quiries about the possibilities of securing employment.

They frankly admit that they are up against a serious situation, for the most of them are virtually without means, as the high cost of living in New York has become a nightmare. The real labor element is shedding no tears of sympathy for the flunkies of Wall Street, who ordinarily glory in their slavishness.

PROVIDING FOR THE POVERTY-
STRICKEN.

By Winnie E. Branstetter.

The capitalist press is hard put these days in its endeavor to revise plans whereby the poverty-stricken working class of America may be made to forget its suffering and want in sympathy for European sufferers.

The Chicago Herald has just finished a nation-wide campaign for donations to the Christmas ship which sailed recently for Europe. Every organization and group of citizens were solicited for funds, clothing and toys. I know from the first hand experience that the children of the Chicago tenement district gave from their scant store of winter garments and from their tiny hoard of toys.

The schools were solicited, the boys in the manual training department and the girls in the sewing classes giving their work for the Belgian sufferers.

The Chicago Tribune has just launched a plan to place Belgian orphans within American homes. It is rather unfortunate for the Tribune that they had, some few weeks ago, taken up a "Good Fellow" publicity stunt, displaying in their paper each day, pictures of poverty-stricken children in Chicago, adding to the picture a story of the want, sickness, unsanitary environment, the physical labor and mental anguish of the little citizens of Chicago. It seems to be somewhat of a contradiction of sentiment when the Tribune displays headlines on the front page urging the adoption of Belgian children, and on the third page shows the misery and want prevalent among the children of the working class of Chicago. One of these headlines reads as follows:

"Belgians Make Good Yankees." "Neat, Sober, Industrious Residents of St. Charles, Factory Town."

The story shows how the Moline Malleable Iron Works, situated in St. Charles, Ill., exists because of the sobriety, the industriousness and the Yankee spirit of the Belgian factory hands that are praised for their adaptability to American conditions.

We have seen no effort made to place the orphans of Bohemia, Galatia, Austria, Croesia and Servia. Why should the Belgian children be considered more worthy of American homes than these little South Slavic orphans? Perhaps it is because the South Slavic people in America have evidenced a greater degree of revolutionary

spirit and resentment against capitalist exploitation. They have participated in strikes and had, in other ways, refused to accept American exploitation. They are not so adaptable as the industrious Belgians.

AMERICAN WORKING CLASS CABLE HAS BEEN CUT.

By A. M. Simons.

The official and "inspired" newspaper organs in the European capitals have been charging the "enemies' governments" with subsidizing and influencing the press of their own and neutral nations

A world-wide "publicity" campaign was planned by the German government in behalf of German commercial enterprises, and was halted only by the breaking out of the European war. Bismarck revealed in his "Memoirs" the value that the German government places upon the "reptile press."

In the French scandal, the Figaro editor, who was shot down by a cabinet member's wife, was shown to have drawn millions in subsidies from Russia and even from Austria. Nor is the subsidizing of foreign newspapers exclusively a European enterprize. The London Times, at one period of its existence, was understood to have been controlled by the Japanese government. There are newspapers in New York which draw their inspiration from capitalistic interests that are closely related to the British government.

The government and capitalistic interests recognize the value of "publicity." "Get your story in first" and half the battle is

won.

Much of Germany's discomfiture in the United States has been due to the lack of proper publicity. The kaiser and his government have had few newspaper apologists. Outside of German papers, the editors of which have been decorated with red ribbons or other marks of royal favor, Germany's cause has not been voiced.

When the war broke out, the German war machine established a censorship that was so strict that no news whatever came out of Germany. It failed to recognize the value of "the decent opinion of mankind" and actually supplemented the designs of the British government which has cut the cable. When too late, the German government sought to repair the blunder of the military authorities and get the ear of the neutral nations. But the Allies had "got their story in first."

The plight of the German government in trying to make itself heard through the American press is not as bad as the plight of the American working class. The kaiser and his associates have recognized their weakness and are trying to repair it. They have the money and know how to use it. they are more than divinely-ordained rulers. They are business men.

The American working class' cable has been cut. Outside of the Milwaukee Lead

er, the New York Call and a few daily newspapers published in foreign languages, it has no daily press. It is difficult for it to get its case before the public. It is largely at the mercy of those who control and dominate the agencies and means of publicity.

The American workingman has yet some distance to travel before he catches up with the war lords of Europe and the capitalists of England and America. He'll not go far until he repairs the cut in the cable and gets a chance to tell his story without first passing it through the hands of the censor. He'll have to get some newspapers of his own and stand by those that stand by him. It's the only way that he'll get fair play.

HOW PRIVATE OWNERSHIP ROBS THE PEOPLE.

By Carl D. Thompson.

Allan Benson has shown that the railroads of this country, if owned by the government and operated properly, could pay the railroad boys $1,331 on the average per year, whereas they are now paying them only $756 on the average per year. In other words, the railroads are getting away with $575 per year on every man employed. (See Pearson's Magazine for September).

Similarly, Mr. Benson has shown that the steel corporation could pay their employes $1,983 per year, whereas they pay them only $908; that the Bethlehem Steel Company could pay $1,840 per year, whereas it pays only $904; that the Ford Automobile works pays $1,585 per year to its employes and still has $12,500,000 profit left per year. ing.)

(See Pearson's for April and follow

We thought that these disclosures were enough to open the eyes of anyone who had presence of mind enough left to give his name and place of residence. But now comes the Electrical Worker, the official journal of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, of August 29, 1914, published at Springfield, Ill., with the charge that the exploitation of labor by the railroads can't hold a candle to the exploitation in the electric light and power industries.

They assert that the electric light and power magnates are exploiting the worker, on the average, at the rate of $2,300 per worker per year. In other words, they contend that under public ownership of electric light and power plants there would be $2,300 every year for every worker employed that could be used to raise wages, improve conditions and lower the rates for the consumers. If one-half of this amount went to the reduction of rates and onehalf to wages that would give the workers, on the average, $1,150 per year more than they are getting now.

Allan Benson gets quite worked up because, in the steam railway industry, private ownership is costing the employes $575 per year.

"We admit that that is going some, but just take a slant at what the electric light and power magnates are getting away with. They are grabbing off of the employes in that industry an average of $2,300 per annum per employe as their share for being kind enough to run the business."

And they seem to have the facts behind their contention. Their conclusions are drawn from a careful and apparently faultless analysis of the United States census reports of 1912.

We respectfully commend this article to the consideration of the well-fed gentlemen who are paid high salaries to defend the private ownership of public utilities. We will be interested to know what their answer will be.

You cannot dodge this proposition, gentlemen. We will not let you. Sharpen your pencils and answer the Electrical Worker.

The electrical workers are strong for public ownership because they say that in their line alone it means a lessening of the burden of the toilers by over $1,000 a year for every worker employed, besides lessening the cost of the service by an equal amount for every worker per year.

They also are wise to the capitalist game of "regulation." They say: "The capitalists try to perpetuate the burden the workers bear under private ownership by appointing public-service commissioners whose ostensible duty it is to regulate the amount stolen from the workers, but whose real duty it is to see that the workers don't succeed in throwing this burden off their backs." Public ownership not only aids in removing the burden of capital from the backs of the workers, but it regulates better than "regulation!"

That hits the nail right square on the head. And so does this: "Public ownership means little to the workers unless they are industrially and politically organized."

In discussing the conditions and wages of the government employes in the postal department, they show that wages might be raised at least 50 per cent and hours shortened to six per day, but they say: "But, just so long as our government is in control of the employing class, they will see to it that no such idea as that is put into effect. With public ownership it is much easier for the workers to get results through the exercise of their political and industrial power."

The electrical workers want the public ownership of these public utilities and the public ownership of the government, to the end that the exploitation and plunder of the capitalist system may be thrown off.

Let the people own the government, and the government own the trusts.

FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY

TREASURER.

Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 18, 1914.

Editor Journal:

On page 796, column 2, in our December Journal, the last line of paragraph one reads as follows: "who sink all the time." This is a typographical error. The manuscript as given to the printer read "who sing all the time." The meaning I desired to convey was that we should all be optimistic and emulate the soldiers, who, facing death, cold, discomfort, sickness, etc., all the time, yet, were so cheerful under such trying circumstances that they indulged in song continually.

Quite a large number of our members, as well as those of other organizations, have been laid off as a result of the war and general depression. At least that is the excuse usually given, whereas, as a matter of fact, business is good in many places, and is bound to get better. I sympathize with those of our brothers who are out of work. I remember what we passed through in 1893 and 1894. I was out of employment together with thousands of others for three long months. We couldn't get anything to do at all. Some of the boys did get a job shoveling snow, but it didn't last long. I hope we will never see such hard times again as prevailed at that time.

It is very gratifying to report that several lodges last month, by hard work on the part of the officers and members, increased their membership considerably. Surprise Lodge No. 297, in Chicago, added 31. Del Ray Lodge No. 555, whose members formerly belonged to the I. A. of C. W., were organized into our Brotherhood October 20th, with 20 charter members, by Generál Vice-President, Brother Geo. A. Nolte. These 20 started out to get all those eligible into the Lodge before the charter closed. It meant much hard work, as some lived at Del Ray, a suburb of Alexandria, Va., some lived in the city of Alexandria, and some across the Potomac River in Washington, D. C. They were all rounded up, and their last report brings the total up to 118. Brother McCreery reports success on the A. C. L. and in the South generally. Our lodge at Rocky Mount, N. C., at date of writing this letter, has a mem

bership of 108.

Surprise Lodge No. 297,

of Chicago, is to be congratulated on having pushed up their membership from 37, January 31st, to 232-an increase of nearly 200 members in 10 months. This is certainly a splendid record. The officers and the original 37 members are to be congratulated on the success that has crowned their efforts. Brother Frank Paquin is a member of this lodge, and has assisted in its work during the past summer (see his excellent letter on page 791, December Journal).

During the past month we were favored with a visit from Brother Grant Hamilton, of the Legislative Department of the American Federation of Labor, and Brother J. T. Smith, Secretary Missouri State Federation of Labor. These two brothers were meeting various other labor leaders out at the Labor Temple regarding several important legislative matters to be included in labor's program at the next meeting of the Legislature at Jefferson City, Mo.

The condition of the women workers in this grand old state of Missouri is deplorable, according to the report of the Senate Woman's Wage Commission, appointed by the state government to inquire into the matter. There are 60,000 women and girls, not including servants, employed in the cities of Missouri. Quoting from the report, we find the average wage is $6.00 per week, while the average cost of living is $8.34. Thousands at this rate are not earning enough to properly feed and clothe themselves. Many were found to be suffering from tuberculosis and other diseases due to conditions under which they work. Some stated they had never visited a public park. They knew only the city's pavement and ceaseless grind in factory or workshop. All are agreed that something must be done to improve matters. Remedial Legislation is needed, either by the establishment of a wage board without pay, or by a minimum wage. Men like Brother Hamilton and Brother Smith are doing all they possibly can to assist the commission and the state Senators in drafting bills that, if passed, will alter things for the better. I was glad to welcome them at our headquarters and to have the privilege of listening to Brother Hamilton for a short time as he told us something of the legislative work accom

plished during the past few years at Washington. I can not give you in this letter a detailed statement of what has been done and what it is hoped will be accomplished in the future, but I believe any member or lodge will do well to send 25c to Brother Frank Morrison, 801-809 G St., N. W., Washington, D. C., and ask him to mail a copy of the proceedings of the A. F. of L. Convention held last month in Philadelphia, Pa. You will find much therein of an encouraging nature. It will show the tremendous advantage the workers enjoy in having men like Brother Hamilton, Brother Gompers, and other officers always on the job at the seat of government watching legislation in the interest of those who work very hard for what remuneration they receive. Brother Hamilton is not at Washington all the time. He is away working in different states wherever he can do the most good.

Getting back to the A. F. of L. report, I read with interest the Massachusetts Model Labor Law on page 73 of this report. This state-commonly, and I may say familiarly, known as the old "Bay State"-has always been a leader in the cause of human freedom. Nor does she now lag behind in the march of progress. During the past year, Massachusetts has placed upon its statute books a law securing the workers the legal right to activities necessary for promoting their industrial welfare. This law, in a very direct and positive manner, guarantees to laborers the right to organize, the right to exercise the normal activities of organization in order to better economic conditions and is founded upon the bill drafted and supported by the American Federation of Labor for federal enactment. I wish that every member of our Brotherhood could secure or borrow one, and read this bill. The greatest victory achieved by organized labor during the past year was that secured by the enactment of the labor sections of the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. A full report will be found commencing on page 68 and terminating on page 73. While much has been accomplished, much more remains to be done-in fact, as Brother Hamilton stated to us, "We have only just got started."

The eighth annual meeting of the American Association for Labor Legislation will meet in New York City, January 28. The association will go into the labor situation in all sections of the country and recommend legislation. Some of the greatest economists in the United States will address the meeting. The general purpose is to suggest laws to better conditions of working men. The session will continue several days. Brother Jas. H. Maurer, President of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor, will speak. The legislature program is expected to include a drastic law against the contract system in penitentiaries.

The question of workmen's compensation acts will also be up for discussion. I hope you have read in the daily papers the tes

timony given before the United States Commission on Industrial Relations. I noticed the other day where Mr. J. J. Hendricks, Colorado State District Attorney, testified before this commission that in 23 years there has not been one recovery for damages in the Third Judicial District of Colorado (which includes the Southern coal fields) in cases of accidents and deaths in the mines. Workmen's compensation acts are to avoid such injustices as that. The Colorado condition, as officially testified to, seems to have been much worse than the generally prevalent conditions. But those prevailing conditions, where workmen's compensation has not changed or modified them, are bad enough. The Missouri Senate's commission shows that while there have been an average of fifty thousand industrial accidents a year (in all the Missouri industries), an average of only 4,855 have resulted in recoveries of damage by lawsuit or by settlement out of court; and of the compensation in such cases practically one-half the money paid went to lawyers.

Another visitor whom it was a pleasure to meet was Brother Sim A. Bramlette, former President of the Kansas State Federation of Labor. Brother Bramlette is a candidate for the position of Labor Commissioner for the State of Kansas. His long experience in the labor movement in Kansas, his natural ability, his excellent training, and comprehensive knowledge of conditions as they now exist, peculiarly qualifies him for this position. This office is filled by the governor of the state appointing someone when the term of the present Occupant expires. Brother Bramlette has our best wishes for success.

We were also favored with a visit by Brother W. G. Ashton, Labor Commissioner for the state of Oklahoma. Brother Ashton is proud of the record along legislative lines made by his state, and I would like to mention some of the laws already passed and some in contemplation, but I have referred to legislative matters so much in this letter that to do so would, I fear, tire the reader. So I will leave the subject of legislation for the present and pass on to the next visitor, Brother Ed. Merry.

Brother Ed. Merry was a member of Twin Lodge No. 127, located at Kern, Calif., when the strike was called in September, 1911. He called one day about noon and it was interesting to hear him tell of his experience and travels since that day-three years and three months ago-when the boys went out. No work available at Kern or Bakersfield, he drifted North, finally reaching a point 200 miles north of Prince Albert Saskatchewan, Canada, where Jack Frost is King a large part of the year, where hunting is about the only occupation indulged in by those brave enough to face the rigors of a winter so near the Arctic circle. He is now headed South, where he hopes to get work at his trade this winter, having had enough

hunting in the wilds of the North for a whi le.

Brother J. F. McGrath, Sedalia, Mo., General Chairman of the Blacksmiths on the Missouri Pacific system, called at headquarters. He reports business fairly good, most of the boys working, although a little slack at some points.

Other visitors from widely separated points during the month are as follows: Brother W. E. Higginson, Lodge No. 194, Colorado Springs, Colo., an old friend of the writer and a faithful member of this Brotherhood for many years. He reports all well with No. 194 and the Springs, very pleasant all summer, but cold sometimes, and a little dull in the winter, healthy always, boys all at work, but not much chance for boomers at this time of year.

Brother Chris M. Logas, Lodge No. 16, Peoria, Ill.

Brother Chas. Travis, Lodge No. 84, Herington, Kas.

Brother E. Mayfield, Lodge No. 264, Three Forks, Mont.

Brother H. H. Forbister, Lodge No. 254, Deer Lodge, Mont.

These last two were looking for work, which is very hard to find either here in Kansas City or farther north. They report work very slack, and many men unemployed all throughout the Northwest. Any brothers in the South thinking about going North to look for work will do well to stay right where they are until Spring, at any rate.

I have often heard it stated that it is impossible for union men to purchase union made collars, union made shirts, suspenders, men's underwear, hosiery, gloves, sweater coats, etc. In reply to this, I desire to state that we have no difficulty in getting all these articles here, and at a fair price. I feel that it would hardly be the proper thing to give the names and addresses of the stores carrying these goods, because we have quite a number of paid advertisements in our Journal, and we are endeavoring to get more right along. I desire to state, however, that any brother having difficulty in purchasing any of these goods mentioned, with the union label on, if you will drop me a line, I will give you the address of firms where they can be bought, or I can give you the name and address of the union factory where collars are made, as it appears union made collars are the most difficult to secure. The price of these collars is $1.50 per dozen, $1.00 for 8, or 2 collars for 25c, postage paid.

By the time this issue reaches our members, the New Year will have dawned. Christmas will have come and gone once more. We have seen many changes during the year 1914-some good, and some alas, not so good. We look with hope towards the year 1915, trusting a better record will be made than for the year just closed. Wishing every member a Happy and Prosperous New Year, I remain, Yours fraternally, E. WM. WEEKS, General Secretary-Treasurer.

FROM GENERAL VICE-PRESIDENT J. J.

GALLAGHER.

Boston, Mass., Dec. 18, 1914.

Editor Journal:

During the past month I have been over here in New England. The Boston and Maine System federation presented a federated agreement to the officials, but were unable to agree and turned the matter over to the International Vice-Presidents. We have had a conference with the mechanical superintendent, but owing to the absence of the president of the road whose approval of new clauses in the schedule was necessary, we have at this date been tied up and unable to finish negotiations, but expect to sign up Saturday, December 19. The federation is negotiating with the New Haven management, but on account of the industrial depression have held off presenting their schedule until times become more normal. Just at present, times are very dull, the men on the Maine Central and N. Y., N. H. & H. employed in the shops are laid off for three weeks. The roads here in New England have been working short time for nearly a year.

I see by the papers that John D. Rockefeller and other very rich and saintly capitalists are sending over millions of dollars in money and provisions to provide for the victims of the war over in Belgium. Charity begins at home, it is said, but not a penny of justice have the pious John D. and capitalists of his kind to hand back to the starving unemployed workers of America from whom he piously stole the money. But beg pardon! I am talking like a heretic. It is pure atheism according to the dogmas specially prescribed and preached to wage and other slaves, to say that the millions that John D. Rockefeller and Carnegie hand out in chairty for personal aggrandisement and self-advertisement was and is stolen from labor. For seventeen centuries have we not been taught as a matter of truth (and no one will question the truth of it unless he is addicted to or capable of sane and sound reasoning) to believe that whatever we are, we are fated to be, that our whole course in life was divinely decreed at birth, and if that is true and most of us believe it. then John D., Captain Kidd or Jessie James never stole anything; they just did what it was allotted they should do.

They say that "demand regulates supply." That is what the high-brows say. Well, let's disagree with the high-brows. It may be presumptious on our part to do that, for the high-brows are authorities, and the mouth organs of authority insist in fron-heel fashion that we must "respect authority" these ginks have us poor Henry Dubbs buffaloed, that they know it all, and we know nothing, we will just for cussedness dispute that iron law of "demand and supply," at least in part.

I question that during all the ages if there