it, that then to assist them the painters, carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, etc., who have no grievances, and have made no demands, strike also in sympathy to aid the carpenters. Nothing so strongly shows the solidarity of labor, and to see men not only in theory, but by their actions show their belief in the brotherhood of man in such a practical manner gives us the greatest hope for the future. The same principle that underlies the sympathetic strike, caused our late war with Spain. We had no quarrel with Spain but our sympathy with the Cubans' struggle caused us to forget selfinterest and take part in his battles for political emancipation. I believe that I have said enough on this occasion to demonstrate, at least, that the trade unionist does not act blindly, but in his own opinion, at least, has reasons based upon solid economic conditions and truths to warrant the action taken, so far as the general movement is concerned. We make no claim to infallibility; we know better than anyone else that we make mistakes, but each year's lesson taken from our experience makes the number less. ANOTHER GLORIOUS VICTORY. President of the Green Glass Bottle Blowers' Association. After a conference at Atlantic City, N. J., lasting eight days, between representatives of the Green Glass Bottle Blowers' Association and the glass manufacturers, agreements were signed August 7, governing the trade for the DENIS A. HAYES. coming year. Concessions were made on both sides, but the glass blowers scored a signal victory in securing an increase in the wage scale and in striking a death blow at the iniquitious pluck-me-store system. The settlement of the argument over the abolishment of company stores was to the effect that when the new agreement goes into operation this month, employes will receive all their earnings in cash, and that no money shall be deducted in payment for coal, wood, groceries or rent or other things. The warfare waged against the company store has been successful in gaining this concession, which affects the blowers of South Jersey more than any section of the country that will be governed by the decision. The Glass Bottle Blowers' Association has thoroughly exposed the evils of the pluckme-store system and persistently voiced the demand that this relic of industrial slavery should be abolished. Another important item in the agreement is an increase in wages amounting to 7 per cent. and which with the increase of 8 per cent. granted last year restores the wage scale to the rates paid in 1893, just prior to the enactment of the Wilson tariff. The Wilson law so affected the trade that a reduction of 15 per cent. was made necessary, but the manufacturers promised to restore the rate if the tariff was changed, and that promise has now been carried out. Members of the union blowing for machines, over which there has been more or less controversy as to wages, will in the future receive an average day's pay. There was an effort to make eight hours a full day, but in view of the concessions granted by the manufacturers, it was waived for the coming blast. Next fall an increase in apprentices will be allowed, averaging one apprentice to every 10 journey men while the old agreement was one to every 15. President Hayes, and his associate officers are not only pleased with the outcome of the conference, but also with the prospects for the future of the trade. The reports to hand are of a most gratifying character. The demand for workmen has been steady, above normal and greater than could be supplied. This condition was one influential factor in securing restoration of the old wage scale, or what is known as net prices. The manufacturers report trade brisk throughout the United States and Canada and they have reason to anticipate a prosperous year. The unionizing of all factories in South Jersey contributed towards the settlement of the company store issue. The demand for their abolishment was sustained by an almost unanimous opinion among the blowers and the contest was materially strengthened by the fight in favor of the workmen made by organized labor which is appreciated by the blowers and the association and was recognized officially at their recent convention at Detroit. LABOR NEWS, BY AND FOR THE LABORERS. By JERE L. SULLIVAN, General Secretary, Hotel and Restaurant Employes. It seems to the writer that it is an excess of modesty, verging on timidity, that deters many working men from taking pen in hand and writing their views on subjects to which they have given time and thought, and whose views would be of great importance to their fellow workers if they only had the boldness to write and stand the consequences. This absence of "nerve" prevents many laboring men from rushing into print with matter that would not only be of value, but would in many cases open up fields that are through this lack of courage left undisturbed. Now, the writer can not be accused of a lack of self-confidence, even while admitting it is not his business to write leading matter on economic philosophy, and believing himself incapable of such a task; but he does believe that he has some ideas that could be given consideration and trial with results that, in his judgment, would be more than satisfying. Nearly all trades that have an international union publish a trade journal, and, if you will note, the cry of the editor is always, "Send us some news so as to make our journal interesting to our membership;" and in this very appeal lies the whole weakness of making the journal a strong advocate of this particular craft. The members read the editor's cry for news, and this lack of nerve in the members is responsible for the scarcity of letters to print in the said journal, the usual remark made by the nerveless member being: "There is nothing interesting to read in our paper." If the trade unionists would only make a break into print, tell their story as best they can, they would be more than surprised with the results obtained, and the writer believes that every local union should select some fairly bright member and exact from him the duty of writing trade or local notes to be published in their trade journal, monthly or weekly, as the case may be. In our up that little paper you can pretty near tell what is going on in union circles and whether business is good, bad or indifferent in that locality. Just imagine if all our trade union papers were to be equally fortunate as our Iowa friend, don't you suppose that it would do more to educate our members than any other single agency that can be suggested? The writer sincerely thinks so, and hopes that any member of a trade union who feels capable to write a few lines will take courage, get nervy, and write something about his trade for his trade union paper, so that the men who are devoting time and money in advocating unionism will feel encouraged and their task made somewhat easier. Nerve is a great thing; the writer knows it is from actual experience; it took nerve and plenty of it to build our organization up to its present strength. A year ago this month our International Union was troubled with a surfeit of brains but awful short on honesty;-it took nerve to get rid of the excess of the former article, but we did it, and today we are one of the organizations that has made progress to be proud of. We used our nerve and good common sense with plenty of printers' ink, and we are getting closer to easy street every day. Our locals have been taught to read our journal, to write for our journal, and to subscribe for it, and we feel safe in saying that in our membership we have more who are less afraid of making a mistake in writing for publication, than any other craft in sight. We are growing; we can't be stopped from growing, and all on account of our faith in keeping our craft constantly before the people through the agency of trade news. Now, brothers, this was written by a nervy fellow; it may never see the printer's hands, but I will have the satisfaction of knowing that some one will read it, even if it is only the editor, who may kill it after reading. Read, write, subscribe, and think; then write some more. HOW TO GAIN CONVERTS. By H. B. PERHAM, Editor "Railroad Telegrapher." One of the most interesting subjects for are others that can be credited with one or unionists to consider is how to obtain the con- more of them, and a few that the cap fits to a fidence and good will of those who ought to be nicety. members but are still outside of the fold. In trades where only a small per cent. of the craft is identified with the union, notwithstanding that the union has been in existence for many years, it is only reasonable to suppose that there is some objectionable feature about it that secretly acts as a repellent force. To find out what that is and correct it is a duty we owe to the cause. Those who believe that a cultivation of the spirit of fraternalism is the shortest way out for the workingman, as all good union men do, ought not to object to well meant criticisms, for it is by such methods more rapid progress will be made. Free discussion of the obstacles in our way will certainly develop ideas for our betterment. There are four points raised by the more intelligent of the non-unionists that need attention. They charge the unions with- First, Careless and wasteful disbursement of funds; Second, Too many ill-advised strikes; Third, Rattle brained leadership; Fourth, Too much of what is known as "one man power." There are plenty of unions that are free from each and every one of these aspersions; there It may be said in a general way that if unions would save their funds and invest them under the careful supervision of a board of trustees elected for that purpose, the income derived from that source would lessen the cost of membership and thereby make the union far more attractive to great numbers of poorly paid men who are always pinched for money. The possession of wealth brings prestige to the organization as well as the individual. Again, to offer an outsider the protection afforded by a fund that he did not help to create is one of the most potent arguments that an organizer can use. It can be charged that that is giving something for nothing, and with considerable truth, but it is results that are wanted, and we must not forget that it always pays to be magnanimous within the bounds of discretion. When trouble has arisen between employe and employer the union stands in need more of a trained advocate than a fighter. A great per cent. of the troubles that end in a strike could be amicably settled if the spokesman always realized the truth that the employer has the move on him, as the checker player says, at the commencement of the game. There have been far too many men representing organized labor who thought it was their bounden duty to carry a chip on their shoulder. Far too often for the welfare of the union the members conclude to go on a strike before the employer has been made fully aware of the nature of the complaints or has been given a chance to adjust them. It is only natural that belligerency should be met with belligerency. The foregoing subject is closely allied with that of good leadership, for with the right man in the lead glaring mistakes will not be made. Last, but by no means least, is the subject of democratic government of the unions. The fear of the possibility of being forced into an unpleasant position by the will of others has a deterrent effect on the non-union man. What capitalists have had to say anent the arbitrary acts of walking delegates and the chief officers of the unions ordering men to quit work against their will has had its effect, notwithstanding that such statements are usually made out of whole cloth. The fact needs to be thoroughly established and then as thoroughly advertised that it is the men directly interested in a strike who bring one about and that the majority rules in all such cases. The representative is supposed to do the bidding of the members who created him. In unions where corruption has crept in and the representative or chief of the union assumes the power and prerogatives of the master, instead of acting as the servant, and habitually uses the political machinery of the organization to prolong his tenure of office, there are breakers ahead, if dissolution is not THE ACME OF UNIONISM. By JOHN T. WILSON, Editor "Trackmen's Advance Advocate." Federation of unions is the acme of unionism. The unionist who advocates organization among different classes of workmen, but advises against the federation of kindred crafts, has yet to learn the vital principle of unionism. The inconsistency of such a position is obvious to the veriest tyro in the trades union movement. The sincerity of such men may well be doubted. It is often claimed by workmen holding membership in class unions that there is no sympathy between a man receiving $4 a day for his services, and one who receives $1 a day, and in some instances the conduct of the former towards the latter is practically the conduct of the exploiter of labor towards his unwilling subjects. Trade unionism is a principle and not a selfish desire. Those who join a labor organization with purely selfish motives in view are unworthy the respect of their fellow-toilers. Those who enlist in the ranks of organized labor with the view of promoting and defending mutual interests have the proper appreciation of the trade union spirit, and will not be found wanting when their fealty to unionism is subjected to a crucial test. What course could be more practical, beneficial or sensible than that adopted by men engaged in the building trades? They have formed a federation for the furtherance and protection of mutual interests, and the result is, that a union carpenter, painter, bricklayer, plumber, roofer, glazier or hodcarrier will not work on a building where any part of the work is performed by nonunion men. Does the unionist, so called, who opposes federation, see anything in this plan to which he can seriously object? A federation of the various unions of railway employes would be of material advantage to the members of each union concerned if established upon a proper basis. It is not at all necessary that lengthy articles of confederation should be drawn up or that many pages be devoted to elaborate rules and by-laws. A simple agreement that would bind men engaged in the operation of trains, not to run over a road kept up by non-union trackmen, and that would bind trackmen not to keep up track without the cars run over it are manned by union men, would be a federation worth having and would produce immediate and good results. If the organizations representing kindred crafts would form themselves into leagues or confederacies, such as we have represented in the Building Trades Council, the Allied Printing Trades Council, etc., and if the leagues thus formed would unite under one head-the American Federation of Labor-organized labor would exercise complete control over the question of wages, hours of service and conditions of employment, because we would have a well-disciplined army, nearly two million strong, under one supreme command, which the exploiters of labor would be compelled to recognize, and deal with, in a fair and just manner. GOOD READING FOR LABOR DAY. General Secretary International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen. The International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen, have, in the last year, more than doubled in number of local unions, and more than trebled in membership. The 8-hour day has been established, with the same pay which our men were receiving for 12 hours' work, in Ft. Worth, Tex.; Toledo, O.; Bay City, Mich.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Chicago and Springfield, Ill., and in many other cities big gains in wages and reductions in hours have taken place. All the above-named gains were made without the loss of a minute of time on account of strikes. The only notable strike we have had this year was in Peoria, Ill., where a raise of wages of 25 cents per day per man was made. The firemen all over America are beginning to see that in union there is strength, and are uniting with us very rapidly. Our total increase in membership in the last 60 days has reached 1,000. |