but the crafts affiliated with the Department will be represented in any conference that may take place.

In connection with the inaugurating a joint movement, it may be well to mention that it is practically impossible to do so unless we have first perfected the system federations in the territory for which we propose to act. I mention this because there seems to exist a very general impression that the Department is in a position to inaugurate such a movement at any time. The members in the Southeast have been working out a plan for the past four years and have but recently got in a position to carry their plans to a successful conclusion.

The necessary thing to do and that which must be done, is to perfect a system federation on every road in a given territory, then Gal 4—3059-Cline Ptg. Co.-Ry. Clerk 9-21 -Lamonte 4

we can proceed to perfect our plans, hold a meeting of the representative men from each craft and decide just what will be done.

What we need most just at this time is ORGANIZATION; we cannot afford to undertake a joint movement until that is accomplished.

A. O. WHARTON, President R. E. Dept.

AN APPEAL.

Kansas City, Mo., September, 1914. To all Lodges and Members of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks:

Dear Sisters and Brothers:-The time has arrived when each and every member of this Brotherhood should constitute himself a committee of one for the purpose of soliciting the application of every non-member clerk and prevail upon him the necessity of becoming a member.

A labor forward movement has been inaugurated in almost every city in the country, with very gratifying results to those organizations who participated in it. Unfortunately for our class, the members of our Brotherhood generally have not taken the advantages offered through this general movement, and only in very few cases have the clerks participated in the movement; this is not as it should be, and we are standing in our own light when we hold aloof from a movement as beneficial as this would be had we taken advantage of the opportunities offered. Had our members in vari

ous parts of the country co-operated, we might have added thousands of new members to the fold.

In order that we might make up for the past and redeem ourselves in the eyes of the labor movement, we must go forth with a determination that each one of us at least secure one new application for membership in our local lodges. This can be very easily accomplished if the members will only try and exert themselves just a little. We can all readily understand what that will mean to the organization, and to the local lodges who have all kinds of available material to work on.

Let us then inaugurate a forward movement of the clerks and place this organization where it rightfully belongs, in the forefront of every railroad organization in existence today. We can do it if the members will only try. We must try in the interest of the clerks themselves and in the interest of the labor movement in general; if we don't do it, we are not doing our duty to either the organization or ourselves. Yours fraternally,

JNO. J. CARRIGAN,
Grand President.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIFFER.

In all the discussion over the labor exemption clause of the new national anti-trust measure the opponent of the clause fail to observe that organized labor is not in the same class at all with the trusts whose methods and tactics are regarded as in restraint of trade. It has become the habit of those who seek to oppose the progress of labor to define organized labor as "the greatest trust" in the country. Organized labor has nothing to do with trade in the sense of the buying and selling of goods. Labor is organized for the purpose of protecting its right to work and to life.

A trust is a combination of like industrial units for the purpose of controlling the manufacture of an article of trade and to fix at will the price of such article and thereby to increase as largely as possible the dividends of the stockholders. A labor organization is a union of workingmen for the purpose of mutual acquaintance and the improvement of the conditions of their labor, the fixing of a living wage and the maintenance of their rights and life against the encroachments of a capitalistic regime that steadily tends to force labor into a condition of practical serv

itude. The aims of the two kinds of organization are strikingly different.

The actual trust toward which trust legislation is directed is not struggling for a livelihood. It is presumed that those constituting the trust have enough of this world's goods and to spare, or they could not invest in anything. They are out for more wealth and power by the most selfish methods. Organized labor, on the other hand, seeks to secure safety for the limb and life of its members, the protection of their homes, and for a wage that will enable its members to live and enjoy some of the finer things of life. The trust logician knows well that the less he can force labor to take, the more he will take to continue his luxurious and extravagant living.-Newark (N. J.) Union Labor Bulletin.

By GEORGE A. STEVENS, Senior Statistician, Department of Labor of New York. Most important of the changes affecting labor in the last twenty-five years, in my opinion, is the betterment of the economic condition of the workers, through their organizations.

Wages have been largely increased, while there has been a material reduction in working time. The eight-hour day is in force in a large number of trades, especially in the building industry and the printing trades. The Saturday half-holiday is also generally observed.

In that term of years, through the efforts of the organized workers, their standard of living has been greatly improved. Their homes are better furnished and their children better dressed. If there had been no organization, conditions would not be what they are today.

The factory laws have been improved, the lives and limbs of employes are better protected. Dangerous machinery is safeguarded. There is far closer supervision over factory work. The legislature is constantly increasing the force of factory inspectors and giving the department of labor sufficient means to carry on the work in a suitable manner. Conditions under which men and women work are better; sanitation, ventilation, light and other provisions

for the comfort of employes have come in with saner architecture and more wholesome regard for the welfare of employes.

Credit Belongs to Labor Unions. Tenement house work is now regulated. The houses in which such work is done are licensed, insuring clean and sanitary work

rooms.

All these advances are due to the agitation which has been carried on in recent years by the labor people themselves and social reformers; and by this latter designation I mean persons who really, by their works, have shown themselves vitally interested in the general welfare of the people. Many church organizations have aided in ameliorating the condition of working people.

With the more cordial relations thus established strikes are not so numerous, and instances of discontent are less frequent. There is rather a get-together policy and friendly agreements as to hours and wages and conditions of work. "Collective bargaining," as it is termed, is now entered into between associations of mechanics and manufacturers.

Legislation of the most vital importance to laboring men and women has been enacted in this last quarter century in New York state as well as in every other state in the union. Regulation of child labor, hours for women's employment, protection of health, employers' liability-all have taken a conspicuous place, not to mention the broad public provisions for laboring men's comfort by way of establishing small parks, recreation piers and the various movements calculated to stimulate all classes, even the poorest, to higher standards of living.

And now there is a Women's Trade Union league, which corresponds to the men's Central Federated union. But this women's organization includes unions which have both women and men workers. It is a very ef fective institution.

Employment of children has been gradually restricted, the minimum age limit eventually being fixed at 14 years, and on June 15, 1907, the legislature amended the act to provide that no child under sixteen be allowed to work in any factory except between 8 o'clock and 5, or for more than eight hours in any day or six days in a week. The latest revision provides that no male minor under eighteen may be employed in any factory more than 54 hours a week,

or more than nine hours a day. The same provision applies to female workers. The provision reducing the hours from 60 to 54 for male minors and women becomes effective October 1 next. There are a few exceptions in the employment restrictions, which may be disregarded in a general consideration of the subject like this.

Work Still to Be Done.

Some progress has been made in legislation regarding employers' liability and workmen's compensation, but much more on that score will have to be done in the way of amendatory acts that will stand the test of interpretation by the courts and accord with constitutional requirements before the working masses will receive any substantial benefit.

The constitutional amendment, passed in 1894 at the behest of the workers, numerous manufacturers and those who favor industrial reforms, solved for all time the prison labor problem so far as the empire state is concerned. Here the competitive convict system has been abolished. Contract labor in penal institutions is now a memory, the state and its political divisions taking for their own use all goods made by prisoners. If this method of employing convicts were established in every state in the union free labor would not have any cause for complaint.

Organized labor, aided by scores of advanced thinkers among the social philosophers and broad minded statesmen, is at present agitating for uniform labor legislation in the different states. Before the close of another quarter century doubtless the efforts now being put forth by these energetic elements will have a successful outcome. Ex.

LABOR'S PROBLEM.

"The welfare of the laboring class is the greatest living question that confronts not only this but every other country," said Secretary Wilson of the Department of Labor in discussing for a newspaper the labor question in the United States today. "Take care of labor and the country is bound to be prosperous and its people happy. I have tried to contribute the best efforts of my life to solve this question and it is my ambition to continue to do so until I am called away.

"I am a sincere believer in unionism. I believe in organization as a means of pro

tection for all kinds of labor. I cannot see how the employes could secure even a small share of justice without organization. I look upon any industry as a partnership in which the employer and the employees are the partners in production. They have a mutual interest in securing the largest production for a given amount of labor, and it is only when it comes to a division of the profits that their interests begin to diverge."

His ideal condition between the two parties is as follows:

"A condition of partnership and of equal rights. There is an implied partnership now, but the difficulty is that the employer does not recognize it. He assumes that the plant is his property and that he has a right to do with it as he pleases and to run it as he pleases. He fails to grasp the idea that there is no title to property that is not a law-created and law-protected title.

"Society has allowed private individuals or corporations to hold certain rights only for its protection and development and it can modify that title whenever it is deemed necessary for its protection. Therefore, when the employer claims the factory as his own to do with as he pleases he fails to realize that he has no title to the factory except in so far as society permits."

In answer to the question whether, in his opinion, the industries of the United States could be run on an eight-hour-a-day basis, the labor member of the president's cabinet readily answered affirmatively.

"I have no doubt of," he said, "and I believe that there are many industries in which the workman will produce as much in eight hours as he did in ten."

"Will we have an eight-hour day everywhere in the United States in due time?"

"There are many states in which the eighthour-a-day law applies to certain occupa tions. More states are added every year, and also more occupations. At this rate of progress it looks as if the eight-hour day will become an accomplished fact before many years."

Being asked his opinion on strikes, Secretary Wilson said: "Instead of strikes, wages should be made as high as possible as a return for producing capacity. I do not believe in compulsory arbitration, but both sides should work out their differences mutually; otherwise one or the other is always dissatisfied.

"The law creating the labor department

aims to solve labor questions. One of its duties is to act as a mediator between employer and employe. Mediation presumes collective bargaining. There can be no collective bargaining unless labor unions are represented on one side and employers on the other. Consequently, our government has recognized the partnership between labor and capital."

Speaking of the results of the tariff legislation, Mr. Wilson said: "If the manufac turers of this country reduce the wages of their laboring men and assign as a reason the tariff law they will be brought before the bar of public opinion by the department of commerce. In this my department will certainly assist whatever the department of commerce may do in that respect. We shall immediately through the bureau of statistics, gather information to determine whether their statements are true or not. The results will be given to the country that it may judge.

"Not only the national administration is very friendly toward organized labor," said Secretary Wilson, in answer to a question as to the attitude of the administration toward organized labor, "but congress is showing itself to be a true friend of the workingman of this country, which fact was amply demonstrated in recent congressional legislative acts. I have no reason to believe that the attitude of either the administration or congress will change. The outlook for labor is exceptionally bright, and the labor movement is progressing. The country on the whole is in very good condition as to organized labor. There are disturbances, of course, in some sections, but the outcome of these will result in nothing but good for the organized workers. Publicity is the greatest agency to stop abuses and injustices.

"The organization of the working class and the trade union movement in the United States is aiming toward and accomplishing one end-the more equal distribution of wealth. Organized workers are seeking to solve that great question or problem-the equal distribution of wealth. Great strides have been made toward this goal, which would settle all troubles for all times. Every step toward the solving of this problem to get for labor the equivalent of what it produces-is sanctioned by the trade union movement. If the Socialist party has

found or can find a solution of this perplexing problem, that is the step which should be taken up by the workers of the country."

Discussing the liquor question, Secretary Wilson said the deadliest blow that can possibly be dealt the use of stimulants by the workingman will come when the hours of a day's work are reduced to a point where a workingman can go to his work the next morning feeling refreshed by his sleeping following his previous day's work.

"In many industries in the present day," continued Mr. Wilson, "the mind and body of the workingman are completely exhausted after his day's toil, and he is forced to the use of stimulants to keep up. It is not entirely his fault; it is partly the fault of conditions. Eliminate the condition and you will witness a great falling off in the use of stimulants."

"Are you opposed to Asiatic immigration?" was asked of the secretary, and he shrewdly evaded the direct question by saying: "I think we have all the racial troubles on hand we can take care of." He prophesied a vast increase in the number of European immigrants coming to this country this and next year, particularly to the Pacific coast, and declared himself in favor of keeping immigration within the bounds of the possibility of assimilation.

Of the unemployed, Secretary Wilson said he wished to see created within his department a bureau of information that would handle about the same lines as the weather bureau of information, where with the aid of the immense number of government employes which are scattered over the country, the bureau could gather the information where men can find employment, the wages they will receive, the hours of employment, the conditions under which they will toil, whether or not a trade union is recognized, and last, but not least, whether or not any trade dispute exists where the employment may be had; and then condense that information into a sheet that can be posted in every postoffice in the United States and in every other place where men congregate so that they will have the information relative to where employment can be had, the kind of employment, and in doing so give them the information in such a way that when a man comes into a community where a strike exists for the purpose of tak