ARIZONA.

Phoenix.-Thomas H. Adams:

Musicians organized during the month. Retail clerks and cement workers are organizing. All unions are pushing the union labels.

ARKANSAS.

Argenta.-A. R. Finke:

Building trades busy. Carpenters increased 5 cents per hour, making their scale 50 cents per hour, without strike.

Paragould.-T. J. Cupp:

Union men have obtained shorter hours of work, higher wages, and better conditions of employment than the unorganized. In most cases these improvements have been secured without strike. Printers organized during the month. Musicians and coopers are about to organize.

CALIFORNIA.

Eureka.-M. P. Kelley:

There are nearly 10,000 unorganized woodsmen in this county. Their conditions are poor. Prospects are favorable for organizing a number of trades, among them the hod carriers, teamsters, laundry workers, lathers, shinglers, lumber workers, and several others. Bartenders, electrical workers, and plasterers organized during the month. Organized labor here receives nearly double the pay of the unorganized. Considerable agitation is carried on for the union labels.

Petaluma.-George W. Tooley:

Organized labor is gaining in numbers and in strength. The various unions are steadily enrolling new members. A federal union has been organized since last report; also a union of bartenders.

San Mateo.-J. B. Falvey:

The organized building trades have bettered their conditions. All lumber mills and contractors of any importance have signed contracts with the building trades. Business is improving. So far the building trades are the only ones organized.

Santa Cruz.-J. W. Teeney:

Union men are ahead of the unorganized as regards conditions and wages. The eight-hour day at $4 has been obtained recently. Organized labor in good shape.

San Francisco.-John O. Walsh:

Organized labor in very fair condition at this writing. Bakers are on strike to have the union label put on bread. The six-day week in the Latin bakeshops is being enforced.

CONNECTICUT.

Bridgeport.-J. H. Smith:

Machinists, patternmakers and molders are organizing. Metal polishers and buffers are reorganizing. The metal trades council held an open meeting and hope to perfect all organizations in the metal trades.

FLORIDA.

Tallahasse.-Thos. E. Andrews:

A number of trades are about to organize. Brick-. masons, painters, and decorators have made ap

plications for charters. Carpenters organized during the month. Work is fairly steady.

Titusville.-L. Hitchcock:

Conditions are very good. Work is plentiful for union men. Fishermen's union recently increased their membership and have over 100 members. Prospects are bright for unions in this section. The union labels are called for.

GEORGIA.

Macon.-W. A. McKenna:

Labor conditions good. Plumbers received increase of 50 cents per hour. Hope to report organization of a metal trades council and a union of retail clerks.

Savannah.-Robt. Fechner:

All unions in good shape. There are very few non-union men in the skilled trades. Work is steady. Structural iron workers have formed union. Moving picture operators are organizing. The fourteenth annual convention of the State Federation of Labor which was held in April was the best we have ever had, both in point of number of delegates in attendance and in the importance of the work accomplished. Three energetic union men were elected on the legislative committee, and they will have ample time to plan their work before the Legislature meets in June. We are very hopeful of getting some of the bills passed which we have been working for so long. The prospects are that the number of union men in the Legislature will be substantially increased at the fall election, as there are several union men candidates, and all of them have splendid chances of winning. The labor movement throughout the State is in a very flourishing condition.

ILLINOIS.

Blue Island.-Frank Kasten:

All trades steadily employed at present. Freight handlers are out on strike and prospects are that they will win.

Breese.-Gus Knies:

Organized labor is in flourishing condition in this city. Miners have resumed work and everything seems to be moving smoothly. Work is steady. Committees are pushing the union

labels.

Carlinville.-R. Bohrman:

All organized trades working steadily with the exception of the mine workers. There are very few unorganized men in this city. We have had no strikes this year. Teamsters increased their wage-scale on city work from $4.50 to $5 per day. Electrical workers organized recently.

Duquoin.-Geo. A. Pflauz:

About 75 per cent of the workers here are organized. Miners obtained 5 per cent increase in wages without strike. Have a union of clerks under way.

Glen Ellyn.-W. G. Laier:

Carpenters' District Council of Deepage County won strike for increase of 5 cents per hour all over the district, except in Hinsdale, where they obtained 71⁄2 cents per hour increase. The contrac

tors of Hinsdale formed an open shop organization and declared for the "open shop" April first. The result was a strike which lasted four weeks. During the strike the union men of Hinsdale displayed unusual union solidarity. All the trades stood together. Not a man deserted despite the fact that a severe winter season had just been experienced. The efforts of the employers to induce the men to return to work under open shop conditions proved unavailing. The bricklayers had no grievance and are not affiliated with the other trades, nevertheless they went out in sympathy, thus affording splendid aid. On May first the employers signed a closed shop agreement giving the carpenters an increase of 71⁄2 cents per hour, an eighthour day and four hours on Saturday. The agreement is signed for two years. Painters and building laborers obtained increase of 5 cents per hour. Hillsboro.-Wm. R. Cole:

The unions here are in fair shape. The eighthour day has been secured without strike. Work is steady. Hope to report the terra cotta workers organized next month.

Hodcarriers are organizing. Work is steady for all workers. Organized labor given the preference in most cases. The union labels are demanded. Springfield.-R. E. Woodmansee:

Organized labor in Springfield and vicinity is in very good shape. Carpenters' union struck May first for increase of 5 cents per hour and won their demands after being out two weeks. Cement workers are gradually winning their strike and most of the employers have signed the new scale. A union label trades department has just been organized with twelve unions reporting who have shop cards, buttons, and labels, and a systematic campaign will be waged to push all union labels. Taylorville.-Geo. King:

The unions are making progress and have gained steadily since last report. Nearly all trades steadily employed. Bartenders and teamsters at Stonington are about to organize.

Bangor.-Joseph Carr:

The building season was late this year, but we expect to make good progress now. Building laborers are organizing.

Lewiston.-Edmond Turmenne:

Loom fixers of Waterville, Me., organized since last report. Have a union of drug clerks under way. The strikes at Lawrence and Lowell have forced an advance of twice 5 per cent throughout the State of Maine. The Maine textile workers will hold their annual convention and are preparing to push the fifty-four-hour bill. Work is steady. Portland.-Joseph H. De Costa:

Condition of organized labor shows marked improvement. A number of the unions are preparing to improve their conditions. Work is plentiful and there is demand for men in the building and miscellaneous trades. Painters and paperhangers are involved in strike at present, demanding Saturday half-holiday without reduction in pay. The various firms are signing up and only twenty men are now out. Electric railroad conductors and motormen have organized and have prospects of other unions coming in line. Woodland.-Henry W. Moores:

Hours and working conditions of union men here are good, and they have been secured without strike. All labor here is organized. Some of the unions have secured agreements signed for two years, with increased wages. A central labor union is being organized.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Bridgewater.-Wm. H. Swift:

Work is plentiful in all industries, especially the building trades. Union men receive 25 to 35 per

Holyoke.-Thos. J. Durnin:

Organized labor in good shape and steadily employed. Papermakers have secured advance in wages and shorter workday without strike. Waiters organized during the month and cooks are coming in line.

Malden -John G. Cogill:

All trades are in fair shape and steadily employed. Good work is done for the union labels in this city. Carpenters at Reading are organizing. Plumbers obtained Saturday half-holiday.

Manchester.-Geo. J. Norie:

The building trades are well organized; in fact, every man employed in building operations belongs to a trade organization. Unorganized workers work the nine hour day for $1.75 per day. Work is quite steady.

Middleboro.-W. S. Anderson:

Employment is steady. Condition of organized labor is good. The boot and shoe workers in connection with the central labor union are booming the union labels.

Norwood.-John J. Fitzhenry:

Organized plasterers have a forty-four-hour week and the unorganized plasterers are now asking for it. Work is steady in all industries.

Readville.-John J. Gallagher:

Conditions on unorganized railroads are very poor; wages low. The unorganized car-shop men receive 6 cents per hour less than the union scale. Southern Railroad and allied lines granted increase of from 1 to 21⁄2 cents per hour to all workers under the jurisdiction of the system federation.

Springfield.-Henry Streifler:

Union men are busily employed at good wages, while those not members of any union in many cases are not receiving a living wage based on the the cost of daily necessities. Textile workers at Chicopee Falls have organized. Have another union of textile workers under way.

Winchester.-E. A. Goggin:

Organized trades in good shape and busily employed. Union men work eight hours per day while unorganized men work nine-hour day. One contractor, after opposing trade organizations for five years, has signed up agreement. Painters and electrical workers are forming unions.

MICHIGAN.

Kalamazoo.-Ross R. Warner:

Organized trades are much in advance of the unorganized, as regards wages and conditions. Horseshoers and tinners have secured shorter hours and better wages and painters have increased wages and obtained the eight-hour day. Patternmakers and metal polishers are organizing.

MINNESOTA.

Minneapolis.-E. G. Hall:

A general revival has taken place. The Labor Forward Movement has been a great success here. Coopers formed union during the month. Have two new unions under way. In Duluth the

Labor Forward Movement closed after three weeks. Many meetings were attended both by the local representatives as well as national representatives. Among the national representatives that have been in Duluth, are Collis Lovely, of the Boot and Shoe Workers; W. S. Best, of the Cigarmakers' International Union; Abe Gordon, of the United Garment Workers; A. McAndrew, of the Label Department, American Federation of Labor; Thos. Baylus, of the Painters and Decorators; C. M. Feider, of the Journeymen Barbers' International Union; John Walquist, of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and E. G. Hall, President of the Minnesota State Federation of Labor. Six mass meetings were held in different parts of the city, and open meetings were held by the local Barbers' Union, the Teamsters' and Cigarmakers' Unions. The following unions visited in regular meeting: Typographical, horseshoers, longshoremen, tailors, carpenters, painters, brewers and maltsters, lathers, shoe repairers, bar bers, musicians, trades assembly, and the building trades council. At nearly all of these meetings there was a good attendance, and the aims and objects of the American labor movement were outlined, together with its past history. The members were appealed to for more activity on their part, which would insure a better and stronger organization, tending towards a greater interest among the unorganized workers, as well those who are in sympathy with us. Evidence is already to hand that much good has been accomplished. The Minnesota State Federation of Labor convenes in Brainerd during the month.

Red Wing.-Loui Hallenberger:

Union men are steadily employed. Good demand for all union labels here.

MISSOURI.

Joplin.-Charles Fear:

Union men are generally well employed, but the unorganized have haphazard employment. The organized workers maintain wages despite poor conditions in the district. Brewery workmen obtained increases ranging from $1 to $3 per week. President of their local union reported that all employers have signed up. A resolution was adopted by the city council giving all street laborers of the city increase of 25 cents per day. We have two stores which have put in full line of union-made collars and shirts. Joplin is very quiet in organization lines. Organizer Karl Quist, of Tailors' International Union, spent several days doing much needed work in the city. Members of engineers' unions are asking assistance in building up their locals. Street-car men have succeeded in settling by arbitration several existing misunderstandings. Electric Park opened with strictly union force throughout. Lakeside Park has union band and orchestra for season. Stage hands all union in this district. Work slow in building trades. Quiet in printing trades.

Kansas City.-John T. Smith:

All union men steadily employed. All trades working in the breweries received increase after four days' strike. Bakers and bakery salesmen obtained increase without strike. Bottle sorters obtained eight-hour day. Engineers and firemen in breweries, water works, city hall, and county

MONTANA.

Billings.-H. W. Nelson:

Through the efforts of the Trades and Labor Assembly, the men working on repairing street railway road have been granted the eight-hour day at $3 per day where they formerly worked ten hours for $2.40 per day. Organized trades here in fair shape.

Bozeman.-John W. Davis:

Cement workers have formed union during the month. Employment is not steady at this time. We constantly urge the demand of the union labels. Helena.-C. A. Sheldon:

Condition of organized labor is far superior to the unorganized. Painters and decorators won strike gaining $5 per day instead of $4.50. They were out but a few days. Three men have been arrested for violations of the eight-hour law. City council has agreed to enforce the union wage scale on all public work. Federal labor union was reorganized recently. Clerks and butchers are organizing.

Auburn.-Jas. E. Carroll:

Organized labor is rapidly gaining in membership. Shorter hours and higher wages have been secured by the unions in this city. Painters and plumbers secured the forty-four-hour week. Meat cutters have reduced hours and now work from 7 in the morning until 6 in the evening on week days and until 9 in the evening on Saturdays. Foundry workers, plumbers, and teamsters have formed unions during the month. Have unions of blacksmiths and stationary firemen under way.

Gloversville.-Chauncy Thayer:

Organized labor in good shape and gaining steadily. Central body has been formed here. We are booming all union labels.

Oneida.-W. R. Ferguson:

Organized trades in fair shape. Employment generally steady. Hodcarriers were successful in strike for increase in wages and eight-hour day. Rochester.-C. E. Dowd:

Condition of organized labor good. Boilermakers obtained increase of 50 cents per day. Horseshoers are on strike for 50 cents per day increase and prospects are good for an early settlement. Carpenters secured 25 cents per day increase and Saturday half-holiday the year around. Painters obtained 50 cents per day increase. Produce dealers, wagon drivers, and jewelry workers have organized unions during the month. Novelty workers and soft drink employes are about to form unions.

Schenectady.-John J. Henley:

Organized trades making steady progress. Employment fairly steady. Ice handlers and teamsters are organizing and boilermakers and helpers are reorganizing. All union labels are demanded.

as regards conditions and wages, compared with the unorganized workers. Have a number of new unions under way.

Cleveland.-Ed. McEachern and Michael Gold

smith:

Most trades are fairly well employed, and prospects are that there will be plenty of work. Elevator operators are organizing. We have four labor candidates in the field. The Constitutional Convention provides for a number of good laws to be put up to the people at our next election.

Barnhill.-Frederick Helle:

All trades are pretty well organized and wages and conditions are good. All industries steadily employed. Clay workers are practically the only workers on strike, and we hope to settle their difficulty in the near future, gaining advance in wages. Mine workers will meet in convention during the month and settle their local difficulties for the next two years. Hope to report a number of new unions organized next month.

East Liverpool.-J. P. Duffy:

Conditions of organized trades are steadily improving. Street-car men have obtained increase in wages without strike. A member of the Trades Council has been appointed by the Mayor to office as City Auditor.

Marietta.-Wm. F. Debold:

Work is steady. Building trades are busy. Organized labor in good shape. The local union of leather workers on horse goods has been successful in getting the union label on horse goods manufactured here. Brewery workers organized recently. Expect to organize a union of bartenders in the near future.

Springfield.-C. W. Rich:

During the current month labor in this city has not been extremely active, although one new union has been effected-that of the plasterers. This organization enters the field with more than two-thirds of those working at the trade. It has good men at the head and gives promise of being one of the stable building crafts. We are wakening our women folks to a realization of the need of purchasing union-made goods. Many of them are responding nobly, and merchants are being taught the necessity of selling union-made goods and employing clerks who are members of the Retail Clerks' Association. This organization has added in the neighborhood of 100 new members in the last two months and has established a uniform ninehour workday with the exception of Saturday nights. In the last State Assembly a woman's fiftyfour-hour-a-week bill was enacted into law. Among the business exempted were the mercantile establishments engaged in retail business. Some of the larger merchants of Springfield aided in placing the exemption in the statute. This city employs many women and girls in its factories and printing offices. The result of the law has been to drive the girls into those institutions where they can not be worked over ten hours a day, nor more than fifty-four hours in a week. Their wages are even greater than what the stores pay. The merchants are handicapped for woman help and are now imploring that the law be amended and made uniform. Working conditions for outdoor crafts are constantly being improved. The brewery

workers have established the eight-hour day, making the tenth craft in Springfield that has realized Labor's dream.

Steubenville.-A. C. Johnson:

Work is steady in all lines. Bricklayers and teamsters have secured increase in wages and the street-car men obtained increase through arbitration. The merchants are beginning to show interest in the union labels. Consumers' league has been of much assistance to the union men in doing good work for the union labels.

Wellsville.-Frank Smurthwaite:

Labor conditions improving in organized industries. We have seven union men as candidates for various county offices, to be voted on in the next election.

OKLAHOMA.

Chickasha.-A. W. Bennett:

There are very few unorganized workers in the skilled trades. Unskilled labor here is practically unorganized. There is decided improvement in state of employment since last report. The organizations are progressive and labor conditions are fair.

Haileyville.-G. W. Lindsay:

Work has been scarce, but the outlook for the future is brighter. Condition of organized labor generally good. Miners secured advance of 5% per cent without strike. The city government granted rate of $2 per day and eight-hour day.

Oklahoma City.-C. C. Zeigler:

Central trades council has been reorganized, and is now doing effective work for the affiliated unions. Work is not so plentiful as we could desire, but organized trades are fairly well employed. Unorganized labor in very poor shape.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Bangor.-Jesse Van Syckle:

Union men receive more pay for the nine-hour day than the non union workers receive for tenhour day. Work is steady in all lines at this time. West Brownsville.-H. R. Norman:

The trades are well organized here. Our United Trades Council is an active organization and is doing good work. The city council adopted a resolution, introduced by a union member of the body, which provides that all city printing bear the union label. Laundry workers, carpenters, lathers, and teamsters at Uniontown are about to organize. The union labels are found in increased number in the various stores of this city.

Charleroi.-John P. Ferry:

Organized labor making steady progress. The unions are demanding better conditions for working girls, whether organized or unorganized. Central body is active and reports full attendance of delegates. Retail clerks have a flourishing union. Hours have been reduced from 60 hours per week to 54 and 56 hours per week, without strike. Cooks and waiters are organizing. A central body is being formed in Monongahela.

Easton.-Wm. Slaybecker:

Textile workers organized with a splendid membership. One of the silk mills won shorter hours and better conditions. Preference is shown organized labor in this city. Work is fairly steady.