employing 2,000 men. A $50,000,000 TRUST has been formed in Puget Sound to control the lumber trade. The men are organizing. THE shoeworkers of Chicago have joined the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union, as promised by their representative at the New York convention. OVER 2,000 men and women have been organized in Kansas City, Kan., since May 1. A movement has been started to build a labor temple. MOSES HARMON, at present undergoing imprisoument in Kansas for publishing his ideas on sexology, will have his sentence shortened for good behavior. DENVER Trades and Labor Assembly has issued a "stayaway" circular, owing to the misrepresentation of parties interested in luring workingmen to that city. THE Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators has secured a trade-mark patent on its seal, which will also be used as a label, The governmental cost is $55, and lawyer's fees $11. CASKET Hardware Workers No. 6461, Westfield, Mass., struck for an increase of wages, and after a brief struggle were victorious and returned to work in a body on Feb. 10. SECOND VICE-President James Duncan called a meeting of the local unions of Washington, D. C., Feb. 23, in an effort to form a central body. He expects they will apply for a charter soon. M. J. CARROL, of the Eight-Hour Herald, writes: "It is a dull week when I do not have some college professor or minister call on me for ammunition to be used in a debate or lecture." PAINTERS Assembly No. 1,466, K. of L., of Baltimore, has joined the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators in a body. It is one of the largest unions in that city. The local unions of Duluth, Minn.; Nashville, Tenn., No. 50 of Cincinnati, O.; Springfield, Ill.; Omaha, Neb., and No. 184, Chicago, have left the seceding McKinney faction and joined the brotherhood. NOTES. נעממונן, IN July last reports began to circulate of something new in the line of railway combinations, which heretofore had been so often formed and as regularly broken. But this particular venture was to be of lasting character, and dire were the forebodings and prophecies of ill results that would fall to the general public. About the middle of August, after several meetings of the railway presidents had been held, Senator Wm. E. Chandler addressed a communication to the interstate commerce commission demanding an investigation. "In view," said he, "of the immense interests involved affecting the public who are to pay as well as the roads which are to receive the sums charged for transportation by the different companies constituting this great combination, which will embrace perhaps the greatest capital the world has ever seen, I desire to ask whether you as the appropriate and faithful guardians of the people as against railroad exaction are watching and investigating the steps taken and to prevent, if illegal, their consumma tion instead of allowing them to enter unresisted into full operation." No apparent reply was made to this, and the negotiations of the several roads proceeded uninterruptedly. A committee of sixteen was appointed to draft an agreement, which was subsequently submitted to the railway representatives who revised and amended it at several meetings held in New York City. In substance the plan was: To be known as the Joint Traffic Association; nine presidents to comprise a board of management, with power to make rates and rules, for the infraction of which heavy fines were to be levied; disputed points to be referred to an arbitration board of three whose decision would be final; each road to pledge $50,000 and one per cent of gross earnings, to be held in trust, and out of which fines were to be taken, to a maximum limit of $5,000 for each misdemeanor; length of agreement, five years, and any road withdrawing to give ninety days' notice. The charge of individuals and the press that there was a conspiracy to raise rates was met by denials from the association, which went so far as to declare its intention to act in harmony with the interstate commerce commission. President Depew also came to the rescue on Oct. 15. "The one thing I think," said he, "has been accomplished is a perfect understanding that will put an end to rate discrimination. Demoralization of freight rates enables the big shippers to reap the benefit. They can ship at less rates. Such a condition drives business into trusts by tearing down small concerns. It detracts from small and adds to large cities, eentralizes capital, and the total effect is bad. I think a condition has now been arrived at where every shipper will be charged equally." The spectacle of a railway president denouncing trusts and preaching equality did not excite much comment at the time. Probably because it was Mr. Depew, who is never taken seriously, and the subject was not a laughing one. The agreement went into effect January 1. Immediately the shippers and other concerns set about to break it. An agricultural paper interested in a colonization scheme caused a sensation by advertising a $55 rate from Chicago to California, $7.50 less than the terms of the association. If there is a suspicious individual on earth it is the average railway manager. Instantly all kinds of rumors and charges were afloat. Next the Baltimore & Ohio carried ten theatrical troupes from Cincinnati to St Louis all in one week, while its competitors carried none. Threats, challenges and denials were made on the spot. The Pennsylvania and Big Four lines demanded an immediate investigation by the board of control, which has not yet reported. Another peculiar feature arose in that the longest roads received the most patronage from shippers who owned their cars, upon which mileage is allowed, and hence as a long line pays more mileage than a short, both running to the same point, the longest was patronized. This was a snag the association had not expected. But the climax came on February 6 when the Grand Trunk in connection with the Chicago-St. Paul roads cut grain rates five cents from St. Paul to the seaboard. The Grand Trunk claimed it was meeting the competition of the Canadian Pacific, and had reserved the right so to do when becoming a party to the agreement. In consequence the Grand Trunk got 1,000,coo bushels in the first two weeks of February. The other roads protested loudly, but the board of control took no action, and on Feb. 15 the several roads concerned quietly met the cut of the Grand Trunk, and now declare they are thoroughly disgusted they did not do so before they allowed it to get away with so much traffic. They describe the new agreement as a howling farce, which did not stop rate cutting five minutes in any territory. They further declare the new association has proved to be the most cumbersome and unworkable piece of machinery ever invented for the control of railway traffic. Whether this is the beginning of the end of the Joint Traffic Association which started in so auspiciously remains to be seen. An atempt is being made to gather the scattering forces, the success of which is doubtful. * It is estimated that only about ten per cent of the stamped envelopes and postal cards sent out by business firms for orders and replies is returned. Hence the United States Economic Association has devised a plan whereby such return envelopes and cards will not cost the sender the stamps thereon unless they are used. The association is chartered under the laws of West Virginia, and is now seeking permission from the United States government to go to work. The substance of the plan is as follows: Any concern can procure from the association any number of envelopes with name and business printed in corner as usual. Such envelopes will have a coupon stamp in regular place. Whenever any of these envelopes passes through the mails the postmaster detaches the coupon and presents it to the association for redemption, which in turn collects from the concern, all parties, being properly bonded or guaranteed. The committee on postoffice and post roads has reported favorably to the house, stating that "it would give an annual increase of $30,500,000 net postal revenue as a result of the adoption of the new sysiem." It is thought its use will become extensive; that local dealers will distribute return cards freely to secure orders, and that time and labor will be saved by their patrons. Whether the association will secure "permission to work" or not from the government remains to be seen, but inasmuch as a number of capitalists and politicians are back of the venture its success is thought possible. There are two points strongly in evidence, however: first, a new monopoly is about to be created, and, second, there is a tendency on the part of governmental agencies to lapse into a state of coma, excepting when their existence is endangered, when they use force. * The Twentieth Century quotes approvingly a noted hotel man of New York who describes his place as a model of socialism, saying: "The members or guests as you may choose to call them put their money into a common fund, and they live in style and comfort that would cost them easily two or three times as much if they didn't have co-operation." They also have " private telephones and trained servants day and night." One could enlarge on the "co-operation" of "trained servants," but the point desired to be made, we take it, by the Twentieth Century is that the co-operative practice of the guests is an argument for the co-operative commonwealth, which it so urgently advocates. This impels us to remark there is co-operation and co-operation. Webster defines co-operation, "to concur," while in some circles it would appear to be understood as compelled to concur." The act of co operation in this instance, on the part of the guests, is ideal, sure enough, but it has this important feature, which our contemporary overlooks: it is a voluntary act; the guests can go to that hotel or some other, just as they please; and it is as much an endorsement of the co-operation which the Twentieth 44 2 T Century advocates as would be that of a Comstock in favor of free speech. Yet such illustrations are commonly used by its school. At a reform gathering recently one of them used it in this wise: "Here are twenty cabnien standing on the curbstone waiting for fares. Supposing they all stall their cabs and take turns. Would not much waiting be avoided?" Of a surety there would, but what if one of their number, with a fast horse and improved cab, objects to the conditions, but is compelled to accept them? That could hardly be called co-operation; rather coercion. But, we hear it said, such action is justifiable. This being so or not, it cannot be called co-operation. Let it be "co-operation limited," or with a string, or "black white"; anything that will designate it as a new phenomonon. But swift horses being interdicted, recompense to labor and competition being eliminated, our united cabmen might also co-operate in using the cheapest and slowest horses, which would make that kind of co-operation synonomus with retrogression and decay. Just about here will be cited ambition, pride, patriotism, love and that glory spirit which sends the soldier dashing at the ramparts. This will spur the individual to excel, to be rewarded by medals and stripes. True to some extent, in some work, under some circumstances; and ambition, glory, love, patriotism go hand in hand with jealousy, selfishness, deceit, which might possibly call for a different kind of stripes in the co-operative (limited) commonwealth. * A resident of Chicago has patented a process of keeping meats, fruits and perishable products by the use of sterolized air, without the aid of ice. It is stated it will enable the Australians to ship their meats to Europe, instead of boiling them down to make tallow, and, thus force the American producers out of the European market. The Australian Meat Transportation Corporation has already secured the use of the process for the seven colonies. A corporation will also be formed in Chicago to control the process over the railroad lines of this continent and the steamship lines running from the ports of North and South America. The patents extend to the Antipodes. The new invention will be productive of the same results as a new piece of machinery, viz.: making meat more plenty for some and absolutely neither meat nor bread for some others. As a whole, we can consider it an injury to society. No amount of increased comforts for some can offset a denial of all comfort for a smaller number, and the peace of the greater is endangered by the distress of the lesser. It is dangerous to throw strong men out of work; but our government, not the machine, is an adept thereat. The rapaciousness of the coal trust has wrought progression. It is proposed to compete with the railroads by pumping coal through pipe lines, as is oil. The coal is first ground to a fine powder, and 20 per cent of worthless matter removed. Water is then added to the extent of 60 per cent. On arriving at its destination the water is drained, and the coal is ready. The grinding and washing machinery is already in use in the United States, England, France and Germany. The coal is delivered in bricks, without dirt, and the combustion is almost complete, leaving less than 3 per cent of ash and clinkers, as against 15 per cent in lump coal. The cost of grinding and washing in Germany is nine cents per ton. The difference in the cost of transportation is as one to ten. How often one hears denunciation of the wage system." Why call our industrial confusion "wage" any more than "co-operative" or "honest?" The wage system is all right if we could only get enough wages; and the reason we do not is not because we hire out for wages, but because we are in that predicament which compels us to take less than we earn. If we were at liberty to work it would make no difference whether we received our return in wages or by selling direct to him who desired our product. If we were at liberty to choose we would not work for less wages than we could get by "working for ourselves," as it is termed. There is inequality of ability, and as a matter of fact, some individuals could secure more by working for wages under the direction of a leader * * * with special aptitude for such a position than they could by going it alone. And if such individuals would prefer to so work who will deny them by prohibiting a wage method. It is merely a mistake in terms, however, for what is meant is the "monopoly system." But it is just as well to be correct; and injustice is as possible in a co-operative system run by incompetents and politicians as it is in our so-called wage system of to-day. There was a decrease in the number of railway employes during the year 1894, in the midst of the depression, of 93,994. If four dependents to the wage-earner be allowed, we have a total number of persons affected of 375,976. Yet no marked decrease occurred in wages. This is all the more noticeable when we find the net income of the roads was $55,302,064 less than the previous year. The amount of dividends paid was $101,607,264, showing that the roads incurred an indebtedness of $45,851,294 rather than reduce wages. Charitable; but perhaps the railway brotherhoods had something to do with it. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. M. P. J. MCCORMICK, secretary of the International Broom Makers Union, 400 Sherman street, Detroit, Mich., offers $5 to any. one organizing a union of that craft. FUSATARO TAKANO, who contributes to this issue, and who is endeavoring to organize the workers of Japan, asks to be favored with sample copies of our labor papers. His address is 180 Sendagi-Hayashi street, Hongo, Tokio, Japan. We thank our contemporaries, the labor press, as well as a large number of our fellow unionists, for their hearty commendation and endorsement of our articles and editorials in the February issue of the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST. THE State Circuit Court of Memphis. Tenn., has awarded C. H. Johnson $1,500 damages against the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which had blacklisted him on account of his activity in the 1. R. U. strike. The case will go to the Supreme Court. A FEW individuals in Chicago have formed a bogus union, assuming national powers, and have styled themselves "The Brotherhood of Bicycle Workers." All the local bicycle workers' unions connected with the A. F. of L. have protested against their recognition. THE Vote for free silver in the House was 59 Democrats, 25 Republicans, 6 Populists; 90 in all. The vote against was 181 Republicans and 31 Democrats; total 212. The real proposition was to substitute a free silver bill for a revenue tariff bill already passed by the House. THE Stove Founders National Defense Association, composed of manufacturers, will meet in Chicago in March. The conference committee of the Iron Moulders International Union will be present, as is the custom, to formulate prices and discuss matters concerning the trade. SOME talk was indulged in the past month of making Lincoln's birthday a legal holiday. But the movement was squelched by the editor of the pictorial magazine, who said it would be unjust to put the employers to such an outlay. What we need is a holiday of national humiliation. STUDENTS of the money question are indebted to Heury Cohen, of Denver, for republication of Green's "Mutual Banking." (Price 10 cents.) It is a terse and lucid expose of the evils of our existing system, and contains the cream of Proudhon, Kellogg, Beck and others. It portrays usury with a master hand, and at the same time shows the stupidity of laws against usury, while usury of land (rent) and of materials remains unchecked, with the sanction of law enforced by civil and militant government. ANDREW CARNEGIE, Feb. 18, failed of election to an honorary membership in the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. S. A. Russell led the opposition. He referred to the Homestead strike, and spoke of the endowment of the Carnegie hospital of Pittsburg, which reminded him of the poet's lines that tell him of a man who not only built a hospital, but provided the inmates for it. "I suspect," said he, "that Mr. Carnegie has been an oppressor of the poor-a willful, cheerful, intelligent oppressor of the poor. I shall certainly vote against him unless satisfied of the contrary." So many questions have been asked regarding the Social Reform Club, that we publish the following draft of the constitution of the Indianapolis club. The idea was first advanced at the Denver convention of the American Federation of Labor, and the executive council subsequently ordered formulated a charter, and also stipulated that such clubs should bear no taxes or have representation in central, state or national conventions, the only expense being cost of charter, which was fixed at five dollars. The membership of the club is not confined exclusively to wageworkers, but admits any person who is desirous of advancing the labor reform movement. This is its principal advantage. PREAMBLE. Owing to unequal opportunities in production and exchange, caused by special privileges incorporated into statute law, there exists a condition among men which bears heavily upon some and lightly upon others, such derangement being vital in its effects upon the morals, happiness and physical well-being of the disfavored, as well as corrupting the favored, thus tending to demoralize society from above and below; and the appli cation of which condition, in its periodical commercial panics, its constant industrial outbreaks, its pitting of man against man, its criminal sequences and dire sufferings, has attracted the attention of thinkers and reformers in all classes. It is now generally admitted that its effects have wrought a Social Problem, upon the settlement of which depends the onward march of mankind and civilization. NAME AND OBJECTS.. Believing that the solution of this great problem should be sought by peaceful methods, and necessarily by co-operation with those of similar purpose, we hereby declare, in order that exchange of thought on social and industrial laws may be greater, that reform forces may be united and active, that education may ensue, in favor of an organization to be known as SOCIAL REFORM CLUB, NO. to be chartered by the American Federation of Labor, and acting in harmony with the constitution and principles thereof at all times. We emphasize our conviction in the utility of the trade union, recognizing in it the greatest possible combination of varied units, as well as progression and actual results. It shall be our aim at all times, while endeavoring to penetrate and disseminate the truths of political economy, to advance the immediate interests of the working men and women by fostering organization, on trade union lines, and giving active support thereto. We further declare that this club shall not be used to endorse any political party, nor its candidates, and partisan politics or religious questions shall not be admitted in its meetings COMING CONVENTIONS. Actors National Protective Union, August 12, St. Louis, Mo. Journeymen Barbers International Union, October 6, Evansville, Ind. Journeymen Bakers and Confectioners International Union, Boilermakers and Iron Ship Builders, June 8, Cleveland, O. Brotherhood of Bookbinders, May 5, St. Louis, Mo. United Brewery Workmen, September 20, Cincinnati, O. Carriage and Wagon Workers International Union, August 10, Boot and Shoe Workers Union, June 15, Boston, Mass. Cigarmakers International Union, Sept. 28, Detroit, Mich. Retail Clerks National Protective Association, July 14, Denver, Col. Coopers International Union of North America, September 14, Evansville, Ind. Iron Moulders Union of North America, Indianapolis, Ind. (Date decided by referendum.) Cotton Mule Spinners National Union, April 7, Boston, Mass. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, May 13, Ottowa, Can. Harness and Saddlemakers National Union, July 21, Chicago, Ill. International Union of Horseshoers of United States and Canada, May 18, Buffalo, N. Y. Hotel and Restaurant Employes National Alliance, April 13, Cincinnati, O. Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, May 19, Detroit, Mich. International Longshoremens Association. July 14, Escanaba, Mich. International Association of Machinists, May 6, 1897, Kansas City, Mo. Northern Mineral Mine Workers Progressive Union, April 14, Ishpeming, Mich, United Mine Workers of America, April 14, Columbus, O.. National League of Musicians, April 6, Washington, D. C. Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators, August 3, Galveston, Texas. Patternmakers National League, June 1, Philadelphia, Pa. International Printing Pressmens Union, June 16, Chicago, Ill, Seamens National Union, subject to call of executive board, Chicago, Ill. Stove Mounters International Union, July 7, Chicago, Ill. Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employes, October 12, Worcester, Mass. Journeymen Tailors Union, August 3, Louisville, Ky. Tin, Sheet Iron and Cornice Workers International Association, National Tobacco Workers Union, May 25, Louisville, Ky. International Typographical Union, October 12, Colorado Springs, Col. Amalgamated Wood Workers International Union, October 5, Detroit, Mich. Elastic Goring Weavers Amalgamated Association, September 14. Place not decided. Illinois State Federation of Labor, November 17, East St. Wiconsin State Federation of Labor, June 9, Racine, Wis. 2. United garment workers, sup. United garment workers, FEDERATIONISTS Iron ore mine workers 6559, tax, nov 3. Pork butchers 6423, tax, o, n, Federal labor 5345, tax, s, o, n, Brotherhood of painters and decorators, tax, dec 4. Actors national prot., sup 6. Dorcas federal labor 6582, tax, oct Federal labor 6603, sup Papermakers 6171, sup Miners prot asso. 6395, tax, nov Firemens prot. 6130, tax, m, a, m 7. Freight handlers 6527, sup Butchers 5502, tax to jan. I Butchers 6325, tax to jan. I Grinders national, tax, j, j, a, s, o, n Carriage hardware workers 64:9, tax, d, j 8. Laboringmen's prot. 5287, tax, dec. Federal labor 6332, tax, n, d, j Brotherhood stationary engineers 6526, tax, dec Buffalo musicians 6613, tax, jan. Teamsters prot. 6060, tax, o, n, d, 90c; sup., $1.75 Oil dealers prot. 6573, tax, dec $3,851 45 6 00 3. 00 57 7.49 I 00 I 50 5 00 2 00 4 60 80 12 50 5.00 25 I 00 I 2 1 15 360 2 28 70 I 75 75 I 57 2 65 |