The labor world. [volume], December 01, 1906, Image 1

About The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
ii
PlIEHT MEDICINE IS
MfflHf BOOZE
What Some of These Sorry Nos­
trums Contain—A Warning
to the People.
Many of the Best Periodicals Ex­
pose Fallacy of Patent Med
cine Sharks.
There are various reasons why the
Labor World has a weekly deficit, and
we may be candid with our readers
and say that if we were to run our pa­
per according to the prevailing com­
mercial ethics it would not only
probably have no deficit, but pile up
some nice figures on the opposite side
of the ledger. Without trying to give
the whole range of reasons, we may
mention one: our refusal to admit
patent medicine advertising in our
columns. Personally we have nothing
to gain by this, except an approving
concience, but the rule was laid down
several years ago to admit nothing to
the paper's columns that could in any
way be harmful to our readers or de­
moralizing to society. Our movement
seeks to build up and ennoble and im­
prove the physical and mental condi­
tion of mankind, and while we have
not drawn the line within the realm
of debatable things, however our per­
sonal view may be, we have put under
the ban the clearly dangerous things,
such as the patent medicine advertise­
ments and the fraudulent doctor ads.
which are such a disgrace to the daily
capitalist papers.
Every day we find justification for
our position—the reader must bear in
mind that the kind of advertising we
hav specified pays well for space—and
«just now there comes to our desk the
official report of the Minnesota Dairy
and Food Commission giving the re­
sult of analyses pf popular patent
"dopes" which are much patronized,
particularly by rural residents. Fraud
is shown in almost every detail, medi­
cines supposed to be compounded of
honey do not' contain a trace of it, and
cheap, low-grade whiskey forms a
component part of some of them, so
that the user pays a high price for a
cheap grade of "booze" such as is the
cause of the delerium tremens and the
fits of the degraded barrel house dis­
trict human derelict.
Thus of Duffy's Malt Whiskey the
bulletin says:
"The sample is ten degrees below
U. S. proof and contains solids sev­
eral times the amount normal for gen­
uine whiskey. The residue insoluble
in cold water and the coloring are not
within the limits allowable for genuine
whiskey."
And this is advertised as a prolonger
of human life because ltts"So~ -"pure
and is doubtless the daily grog of
many a high-toned "temperance man"
who would not for any consideration
go into a saloon for a drink of whis­
key, though it might be vastly superior
to his "Duffy."
The many "bitters" advertised as
panaceas for kidney, liver and stom­
ach ailments are simply cheap whis­
kies flavored with some pleasant tast­
ing herbs that have no remedlcal qual­
ities whatever.
The analyses were made by the chief
chemist of the department, and his
findings must be accepted as accurate,
for a public official would scarcely
dare publish incorrect statements in
matters of this kind, as are seen in the
following:
DeWITT'S KODOL DYSPEPSIA
CURE.—Alcohol, 18.10 per cent, low
grade sugar syrup added to give de­
sired consistency. Sample contains
salicylic acid and strychnine.
KENNEDY'S HONEY AND TAR.
—Contains a small percentage of al­
cohol. Low grade sugar added to pro­
duce desired body. Also chloroform,
salicylic acid, codeine, croton oil, pep­
permint* and sassafras.
BEE'S HONEY AND TAR.—Sugar
Syrup used to give consistency of thick
molasses. Also chloroform, salicylic
acid, morphine, crotop oil and peper
mint.
KING'S NEW DISCOVERY FOR
CONSUMPTION.—Sugar syrup added
to give consistency of thick molasses.
Also chloroform, morphine, pine tar
flavor.
CHAMBERLAIN'S COLIC, CHOL
ERA AND DIARRHOEA REMEDY.
—Contains a large percentage of alco­
hol, viz 35.80 per cent. Also contains
large amounts of chloroform and mor­
phine, together with peppermint.
PERUNA.—Alcohol, 25.80 per cent
extract, 0.51 percent. The percentage
of material other than olcohol being
so small (0.51 per cent) it is not easy
to imagine that this so-called remedy
for all human ills is anything else
than a diluted low grade whiskey.
The above are enough to show the
fraud running through most all the
patent "dopes," and that the guzzelers
of patent medicines may have some
idea of what they guzzle the report de­
scribes the character of the drugs
mentioned in the foregoing, which,
somewhat condensed, follows:
"Croton oil is a violent depressant
poison, producing vomiting, profuse
purging, severe griping, collapse and
death. The quantity necessary to
cause a fatal result varies within
wide limits. The minimum fatal dose
is not known. Children do not bear
the drug well.
"Codeine is a deritave of morphine
and in its physiological action It is
closely related to morphine. Four
grains of codeine have been known to
produce cases of severe poisoning.
"Salicyic acid, when locally applied
to mucus membranes in concentrated
form acts as a direct irritant. When
taken Internally it is capable of caus
lng ulcerations of the buccal mem
brane, nausea and vomiting. The drug
also impedes not only the ferments of
putrefaction but also the digestive fer­
ments. Medicinal quantities may be
TWi BROTHERHOODS
EXCHUMCE EBEETIIES
Rev. Ghas. Stelzle Gets Valuable
Lesson From A. F. of L. Con­
vention.
Presbyterian Brotherhood Sends
Fraternal Greetings to Big
Labor Body.
By the Rev. Charles Stelzle.
"Our field—the world.
"Our cause—humanity.
It was an inspiration to march with
the three hundred and more delegates
at the Minneapolis Convention of the
American Federation of Labor, as they
proceeded to the Convention hall, be­
hind the banner which bore these
words.
The President's report and the spir­
it of the meetings rang true to the
motto. It was the spirit of sacrifice
and of service with just enough shout
of victory to keep up one's courage.
There were some discordant elements,
true enough, but even these, analized,
indicated a measure of that for which
labor's brotherhood of service stands.
During the progress of the conven­
tion, I slippped down to Indianapolis
to address the newest organization in
the Presbyterian Church—the "Pres­
byterian Brotherhood." This was its
fl^st convention—with the choicest
representatives from every city in the
land—over a thousand strong. But
Tomlison Hall was packed at nearly
every session—packed with men who
came because of their interest in this
new organization, even though they
though they were not honored by being
sent as regularly accredited dele­
gates.
Accross the stage was flung a ban­
ner 'which carried the motto: "Service
in Brotherhood." As I spoke to that
great audience of nearly three thou­
sand men on "The Church and La­
bor,"I was thinking of the convention
in Minneapolis, and my message was
delivered in the spirit which I had
caught there. How well that message
was received others may tell, but out
of the cheering and the emotion which
it brought forth, came a greeting
which I was instructed to carry back
to the Labor Conventio. I reproduce
it here:
"The Presbyterian Brotherhood, in
its first convention 8t Indianapolis,
joins with the Brotherhood of Labor
as represented in the American Feder­
ation of Labor in Convention assem­
bled in Minneapolis in devotion to the
ideal of life given by the Great Mas­
ter:
"If any would be great among you,
let him be your servant. For even the
son of man came not to. be,ministered
unto, "But to niiriister."
This was probably the first time in
the history of organized labor in this
country that so important a religious
society sent a special representative
to a convention of labor's greatest
body, with a fraternal greeting. It is
significant that this representative was
also received by the American Fed­
eration of Labor as a fraternal dele­
gate from the Presbyterian Depart­
ment of Church and Labor. This is
a sign of the times. It is a prophecy
of the day when men will learn that
only as the spirit of brotherhood' and
of service preyails will there be any­
thing like a solution of the vexations
problems in the social and in the in­
dustrial world.
Mr. Union Man:—Notify your drug­
gist that the Bell 'Phone is Unfair.
NOBEL PRIZE FOR THOMSON.
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 29.—At the forth­
coming distribution of Nobel prizes.
Prof. Joseph J. Thomson of Cambridge
university, England, will be awarded
the prize for physics.
Mr. Unioln Man:—Notify your baker
that the Bell 'Phone Is Unfair.
CANDY MAKING.
Always use porcelain lined or nickel
steel agate ware kettles for candy. As
bestus mats are almost indispensable
when boiling sugar or cand4es that
must not be stirred. If you want can­
dy to sugar stir it while cooking. Do
not stir candy that you wish to pyill.
Vinegar makes candy brittle.
Mr. Union Man:—Notify your Cigar
Dealer ^iat the Bell 'Phone is Unfair.
considered depressant rather than
stimulant.
"Strychnine is one of the highly
poisonous alkaloids. Preparations con­
taining it are unsafe, not only on ac­
count of the possibility of their bearing
an overdose, but also because of the
danger of the alkaloid to the system.
When used for a long period it is apt
to produce great nervous and mental
irritability, and a rapid, feeble pulse.
"Chloroform is extensively employed
as an anaesthetic, its vapor when in­
haled causing unconciousness. If tak­
en internally, and in large doses, it
acts the same as by inhalation. It
should be administered only under di­
rection of a physician.
"Morphine is the principal narcotic
alkaloid of opium, and its action is
chiefly allied to that of the latttft
drug. It is excessively poisonous, one
grain of the hydrochloride having been
found sufficient to cause death. The
drug is a well-known sleep poducer,
and its habitual use tends to create
what is known as the morphine habit."
"Not long ago the papers in Chicago
printed the facts about the appalling
number of "drug fiends" in that city.
Need we wonder at it? Thus we see
again the ugly face of capitalism re­
vealed. For profits to a few medical
harpies the stability of the race is be­
ing attacked and people sent to un­
timely graves!
Mr. Union Man: Notify your baker
that the Bell 'Phone 1B Unfair.
Big Convention of Representatives
of the Hosts of.Labor in Session
at Minneapolis (looses Nestor
of Labor Movement to Again
Lead it Through Current Year.
Splendid Tribute is Paid the
Grand Old Man'' of the Ameri­
can Labor Movement as he is
Unanimously Re-elected to the
Presidency.
The convention of the American
Federation of Labor, which ad­
journed last Saturday, was un­
doubtedly the greatest gathering of
representatives of the hosts of la­
bor ever assembled in one body.
This was the concensus of opinion
among those who had been attend­
ing labor gatherings for the last
twenty years.
The election of officers took
place on Saturday last. President
Gompers left the chair while the
election of a president was on. He
knew as did every one else in that
great gathering that no other
name would be mentioned for the
chief office.
It fell to the lot of Delegate Mc
Cullen to nominate Mr. Gompers.
He said in part:
"Possibly the greatest writer and
thinker the world will ever see
caused one of the characters his
imaginative genius brought into be­
ing to once say that 'Some men
are born great, some acheve great­
ness and some have greatness
thrust upon them.' The man whose
name I have the honor of placing
in nomination for this great office
certainly was not born great he
certainly did not have greatness
thrust upon him, but it is certain
that he did achieve greatness. By
hs sterling qualities, by his man­
hood, by his courage apd by his
determination at all times to be
right, to be fair and to be honest,
he has within the. past twenty-five
or thirty years, achieved a great­
ness which perhaps the delegates
sitting here do not all fully realize.
In choosing a man to administer
the affairs of this great organiza­
tion I believe we are called upon
to choose one whose responsiblities
are as great as are those of the
man called upon to tdminister the
affars of a nation. The administra­
tion of the affairs of this organiza­
tion requires ust as much judg­
ment, wisdom, prudence and con­
servatism as is required in'the ad
tion. I say that too oa-uch *^ap­
preciation—too much hoiior, can­
not be paid to this man, who has
administered the affairs of our or­
ganization so wisely the past—
our President, Samuel Gompers."
The real crisis of the meeting
came when Congressman-elect Wil­
son arose from his chair and said:
"It is a compliment to all of the
THE TRADE UNI15T
Man With the Muck Rake Is Tell­
ing the Story of Labor's
Betrayal.
Necessary Now for Union Labor to
Become Active Political
Factor.
(By Eug. Unsworth.)
A democracy has been defined as
the government of the whole people
by the whole people equally repre­
sented, and although it Is frequently
asserted that we are the most demo­
cratic nation in the world the decad­
ence of our modern political system
under the. influence of combinations
of capital justifies us in asserting
that we are very far from approach­
ing our democratic ideal.
It must be apparent to the intelli­
gence of the most optimistically in­
clined defender of the present polit­
ical situation that corporate wealth
is fast gaining the upper hand of the
people, and slowly but surely convert­
ing this country from democracy to
plutocracy, from a nation governed
by the whole people to a nation gov­
erned by a few mercenary individuals.
The man with the muck rake is
telling the story of labor's betrayal
by its representatives in govern­
mental affairs, and the political and
social unrest which is spreading to
every city in the United States indi­
cates that.the people are cognizant of
the dangers that confront them, and
are preparing to retire to private life
those individuals whose political ca­
reers if not checked will eventually
convert this republic into a privately
owned institution.
The issues before the country to­
day are largely economic. We have
before us two contending forces, each
struggling for supremacy the des­
potism of capital and the organization
of labor, the first advocating the ab­
ject servitude of the masses, the sec­
ond freedom of thought, will, and
action along lines that tend to the
political and economic freedom of all
the people. Society depends upon its
sound arid healthy growth to the free­
dom .with- which its individual mem­
bers cooperate. Under our present
complex industrial system an individ­
ual without the assistance of his fel
lowman' can accomplish but very lit
ale. The private ownership and
monopoly readers cooperation impos­
SAMUEL GOMPEBS IS AGAIN EUCTED TO
HEAD AMERICAN f»fRATION Of LABOR
OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF LABOR
President—Samuel Gompera.
Vice Presidents—James Duncan.
Granite Cuttersj John Mitchell,
Miner* James O'Cpnnell, Ma­
chinists Max, Morris, Clerks
Dennis A. Hayes, Glass Blow­
ers Daniel J. Keefe, Longshore­
men William D. Huber, Car­
penters Joseph Valentine,
Molders.
Secretary-Frank Morrison, Typo­
graphical.
Treasurer, John B.' Lennon, Tail­
ors.
Fraternal Delegates, Great Brit­
ain, John T. Dempney, Miners
W. E. Klapetsky, Barbers. Can­
ada, Robert S. Moloney, Law­
rence, Mass.
Next Convention City, Norfolk,
Va.
present officers of the American
Federation of Labor that scarcely
a whisper of oppositon has been
heard to the re-election of any one
of them during this convention. I
think it is a well-merited tribute
to the officers of the organization,
and I arise to move that Delegate
tocCullen be authorized to cast
the vote of this convention for the
election of Samuel Gompers as
President, and for the election of
the various Vice-Presidents and the
Secretary and Treasurer to the
various positions they now occupy."
There was but one objection to
the unanimous consideration of
Mr. Wilson's motion and that came
from Victor B$if&er, the noted
socialist of Milwaukee, fie want­
ed" his vote registered against
Gompers because, as he said, it was
against his principles. However,
he was the only person in the con­
vention who seemed to have any
scruples about the matter, and
the. election of Gompers went
through with an enthusiasm that
knew no bounds.
The elects" the entire corps
of officers went through without
a hitch. Delegates of every in­
dustrial and economic belief re­
membered that thB- A. P. of L. was
doing, .thev very ..Ij^st. it could to
bring about proper rieforms, and
that nothing was.-being- spared by
the officers to secure the best con­
ditions of toil lor the working
men.
The only roll call of the con­
vention was had ,when- it came to
naming the next convention city.
Toronto, Norfolk^.ttyiiita, Tampa
land San Juain £.
ated, fort Norfolk
follows: British Trades Congress,
John T. Dempsey,' Miners and W.
E. Klapetzky, Barbers Canadian
Trade and Labor Council,. Robert
S. Maloney,. representing the
Lawrence, Mass., Central Labor
Union.
At the conclusion of, the convention
fraternal delegates Allan Gee and J.
sible It'can then be readily ob
seryed that our large. combinations of
capital which control .our government
are a menace, and a barrier to the full,
free and proper development of our
social organism. It must be apparent
to the most superficial observer, that
the. majority .of our men in public life
who constitute the law makers of this
nation,. are not only incompetent to
grasp the gigantic industrial problems
of the period, but have proven them­
selves to be the pliant tools of our
privately owned monopolies. The re­
moval of these men from public of­
fice is a duty devolving upon the
wage-earners of this country, and
there is therefore no Question of
greater importance to the masses than
the one which relates to the proper
disposition of their ballot, for upon
Its wise and judicious use depends
the satisfactory solution of our intri­
cate social problem &nd the perpetua­
tion of our republican form of gov­
ernment.
The remarkable growth of the trade
union movement has been the wonder
of this and the preceding century,
and its success in ameliorating the
conditions of the masses has been
conceded by the student and observer
of social affairs. To check its growth,
to annihilate it, to render it inopera­
tive, has been the ardent dream of
certain section of the employing class
whose hypocritical cant about the
personal liberty, of the toiler consists
in the wage-earner humbly accepting
a job at the conditions the employer
sees fit to indicate, who allows the
employer to dictate his wages, hours
and other conditions of employment,
and who is satisfied to permit the
employer to claim for himself "every
privilege denied the employe.
To accomplish these purposes cer­
tain employers have brought tq their
assistance the powers of the govern­
ment, have corrupted judges, and
have supported powerful lobbies in
almost every seat, of government in
this country. It is -therefore the duty
of every trade unionist to interest
himself in the politics of his locality,
to ascertain the character of the men
who are destined' to make the laws
that will guide the destinies of our
people and to cast his vote only for
those individuals who promises to sup­
port those reform* which are neces­
sary to further permit tlje free devel­
opment of .organized labor al6ng. the
lines or justice and fair .dealing, and
not in the interest of a' certain mon­
eyed class.
The cry of the "open fjhop, which
literally translated signirie's long
.Itours of labor, small wageB and every
evilHhat trade unionism has been suc
cessfulin eraflicattag.isbejng prop*
A
4
All Old Officers are Re-elected
and Roll Call is Had Only When
Norfolk is Selected as Next.Con
vention City—Close Fight Re­
sults in Victory for Norfolk.
American Federation of Labor
Convention Ends Its Minne
apolis Session in Good Spirit*—
Gompers Pays Tribute to the
Delegates.
N. Bell, of the British Trades-Union
Congress, and Samuel L. Landers, of
the Canadian Trades and Labor Con­
gress, made brief addresses in which
they thanked the delegates for the
kindness and courtesies received at
their hands, and repeated the fra­
ternal greetings of their respective
organizations.
President Gompers—A word in re­
gard to this convention before declar­
ing it adjourned. Some may have
failed to understand how intensely
vital are'the questions discussed and
formulated and determined by the
American Federation of Labor, and
may imagine that, because the discus­
sions are approached with deep in­
terest and a manifestation of deep
feeling that therefore, there Is bitter
pesonal hostility.
I know of no gathering in the world
where men are more strongly com­
mitted to various interests than are
the men in these conventions. I know
of no legislative body where such
strong characteristics so generally
prevail as among the men in the labor
movement and when we advocate, or
oppose, or defend any pending prop­
osition, we are prompted by deep
seated convictions and by the large
interests committed to our care.
I have been very much impressed
by the splendid self-restraint of the
delegates in the convention, notwith­
standing the fact of their strong con­
victions and the deep interest thej"
had in the questions that were pend
ing before them. I am sure, though
there have been some manifestations
of feeling, that outside of this conven­
tion men and women who differ
strongly with each other, hold each
other generally in the highest respect
and esteem. I have no desire to add
to what I have already said, but I felt
in duty bound to make these few re­
marks in this closing moment of our
great convention. I know I but speab
very faintly the feelings of the* dele­
gates to, this, convention when I saj
jto «ur fraternal delegates, *?You
part from our shores, you will take
with you the -best wishes, of the men
and, women in the labor'movement'of
America—the men and women repre­
senting the reform forces of our coun­
try, to our British and Canadian
brothers and sisters of labor."
On motion of Vice-President O'Con
nqll the convention was adjourned
at 3:40 Saturday sine die.
agated to deceive the public and gain
sympathy for certain forms of em­
ployers' associations and under this
pretext every reform la# introduced
by labor is subject to defeat if it does
not suit the will of the employing
class. whd oppose it. Our represent­
atives, wearing the hall mark of pred­
atory capital, basely betray the inter­
ests of the masses, and with each
succeeding year we perceive the de­
feat of the eight-hour bill, anti-injunc­
tion measure and sundry petitions
demanded by labor. The United
States is far behind every country in
the world as regards labor legislation
Practicall yvery little is accomplished
in this direction, the defeat of labor
legislation has become a general prac­
tice, while hundreds of worthless
bills are passed at the meetings of
every legislature in this country. At
the recent meeting of the New York
legislature no fewer than forty bills
in the interest of labor suffered de­
feat, while eight bills secured the gov­
ernor's signature and became a law
Such a total ignoring of the people's
rights could not exist if we had rep­
resentative men from our own ranks
to plead labor's cause, and the sooner
the trade unionist realizes the neces­
sity of political action along trade
union lines the sooner will he lessen
the burden on labor's shoulders. Eng­
land has now fifty representative
labor champions from the ranks of
the working classes in parliament,
and Germany has eighty, while in the
United States we can scarcely boast
of a single labor representative in con­
gress.
The workingmen of this country
should therefore concentrate every
effort towards organization along
political lines, which movement will
undoubtedly terminate in the im­
provement of the conditions of the
masses, lessen the number of strikes,
lockouts and other evidences of
economic discontent, permit the
porkers to participate in the bless­
ings of material advancement and
establish that democracy which is
something more than a mere shadow
of
the
Journal.
substance. Machinists'
JAMAICA FIREFLIES.
Fireflies of .Jamaica, emit, so brilliant
alight that a dozen, of'.them inclosed
within an Inverted tumbler, will en­
able a persoji to read and write at
nififlit without the least difficulty.
These flies are in sl*ies asjarge as a
common hive bee and' perfectly harm­
less. r'
Mr. Union Man —-Notify your Cloth
ier that the Bell 'Phone is Unfair.
Sit VERY ACTIVE
Several Labor Men Have Been
Sleeted to Washington State
Legislature.
Legislation of" Great Importance
To Labor to be Taken Up
In Idaho.
SPOKANE, WASH., NOV. 29.—
Labor is not so well represented In
tne next house of representatives as
it was expected it would be, but on
the whole there is-a fair representa­
tion, the members of which will not
lose any opportunities for favorable
legislation to their ca.use. The labor
brigade is made up of Jesse Huxtablo
of Spokane, railroad conductor Jes­
se Jones of Tacoma, Northen Pacific
car shops Nicholas Klo.vberg of Ta­
coma, stationary engineer Edward
Tonkin of Black Diamond, miner and
George H. Armstrong Arlington, tele­
grapher. There are 18 lawyers, 12
merchants and- a large number of
lumbermen, and real estate dealers,
while the banks, hotels and newspap­
ers have small representations. There
is not an educationalist in either
house.
There is much important business
before the new legislature, estimates
already in the hands of the governor
and state auditor indicate the largest
appropriations ,in the history of the
state, which has. more .than $1,000,000
in the treasury. The state levies four
kinds qf general takes school, gener­
al, military and state road, the total
called for in 1906 being $2,863,132, and
it is expected to appropriate about
$4,500,000, but it will probably be ac­
complished without increasing the pre­
sent tax levy very much.
There is considerable talk of divid­
ing the state of Washington, and this
is favored on the east side, where the
manufacturers, dealers and. consum­
ers are getting the worst of the ar­
gument In the matter of freight rates.
Another thing is the coast and puget
Sound' citieis have arranged them­
selves with the railroads, against the
Inland Cities and towns to defeat the
plan of the people of Spokane in se­
curing equitable rates from the trans­
continental lines:' Another plan, which
seems to find favor with many is the
creation of a new state in eastern
Washington, northeastern Oregon and
the Panhandle of Idaho. Either plan
will be to the benefit of the workmen
from' the fact that they will not.be
forced to pay tribute to the railraods
in the way of exorbitant and discrim­
inatory rates on the necessities and
luxuries of life.
Legislation fafc ^^chlftg. impot*
Chief
ters is a law providing 8^ojir day
for employees in urfder-ground mines,
while another is th'e direct primary
law. It is certain that a measure pro­
viding for a p^mary election law, but
but there appears to be a difference
of opinion as to what extent the idea
should be carried into effect The Or­
egon law, providing that the candi
dates for United States Senator re­
ceiving the largest number of votes
shall be elected by the legislature is
favored by some, but the hitch will
come in the election of United States
Senators. Since the republican plat­
form declares for an employers' lia­
bility law, and It Is generally believed
it will be enacted. A measure with
provisions, similar to the layr enacted
by the federal congress will be intro­
duced. Its chief feature will be a pro­
vision which will render corporations
and-employes ijesp0nfiible for the acts
of Employers, so far as Injury to other
employes is concerned,, and the abon
donment of the so-called "fellow ser­
vant law."
E. A. Cooney, organizer for the
American Federation of Labor, has
under consideration-a. petition to form
a union of laundry wagon drivers" in
Spokane. He has' received sanction
from the International ^association.
This is the result of arbitrary action of
the Laundrymen's association mak­
ing a rule, that the drivers who quit
working for' one laundry without giv­
ing his employer &0 days' notice of the
fact that he intended to quit should
not be employed by any member of the
association for'a period of 90 days
thereafter. There was formerly a
laundry^ wagon -drivers' union in Spo­
kane, but a number of the members
dropping out on the alleged ground
that it had fallen into the control of
the employers.
Spokane branch of the Internation­
al Brotherhood of Steam Shoyel &
Dredge Men was organized by L. J.
Dolan of Chicago, general secretary
of the organization, 50 members being
admitted. Willlani Henry was elected
president and J. L. Humphrey secre­
tary. Mr. Dolan will go to Puget
Sound and coast cities to organize
branches.
Cement workers of Spokane have re­
organized their union with Peter
Mootz president and. Anton Hoff secre­
tary. Loui3 Shears i^howas appoint­
ed organizer for the northwest ex­
pects to form locals in various parts
of Washington, Oregon and Idaho
The cement workers are affiliated with
the American Federation of labbr and
the International Building Trades
council. The delegates have been re­
cognized by tfte C£ni#I Labor unlon.
M. Shears says that concrete and ce­
ment are being used, so extensively as
building material, it will. only be a
short time befdre many thousands of
men will be engaged in construction
and othir work requiring skill. It is
proposed to or^nise the men engaged
in the worK throughout the-country.
A. H. Hawley,. chairman, and U. A.
Cochran, member of the beard of
grand trustees of the.-Brothefhood of
(Continued oft. Page 6.)
OBEJO Mil
Women Tea Pickers Get Less Than
2 Cents a Day—Other Wages
Are Low.
China Has Several Labor Unions,
And Wages Among These
Are Much Higher.
Women tea pickers in China get
something like 2 cents a day, and
those engaged in making grass cloth,
a beautiful goods much like silk, re­
ceive about 3 cents from daylight to
dark an old missionary told me
that he could get ten men to work for
him for a dallar, and out of that sum
10 per cent would be given to the man
who did the hiring. In some parts of
China ordinary field hands get 3 or 4 'vs
cents a day with food, and skilled
workmen less than 10 cents. This is,
of course, in the interior, where wages -'1
have not been affected by the modem
movements.
..Professional men are paid similarly
low wages. In almost any Chinese
city you can get thirty theatre, actors
to play forty-feight hours for 30 sim
oleons, ajid in the backwoods of China
a doctor will charge you 20 cents a
visit and think himself well paid.
In the factories wages are very low.
There are about 20,000 silk hands in -m
the mills at Shanghai, and among them 5
are children who work for 3 cents a
day and women weavers who get 5
cents. I went, through a large factory
employing hundreds of females, and
the highest paid woman in the whole
establishment got 26 cents for a thir
teen-hour day. I also went through
the cotton mills which are now spring­
ing up in various parts of China and
asked as to the wages. The factory
girlg at Shanghai were then receiving
on the average about 14 cents of our
money a day and the poorer hands did
not get more than 5 cents. The. hours
were from 6 until 6, with thirty min­
utes atv noon for luncheon. These
girls were about the best paid in that
part of China, and they thought them­
selves lucky to get the job.
The -coolies will probably organize
their own unions at Panama and that
soon after their arrival. There is ho
country of the world' more honey­
combed with trade unions than theirs,
and when they go abroad they will
carry their union rules with tliem.
This is the case with the Chinese in
the Philippines, at Singapore,, in. Ha­
waii and in almost every foreign
settlement, and is bound to be so
in Panama. The labor unions in Chi-
8X6
W a I re in
the Sfranhainwan railroad into ^Teint
sln. He was able to get it only to the
•banks of the Pelho River opposite that,
city. He started to build a bridge,
when the boatmen's union objected,
and he had to put his station on the
other side. The boatmen are among
the lowest of the Chinese coolies, and
Li Hung- Chang was the strongest of­
ficial the celestial empire has ever
had, but Li Hung Chang did not dare
to antagonize the boatmen.
Another strong union is that of the
wheel-barrow men. They do the
freighting of the empire, carting goods
and pasengers on rude barrows, push­
ed by hand. There are 5,000 such men
In Shanghai, and when they struck
not long ago against an increase of
license there was as much distress in
that city as there was nl Chicago at
the time of the teamster's strike.
Another strong union is that of the
slop carriers, the,men who bring the
water and other offensive stuff out of
the houses and carry It away to be
saved for manure. There are no sew­
ers or modern convenciences in most
Chinese cities, and these men form one
of the most important parts of the
laboring element Not long ago all
those employed in the City of Nanking
struck on account of the unjust ar­
rest of one of 'their members. They
refused to carry' out the slops, and at
the end of three days the city odors
were so strong that the people rose
and insisted that their demands, be
granted.
China has beggars' unions, barbers*!
unions, and unions of all sorts of fact-*
ory men. The barbers' union .once":
declared a strike which reached
I
aJnaeSt'^s important as are
here. During- my stay
Ittifjrl fcilift.
fceojy"bl
vmosf
parts of the empire, and for a time
the 200 odd million men and boys in
China 'went about with their heads
looking like shoe brushes. It Is not
difficult to shave one's face, but to
shave one's head is almost impossible^,
and the hair of the Chinese grew into
bristles during the strike of the bar*
bers. I believe the strike was for a
demand that barbers' sons might be
admitted to the official examinations,
and I understand that it succeeded. 5^
The Chniese coolies who have gone
to Africa are getting rom 37 to 2,
cents a day and food and it is hard­
ly probable that those who come to
Panama will be paid less than $1 per
day, although they will get more and
more as the work goes on for, as I
shall show farther on in this letter,
they understand union methods and'
will be able to raise thir wages to the
highest notch.
A dollar a day, however, is a big
thing for a coolie fresh from China.
It is ten. times as much as he could
make at home. If our common labor
er, who is now receiving $1.50 or $2 a
day, had a similar increase, he would
be getting from $is to $20 a day.
While I .was at the City of Fuchow, In
China, spme time ago, I was told that
the daily wages of mosons were 18
cents, and that the best ciarpenters
received J20 cents.
v-
Mr.. Union Man:—Notify your rental
agent that the Bell 'Phone is Unfair.
IS"