i,:.
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Hundreds Of
Machinists
ire Leaving The City Be
cause of Better Wages
And Conditions Offered
Elsewhere.
Uncertainty of Situation Here
Also Cause of Exodus.
Unless the situation clears itself,
and that very soon, Hamilton is going
to find herself shy of many of her
skilled mechanics and that just at a
time when every man will be needed,
because there is no use disguising the
fact that the country is in for a great
wave of prosperity and Hamilton is
going to be on the top of the wave.
J0ur manufacturers are goin& to let
the machinists get away and when it
is too late will set up the cry that
they can't get men.
Already more than a hundred of
our most skilled machinists have left
the city. Twenty-five left yesterday
alone, a large number left this morn
ing and so they are going every day
The exodus of machinists is caused
by the high wages and better condi
tions that are being offered by outside
concerns. These places are offering
a flat eight-hour day with double
price for Sunday.
Then the uncertainty of the Ham
ilton situation, where the manufac
turers refuse to grant the repuests of
the workers to establish the eight
hour day, has much to do with so
many leaving. This question has been
referred to the War Labor Board for
adjustment but just when this board
will make its railing and what it will
be, of course no one knows. So the
men are rapidly taking advantage of
the liberal propositions being offerd
And the outside concern are taking
advantage of the oportunity for se
curing real skilled machinists.
The railroad machine shops are grab
bing Hamilton machinists by the
dozens. One railroad shop, not so far
distant, after placing ten of these men
sent for more, stating that they never
had machinists who are more pro
ficient than those coming from Ham
ilton. Twenty-five Hamilton machin
ists are now Working in this one shop
alone.
It seems strange, too, that while
the employers of this city are laying
off local men they are seeking others
elsewhere. A Hamilton machinist ap
plying for work at the Dayton em
ployment bureau was asked why he
didn't go to work in Hamilton? He
replied, "There are no jobs open."
"That's funny, said the agent, why I
just sent seven machinists down to
(mentioning a big local concern) just
yesterday.
It is up to our manufacturers as to
whether we are going to lose our most
skilled machinists or not.
•ea Kg PKJ
Bethlehem
v
iV v\
Sees "It"
Ship Building Corporation Fin
ally Recognizes Union
Movement.
Washington—The Bethlehem Ship
building corporation has signed an
agreement with the A. F. of L. metal
trades department, which represents
thirteen national and international
trade unions. The agreement states
that the corporation "recognizes the
said unions collectively as a suitable
agency to represent its employes in
questions arising as to wages, hour:
of labor and general working condi
tions."
Under the agreement the unions
are recognized as representing the
employes, and they have appointed a
committee of five international offi
cers who will represent the thirteen
unions involved. The corporation also
appoints a committee of five. These
committees will jointly consider all
matters covered by the agreement.
The internationals' committee, or
any member thereof, or any person
expressly authorized by said commit
tee, shall have access to any plant of
the corporation on the business of the
committee, in accordance with rules
and regulations agreed to by both
parties.
The relations of the ^unions with
the corporation and with the separate
managements of its plants shall be
carried on exclusively through the
internationals' committee, or "in ac
cordance with the rules of said com
mittee from time to time established
and not otherwise."
The internationals' committee shall
pay the expenses of its own officers
agents or delegates, but the corpora
tion will pay the reasonable compen
sation and expenses of its employes
for time actually spent in service in
craft or other committees in accord
ance with rules that may from time
to time be agreed upon.
A national or international union
any of the members of which are em
ployes of the company, and which is
not a member of the metal trades de
partment, may become a party to the
The agreement is signed by E. G.
Grace and J. W. Powell, president and
vice-president of the corporation, and
James O'Connell and A. J. Berres,
president and secretary-treasurer of
the metal trades department. The
ignifieance of this agreement can be
appreciated when it is recalled that
Mr. Grace is executive of the Bethle
hem Steel company.
The Bethlehem Shipbuilding cor
poration is the shipbuilding organiza
tion of the steel company. The cor
poration is the owner of the Squan
tum and Fore River plants at Fall
River, Mass. the Union Iron Works
at San Francisco the SpaiTows Point
plant at Baltimore the Harlan plant
it Wilmington, Del. the Moore plant
at Elizabeth, N. J., and various small
er plants, altogether employing 75,000
men. Its production last year was
approximately 60 per cent of the
naval construction of the entire coun
try and about 25 per cent of the total
merchant vessel tonnage.
r-.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE RESTS
ON WORKERS."
Moiders'
—President Wilson.
Milan, Italy—"The working classes
are the foundation of society," was
one of the sentiments expressed by
President Wilson in reply to the wel
come of the mayor of Milan. The
President said:
'I am as keenly aware, I believe
sir, as anybody can be that the social
structure rests upon the great work
ing classes of the world and that those
working classes in several countries
of the world have by their conscious
ness of community of interest, by their
consciousness of community of spirit,
done perhaps more than any other in
fluence has to establish a world opin
ion which is not of a nation, which is
not of a continent, but is the opinion
one might say, of mankind and I am
aware, sir, that those of us now
charged with the very great and se
rious responsibility of concluding
peace must think, act and confer in
the presence of this opinion—that we
are not masters of the fortunes
any nation, but are the servants of
mankind that it is not our privilege
to follow special interests, but it is
our manifest duty to study only the
general interest."
In another address in this city
President Wilson made this reference
to the men and women who battle for
liberty:
"Force can always be conquered, but
the spirit of liberty can never be, and
the beautiful circumstances about the
history of liberty is that its cham
pions have always shown the power
of self-sacrifice. They have always
been willing to subordinate their per
sonal interests to the common good
and have not wished to serve them
This is what gives imperishable vie
tory, and with that victory has come
about things that are exemplified in
scenes like this—the coming together
of the hearts of nations and the sym
pathy of great bodies of people who
do not speak the same vocabulary, but
speak the same ideas."
pa Ra
Conference Boari
Met Here Sunday
The Miami Valley Conference Board
of the International Moiders' Union
met in Hamilton last Sunday. Dele
gates from Dayton, Troy, Piqua
Hamilton, Cincinnati, Covington
Springfield and Connersville were here
and took part in the meeting. Busi
ness and conditions pertaining to the
molding industry were thoroughly
discussed by the delegates and all of
them were encouraged by the work
that has been accomplished and what
will be accomplished in the future
Being the regular meeting for the
election of officers, the following were
elected to serve for one year:
John Cox, President, Piqua, Ohio.
Harry Hensel, Vice-President, Ham
ilton, Ohio.
Al. Bezanceny, Recording Secretary,
Hamilton, Ohio.
Louis Haeffle, Secretary-Treasurer,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Jerry Galvin, Doorkeeper, Dayton,
Ohio. Galvin is also assistant busi
ness agent in Dayton and in this dis
trict.
The Conference Board will call an
extra session of the organization,
which will be held in Hamilton the
last Sunday in February. At the ex
tra session the Board will likely place
another organizer in the field. This
has been found necessary on account
of the rapid and steady growth of the
organization. After the meeting a
grand lunch and refreshments were
served to the visiting delegates.
fm
ws Pa
BETTER HOUSING URGED.
Sioux City, Iowa—A movement to
secure the building of better homes
for working people in this state is
gaining strength through the activity
of the Iowa State Housing associa
tion, which was organized for this
purpose. The proposed law would
regulate window openings, floor areas,
sanitation, ventilation, fire protection,
privacy, and the height of dwellings.
•i'V t:\i*
v
igreement by notice to the department
md the corporation of its intention
to conform to the agreement, and any
such union may withdraw from the
agreement upon similar notice.
v' v
:^IT r- yr
Retail Clerks,
Against Bill That Would Cre
ate State Constabulary.
Retail Clerks' Local 119 met in
regular session Monday night in
Trades Council hall. This was the
first meeting of the clerks for a
month, owing to the time of the last
regular meeting falling on Monday
night of the week that the stores were
open for Christmas shoppers.
The regular routine business was
transacted, during which the secre
tary read a communication from the
State Federation asking the clerks to
file a protest with the county's rep
resentatives in the state legislature
and senate against the proposed bill
for creating a state's constabulary or
police force. The local voted unani
mously to comply with the request
and instructed the secretary to imme
diately communicate the organiza
tion's protest with our representa
tives.
Another matter that brought forth
lengthy discussion was the report
that several of our merchants, dis
playing the union store card, are em
ploying non-union clerks in violation
of the agreement with the Clerks'
Union. The secretary was instructed
to notify several merchants that un
less the applications of the non-union
clerks in their employ are submitted
at the next meeting of the organiza
tion the store card will be removed
from their stores and the public in
formed that they are no longer con
sidered fair to organized labor. All
stores, together with a list of the
non-union clerks employed by them,
are to be reported at the next meet
ing for further action.
A committee of Iron Moiders, No.
68, requested the privilege of the flooi'
for a few moments. The request be
ing granted the committee explained
that the family of a deceased member
of 68 is in dire straits and that a
piano was being given away for the
family's benefit and asked the clerks
to contribute. The request was com
plied with.
The local then adjourned to meet
again in two weeks, when it is urged
that all members be present, as sev
eral matters of much importance will
come up for discussion. Among them
will be that of the non-union clerks
now employed in stores displaying
the union store card, and it is desired
that all members take part in this
discussion.
As an added attraction President
James Welch will deliver his inaugu
ral address. This alone gives assur
ance of a packed hall next meeting
night.
NOLAN DISCHARGED
Indictments Against Union
Machinists Quashed By
Court.
Was Charged With Making
Bomb Used In Prepared
ness Parade Outrage.
San Francisco Superior Court
Judge Griffin has dismissed three in
dictments against Edward D. Nolan,
charged with manufacturing the bomb
used in the alleged Mooney bomb out
rage during the preparedness parade
on July 22, 1916.
Nolan was in jail nine months, but
after the Oxman perjury expose he
was admitted to bail, when Captain
of Detectives Matheson acknowledged
that the police had no evidence to
hold the union machinist.
District Attorney Fickert, through
one of his assistants, agreed to the
dismissal of the indictments. There
are still pending against Nolan three
indictments in Judge Dunnes court
and two in Judge Cabannis' court.
When Nolan was arrested District
Attorney Fickert fanned t^ie flames
of a hostile public opinion by charg
ing that "the ingredients of a high
explosive" were found in the home
of the accused. The defense showed
that the "explosive" was ordinary
Epsom salts. Fickert then found an
"expert" who claimed that this medi
cine could be used in the manufacture
of bombs.
The dismissal of the indictments is
another one of the many reverses re
ceived by the prosecution since the
Oxman perjury discovery. Before
that Warren K. Billings was sen
tenced to life imprisonment and
Thomas J. Mooney was sentenced to
death, which has since been changed
to life imprisonment by Governor
Stephens. Following the Oxman ex
pose Mrs. Mooney and Israel Wein
berg were acquitted at their first
trials. In these cases the prosecution
did not use Oxman, the principal wit
ness against Mooney.
fc PS
New Labor Paper For Arkan
sas Alliance Is Congratulated
(By Staff Correspondent.)
Fort Smith, Ark. Realizing the
necessity of a labor press, the Sebas
tian County Federation of Labor at
its next meeting in this city will elect
THE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS.
T.
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Economy Shoe Store VfX SHOES, 215 Court St.
Beii 48 David. Webb
committee to devise ways and
means of financing such a project.
The publication will not only be issued
with union labor, but its articles will
be written by men who are actively
affiliated with organized labor.
The publication will be devoted ex
clusively to the cause of unionism.
The federation at its last meeting
adopted a resolution similar to the
one recently passed in New York de
claring opposition to any effort to re
duce wages and the standard of living
and congratulating the American Al
liance for Labor and Democracy for
its decision to remain in existence.
i*
Painters, Decora
tors And Papir
Hangers.
State Conference Holds Ses
sion In Springfie d.
The Ohio State Conference of
Painters, Decorators and Paper Hang
ers held the January session in the
Springfifield, Ohio, Labor Temple on
last Saturday ind Sunday. A large
number of delegates from all over the
state were present.
A great amount of routine busi
ness was transacted and many mat
ters of much importance to the crafts
were discussed. Plans were discussed
i,' Fjr^«v— '•vnfw
i
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
We*carry a full line of Western Casket Co.'s Caskets
Suits and Dresses^
THESE ARE UNION MADE GOODS
.%
SsSiK.?
Is the only kind of work turned out at
office. No matter how small the job, if
worth doing, it is worth doing well.
Home221
and outlined for a uniform working
scale throughout the state.
Painters were asked not to use the
products of the Ridgely-Trimmer com
pany, of Springfield, Ohio, manufac
turers of steel wool, blow torches, etc.,
as this firm is considered very unfair
to the painters' organization.
Organization plans were discussed
tending to make the Conference a
100 per cent organization. Twenty
seven locals in the state are now af
filiated with the organization.
Frank Holt, of this city, attended
the session as a delegate. He is one
of the trustees of the conference elect
ed at the October meeting.
The next session of the Conferenfe
will be held at Lorain, Ohio, July 12
and 13.
I«a bb i®»
•Food Costs Increase.
"Washington—Food costs have in
creased 4 per cent between August 15
and September 15, last year, reports
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Com
pared with September, 1917, the in
crease was 16 per cent.
An increase of 72 per cent for all
food combined is shown for the five
year period ending September 15 last.
Every article for which prices have
been obtained for this long period
shows an increase of not less than
56 per cent. Six articles show in
creases of 100 per cent or over bacon,
100 per cent pork chops, 103 per
cent potatoes, 105 per cent flour,
106 per cent lard, 109 per cent, and
corn meal, 123 per cent.
IKh sn !ia
Buy Thrift Stamps and help.,
£3*^ w^'w* *ryjrw^? i
The
Printing Go.
Is thoroughly prepared to furnish everybody
with high-class Printing such as Catalogues,
Circulars, Letterheads, Bill Heads, State
ments, Wedding Invitations, Business Cards,
Calling Cards, Envelopes, Noteheads, in fact
everything in the line of Commercial Printing.
e Print Promptly and
fH
0
WORKERSUNIOH/
UNIOI^STAMP
Factory
JOHN P.
*J
v i„
i%
4 4
this
it is
Prices
Named shoes are frequently made in
Non-Union factories.
N(||
This UNION ST A UP
All shoes without the UNION STAMP are always Non-Union
Do not accept any excuse for Absence of the UNION STAMP
Boot and Shoe Workers' Union
246 Summer Street, Boston, Mass.
John F. Tobin^ Pres. Charles L. Balne, Sec.-Treat*
Spara is tlie nsms.
Union inop
The SquareTailors
106 HIGH STREET
139 MARKET STREET
Plumbing, Stdam, Hoi Water, Gas Fitting
PROMPT SERVICE. GIVE US A TRIAL
HEN!—Props.—JOHN
Bell 428-ly—PHONES—Home 751-M
READ THE PRESS
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(((jj SHOf
Mo matter what its name, unless it bears a plain
and readable impression of
iareis our aim
Sq
All Suits and Pants made to your
individual order in a
jan-16-tf
A. HOLZBERGER
Next door to Ather
vton's Fruit Store