methods concedes that the method by organization is the better way, wherever practical. That it is practical is demonstrated by what the needle industries have done in organizing "mere girl" workers. The labor movement does not always attain its aims as quickly as one could wish-it is a movement of poor people. It has to break down barriers and opposition interposed by the ignorant and the sordid wealthy. But it will succeed in time; all it asks is opportunity. Meanwhile it demands that so-called "philanthropists" shall not throttle it by regulations "by law."

If the same efforts that are now expended in legislation to regulate women's wages were expended in promoting organization so that wage-earning women would be in a position to manage their own affairs, those sympathizing with underpaid workers would be doing them not only a greater but a permanent service which will not come home to haunt and shackle them.

Through legislation an eight-hour day may be secured "over night, so to speak," Mr. Weinstock argues. Through legislation it may again become a twelve-hour day "over night" as happens in the canneries of New York state. What is secured through legislation can be lost through legislation. This is demonstrated by the work of reactionary state legislatures during this year's sessions in New York, Ohio, Iowa, Washington, Oregon.

In New South Wales, "over night" wages prescribed by wages boards dropped to 13s and 12s (about $3.25 and $3). For several days and nights they remained at under-subsistence mark and returned to 17s and 16s only after a vigorous protest of organized workers. This "over night" change reveals the ease with which wages boards may be manipulated by interested employers. In New South Wales the public or "the state only intervenes as umpire"-an arrangement which Mr. Weinstock regards as a guarantee of security to the workers.

No development happens "over night." The causes and forces that result in the development may not always be apparent but nevertheless they exist. Even the state can not do things over night for laws do not become automatically effective. Law reflects a definite demand of public opinion and its enforcement is the result of the activity of those who will be affected by its enforcement.

Whatever benefits have come to the workers have come because they themselves first called attention to existing wrongs and demanded justice. The unorganized have benefited directly and indirectly from organization. Does Mr. Weinstock or any one else imagine that if all organizations were destroyed the workers would be protected by any amount or kind of legislation?

Unorganized workers are powerless to secure either the enactment of a law or its enforcement. Organized workers do not need legislation of the character suggested, for through their organization they participate in making the laws directly affecting them and their interests. And what is of equal importance is that they administer these laws. These laws are not declared unconstitutional or repealed. Regulation of industrial relations through organization is based upon democratic principles and is the antithesis of bureaucracy or paternalism.

Australia is generally referred to as a country governed by "Labor"-at present a so-called labor government is in control in the Commonwealth and several of the states. Even under such conditions, the workers complain that the governmental machinery to regulate industrial relations is manipulated by employers to increase their own profits.

Mr. Weinstock says: "In New Zealand, in Australia, and in England, the state, by virtue of its minimum wage laws, has succeeded in wiping out their sweat-shops."

The author of that sweeping statement does not lack courage. Can it be that any one believes that sweat-shops no longer exist in England? As for New Zealand and Australia perhaps Mr. Weinstock may be persuaded to admit that there may be different opinions as to the economic and social conditions there.

The attention of Mr. Weinstock is here called to the statement published in the Australian paper quoted in the first article in this issue and here requoted:

"With all our laws, have we not stodgy, ill-ventilated tenements? Have we not evilsmelling, disease-reeking, tiny backyards and alley ways? Do we not see, right here, sallow-faced girls, aged before the blush of maidenhood has left their cheeks? Do we not see frail mothers double bent, because of the lack of proper knowledge to show them that they are living under improper conditions? Do we not see the puny children, pale and listless, tired and devoid of energy, and, as I am told by an eminent physician, fully two inches short in their height, because they live in the slum quarters of our own cities?"

The workers of Australia, through their official journals and papers, complain of exploitation and sweat-shop conditions. One of the most radical labor papers recently contained this statement:

"Unionism is the hope of the world. It is the only way of salvation for the workers."

Mr. Weinstock in his reply again implies that the trade union movement is actuated by selfish motives in its opposition to the legislative method for regulating industrial relations. Despite the viewpoint that our critic insists upon attributing to organized labor, the reasons for our opposition are those which we have presented here and at many other times. The workers think that their widest opportunities and their greatest welfare will result from organization preferably than from governmental regulation. Because Mr. Weinstock differs from us does not prove us wrong. Rather it is proof that an employer even when acting as umpire will still be influenced by employers' interests and employers' ideals of "educational and moral uplift" of the

workers.

From recent events it is fair to assume that Mr. Weinstock has come .under the influence of the Drews and the Merritts of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Let us concentrate our efforts to organize all the forces of wage labor, and, within the ranks, contest fairly and openly for the different views which may be entertained upon the different steps to be taken to move the grand army of Labor onward and forward. In no organization on earth is there such toleration, so great a scope, and so free a forum as inside the ranks of the American Federation of Labor, and nowhere is there such a fair opportunity afforded for the advocacy of a new or brighter thought.

CONVENTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL UNIONS, 1915

May 1, New York, N. Y., United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America.

May 4, Louisville, Ky., Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers of North America.

May 10, New York, N. Y., United Hatters of North America.

May 10, St. Louis, Mo., Order of Railroad Teleg. raphers.

May 10, San Francisco, Cal., American Federation of Musicians.

May 19, Buffalo, N. Y., Switchmen's Union of North America.

May 29, Washington, D. C., Steel Plate Transferrers' Association of America.

-, Buffalo, N. Y., International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers of United States and Canada.

August -, San Francisco, Cal., International Brotherhood of Compositon Roofers, Damp and Waterproof Workers of the United States and Canada.

August 2, Detroit, Mich., Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers' International Alliance.

August 2, San Francisco, Cal., International Seamen's Union of America.

August 2, East St. Louis, Ill., Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada.

August 2, Cincinnati, Ohio, International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen.

August 3, Detroit, Mich., International Glove Workers' Union of America.

August 9, Los Angeles, Cal., International Typographical Union.

August 16, San Francisco, Cal., International June 7, Philadelphia, Pa., International Fur Photo-Engravers' Union of North America.

Workers' Union of United States and Canada.

June 7, San Francisco, Cal., International Association of Marble Workers.

June 8, St. Louis, Mo., United Powder and High Explosive Workers of America.

June 14, Washington, D. C., International Stereotypers' and Electrotypers' Union of North America.

June 14, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen of America.

June 14, San Francisco, Cal., Hotel and Restaur ant Employes' International Alliance and Bartenders' International League of America.

June 17, New York, N. Y., White Rats Actors' Union of America.

June 21, Chicago, Ill., Amalgamated Glass Workers' International Association.

June 21, Buffalo, N. Y., Boot and Shoe Workers' Union.

July, Atlantic City, N. J., National Brotherhood of Operative Potters.

July 5, New York, N. Y., Piano, Organ, and Musical Instrument Workers' International Union of America.

July 5, Chicago, Ill., International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes of America.

July 17, Holyoke, Mass., American Wire Weavers' Protective Association.

July 19, Philadelphia, Pa., International Steel and Copper Plate Printers of North America. July 19,

of America.

-, Upholsterers' International Union

July 20, Milwaukee, Wis., Retail Clerks' International Protective Association.

September -
— International Union of
Carriage, Wagon and Automobile Workers of North
America.

September - -
San Francisco, Cal., American
Brotherhood of Cement Workers.

September, Bangor, Pa., American Brotherhood of Slate Workers.

September 6, San Francisco, Cal., National Federation of Post-office Clerks.

September 9, Boston, Mass., Spinners' International Union.

September 13, Rochester, N. Y., Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employes of America.

September 15, Minneapolis, Minn., Brotherhood of Railroad Freight Handlers.

September 17,

Pocket Knife Blade Grinders and Finishers' National Union.

September 20, San Francisco, Cal., Internationa Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers. September 20, San Francisco, Cal., Coopers' International Union of North America.

September -, St. Paul, Minn., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of America. October 4, San Francisco, Cal., International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen. and Helpers of America.

Cctober 18, New York, N. Y., United Textile Workers of America.

November 8, San Francisco, Cal., American Federation of Labor.

FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC.

In this department is presented a comprehensive review of industrial conditions throughout the country.

This includes:

A statement by American Federation of Labor general and local organizers of labor conditions in their vicinity.

Increases in wages, reduction of hours, or improved conditions gained without strikes.

Work done for union labels.

Unions organized during the last month.

City ordinances or state laws passed favorable to labor.

Strikes or lockouts; causes, results.

A report of this sort is rather a formidable task when it is remembered that nearly 1,000 of the organizers are volunteers, doing the organizing work and writing their reports after the day's toil is finished in factory, mill or mine.

The matter herewith presented is valuable to all who take an intelligent interest in the industrial development of the country. It is accurate, varied and comprehensive. The information comes from those familiar with the conditions of which they write.

These organizers are themselves wage-workers. They participate in the struggles of the people for better conditions, help to win the victories, aid in securing legislation-in short, do the thousand and one things that go to round out the practical labor movement.

Through an exchange of views in this department the wage-workers in various sections of the country and the manifold branches of trade are kept in close touch with each other.

Taken in connection with the reports from secretaries of international unions, this department gives

a luminous vision of industrial advancement throughout the country.

FROM NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS

Bakery and Confectionery Workers

Charles Iffland.-Seven death benefits amounting o $475, and 369 sick and disabled benefits amountng to $4,731 have been paid within the month. We are still agitating for our union label.

Flint Glass Workers

In the March issue of the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST, the following statement appeared in the Export of the Flint Glass Workers' Union: "The Supreme Court of West Virginia has reversed a decision of Judge Dayton's and given a new decision in our favor." Subsequent correspondence on the mater developed the fact that a mistake had been made. The following extract from Secretary Clarke's letter is given herewith to correct the error:

"Under date of July 28, 1913, the Eagle Glass Company of Wellsburg, West Virginia, applied to Judge Dayton for a restraining order to prevent the fficers and members of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union from attempting to organize the men employed by said company. Technical points were raised and considered and on January 17, 1914, Judge Dayton issued a preliminary injunction. "Inasmuch as we questioned the jurisdiction of Judge Dayton the decision was appealed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals of the Fourth District and on January 13, 1915, the Circuit Court

of Appeals reversed the decision rendered by Judge Dayton.

"The Eagle Glass Company being dissatisfied with the decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals has now appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, and we have been subpoenaed by the Supreme Court, where the case now rests."

Lace Operatives

David L. Gould.-Two death benefits amounting to $100 have been paid. A lockout is in progress at one of the mills in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, as a result of the open shop system and a reduction in wages. It has been on for sixteen weeks. Trade conditions on the whole are improving.

Laundry Workers

Harry L. Morrison.-Our membership has been increased by one hundred new members and a new local has been formed in Providence, Rhode Island. Our members are locked out in Toledo, Ohio, and Fairmont, West Virginia. In the Toledo situation we are asking for the reinstatement of our members and are demanding a minimum wage of $8 a week for the laundry girls. Employment is fairly steady and trade conditions are improving slightly.