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couver out of its present stage to the top of organized labor, and we sincerely trust the whole of the Executive Board will forever keep fresh in their minds the seemingly hopeless struggle Local 138 has wrestled with since the years of 1911-12 and will use every power they possess to help us win.

Gentlemen, trusting this mark of esteem and appreciation for your courtesy to us will be favorable to you,

We beg to remain,
Yours fraternally,

(Signed) W. HUNT, Pres.

R. STEVENSON, Vice-Pres.
R. BAKER

C. CHAPELL, Rec. Secy.

H. COLLARD, Treas.

G. GOLDIE

G. POWELL

Exexcutive of Local 138.

From District Council of Painters No. 31 1915 First Avenue Seattle, Wash.

Affiliated Local Unions of District Council No. 31, were agreeably surprised and gratifled on October 2nd when they had the General Executive Board in attendance at a special meeting.

It was indeed enlightening to the membership to hear of the splendid progress of the

Brotherhood as expressed by the various officers from the different localities.

Gen. Sec.-Treas. Lammert gave a detailed account of how the various funds were apportioned and used.

Gen. Pres. Hedrick made a splendid address and step by step told of the advancement we had made in the last few years. He was prevailed to stay over one day and address the Central Labor Council where he was accorded a rousing reception.

After taking an automobile trip over the "Wonder city of the west" the G. E. B. agreed that we in Seattle have a fine place in which to live.

District Council No. 31 expresses the regret that we can't have the Board with us more often and trust that we will have them with us again at some future date.

PLASTERERS PROVIDE $500,000
DEFENSE FUND.

Denver, Colo., Nov. 1.-The convention of the Operative Platserers' and Cement Finishers' International Association raised the national defense fund from $250,000 to $500,000 and increased the death benefit from $300 to $500.

E. J. McGivern of Boston was re-elected president, and T. A. Scully of Middleton, Ohio, was chosen secretary.

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Members of Local No. 168, Emporia, Kans, photographed with Labor Day float.

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REPORT OF DELEGATES TO CONVENTION OF BUILDING TRADES DEPARTMENT

T

HE seventeenth annual convention of the Building Trades Department was called to order at Portland, Ore., by President Donlin at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning, September 26, and without any of the usual speechmaking and unnecessary formalities, the regular order of business was carried on.

President Donlin made a lengthy and interesting report on the work of the department since the last convention and expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of full co-operation on part of some of the officers of international unions. He suggested that in order to bring about better co-operation, all international unions should have a representative in Washington, so that the officers of the department could call a meeting in the shortest possible time when questions of importance confronted the organization. Then it would be possible to get united action, if need be, against any contractor or builder against whom reports are made that his work is not being conducted on a strictly union basis for all trades.

We herewith quote his statement on this subject:

"I am dissatisfied with the results of this Department, especially when there are such wonderful opportunities, so much that could be gained through the proper concern and organization. Lack of concern and lack of authority make this Department ineffective. It is a reflection on the movement that this Department is not organized in a manner that would be a credit to the building trades of this continent. In the first place, the title "President" is a misnomer. To make the Department a success is the work of every craft's general office. It is necessary that all these be located in the same city. It is impossible to get results otherwise, and it is possible to get results if all were located conveniently, as not a week passes when occasion for a meeting of executive officers is not necessary. Somewhere some representative is needed and that representative could be available. Some one of the many organizations would have some representative, some field man, conveniently located who could be dispatched to the scene of request. These representatives, these field men, could be made an effective working organization in themselves, COordinating and co-operating in all things peculiar to the movement, working under the directions of the general officers in timely conferences. The secretaryship of the Department is a necessary office, all things radiating therefrom, and some general officer of each craft would be accessible to the Department secretary at all times. There is upward of two hundred men representing the various building trades on the road.

These men could be of invaluable service if the proper organization existed. Scattered as it is, it is just as ineffective as an individual would be with his parts dismembered. Organizers and representatives of different international unions would learn to know each other, would assist collectively in the organization and adjustment of differences. There is every reason why the general officers of all trades should be physically able to meet in an hour's notice, consult and act in unison. This Department is not an individual organization but like the human body it has a group of organs, each of which is vital to its success. The successful department is the one that can direct and coordin ate all the organs of its department. impossible to dispatch an officer here and there. His services are demanded simultaneously, often in far distant parts. With seventeen International Unions easily assembled, there is always some representative of one or more in easy access to the place of request. He or they could be notified to respond, and this could be done if all were located in the same town as reason and common sense suggest.

It is

It is only by continual effort that the af filiated International Unions can be kept together. Mutual sympathies, aims and ob jects, the common interests of the crafts, make intercourse necessary. This can be done through personal contact, meeting at regular intervals, discussing affairs frankly, disclosing facts, exchanging ideas, and adopting things beneficial. We have tried every conceivable thing to stabilize the industry from the workers' point of view, and failed; and now look back to those futile attempts and the impossible features. The idea of seventeen component parts of a particular industry being located in as many different parts of the continent attempting to function collectively is preposterous. The time has now arrived when conferences, composed of representatives of all - International Unions to consider the common interest rather than the divergent aims or tendencies of local groups, are necessary. We must correct abuses, check blind or sinister forces that would drag us into contention. A real court of justice with oblig. atory powers assumed by virtue of majority vote, it might be said, would be futile to enforce decrees. That is what was said when the United States of America was brought into being. There is such a thing as public opinion and this will eventually prevail. These meetings will solve the problems of International Unions, will bring together the representatives of the different crafts around the council table, they to decide the problems and the affairs of the movement. The difficulty in the past has

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been that these things could not be adjusted, that there was no authoritative agency to solve them. What the Department has achieved during its existence speaks for itself, but who will not agree that we would be better off if we were a body capable of being assembled, and that we did assemble. I feel that all regulations with respect to all subordinate bodies should be exercised by executive officers in conference."

Your delegates were of the opinion that this Convention would take some action calculated to bring about the reaffiliation of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and with that end in view, your delegates introduced a resolution, which was adopted, calling upon the Executive Council to have a conference with the officers of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and extend to them an invitation to reaffiliate with the Department. Such a conference was held and every effort made to bring about their reaffiliation. They were asked to state the terms under which they would reaffiliate, but declined to do so, and the conference adjourned without accomplishing anything.

Chicago Situation.

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It will be recalled that shortly after the Cincinnati convention, on a resolution adopted at that convention, all of the General Presidents of the affiliated Internationals proceeded to Chicago to try and bring about an adjustment there between the trades, the split having been caused by some of the trades accepting Judge Landis' decision with reference to wages, and others, among them our own trade, refusing the award. The action taken at this conference only widened the breech between trades in Chicago, because all of the General Presidents, with the exception of our Gen. Pres. Hedrick, who stood alone, voted to accept the Landis award. Bro. Hedrick was the only one to raise his voice against this unfair decision, and on the action of the General Presidents, a Building Trades Council was formed composed of trades who were willing to accept the Landis award, but thanks to the stamina and trades union principles of many of the men in Chicago, their locals refused to accept the action of the Presidents' Conference and remained outside of the Council, and today these loyal trades unionists are in the majority.

The members of the majority council want to be fair and are desirous of bringing about peace in the building situation in that city, and at their convention, through President Wallace, of the Majority Council, and a member of our Brotherhood, asked that the President of the Department be directed by the Convention to visit Chicago within 60 days after adjournment, dissolve all Councils, declare all offices vacant and proceed to an election at which officers for the

Joint Council be elected. All agreed to abide by the results. Nothing can be fairer than such a proposition and it is sincerely hoped that President Donlin will not hesi tate to carry out the intent and purport of this resolution, and once again bring about peace and harmony to the Building Trades movement of the City of Chicago,

A resolution was also approved, directing all National and International Unions to instruct their Local Unions to affiliate with Local Councils. We sincerely trust that it won't be long before the intent of this resolution will be carried out by all organizations. When this is once accomplished and all Locals will band together in one compact organization, then there will be no Building Trades Council in name only.

A recommendation to raise the per capita tax to the Department on all affiliated trades from one-fourth to one-half cent per member per month, was approved.

We cannot close our report without expressing our thanks and appreciation for the kind treatment accorded your delegates by the members of our Portland Locals. Everything possible was done to make our stay pleasant, and this counts for a good deal when you are in a strange city. Your delegates attended the meetings of the various Locals in the city and were treated royally by all. We also attended the meetings of the Northwest Painters Conference which was in session at the time and all left with a warm spot in their hearts for the City of Roses, and voting it one of the most progressive cities in the union so far as our organizations are concerned. Portland is to be commended on the harmony displayed in the general movement there and as an indication of their solidarity can boast of the most beautiful Labor Temple in the country, of which the Brotherhood members there can be justly proud because to a member of our Brotherhood, Brother Otto Hartwig, is largely due the credit for this beautiful monument.

We appreciate very much the honor of serving as delegates to this convention and wish to thank the membership for this privilege.

Freternally yours,

FRED D. MILLER
PHIL. GASDORF
CHAS. PFIEFFER
FRANK STEWART
CHAS. J. LAMMERT
GEO. F. HEDRICK

The number of printers receiving strike benefits in the struggle of the International Typographical Union for the 44-hour week decreased in the month of August from 3,000 to 2,108 according to the monthly report prepared at headquarters of the union in Indianapolis. In the twenty-eight months of the strike's duration the union has collected $15,810,503.81 in strike dues and has expended $14,673,565.58. .

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