Organized labor is in control here, and is in excellent condition. Business is improving since the last report and working conditions are getting better. The union labels are in good demand.

CALIFORNIA

Oakland.-William A. Spooner:

The building trades council and the central labor union have appointed a special committee on organization to conduct an organizing campaign among the unorganized, and the prospects are bright for a successful campaign.

Richmond.-W. M. Shade:

Organized labor is in very good condition and employment is fairly steady except in the building trades. Union conditions are maintained by all organizations. Everything possible is done for the union labels.

San Francisco.-John O. Walsh:

Organized labor is in fair shape, and is maintaining wage-scales and shop conditions in spite of business depression. The unorganized are not so well off in the matter of employment, but there have been no wage reductions yet even among the unorganized. Some little improvements in wages and working conditions have been reported by some of the unions. Several good bills which we expect to pass have been introduced in the state legislature. Good work is being done for the union labels. Two new unions are under way.

San Mateo.-J. B. Falvey:

Organized labor is in good condition, with the building trades 95 per cent organized. The unorganized workers are uneasy and employment is very uncertain. Organized painters received an increase of 25 cents a day under the arbitration award of last May. Work in the interest of union labels is progressing.

Santa Barbara.-J. K. Fields:

The condition of organized labor is good. The building trades crafts are flourishing and keeping up a steady agitation. A women's union label league and a central body are being formed.

COLORADO

Denver.-S. P. Oplinger:

Organized labor is in very much better condition than unorganized, but employment is not steady. We are working for the passage of a workmen's compensation act by the state legislature at its

present session. Persistent work is carried on in the interest of the union labels.

CONNECTICUT

Waterbury.-L. J. Cote:

Organized labor is in very good condition. Employment is improving in most lines of work and most of the factories are again running full time. Since the passage of the workmen's compensation act, working hours for women have been reduced to fifty-four a week, and for men to fifty-nine a week. The printers are now thoroughly organized throughout the state. Some progress has been made in our union label agitation. Organizations of barbers and retail clerks are under way. A new city hali and two new school houses are being erected exclusively by union labor. With one exception. the theaters here are organized and maintaining union hours and conditions.

DELAWARE

Wilmington. John H. Hickey:

Organized labor is in very good condition and the prospects for improvement in the state of employment are very good. Unorganized workers are in very bad condition. The first reduction in hours under the agreement with the Bond Bottle Sea! Company has just been made, the agreement calling for a reduction of two hours every six months. This agreement also provides for a union shop so far as machinists are concerned. A workmen's compens tion bill drafted by the central labor union has beer presented to the legislature. The label committe is very active in the interest of the union labelThe sheet metal workers have organized.

steady. The central body of Wallace has a committee working in conjunction with a committee of the Boise City central body on legislative matters, the compensation bill particularly. The stage employes have just been organized into a local, every man working at the trade has joined.

ILLINOIS

Alton.-John O. Fritschie:

Organized labor is in good condition, but employment, except for the machinists, is unsteady. A committee is active in the interest of the union labels. A local of laundry workers has just been formed.

Bloomington.-L. J. Salch:

The condition of organized labor is fair, but employment is unsteady. A movement for the agitation of a city-wide Saturday half-holiday is contemplated and will probably receive the support of the churches and the civic league. The organization of a label league is likely. A union of broommakers has been formed.

Decatur.-D. C. Simpson:

Organized labor is in good condition; employment is not steady but will improve in the spring. The Decatur Chamber of Commerce secured the services of a man from Chicago to organize the merchants here for an attack upon organized labor. Prospects are good for a strong organization of laundry workers.

Harrisburg. Carl E. Wright:

The condition of organized labor is good; of unorganized, bad. Employment is slack in all lines. The bakers have just organized and have secured a substantial increase in wages with a reduction in working hours from ten to nine without strike.

Organized labor is in very good condition. Building trades craftsmen are at work and all mills are working steadily. Working conditions here improve gradually from year to year without strikes. All dealers handle union label goods.

Murphysboro.-C. H. Andre:

Considering business conditions, organized labor is in good shape, but employment is very uncertain. The railroad shops have put a few men back at work. Good work is done for the union labels by the label committee. A union of cement workers is under way.

had a hard fight, but they are steadily gaining ground. The wage-scales of the organized workers are much higher than those of the unorganized. Employment is not steady. The Springfield Federation of Labor elected officers at the last meeting and a campaign will be inaugurated at once to organize the unorganized, and strengthen the crafts that are organized. With the assistance of the union label council a union label campaign will also be launched and union labor conditions generally strengthened to be prepared for spring work when it opens up, and when many of the scales and agreements expire. A union of glove workers is under way.

Staunton. Joseph W. Rizzie:

All trades here are well organized and the workers are steadily employed. The mines are working full time, and the building tradesmen will probably be busy as soon as the weather permits. All locals have a label committee working in conjunction with the label committee of the central body for the advancement of the union labels.

Taylorville.-George King:

Organized labor is in fair shape, but employment in the building trades is uncertain. The organization of a building trades council is under way, and locals of plasterers and hodcarriers are being formed.

INDIANA

Logansport.-L. G. Morris:

Organized workers are all employed and conditions are good. Unorganized workers are suffering from lack of work. The Trades Assembly hall burned, incurring a loss to organized labor of $1,000. Merchants are placing more label goods on the market. The state legislature is in session and will act soon on the workmen's compensation bill. Prospects for the enactment of the bill are good.

New Albany.—Alexander Knox:

Organized labor has shorter hours and better wages than unorganized. The central labor union has appointed a commitee to arrange for a mass meeting to be held to inaugurate a labor forward movement. We are urging the legislature to pass a bill requiring that all goods made by prison labor be so marked. Union labels are being shown in moving picture houses.

South Bend.-Edward Gardner:

Industrial conditions are very bad and there is much unemployment. Organized labor has been able to take care of all cases of distress among its numbers but conditions among the unorganized are serious. The movement for a chain of cooperative stores is creating a lively interest here. There is a good demand for the union labels. The state legislature will no doubt give us a good workThe men's compensation act at this session. bakers are organizing.

IOWA

Cedar Rapids.-R. G. Stewart:

The condition of organized labor is excellent; of unorganized, poor. Two new unions recently formed, the meatcutters and street-car men, are gaining steadily, and all other crafts are practically 100 per cent organized. Label committees are steadily boosting the union labels.

Dubuque. Simon Miller:

International organizers from the Garment Workers, Boot and Shoe Workers and the Bartenders are at present working in this city among their respective crafts. Indications are that wage increases will be secured during the year, and that the movement will gain in strength.

KANSAS

Wichita.-W. G. Crafts:

Organized labor is improving and gaining ground. Employment is not steady. A new local of garment workers has been formed which has reduced hours from nine to eight, and secured an increase in wages of 15 per cent without strike. The retail clerks and the painters are gaining in membership. Label committees from all locals are active in the interest of the union labels. Efforts are being made to organize the laundry workers.

MASSACHUSETTS

Lynn-William A. Nealey:

Conditions of organized labor in regard to wages and hours are very good; of unorganized labor, in most cases below the union standard. Employment is not steady. The label committee of the central labor union is active in the interest of the union labels.

MICHIGAN

Detroit.-David Thomas:

Organized workers are enjoying much better conditions than the unorganized. Employment is slack at present, but improvements are expected in the spring. The union labels are being pushed as much as possible. The retail clerks have taken a new lease on life.

MINNESOTA

International Falls-Henry Tohms:

The condition of organized labor is good and the demand for common labor is increasing in the lumber camps. Retail clerks have secured working agreements with employers without difficulty. We are hoping that the cut in wages which the unorganized workers of this vicinity suffered will serve as a means of educating them to the advantages of organization and mutual protection. The central body maintains a constant agitation for the union labels.

Minneapolis.-Jean E. Spielman:

A strong sentiment in favor of organization is becoming apparent among the unorganized, particularly the unskilled. The application of the Kimball-Storer Company for an injunction against the striking printing pressmen has been denied. The ice cream and creamery workers organized during the month, and a federal labor union is being formed.

St. Joseph.-C. A. Bucklen:

Organized labor is in fair shape and is improving gradually. Unorganized labor is in poor condition, and seems to be getting worse. A great many unorganized workers are on the unemployed list while most union men are working pretty steadily. Plumbers received an increase for this year without trouble. Retail clerks have secured several new agreements providing for a shorter Saturday workday. All the new locals are growing gradually. especially the meatcutters' union, which promises to be a strong organization. We have a fair chance of getting union men on the board of examining engineers, which, if successful, will mean a 100 per cent organization in the next year.

MONTANA

Billings. Frank Lockwood and H. W. Nelson: The condition of organized labor is fair. Al building trades are organized, as are nearly all other crafts which employ enough workers to hold a charter. Everything possible is done for the union labels. An attempt was made to pass a state workmen's compensation law, but it failed. A union of laundry workers has been formed. We are making an effort to have members of the city counci elected who will favor union labor, as the city expects to do considerable construction work during the coming year. We are encouraging all union members to demand the union labels.

NEBRASKA

South Omaha-Henry J. Beal, Jr.:

Conditions for the organized workers are improving, but those of the unorganized are very bad. There is much unemployment, and such unorganized workers as are working are foreigners working long hours for very low wages. The central labor union is establishing a labor temple here. All the motion picture houses employ union operators. The label of the garment workers is being pushed.

NEVADA

Reno.-C. W. Farrington:

Organized labor has the advantage of unorganized labor in regard to hours and pay, but work is slack for both. The Reno central labor union has a strong legislative committee in the field.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Laconia.-Thomas F. Ford:

The organized workers are nearly all working at present, but the unorganized are begging for work at any price. The bricklayers and plasterers are demanding an increase to 50 cents an hour, to take effect May 1. Active work is being done in the interest of the union labels.

North Walpole-Robert Howard:

Organized labor here is in good condition, while the unorganized workers are working long hours for smaller pay. Employment is dull at present. Everything possible is done for the union labels.

NEW JERSEY

Elizabeth.-John Keyes:

Organized labor is in good condition, but work is very slack. The big strike at Roosevelt is attract_

ing a good deal of attention, and as victory for the strikers is very important all union men should Support the strike.

New Brunswick.-Walter Reynolds:

Organized labor is in good shape and holding its membership well. Business conditions are improving and more men are getting back to work. Good work is done for the union labels.

Morristown.-A. B. Losey:

In spite of business conditions organized labor is in good shape, holding its own and increasing in membership. Employment is dull. Several labor Cills have been introduced into the state legislature. Label committees are doing everything possible for the union labels. Efforts are being made to organize the bartenders and waiters. A large job here that had been unfair has been settled with all union conditions agreed to by the contractor. The masons and bricklayers are assisting the carpenters to establish and strengthen union conditions.

NEW YORK

Albany. John J. Dillon:

Organized labor is in fairly good condition but employment is unsteady. The central body has appointed a legislative committee to work in conjuncton with the A. F. of L. and the state federation during sessions of the legislature. An active label campaign has been inaugurated. The union label league and the local unions are co-operating in an organized agitation for the promotion of the union labels, particularly that of the union collar factory located in Albany. Good results have already been secured and the outlook is encouraging.

Fredonia.-L. D. Kiearstead:

The condition of organized labor is fairly good; of unorganized very bad. Employment is unsteady. The street-car men have secured a raise in rate to 30 cents an hour without strike to take effect May 1. The delegate from Fredonia to the constitutional convention is a labor man. We are trying to get union label goods into all the local

stores.

Gloversville.-Chauncy Thayer:

Organized labor is in good condition but employment is not steady. The strike of the glove workers was lost after five months. A union of blacksmiths is under way.

Schenectady. John J. Henley:

The organized workers are appreciating the benefits of organization keenly at present not only because their conditions are better than those of the unorganized but also because of the financial benefits derived through the organizations in the present business depression. The Labor Temple Association has paid $1,000 on the mortgage on the building site. All union labels are being pushed.

of the contractors. Our efforts are being directed toward holding our locals together until conditions improve.

East Liverpool.-John P. Duffy:

The conditions of organized labor are good; of unorganized labor very unsatisfactory. Employment is unsteady. The demand for union label goods is increasing. Efforts are still being made to organize the school teachers.

Hamilton-Charles E. Vaughn:

Organized labor is in very good condition, but the unorganized workers are in very bad shape. Employment is very unsteady, shops running only about half time. Everything possible is done for the union labels. Efforts are being made to organize the colored laborers on the new high school building.

Lancaster.-E. P. Hunter:

Organized workers are working about half time; unorganized workers are doing very little. The shoe factories, however, are doing better than others, working four days a week.

Massillon-Joseph Bertels:

The condition of organized labor is far better than unorganized, and employment is fairly steady. Barbers have secured a reduction of one-half hour in Saturday work without strike. There is a strong agitation in favor of the union labels and local merchants have added several lines to their stock. Springfield.-C. W. Rich:

Probably the most important matter connected with the organized labor movement recently has been the publicity received by the Women's Union Label League. This organization with funds donated solely by trade unionists, fed over 1,500 little children on Christmas Day. The dinner was served in the Labor Temple, 200 being served at a time. The women have been highly praised for their efforts. Another union of railway carmen has been instituted. The union embraces about 75 per cent of the men working at the trade. Several of the smaller unions are securing new members, and we have a new union under way. The inside electrical workers' union has been formed and is now one of the strongest of the building trades. Several organizations, including printers, bricklayers, inside electrical workers, plasterers, painters, and decorators, will obtain wage increases this spring. Indications are that business conditions are improving in Springfield. Men are returning to work in many of the factories and places that have been closed are opening. The central body is giving good support to the legislative program of the A. F. of L., and will do its part in assisting the state federation at the session of the General Assembly.

Steubenville.-A. C. Johnston:

Organized labor is in fairly good condition, and while employment is very uncertain, union men are given the preference for such work as there is to be done. Splendid work is being done for the union labels. The retail clerks have organized a new local with 155 members. The clay workers in Toronto, Ohio, are organizing with a membership of from six to seven hundred.

Toledo.-E. E. Smith:

Organized labor is in good condition, taking an active part in all matters affecting the workers. The unorganized workers are experiencing much