The six months' period began immediately after the panic of October, 1907, and since then the margin has decreased pretty steadily. The margin reported on May 15 was 52 and a fraction, an extremely low figure. The average margin for the six months being .794973, or below 80 points, meant that the wages of the operatives would be based on the price of weaving of 19.66 cents a cut, a reduction of 17.94 per cent from the price of weaving in force during the six months previous of 23.92 cents.

It can be said that the wage agreement has met and passed successfully its first real test, for the operatives have shown their faith in the fairness of the system, even though the results may be decidedly unfavorable to them as in the present instance. This system of an automatic adjustment of wages was carefully devised as a result of previous experiments, for the purpose of giving the operatives as high a rate of wages as business conditions would allow, and the success which the system has had in its first crisis argues well for the peaceful settlement of wage scales in Fall River, and it is to be hoped will result in the abolition of intermittent demands by the operatives on the manufacturers and long resultant controversies.

The praiseworthy spirit shown by the operatives in keeping their agreement and submitting to this heavy cut in their wages is reflected in the following extract from the report presented to the operatives by James Tansey, president of the Fall River Textile Council:

We, the members of the Textile Council, regret that such conditions have arisen which should call for the reduction in wages as stated in the agreement; and while we realize that the reduction is a steep one, we hope and feel that you will not lose sight of the fact that it is being taken from the highest rate of wages that has ever prevailed during the life of the Textile Council and for many years previous to its existence. It is safe to say that we can go back at least 35 years and then only under the most exceptional conditions can a comparison be made.

It should not be necessary to remind you that the rate of wages paid during the last 12 months is 10 per cent higher than ever was paid in the city during our life as combined unions, and further that it is 20 per cent

higher, with an exception of a period of about

nine months a few years ago.

With regard to the present agreement, we do not nor have we ever taken and declared that it is the panacea for all difficulties existing between the employer and employee in our trade, but we do declare emphatically and without reserve that it is and has proven to be the best agreement for the operatives that was ever accepted by the employers for the control and regulation of the rise and fall in wages, and further assert, for reasons stated above,

that it is well worthy of a trial of experience and as a guide in dealing with such questions in the future.

Until such time that we see that a change is necessary in the margin scale, we say to our members that this agreement should be honorably lived up to, as it was entered into honorably by a vote of acceptance and indorsed by all of the unions at their general meetings before being signed by the representatives of the respective associations contracted.

Even though the reduction in wages is greater under the agreement than was anticipated by its most ardent supporters, and which we regret, we are not prepared to declare that it is a failure, because, owing to the unfortunate trade conditions previously referred to, which suddenly and unexpectedly worked havoc with our industry, we do not believe it has had a fair trial; and until such time that it has, the least that can be expected is that judgment should be suspended and hasty action upon our part be rejected.

The only comparison that we can draw to compare with present conditions is that which existed in 1898, 10 years ago, when the market got down about 50 cents, and we were obliged to accept reductions in wages which brought the weaver down to 16 cents per cut and all other departments in proportion. The margin to-day is but 57.61 cents, and it has been between the fifties and sixties for nearly two months, and the price per cut under the reduced rate is 19.66 cents per cut, with operatives in all other departments in proportion, a matter of about 20 per cent, a higher rate than prevailed under similar conditions in 1898, to say nothing of other improved conditions.

Again repeating our regret for the reduction of wages that goes into effect Monday morning, brought about through conditions over which neither employer nor employee has control, we bring these matters to your attention, so that you can deliberate on the conditions and situation with more intelligence and give to it that fair, just, and conservative consideration that all such important subjects of its kind are entitled.

The wages which were paid during the past six months were the highest ever paid in Fall River, and although the reduction which went into effect May 25 was very heavy, the new rate is considerably higher than at the time of the great strike four years ago, or than the average rate under the old sliding scale in force from October 27, 1905, to June 30, 1906.

The following table shows the fluctuations in wages in Fall River during the past 24 years:

1 Average under the sliding scale.

Following the announcement of the new rate, a notice of a reduction of 17.94 per cent in the wages of the 5,000 operatives in the cotton mills of the Fall River Iron Works Co. was posted at that plant. Other cotton mills throughout New England reduced wages in April, the average reduction being about 10 per cent.

For a short period after the reduction went into effect, the demand for cotton cloth warranted the manufacturers in running their mills on full time, and as a result the actual weekly earnings of the operatives were greater than under the former rate of wages. These favorable conditions did not continue, however, and the mills were obliged to curtail, thereby decreasing the earnings of the operatives considerably. On July 22, the Mule Spinners Association, by a vote of 20 to 17, passed the following resolution:

Resolved, That the sliding scale agreement with the Manufacturers Association has proved to be a failure so far as the workers are concerned; and that the Spinners Association gives the necessary three months' notice to withdraw.

There were 50 members, of the 270 who were entitled to vote on the question, present at this meeting of the Mule Spinners Association, and of those present, 13 refused to vote either way. There was considerable discussion regarding the question; those in favor of

continuing the agreement held that under the abnormal conditions in the cotton industry for the past nine months, the sliding scale had not had a fair trial, and that under ordinary circumstances it would be found equitable and satisfactory to all concerned. Those opposed to a continuance held that the agreement had not proved to be a benefit to the workers; that any agreement that permitted a change of 18 per cent in wages was a faulty one; and that because of the speculative element in the cotton market, the present method of figuring the margin was not a fair one.

The sliding scale agreement is between the Textile Council, representing the operatives, and the Cotton Manufacturers Association, representing the manufacturers, so that the agreement can only be terminated by a notice from either of the two contracting parties. After the spinners took this action the executive committees of three of the other unions represented in the Textile Council considered the matter. These were the carders, who declared in favor of continuing the present agreement until it had been given a further trial; the loomfixers, who, while not satisfied with it in its present form, advocated its retention if no perfecting amendment to it were practicable; and the weavers, whose executive committee instructed its delegates to vote to refer the matter to the emergency committee of the Council to try to have the agreement modified. The delegates of the Slasher Tenders Union, the other organization affiliated with the Textile Council, were uninstructed.

A special meeting of the Textile Council was held on July 29 to consider the resolution passed by the Mule Spinners Association, and it was voted to submit the agreement to its executive committee for consideration. On August 14, the executive committee met

to make arrangements for presenting the proposed amendments to the wage agreement to the Cotton Manufacturers Association. The nature of the proposed amendments was not made public. The carders, loomfixers, slasher tenders, and weavers unions met and voted to accept the amendment to the wage agreement as proposed by the Textile Council. The secretary of the Mule Spinners Association issued the following notice for a special meeting to be held August 19:

In accordance with the motion passed at the regular meeting to decide the question of reconsidering the motion passed at the special meeting held on Wednesday, July 22, when it was decided to give three months' notice to withdraw from the present wage agreement, a special meeting will be held Wednesday, August 19. Every member who can possibly attend the meeting should do so, so that the vote recorded will be large enough to decisively settle the matter and prevent further cause to find fault about the small attendance at meetings when important questions have to be settled.

Accordingly on August 19, about 100 spinners met, and by a vote of 51 to 14 voted to reconsider their former action to withdraw from the wage agreement. The secretary gave a detailed statement of the proposed amendment to the agreement and spoke of its acceptance by the other four unions. After considerable discussion it was voted to take the same action as the other unions and endorse the wage agreement in its amended form. The . vote was 58 to 9.

The following day the secretary of the Cotton Manufacturers Association sent a letter to the Executive Committee of the Textile Council asking for a conference on the proposed amendment on August 24.

It is very probable that a conference will soon be held between the two committees for the purpose of settling the matter.1

by the Norfolk Convention of the American Federation of Labor, representatives from all the national and international building trades' unions met in convention at Washington, D. C., on February 11, and formed a new international building trades central organization, to be known as the National Building Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor. The official call for the convention was sent out by the officials of the Structural Building Trades Alliance, whose efforts assisted in bringing about the results obtained at this convention, thus forming a central organization of the building trades, with the hope that it would receive greater support and co-operation than was the case as to the support given the former Structural Building Trades Alliance.

The Structural Building Trades Alliance was a source of great benefit to the building trades, not only to those directly affiliated internationally, but to separate locals of other crafts affiliated with local structural alliances in different cities, and many of such local alliances which existed only through the efforts of the officials of the structural alliance and organizations affiliated therewith. As this central body did not receive the support and co-operation of perhaps 50 per cent of the building trades' strength, it is believed that immeasurable benefit will come to the building trades through a compact central organization which will receive the support of all or most all of the building trades' organizations.

The constitution of this new international organization provides that the revenue for its support shall be derived from an initiation fee on the national or international unions of one hundred

one-quarter of a cent per member per month, upon members of all affiliated organizations, with the additional revenue accruing from sale of supplies and from charter fees.

Recognizing the justice of trade jurisdiction, the Department aims to guarantee to the various branches of the building industry control of such work as rightfully belongs to them, and requires each affiliated organization to submit a written statement covering the extent and character of its trade jurisdiction. After due approval, a copy of this claim is to be sent to affiliated organizations. Should a conflict in jurisdiction occur, according to the constitution, the parties in interest shall hold a joint conference within 90 days and endeavor to adjust their differences. Failing to reach an adjustment within the prescribed time, the disputed points. are to be referred for decision to the next convention of the Department, their award to be binding upon all affiliated organizations.

The constitution further provides for the formation of a local Building Trades Council where there exist three or more local unions of affiliated trades in any locality. These locals, when chartered, must be governed in accordance with the laws of the National Department, and, for affiliation in local councils, labor unions are required to affiliate with Central Labor Unions chartered by the A. F. of L. where such central bodies exist. All local councils are required to adopt a quarterly working card of uniform. character, to be carried by all members, no other card to be recognized by the affiliated trades on any work where they are employed.

To adjust trade disputes along practical lines the laws are so formulated

that under no consideration shall a local union of any organization affiliated with the Department be allowed to inaugurate strikes without the local council's consent; furthermore, all demands for increased wage or reduction of hours must receive the approval of the local council. Three local councils or more in any State or province may form State Building Trades Councils with power to make their own laws in conformity with the laws of the Department.

Headquarters for the Department have been established in the Colorado Building at Washington, D. C. At a meeting of the Executive Board of the Department, held at headquarters in May, it was decided after conferring with President Gompers, that local departments should have the right to use their own discretion in acting on applications from local unions of plasterers and brick masons.

The last local organization in Massachusetts to remain affiliated with the National Structural Building Trades Alliance was the Alliance in Springfield. This organization, however, was reorganized May 5, and was renamed the Springfield Building Trades Alliance and became affiliated with the National Building Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor. Local organizations of the Structural Building Trades Alliance were formed in Boston and Worcester, several years ago, but did not thrive. During the past month a temporary organization was formed at Worcester by 50 delegates, representing 10 local unions of building trades' workmen.

ter of the National Building Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor was filled out and a committee named to revise the constitution to conform to that of the national department.

Previous to the organization of the Building Trades Section of the Central Labor Union in April, 1907, nearly all of the building trades' unions were affiliated with the Boston Building Trades Council. The formation of the Section, however, made it mandatory upon all local building trades' unions which were affiliated with the Central Labor Union to join the Section, and hence many building trades unions were obliged to withdraw from the Building Trades Council. On May 18 the Building Trades Council disbanded, after a continuous existence of 22 years.

The Building Trades Section of the Central Labor Union at the present time is composed of delegates from the following local unions: