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THE LABOR ADVOCATE World's Workers Letters Show War Has Not Chilled Brotherhood Spirit A. F. of L. Conference Plan At Close of War Is Favored President Gompers Declared to Be "Head and Father of the English-Speaking Trade Union Movement." ashmgton. In the November issue of Nmerican Federationist President Gompers publishes correspondence be tween himself and representatives of trade union centers throughout the world during the present war. In his intro duction he says these letters "reveal the strength of the fraternal ties that still bind the workers even of the warring nati'iiis." and that communication be tween the representatives of labor in the sctcral countries "has met witlr little interference." At the close of the Philadelphia con xentMii. last year, President Gompers notilied the trade union centers of the derision of American unionists, favor ing a conference of world's trade un ionists after the war closed, to be held at the same time and place where the diplomats convened, for the purport of insisting that democratic ideals n,ay be included in any settlement agreed to. Copies of letters that passed between the trade union groups were also for warded to President Gompers, .mil the correspondence now published for the first tune indicates the depth of fraternal feeling between these toilers, despite the 1 timpean carnage. The principal actors in this silent but thrilling drama, staged by the world's workers, are President Gompers, rep resenting the North American trade un ion movement; Secretary Carl I.egien, international federation of trade unions, Germany; Secretary Apjileton, general federation of trade unions, England; Secretary Jouhaux, confederation gen erale du travail, France; Secretary Kig ola, Italian trade unionists, Milan; Pres ident Oudegccst, federation of trade un ions. Holland; Secretary Gray, Trades Council, Melbourne, Australia, and Sec retary Crawford, South African Indus trial Federation, Johannesburg. The letters of these unionists clearly indicate that the war has hut intensified the spirit of brotherhood and helpful ness between the world's men and 'wo men of toil. This is shown by Secretary Legien, who addresses Secretary Apple ton as "My Dear Appletou," in a letter pledging fraternity and good will to the llritish trade unionists. In Appleton's letters to Legien the same spirit is man ifest Secretary Jouhaux writes President Gompers that the French unionists have accepted America's invitation to hold an KltKUillT TKAI'KIC IS KAIUSK. I New York. At the offices of the Frie Railroad it was said that freight tonnage figures for last mouth showed that the business done in September, I ill!"., was the greatest ever recorded on the books of the company. Tonnage on the Maltimure it Ohio rail road has increased 10 per cent, it is said, within the past '.ill days. The New Ha ven Railroad is moving more freight to day than it has moved for years before and the New York Central lines report that business is so good that hundreds of extra men have been added to handle the traffic and that quick delivery of the sccral thousand cars recently ordered is being urged. Steamship companies report the same condition and have pressed into service every possible craft to carry the enor mous volume of exports. It is stated that it is no uncommon thing for a trans-Atlantic liner to be turned back to 1 nglaiid within IS hours after her ar rival, an uiiusal procedure before the past few months. mocki:i.i:u(i:ics maic unions. New York. "Trade unions are kept out of the mines controlled by the Rock efellers in Colorado," said Prof. Ncar i'ig m a speech in this city. It a labor agitator gets in these mines l 1s jailed for life. Winn John I). Rockefeller, Jr., went to i olnratlii he took his press agent with him He does not want union men in lli mules. If you were a Rockefeller i-iiploe, asked by the son of the rich--i man in the world if unions were . iiitt-d in mines, how would you cast jour ballot if your living depended on j t .it nmblc answer? law son did not get a square deal. v i at is American public opinion going to do about it. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., ttill In- condemned, hut we've got to get Kittson out of jail." ni-:v r.vio.v i:.vi'ANis. Wilmington, Uel. The Boilermakers' 1 num. the youngest in this city, is stend i! increasing in membership and inter est Already there are over 100 enroll-c-d, anil it is believed this number will grou fourfold before the first of the year Plead For Unity international conference at the close of the war. Jouhaux incloses a circular which he issued to the French workers. The litter closes: "Vive the internation al, always and everywhere !" Legien writes to Appletou in which he agrees with President Gompers views and assures the British unionist: "1 am fully convinced that there will be little difficulty to re-establish and even strengthen the trade union bonds again after a very brief space of time after the war is over. For are we not all de pending on each other, if we desire to attain our ends?" Appletou tells I.egien of his visit to a camp of German prisoners and pleads against the doctrine of hate. Secretary Oudegccst writes Appletou : "Especially in these terrible times we on our part do everything in our power to keep up the international relations as well as we possibly can." Appletou and Jouhaux suggest to Pres ident Gompers that the headquarters of the international federation of trade un ions be temporarily removed from Ger many to a neutral country because of the war, which makes it impossible to frce - ly communicate with Germany. The llritish and French unionists plea that "there is not the slightest personal feeling against Lceicn." and that "we know of no one who would so seriously consider what is suggested or who would more conscientiously act in the interest of international trade unionism than Samuel Gompers." Appletou and Jou haux aNo say: "You will understand our anxiety to maintain, irrespective of personal ties, the solidarity of our move ment." In another letter Appletou pays a com pliment to the North American trade un ion movement in the following personal tribute to President Gompers: "Whenever and as soon as it (the war) terminates, 1 trust you, whom 1 always regard as the head and father of the English-speaking trade union move ment, will initiate steps for the recon struction of the international side of it." The correspondence shows the bonds of brotherhood between unionists of the world, many of whom are now tempor arily divided in military camps, but who pledge their faith in the workers' cause and their determination to carry on the work of uniting the men and women of toil after the day of carnage has passed. IIAVi: IIKJHT TO IHSCIIAIJ.OI 1 Oklahoma City, Okla The criminal court of appeals has reversed the district (court of Oklahoma county and annulled i the law making it a misdemeanor for an employer lo require employes to sign a contract not to become members of a labor union. The district court lined Manager llemis of the Oklahoma Railway com pany $:.'()() for coercion of laborers. He threatened to discharge them if they joined the street car men's union. On appeal this decision was reversed. In his opinion Judge Anderson followed the 'decision of the United Slates supreme I i-nllrl l:mn?irv '. till-. n...,, .. .,...:.. - J.........J , ..'.., I, lllll II I I I.VJ Vi ity of the supreme justices annulled a similar law, passed by the Kansas legis lature. Since then the Ohio supreme court, on May .1, annulled the anti coercion law of that State. Summed up, these tribunals take the position that the worker has the right to quit work for any cause or no cause, and the employer has the same right. WANT COYKMNOM OIISTKI). Phoenix, Ariz. Petitions have been placed in circulation for the ret-all of Gov. Hunt, as a result of the present strike of copper miners at Clifton. The State's executive, it is claimed, declared that the grievances of these workers were just, and if he sent troops there the mine owners or any one else who an tagonized a .settlement would he im prisoned. This policy is at such variance with that of the neighboring State of Col orado that a demand for the governor's political head is heard in certain sec tions of the State. The recall petitions charge him with "incompetency and a disregard for courts." ADOPTS IS-IIOt'lt W'KI'IK. Springfield. Mass. The Liberty Ma chine Manufacturing Company has con cluded that the eight-hour movement, now sweeping this section of the country, will not subside and has voluntarily granted its employes a IS-hour week in stead of the present .1 1-hour schedule. There will he no wage reductions and lime and one-half will be paid for over time with double time for Sunday and holiday ttork PROTECT FOUNDRY WORKERS llarrisburg, Pa. A subdivision of the department of labor and industry has formulated safety regulations to protect workmen in foundries in this state. Among the various provisions of the new regulations, it is required that from November 1 to April 1 of each year, covered vestibules be erected at the en trance of foundries to prevent drafts of cold air that would endanger the health of the workmen. Mechanical means of ventilation must be installed in foundries wdiere smoke, steam, gases or dust arise to endanger the health or ;ycs of the workers and where a natural ventilation of air docs not carry off such gases. Cleaning and chipping of castings must be done in cleaning rooms or behind curtains or screens to protect the employes from fly ing particles. Suitable facilities must be provided in every foundry for the thorough drying of employes' clothing. Individual lock ers must be provided for employes and placed in a room used exclusively for that purpose, livery foundry employing more than JO persons, must provide a suitable washroom for use of the em ployes so located that it may be entered without the necessity of the employe ex posing himself to the open air. Washrooms must be provided with hot and cold water service; must be kept clean and sanitary and properly heated during cold weather. Washroom equip ment must be provided in proportion to the number of employes as outlined in tables included in the foundry regula tions of the industrial board. Women working in core making rooms of foundries shall not be allowed to han dle material which has a temperature of more than J 10 degrees Fahrenheit, nor i1"!!!"' - ' " wl" ' ey be permitted to make or handle cores when the combined weight of core iox and plate exceeds l.'i pounds. MAI) lU'KINKKS IS NO MA It. Washington. The United States Su preme Court has ruled that immigration officials can not bar immigrants on the ground that industrial depressions are liable to cause them to become public charges. The case came up on appeal from New York where immigration of ficials ruled that several Russians, bound for Portland, Ore., should not be ad mitted, as trade reports showed busi ness was bad in that city and the aliens would, in all probability, fail to secure employment, and accordingly, were "like ly to become a public charge." Attor neys for the Russians held that immigra tion officials were restricted in their powers anil that they had no authority to debar or deport except as specifically indicated by the law. The court upheld tins position in a decision which will render less elastic lit the tuture the pro vision of the law under which many aliens have been denied admission and others excluded on the ground that they "were likely to become a public charge." A KAMIIJAIt DKCIiAltATIOX. Worcester, Mass. "Professional agi tators" are at work among working peo ple of this city "for the purpose of changing conditions of employment," de clares the Employers' Association of Worcester County, which has voted to stand together for the so-called "open shop." It is stated that loo employers are members of the association and these gentlemen are quite sure that "profes sional agitators" are responsible for workers demanding an eight-hour day and better working conditions. So the manufacturers announce their faith in uoii-tiuiouisni and to create the opinion that a reign of terror is imminent, they "pledge protection" to all employes who "desire to continue as free and indepen dent workers." The resolutions are identical with hun dreds of similar declarations by men who can't understand why "their" work ers should not be contented but who in sist on a shorter work day that can only be secured through collective action. Local trade unionists are comparing the policy of local manufacturers, which is resulting in numerous strikes, with the policy of prominent Massachusetts manufacturers, who told the State Hoard of Conciliation and Arbitration, in ses sion in this city last week, that trade agreements and conferences with union committees were successful and that tluy would not revert to the old plan of individual baruainiug because unions lived up 'o their contracts. KK.'IIT lloritS IN Clii: lOliANI). Cleveland. The Steams Motor Car Company has read the signs of the times correct and announces that its 1,."00 em ployes will hereafter work eight hours a day with no change in wage rates. In creasing trade union sentiment at this factory, the workers say, was a factor in the decision. CUOKKS WANT KICIIT IIOl'MS. Huston. At a meeting of the adjust ihent hoard of the Brotherhood of Rail road Clerks of the lloston it Maine rail road it was voted to demand higher wages and an eight-hour day. STIC IKK roit KICIIT IIOFItS. Cleveland. Over 1,(100 employes of the Peerless Motor Company struck for an eight-hour day and other improved working coirlitioiis. VOTE AGAINST Ef"1 ra if llmon MADE Beer 8jS$8 AND Porter S f i tiUiif dob Of America rkr COPYRIGHT &TRA0E MARK REGISTERED THIS IS OUR LABEL. THE HERANCOURT Brewing Co. STRICTLY UNION LAGER COAL I3UY IT FROM YOUR FRIENDS THE QUEEN CITY COAL CO. PRIVATE EXCIIA.NC3E WEST 12N20 rXK.MIM.OV.MI'INT STATISTICS. Washington. The United States De partment of lahor, through its bureau of labor statistics, publishes the results of the third study in the series of inves tigations being made into unemployment. The following L! cities in the Rocky mountain and Pacilic coast states were canvassed : l'utte, Los Angeles, Oak land, Ogdcii, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane and Taconia. In those cities :i(i,."):i" families were investigated, and the number of wage earners were found -to be -IU,:iXl. The unemployed to tal i,.'l";i, or 11 . per cent, and the part time wage earners are U,'.)7I, or SO. '2 per cent. Portland, Ore., with yo per cent, has the highest average of unemployed. Oakland, with t!07.) per cent, has the highest number of part-time wage earn ers. The lowest percentage of unem ployed, l..", was found in Ogdeu. liutte reports the lowest number of part-time wage earners, 11!." per cent. OIS.IHCT TO SKAMKVS ACT. New York. At a meeting of the board of directors ol the National As sociation of Manufacturers, resolutions were adopted urging congress to recon sider the seamen's law, passed by the last congress, with a view to substantial amendment or repeal. It is agreed that the bill contains many "commendable features," but as the law stands now it will drive the United States Hag off the Pacific ocean, say these business men. Objection is made to the language test which ends the practice of employing Chinese sail ors and working them under Chinese conditions. The board of directors would re-establish old conditions, or as near thereto as is possible. ASKS INCKKASIO OK $!S8, )(. Washington. The United States De partment of Labor is the only self-supporting department is one of the rea sons why Secretary of Labor Wilson will ask the incoming congress to appro priate an additional $iiss,i()0 to carry on the various activities of that department. Secretary Wilson shows that the reve nues of his department last year were $7,S7."i,s:i.i in excess of expenditures. Tin year's estimates total $l,'J71,27t). Attention is called to the increasing suc cesses of the department in settling la bor disputes and strikes by means of conciliation. An additional $:.'.'i,()(l(i is asked for this work. STIUKi: COMMISSION KIMKCTKI). St. Louis, Mo. The board of alder man lias unanimously rejected Mayor Kiel's plan to create a commission that would handle industrial disputes. Hus incss influences supported the proposed ordinance, as did several civic organ izations. AltlONA CUCUKS OKCANIZK. Tucson, Ariz. The retail clerks of this city have organized with a mem bership of Kill. PROHIBITION! DEMAND PERSONAL LIBERTY IN CHOOSING WHAT YOU WILL DRINK Ask for this Label when purchasing Beer, Ale or Porter, As a guarantee that it is Union Made 1903 STRICTLY UNION MACHINE CHILDREN NOT GOOD CITIZENS Syracuse, N. Y. Vocational training that teaches only shop work and makes the child a mere machine is not needed in this country, even though it is favor ed by most manufacturers and employers of labor, declared Prof. Roman of the Syracuse university in an address before the Schoolmasters' club. The educator pointed out the difference between a child that has been developed into an efficient machine and one who possess es a knowledge of those things that re sult in citizenship as well as manual skill. "There has been a tendency," he said, "in some States to force upon the voca tional school a curriculum that makes an efficient machine out of the child. The country does not need that kind of edu cation. We are now producing more goods than ever before in the history of the nation. Wealth is piling up faster. Everything is materialistic. The ques tion is, '1 low can we make more goods and get more money?' "If the vocational school is to meet the problem of the future welfare of this country, it must give a well-balanced training. It must teach the child the principles of democracy, citizenship, gov ernment and the proper use of its spare time and collective bargaining. As the volume of production has increased the workers' hours have decreased. Ignor ant of his civic duties and the funda mentals of good government, the work ers are easy prey for the demagogue." ItUKHANK KAVOItS CIIIM)KKX. Oakland, Cal. Child labor profiteers will get little assistance from Luther Iittrbauk, who asks : "Isn't it as import ant for a nation to raise a good human crop as it is to raise good orchards?" In a speech before a conference of social workers, the naturalist declared that the first ten years of a child's life should be surrounded by sunshine, cheerfulness, love and laughter, because, he said, it is abnormal and cruel to run all children through the same mill and stuff and cram their little heads to the breaking point. The speaker said a child is vastly more sensitive than a plant and that there is not an attribute lack ing in a plant that cannot be bred into it. The same is largely true of human nature, he said. Heredity will make it self felt first, but in child-rearing, hered ity and environment are equally import ant. What then can we expect from children raised in dusty factories, crowd ed tenements and unventilated schools? We let the weeds grow and then set fire to them by bad environment. DHATII IN Tllli .MINKS. liutte, Mont. The worst mining dis aster ever known in this State occurred when S00 pounds of dynamite exploded at the properties of the North liutte j Mining company. Nearly a score of workers lost their lives, while many were severely injured.