Labor conditions in Porto Rico are severely criticized by the report. Wages are declared to be low; housing and sanitary conditions bad; adequate protective laws and administrative agencies lacking, and the police and municipal authorities are charged with having denied workmen their rights. A full Congressional investigation is urged of labor conditions in Porto Rico and other possessions.

METHODS OF TRADE UNIONS.

Discussing methods and policies of trade unions the report says:

"The investigations of the Commission, conducted under the direction of Dr. George E. Barnett, are the basis of the following conclusions:

"1. The number of trade unionists relative to the working population is steadily increasing, although in certain. industries, on account of the opposition of the great corporations and hostile employers' associations, trade unionism is practically non-existent. At present it may be roughly estimated that in manufacturing, mining, transportation and the building industries, if the proprietary, supervisory, official and clerical classes are excluded, twenty-five per cent. of the workers twenty-one years of age and over are trade unionists.

"2. The effects of trade unionism on wages are undoubted. Without some form of combination the wage workers can not bargain on equal terms with their employers. During the past fifteen years, a period of rapidly rising prices, wages in well organized trades have kept pace with the rising cost of living, in contrast to the relative decline of the purchasing power of the wages received by labor generally.

"3. In the well organized trades, the hours of labor have been steadily reduced until at present eight hours is the normal working day for at least one-half of American trade unionists. It is significant of the influence of trade unionism on the length of the working day that it is exactly in those trades in which the trade unionists are a relatively small part of the total working force that they work long hours relatively to other trade unionists.

"4. As the unit of industry grows larger, and the natural relation which exists between the small employer and his workmen disappear, the opportunity for unjustifiable discharges and petty tyrannies enlarges. The result is distrust and enmity among the employes. The effective remedy is the organization of the workers and the establishment of a system of trade boards in which the workers are equally presented with power to deal with such questions.

"5. By means of mutual insurance in case of death, sickness, accident, old age and unemployment, many trade unions have greatly improved the conditions of their members. The extension of such systems appears to be highly desirable.

The

"6. The trade union is a democratic institution, and faces the same problems in securing efficient government that other democratic institutions face. theory of government which the American trade unions have adopted is the centralization of power in the national trade union as against the local unions. The successful carrying out of this plan of organization will eliminate the chief defects in trade union government. The control by the national union over strikes and the system of mutual insurance is already thoroughly established in the more important unions; it should be established in all other unions.

"7. Unwarranted sympathetic strikes have undoubtedly been the cause of great annoyance and considerable economic loss to employers. The annoyance in such cases is particularly great, because no direct action by the employer can be taken; at best he can only use his influence with his associates or competitors. With the increasing control of the national officers over the local unions, this kind of strike seems to be decreasing both in extent and frequency. Such sympathetic action is deep rooted in the sense of brotherhood which to a greater or less degree pervades and will not be completely eliminated until substantial justice exists throughout industry.

"8. A few trade unions exclude qualified persons from membership by high initiation fees or other devices.

Continued on page 11

This

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD.

ANTHONY MCANDREW

.President 50-51-52-53 Iroquois Life Bldg., Louisville, Ky. W. R. WALden... .First Vice-President

2020 E. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. JOHN RUCKERT Second Vice-President 739 Aline St., New Orleans, La. CHARLES P. ALDER.... .Third Vice-President 156 Heidelberg St., Detroit, Mich. A. SHEINES . Fourth Vice-President 1486 Pitkin St., Brooklyn, N. Y. A. J. TURNER .Fifth Vice-President 130 Forest Ave., Hamilton, Ont. . Sixth Vice-President 1015 N. Fifth St., Richmond, Va. E. LEWIS EVANS .Secretary-Treasurer 50-51-52-53 Iroquois Life Bldg., Louisville, Ky.

ROBT. FOX

You may often hear in certain circles the statement that we are too prosperous, the workers are making too much money, they have too much to say as to what they will do, and what they will get for what they do, they should be controlled by the government. The statements give an idea of what is revolving in the minds of the people floating in these circles, and we have many evidences that they are putting their thoughts into practical application. Not a few of the culminations of these thoughts have been put into practice during the past year. Have you noted some of these things in the shape of laws that have been put on the statute books of States that are widely separated in this great expanse of country?

It is not long since, in Colorado, a law was slipped through depriving the worker of the right to leave his work when it did not suit him; he must give thirty

Whither are we drifting, is a question that has been the theme of and a query upon which columns has been written; but few have taken the proper significance from the question and the answers given.

If you will stop and ponder on this subject for but a short while it will become patent to you that one by one your liberties are passing from view. The ceaseless movement of the times, and the needle in the hands of the predatory interests is weaving the net, mesh by mesh, for the inthrallment of the workers. This is going on so quietly, and in scattered points of this vast country, that the net weaving is noted only by the few who are watching.

fore he can leave.

In Ohio, and in the Capital of the State, they have been jailing organizers for addressing an assembly of workers who had left their work because the conditions under which the work in the mill was done did not suit them. Organizers who came from distant cities were roughly handled and told to quit the precincts of the Capital city on pain of arrest and imprisonment.

In New York we have just the pleasant advice of the quiet passage of a law compelling every person between the age of 18 and 38 to become a subject of military law. Persons who are between the ages of 18 and 38 who are not desirous of becoming soldiers and do not report under the provisions of this law are to be treated as army deserters and suffer the same penalty as if they had deserted from the army.

There are many other similar incidents of this character which are all calculated to abridge the liberties of the people in this land of the free and the home of the brave.

Are you going to stand idly by and in an impotent state watch the weaving of this ensnaring net? If you do, the penalties attached will certainly be yours. You have the means at hand now to

thwart the attempts at the curtailing of your liberties. The knife is in your hands to cut the meshes as they are woven and prevent your enthrallment. Do it before it is too late. It is much easier to kill a plant while it is young than when its roots spread over a wide area.

Think over these things, ponder out the remedy, it is open to you, take it while it is within your grasp.

Wage slavery is worse than chattel slavery because the interests who employ you have no further interest than the profit from your best efforts given them for the wage you get.

Economic preparedness is the question for us to study, not military preparedness. The rainy days are coming, you need to be prepared.

You have dear ones at home. Are you prepared to care for them as befits an American workman?

The preparedness which our daily papers are giving so much attention to is not the only brand we should have in stock; there are other brands that are as vital to our interests. We want some of the workingman's preparedness, which will be a defense for his economic interests.

Organize, educate and prepare yourself for combat for existence; you need it today, tomorrow, every day and all the time.

Our employers are never asleep on the preparedness question; they are on the job 365 days in the year, watching every opportunity that may be gainful for them. This being the case, why should we not also be prepared where our most vital interests are at stake? Be prepared to defend your own interests; the other fellow is looking after his, and why not you yours?

The attempts of the interests to force through Congress (by the speeding up method) the Taylor stop-watch system has been successfully blocked by the little labor group. Let us help them to do greater things during the next Congress by enlarging the group.

The school teachers who from early times have looked upon themselves as members of a profession and above the

needs of the good offices of a trade union, have come to realize that they are wage earners after all. The theory that they belonged to a blue-stocking class has, through their political exploitation, been exploded and the balloon collapsed. It was an old theory covered with professional and fostered by political moss, but it took the broader education of today to prove to the latter day teachers that after all they were wage earners who needed the protecting influence of association with economic organization to save them from the slough of political exploitation into which they had unconsciously slid.

The consciousness of their predicament made them think along new lines and wonder whether their boasted position was not after all built upon a false work. They studied the trade union movement and noting that many of its members were earning far more than they were-and they belonged to their trade association-why then should the teachers not seek the protection they felt they needed? They cast about for a means of relief and learned that the teachers in England had long ago seen the necessity for organization and had acted intelligently on the question.

The teachers in the United States have now started and have found that they have legal rights in the premises and are going to make one of the great organizations in the family, associated together in the American Federation of Labor. We gladly welcome them.

The Tobacco Workers in Middletown, Ohio, finding that as individuals in contending for better conditions they were no match with their employers they did the next best thing. For a number of years they have accepted promises that were like pie-crust, which was made to break, and their long patience on promises at last ceased to be a virtue. This spring they petitioned their employers for an increase in wages to meet the aeroplaning of the cost of living. These petitions were, it is presumed, placed in the waste basket with the statement, they have no organization to back up their demands and we will

put them off a while longer. A rude awakening, however, was in store for the Trust's local management, for at 3 p. m, every machine suddenly ceased to run and everybody put on their clothes and walked out. The whole thing worked like clock work, a unanimous decision having been reached without any noise or fuss. Their condition at once enlisted the sympathy and advice of the other unions in Middletown. President Griffith and Vice-President Adams and Mr. John Walters, of the Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers, advised with them, suggesting that they organize at once into a union and present their demands through a committee representing all the employes. This being done, communication was started with the office of the Tobacco Workers' International Union. President McAndrew and Secretary Evans took up the matter, forming a local union. A proposition embracing the demands was drafted and presented by committee to the management at the factory. After some hesitation, the manager agreed to the increase asked. The Tobacco Workers of Middletown have had an example of what organization can secure for them, and have gone on with their organization, applying for their charter and supplies and established a permanent protection for themselves and those dependent upon them.

The writer had the pleasure of witnessing the spirit that permeated those revolting against pie-crust promises, and it was as inspiring a sight as he has witnessed in many a long day. The Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Bijou Theatre donated their assembly rooms for meetings during the strike, and when going to attend the meetings the Tobacco Workers assembled at an appointed place close to the factory and then marched with stars and stripes flying in the breeze to the hall in perfect military formation. There was no loud talking or noisy demonstration on the part of the marchers, but a grim determination written upon their faces to win the demands made, having subsisted on promises long enough. Many were the favorable comments made upon the marchers by those standing along the line of march.

Now that the Presidential nominations are over, it is time to get busy on the timber for the next Congress, always remembering that the man you want in Congress is the man who will have the interests of labor uttermost in his heart. We have too long allowed the reactionary employers to choose the Congressmen and Senators. We have ample example of the kind of men these employers have kept in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Those elected have always taken care of the interests that have sent them there.

We have only eighteen Congressmen in the labor group. We want more and more and more, until the interests of the workers are properly taken care of. We do not care for the political affiliation of the men in Congress as long as they will take care of labor's interests. It is true we have gotten more remedial legislation during the last Democratic administration, but all the aspirants for Congress are men who will give consideration to legislation in labor's interest. We want to eliminate those of both parties who will not give heed to the demands of labor. There are many bills now before Congress that the labor group are not able to pry out of the committees to which they have been assigned, simply because the labor group has not the power behind them to force the issue. Let us add to the tabor group this year; we ought to have not less than double the number we now have. It must be plain to all our voters, it takes power of members and influence to force the legislation you want from Congress. No group of people in any State ever got any legislation out of Congress without getting right behind their legislators and keeping them to the work, and impressing them with the fact that such and such bills must be passed. If the issue is pressed hard enough the Congressmen will stir their stumps and find a way. Just now those eighteen men we have in Congress need help so they can help us, and need it bad, so let us stir our stumps and find the men. We can find them if we concentrate our efforts in that direction.

We ought to have at least one man in each district who can qualify as a true

representative of labor's interests. If we can hope to secure the legislation we positively need we must go after it, and the first requisite is to put the man on the job who will give ear to your requests.

It is not absolutely necessary that your Congressman shall be a lawyer in order that he may qualify. There are too many lawyers in the House of Representatives now, and also too many professional politicians. Let us put some good men in their places.

In Memoriam.

WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God in His all-seeing wisdom to take to Himself Our esteemed and beloved brother member, Mr. Thomas J. Milligan, June 9, 1916. We mourn his loss and humbly submit our pleasure to the will of Him who can but do well; therefore be it

Resolved, That Local No. 48 extend their sincerest sympathy to the bereaved wife and children in their sorrow, not to mention our own deepest feeling and regret, and that our charter be draped in mourning for a period of thirty days; be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family of Mr. Thomas Milligan, a copy sent to the International Headquarters for publication, and a copy spread upon the minutes of the following meeting.

President, JOHN HUESTON,
Rec. Sec., A. H. BROUGHTON,
Local No. 48, Hamilton, Ont.

REPORT OF U. S. COMMISSION

ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.

Continued from page 7 policy is condemned by the more important unions and is prohibited by their rules. The evidence presented to the Commission shows clearly that the policy of exclusion is anti-social and monopolistic, and should be given up by those unions which practice it.

"9. In many trades, the efficiency of the union depends upon the maintenance of the rule that all those working at the

trade shall become members of the union. Where the union admits all qualified workers to membership under reasonable conditions, such a rule cannot become the basis of monopoly and neither the rights of the individual nor the public interest are infringed by its enforcement. "10. In some trades there are a considerable number of union rules which restrict the productivity of the worker. Some of these rules can be justified on the ground that they are necessary to the protection of the health of the worker. There are some, however, which cannot be defended; these rules are anti-social and should be given up. Experience has shown that where industry is regulated by well organized systems of joint agreements, such rules either disappear or greatly decrease in number and importance. These limitations of output should not, however, be considered as standing alone. The limitations of output by associations of employers and by individual corporations are equally anti-social and have far greater consequences.

"11. Jurisdictional disputes are the occasion of frequent and costly strikes. The disputes of this character which have caused most injury are in the building trades. Up to the present, the efforts to lessen these disputes by action of the national unions involved have largely failed. It is suggested that the Commission recommend to the American Federation of Labor and to the national unions that renewed and more effective efforts be made to prevent such disputes.

"12. The essential condition for trade union graft is the placing of the authority to call strikes or to levy boycotts in the hands of one person without adequate provision for supervision. This condition does not exist in many unions. There is abundant evidence to show that in very many cases it originates with employers who desire to secure an advantage over their competitors. The reason that graft is more prevalent in the building trades is that power is conferred on the business agent to call strikes without reference either to the rank and file or to the national officers. It has been testified by employers who have given much attention to this problem that any well organized association of employers