The American Federationist

KANSAS

Blue Rapids.-G. O. Norris:

Organizeddabor is in good shape; unorganized not very well off. Employment has been unsteady on account of the very cold weather. Good work is done for the union labels.

Lawrence.-Benjamin M. Schooley:

Organized labor is holding together well and a good feeling exists, but there has been little work because of the severe winter. Wages for the new year are maintained at the former rate. We are expecting the state legislature to take some action on labor measures at this session, especially on the question of women's wages.

KENTUCKY

Bellevue.-Chris Cline:

The condition of organized labor is fair; of unorganized, much worse than that of the organized. Employment is rather unsteady, although the steel mills, a strictly union concern, have again opened and are operating to about two-thirds of their capacity. The trades and labor assemblies of Kenton and Campbell counties have taken up the question of the unemployed, and, particularly in Campbell County, are meeting with marked success. The city and county authorities have placed the entire matter in the hands of the central bodies, and both cities and counties are furnishing all the work possible. The committee from the assembly meets every Sunday morning at the city and county offices and receives applications for employment. No employment of any kind is given out to any one unless recommended by the committee. The committee considers and acts upon applications from union and non-union men alike. The press and the community in general are commending in every possible way the action taken by the assembly in this crisis. The assembly also has a committee soliciting clothing and supplies for the striking miners in Ohio which has been very successful. There is a continued agitation in the interest of the union labels. A union of bartenders has been formed, and the electrical workers are organizing a local.

LOUISIANA

Lake Charles.-J. M. Theall:

Organized labor has very much better conditions than the unorganized, working eight hours a day, while the unorganized work ten and twelve. A strong agitation in the interest of the union label is producing good results.

MAINE

Augusta.-J. H. Bussell:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unorganized, fair. Employment is fairly steady, although some of the manufacturing trades are working short time. Working conditions are steadily growing better without strikes. Work in the interest of the union labels is resulting in increased sales. Efforts are being made to organize the bakers.

Portland.-Charles Darrington:

Organized labor is in fair condition but many are out of work. The central labor union failed in an effort to secure a union labor clause in the contract

for the new three million dollar bridge. The count commissioners promised to insert such a clause, by in reality limited the work only to citizens of the United States. All unions are working toward workman's compensation act. Some work is done:: the interest of the union labels. A union of laundry workers has been organized.

Waterville.-J. Frank Partridge:

Organized labor is in good condition with goc prospect for further improvement. Unorganize. labor is enjoying the results of the efforts of the organized workers. Employment will be que steady all winter. Good work is done for the unter labels. The plumbers are organizing.

MARYLAND

Cumberland.-Charles O. Roemer:

Organized labor is in good condition consideri trade conditions. The locals of bartenders and be bers have been re-organized and are doing go.. work.

MASSACHUSETTS

Lowell.-Edmond Sicard:

Organized labor in New England is in fairly goo. condition, particularly in the textile trades. E= ployment has not been very steady but is picking steadily, the textile mills running more regula than for some time past. We are doing good was for the union labels. A union of sewer worker. has been organized in Maynard, Massachusetts, an a central labor union is under way.

Middleboro.-Will S. Anderson:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unr ganized, poor. Employment is fairly steady. Th central labor union is active in the interest of union labels.

MICHIGAN

Detroit.-David Thomas:

Organized workers are enjoying very much bette conditions than the unorganized, but employme is very unsteady. The union labels are ber pushed. A union of public school janitors has bee formed and a union of furriers is under way.

Jackson.-James G. Henley:

The condition of organized labor is fairly goo with employment about normal. We are start: a labor forward campaign: The label commit is active in the interest of the union labels. A un of leather workers is under way.

MINNESOTA

International Falls.-H. B. Tohms:

The condition of organized labor is good, but wit of unorganized workers, both skilled and unskill have taken a further drop since my last report. S mills have shut down with no prospects of start:: but logging operations are showing increas: activity. The wages of the woodsmen however 50 per cent lower than they were last winter. number of men are out of work but as a whole er ployment is steady in the city. The retail clerks bi been successful in securing contracts with the eployers calling for 7 o'clock closing. Union L goods are in good demand.

St. Joseph.-C. A. Bucklen:

Organized labor is in fair shape; unorganized labor is in poor shape, and from the present outlook will have small chance for improvement. The organized trades are in better demand than the unorganized, and while there are some union men unemployed, many non-union men have been laid off. We are continually advertising and boosting the union labels. The central labor council has decided to confine its efforts to building up existing unions rather than to attempt to form new unions under present conditions.

Bellows Falls.-Robert Howard:

Organized labor here is in very good condition, while unorganized labor has poor conditions, long hours, and low pay. Business is dull at present. Good work is done for the union labels. Efforts

are being made to interest the laundry workers in organization.

Portsmouth.-Robert V. Noble:

The condition of organized labor is good and employment is steady. The electrical workers have reorganized with a good charter membership. The label committee of the central body is active in the interest of the labels and is producing results. The plumbers are re-organizing their local.

NEW JERSEY

Newark.-A. Marotta:

Organized labor is in much better condition than unorganized. Depressed business conditions have thrown many clothing workers out of work. Agitation for the union labels is producing good results. West Hoboken.-Charles H. Felten:

Organized labor is in good condition, far better than unorganized. Painters report plenty of work and employment is fair in other trades. Embroidery. workers have been on strike, and report violations of the child labor law. The bartenders and waiters are working in harmony with the liquor dealers. Union labels are being boosted. Unions of signalmen, bootblacks and reporters are under way.

NEW YORK

Albany-John J. Dillon:

Organized labor is in fairly good shape; unorganized labor is in poor condition. Employment is not steady. Several of the organizations using the union label have got together and employed a man to act as agent in the interest of the union labels. Brooklyn.-Rudolph Modest:

Butcher workmen in Brooklyn have established a nine-hour workday and have increased wages from $1 to $2. One local of butcher workmen in Hoboken has established a nine-hour day and a minimum wage of $16, and the butchers in Paterson have secured Saturday half-holiday. The butchers in Hoboken went on strike to enforce the above conditions and were successful after being out only a few hours, all employers recognizing the agreement. The butchers are agitating the use of union meat and meat products.

Dunkirk.-Emil Hagberg:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unorganized, fair. Employment is still unsteady but there has been some improvement during the month, the local plant of the American Locomotive Company having resumed operations with a small force working three days a week. The central council has a good committee working for the union labels.

Gloversville.-Chauncy Thayer:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unorganized, very bad. Employment is steady. The glove workers' strike is still on, with no settlement in sight. A city ordinance prohibiting picketing has been declared null and void. All labels are being pushed. Restaurant employes are organizing.

Ogdensburg.-E. L. Emmert:

Organized labor is in fair condition. There have been no reductions in wages, but hours have been reduced. Unorganized labor is in pretty bad shape. Employment is not steady and many of our men are going to the lumber camps where work is more plentiful. There is a fair demand here for all union label products.

Syracuse.-Edward F. Carroll:

Organized labor is retaining its hold on the greater amount of the work to be done, and employment is fairly steady in those industries which are working. There is more unemployment among the unorganized than the organized workers. We maintain a constant agitation for the union labels.

NORTH CAROLINA

Spencer.-James P. Scott:

Organized labor is in good condition. The railroad shops are about 100 per cent organized. We are working three days a week in the machine and erecting shops, and relaying in the roundhouse the remainder of the time.

OHIO

Akron.-D. W. Held:

Organized labor is in fairly good condition. We have improved conditions in some of the trades in which new unions have been formed during the past year. All unions took an active part in our Tag Day for the relief of the striking miners in Ohio, which was very successful. We are working in the interest of the union labels and securing results. Two measures of interest to Labor are pending in the legislature and all locals and the central body are working for their passage. We hope to organize the rubber workers during the year.

Cleveland.-Michael Goldsmith:

Organized labor is in fairly good condition, but the unemployment question is serious. A test is being made of the eight-hour law on municipal work. A contractor on the city filtration plant has been arrested for working his men twelve hours and more per day. Several new unions are under way, the ladies' garment workers being especially active in organization work.

Findlay.-E. E. Smith:

Printers, barbers, and carpenters here are well organized and enjoying fairly good conditions. Several other crafts are also organized and in better condition than the unorganized. Employment is slack. A federal labor union has been organized, and the organization of two locals and a central body is under way.

Toledo.-E. E. Smith:

The state of employment is pretty bad in Toledo at the present time. We are at present engaged in securing relief for the striking miners, and up to date have obtained $3,000 in cash and a carload of food and clothing. The unions are also working for the relief of the destitute in Toledo. The legislative committees of both the central labor union and the metal trades council are active in the discharge of their duties. Endorsement of the prevailing rate of wages for city employes has been secured from the city council. Our Labor Temple committee is pushing work on that important enterprise with good results. In short the Toledo labor movement is making itself felt in all matters pertaining to Labor.

Wellsville.-Frank Smurthwaite:

Organized labor is improving; unorganized is indifferent. A large committee is at work soliciting funds and aid for the striking miners, and ou locals are donating. There is a fair demand for products bearing the union labels.

OREGON

Baker.-J. C. Weckworth:

Organized labor is holding its own, although it will of course feel the effects of the vote for prohibition. Employment is fairly steady for the time of year. Unorganized labor is in bad shape. All union labels are pushed.

Marshfield.-Andrew Landles:

Organized labor is doing most of the work that is being done and is maintaining its standard of wages and hours. The unorganized workers are in poor condition and are taking whatever is offered them. Employment is not very steady. Contracting carpenters and plumbers have signed union agreements. The barbers have organized.

PENNSYLVANIA

Easton.-George Reuss:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unorganized, fair. Employment is not steady. The demand for union label products is increasing. The plumbers are reorganizing.

Forest City.-F. A. Burdick:

The workers here are well organized and in pretty good condition, although employment is not steady. There is a good demand for union label goods.

Mc Keesport.-William Murphy:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unorganized, bad. Employment is very uncertain. We are insisting on the union labels. A union of laborers is being formed.

Philadelphia.-Joseph M. Richie:

Organized labor is in better condition at present than for a number of years, owing to the agitation for bigger and better unions through the campaign conducted by the Labor Forward Committee. Through the distribution of literature and open meetings the unorganized are becoming interested. Employment is dull in the shop trades but fairly good in the building trades. Gold beaters secured an increase of $1 a week without strike; hair spinners, without strike, have succeeded in securing the removal of objectionable machinery; the new local of riggers will present a new agreement calling for an eight-hour day; and the electrical workers in one local are out on strike for the enforcement of overtime pay. A number of business agents and organizers are agitating in the interest of the union labels. The marine pipefitters at the navy yard have affiliated to the plumbers. The barbers in Germantown have organized and several new unions are under way.

Sharon.-David Niven:

Organized labor is in good condition. Employment in the building trades is fairly steady but uncertain in the iron industry. Due to thorough organization, the retail clerks have been successful in securing an early closing hour through contracts. Three new unions are under way,

Wilkes Barre.-John J. Yonhon:

Employment is fairly good in all lines, especially good in the mines. The street-car men have presented their demands for the new year to the traction company. Splendid work is done for the union labels. There is good prospect for the organization of three or four locals.

RHODE ISLAND

Providence. Thomas F. McMahon:

Organized labor is in good shape. Conditions among the unorganized, particularly the jewelry workers, are deplorable. Union men are hoping that when the jewlery workers realize their conditions as compared with those of the organized workers the ranks of organized labor will be materially increased. Employment is fairly steady in the organized crafts, but uncertain in the jewelry and textile trades. Moving picture machine operators have improved their conditions very materially through working agreements signed by all houses in Providence. The lace works have locked out their union employes and are teaching the work to beginners. Everything possible is done for the union labels. Two new unions are under way.

TEXAS Beaumont.-R. S. Greer:

Organized labor is in very much better condition than unorganized. Employment is steady except in the building trades. The city is writing a new charter, and the legislature will meet shortly, so organized labor is busy. There is a good demand for the union labels.

Brownwood.-C. A. Perkins:

All crafts that are organized are doing very much better than the unorganized crafts. Employment is generally steady. Prospects are bright for better conditions for union carpenters by spring. A central labor union has been formed, and the stage employes are discussing organization.

Corpus Christi.-George D. Blevins: Organized labor is in good condition. Work is slack at present but the outlook is good for future municipal improvements. City and county officials favor the employment of union labor on all public work. The printers are waging a vigorous agitation for their label. Unions of pressmen and laborers are under way.

Denison.-Herman Kachel:

Organized labor is in good condition, although work is at a standstill. Our label committee does good work for the union labels. Unions of butcher workmen and laundry workers are under way.

Houston.-Maurice N. Gleason:

Organized labor enjoys fairly good conditions. Our wage-scales compare favorably with any city in the south. Unorganized labor maintains a fairly good wage-scale but is feeling the effects of industrial depression worse than organized labor through reductions in pay. Employment is fair in all crafts except the building trades. The label committee is doing good work for the union labels. An amendment to the city charter provides an eight-hour day and a minimum wage of $2 on city work. The city poll-tax has been repealed.

VERMONT

Burlington. George E. Maynard:

Organized labor is gaining at almost every point. The past year has been a good one and we have made considerable gains in membership. Employment is fairly steady at present. The carpenters will demand Saturday half-holiday and increased wages in the spring. Everything possible is done for the union labels. Efforts are being made to organize the plumbers and clerks.

Winooski.-E. C. Greemore:

Organized workers in this locality receive higher wages for shorter hours than the unorganized. In some instances, the unorganized workers have been able to take advantage of one or the other of these conditions, but in no case do they enjoy both. Conditions of employment are bad, but in the last few days business has increased and we look for improvements in a short time. An effort is being made to establish a labor paper for the state. This will be the only one in the state and we believe that it will be very beneficial to our cause here. The central labor union and the typographical union are about to launch a vigorous label campaign. Vigorous efforts will be made to pass a compensation bill at the next session of the legislature. Several new organizations are in view, and the central labor union is planning a labor forward movement.

Organized labor is improving with the improvement in business conditions. Unorganized labor has been victimized to the last degree through wage reductions and unemployment. Employment is very unsteady. The organized workers are aiding their unemployed fellows, and the unorganized are objects of charity. There are a number of strikes among the timber workers against wage reductions and every day improves the chances of complete victory. The federal court has denied the application of the private employment office proprietors for an injunction to restrain the state from enforcing the initiative measure recently passed abolishing private employment offices. An effort is being made to pass an objectionable "first aid" law at the coming session of the legislature which Labor is opposing. There is a constantly increasing demand for goods bearing the union labels.

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston.-C. Hartman:

The central labor union here is doing splendid work. It now has sixteen affiliated organizations, and will have one more by the next meeting. The motion picture houses are all unionized and employing only union men for the first time. The barbers are also trying to secure union agreements with all the shops in the city. Financially the central body is better off than every before. Work is slack in all branches but marked improvements are expected in the spring.

Parkersburg.-J. H. Pettit:

Organized labor is in splendid condition. The painters who have been locked out since last April have been entirely successful, the last contractor having signed the scale in December. Our trades council is doing fine work, and there is a strong disposition on the part of the non-union workers to join the unions. Weather conditions considered, employment is good. Hodcarriers have increased their wages from $1.25 to $2.50 and decreased their hours from ten to eight and one-half through arbitration. A label committee is doing everything possible in the interest of the union labels. The sheet metal workers have organized, and a central body has been formed in Clarksburg. Two new unions are under way.

Princeton.-W. H. Taylor: