Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

REPORT OF GENERAL ORGANIZER J. S. VANCE

At the close of my last report, I was in Oklahoma City where I had been engaged in signing up a contract for 1912. My next stop was at Enid, Okla., where I re-organized Local 915, saw the officers installed, and the local properly started off. The local at Paris, Texas, had not been holding meetings for some time, many members had gone suspended, and the per capita tax had not been paid for several months. I called a meeting, and we reinstated several suspended members, and the back indebtedness was paid to date. I audited their books, and had them elect new officers which put them on their feet once more. Having received instructions I proceeded to San Antonio, Texas. I found our contract with the bosses would expire the first day of May-only a few days off. After meeting with both unions and going over the situation thoroughly, I got busy. Bro. Jas. F. Young, Business Agent, rendered me valuable assistance. We presented the new wage scale to the contractors; it met with considerable opposition, but after an earnest effort, we succeeded in signing up all the bosses, including several that had never signed heretofore. The new agreement calls for a sixty cent increase for the painters and a twenty-five cent increase for the paperhangers. This was a great victory, and in gaining it I do not claim all the credit. I am grateful to the officers and members of both 172 and 736 for their loyal support. While in the city I organized a Sign Writers local, unionizing every sign shop in San Antonio.

Stopping at Waco, Texas, I attended a meeting of 673, and then left for Marlin and Mineral Wells. I tried to re-organize both places but was unable to find enough men who were willing. Conditions at Tulsa, Okla., are anything but good; one of the largest contractors recently declared for the open shop. I had an interview with him and with every man working in this shop, but was unable to set an agreement signed or to convince them of the justice of our demands. After holding several open meetings, and rendering all the assistance possible, I left for Sapulpa, Okla., where our local is small, but maintains the closed shop.

My next stop was Oklahoma City, where I attended a special meeting by request. Having recently organized a new local at Enid, Okla., I thought it advisable to see how they were getting along. I at

new

tended their meeting and injected life into them. Local 856, of Muskogee, Okla., is one of the best in Oklahoma.

Conditions at Fort Smith, Ark., are anything but good, our boys having lost some of the best shops in their strike. We held open meetings, but owing to the dullness of trade were unable to add many new members to the organization. I attempted to organize the Furniture Finishers, employed in the several large factories, but was unable to make a success of the movement. My next stop was Fayetteville, Ark., where I held some open meetings, and rendered our boys material assistance. From there I went to Dallas, Tex., to attend meetings of 873 and District Council 17.

Having received notice to look after several locals in Oklahoma reported delinquent, I visited Altus only to find our membership had decreased until there was not enough to hold a charter, which I returned with funds in the treasury. There being only a few members left in El Reno local they had transferred to near by locals, and owing to the dullness of trade, it was impossible to induce them to re-organize. I collected the books, and the funds in the treasury, and sent same to the General office. I next attended a meeting of Local 755, Sign Writers, Oklahoma City. After auditing their books and seeing all back indebtedness paid, I left for Holdenville, Okla., a place too small to maintain a local. The Ardmore local had disbanded some time ago, on account of there not being enough members left to hold meetings, and had sent in the charter, the few remaining members having transferred to nearby locals. I reached Gainsville, Texas, just in the nick of time. They had failed to hold meetings for some time, and were about to lose their charter, some of the members having been suspended. We elected new officers. I audit d the books, and started them off in the right direction. My next stop was Fort Worth, Texas, where I attended one of the most successful Labor Day celebrations and parades in the history of that city. Our own Painters' local union 318, winning the first prize as usual.

From Fort Worth, upon orders, I proceeded to New Orleans where our organization is in a very poor condition. The first move was to consolidate the two painters' locals into one, and advertise and hold open meetings. I have made an earnest effort

Use Lucas Imperial French Greens for Satisfaction and Economy

Sixty-three years of practical testing by usages of every description and under every conceivable condition, has proven them to be absolutely reliable, positively non-poisonous. They have wonderful covering capacity and you can depend on them for uniformity and durability. Write for color card.

[blocks in formation]

Submitted by L. U. 257, Springfield, Mass., under the provisions of Sec. 269, page 56 of the Constitution.

Amend Section No. 78, by striking out in lines 4 and 5, the words "so far as financial aid from the Brotherhood is concerned," making the Section read:

"Section No. 78.-The G. P. in conjunction with the G. E. B. shall have power when satisfied from facts and information in their possession that a strike should cease to declare the same at an end, and shall so notify the local union or district council."

1

The foregoing amendment to the Constitution is submitted by L. U. 257. As the reason for doing so may not be apparent to all, a few words of explanation may insure an intelligent consideration of the same by the locals of our Brotherhood.

Under our present law a local union or district council, when in an attempt to secure an increase in wages or decrease in hours, it is compelled to resort to strike, is protected at such times by its right to refuse C. C.'s from the traveling member. And this is as it should be, affording legitimate protection to the L. U. or D. C. that is in trouble and actually on strike. At such times the influx of members increases,. owing to the alluring ads inserted by the employer, generally in cities remote from the scene of trouble. Have we yet devised a medium to acquaint our sister locals that

such conditions exist? And is it not often the case that some unfortunate has spent his last cent to reach the city or town only to be told to pass on? Closer affiliation through district or state conferences may be one remedy.

Now to arrive at our reason for wishing to amend Section No. 78. At present the G. E. B. has power to declare a strike at an end only "in so far as financial aid from the Brotherhood is concerned," and that would not be a very laborious task under our present Defense fund. But why give the G. E. B. the power to come in at all? Have you ever observed an L. U. or D. C. that after going on strike-and practically winning all they went out for, but perchance losing one or two shops that probably were w iting for an excuse to go wrong for months, in some cases for years, hide behind the clause that allows them to refuse C. C.'s as long as they say a strike exists?

During this time their own members are all at work, and they are initiating new members at every meeting (some of whom had scabbed on them) when along comes a member with a C. C., probably a member for years. He is greeted with "You can't work here, this locality is on strike, move on! For he represents only a paltry few months dues, and does not furnish the revenue they desire.

[graphic]

This condition exists in our Brotherhood today, much to the discredit of some localities, and will continue to exist where the evil of human greed is fostered by those whose well being depends on the size of the funds of the L. U. or D. C., and who, if such a thing as a perpetual strike could be invoked, would not hesitate to embrace the opportunity and thereby forever bar the member with the C. C. from the confines of their walled city.

There is no danger of the G. E. B. injuring the chance of any locality that is putting up a legitimate fight, where actual strike conditions exist. But the power should be vested somewhere to prevent the creation of special privilege by localities that place the dollar before the man under the guise of self protection.

We submit this amendment hoping it will be indorsed and later adopted by vote of all L. U.'s of our Brotherhood who believe in justice and the square deal to him that carries a paid-up card. L. U. 257.

P. H. TRIGGS.

C. G. RYBERG, Embezzler, Milwaukee, Wis.

CHANGES IN DIRECTORY

DISTRICT COUNCILS.

11 Mississippi Valley-R. S., Herman Jessen, 727 Kirkwood blvd, Davenport, Iowa.

24 Portland, Ore.-R. S., Bert Bigelow, 705 Girard st.

CALIFORNIA.

Eureka 1034-F. S., L. C. Hawley.

Fresno 294-F. S., Fred Huss, 2437 Mariposa st.
Monterey 272-F. S., Robt. Dillon, 208 Foam st.
San Francisco 510-R. S., Wm. E. Eilken, 519 2nd ave.

COLORADO.

Denver 79-F. S., Dwight Smith, 1756 Champa st.

CONNECTICUT.

New Britain 21-R. S., Geo. S. Rivers, 132 Oak st.
F. S., J. A. Webb, 27 Madison st.
Rockville 969-F. S., G. N. Winters.

South Manchester 869-R. S., W. M. Chase, 6 Union st.
F. S., Frank Trouton, 27 Middle Turnpike. Meets
Orange Hall, E. Center st.

CANADA.

Brandon, Man., 660-Meets first and third Mondays, Trades and Labor Hall.

Calgary, Alta., 583-R. S., R. Dalrymple, 203 4th st.,
N. E.

Galt, Ont., 906-R. S., Colin Evans, 49 Cedar st.
Swift Current, Sask., 706-R. S., Ben D. Blacklaws,
Box 54.

Toronto, Ont., 219-F. S., Robt. Lofts, 1 Major st.
Toronto, Ont., 636-Meets Labor Temple, first and
third Friday of the month, Room 6.
Vancouver, B. C., 805-F. S., Edwin Emerson, 107
Lonsdale ave., N. Vancouver.

FLORIDA.

West Palm Beach 452-F. S., M. J. Donovan, Box 350.

GEORGIA.

Atlanta 573-R. S., J. F. Long, 90 N. Forsyth st. Douglass 841-R. S., Jas. W. McKinney, Box 512. F. S., C. A. Furney. Meets Wednesdays above Garage.

Waycross 231-R. S., B. A. McDonald, Jr., P. O. Box 525.

ILLINOIS.

Cairo 335-R. S., E. H. Baker, 210 17th st. Meets Tuesday nights at Days Hall.

Carbondale 352-R. S. and F. S., Chas. Wiley. Kankakee 467-R. S., Arthur G. Spangler, 265 Water st. Waukegan 539-R. S., J. S. Rose, Gen. Del. F. S., Wm. Morford, 115 5th ave.

INDIANA.

French Lick 995-R. S. and F. S., W. V. Ritter. Meets Thursday evenings, Union Hall.

Hammond 460-R. S., A. D. Gray, 4818 Magoun ave., E. Chicago, Ind.

New Albany 342-R. S., J. G. Carroll, 406 Culbertson

ave.

IOWA.

Ft. Dodge 334-R. S., D. R. Hathaway, 315 N. 7th st. F. S., O. F. Wright, 1423 1st ave., S. Meets Monday nights, Band Hall.

Ft. Madison 542-R. S., R. T. Potts, 915 5th st. Dubuque 14-R. S., Louis Soffregen. F. S., Frank Baule.

KANSAS.

Osawatomie 790-R. S., Fred Cardner.

LOUISIANA. Shreveport 485-R. Webb, Box 375.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Boston 338 -F. S., Geo. Hendron, 199 High st. Chelsea 623-R. S., Frank D. Brown, 80 Garfield ave.

[blocks in formation]

Haverhill 517-R. S., Wendell S. Palmer, 261 Main st.,
Groveland, Mass.

Northampton 646-Meets first and third Fridays.
MICHIGAN.

Detroit 591-F. S., T. Fortier, 220 Bethune ave., W.
Grand Rapids 119-R. S., Geo. Beuter, 645 Watson st.
Meets Carpenters' D. C. Hall, N. W. corner S. Divi-
sion ave. and Oakes st. every Wednesday night.
Harbor Springs 599-R. S., P. A. Rosemeier.
Negaunee 306-F. S., Ed. Frethy, 206 High' st., Ish-
peming, Mich. Meets first Thursday, Shea's Hall.
MINNESOTA.

Duluth 106-F. S., W. J. Finn, 5222 Glendale st.
Minneapolis 186-R. S., Dan W. Stevens, 301 Plymouth

[blocks in formation]

Brooklyn 992-F. S., Isaac Rabinowitz, 1670 Prospect
place.
Buffalo 515-Meets Labor Temple, Jefferson st. near
Best st. every Tuesday.

Canandaigua 159-R. S., Harley Wilson, Gorham st.
F. S., M. A. Batchellor, 215 Prospect st. Meets
every Monday night, Carpenters' Hall.

Elmira 528-R. S., D. J. Deegan, 102 W. Miller st.
F. S., Hariph A. Ensworth, 809 Laural st. Meets
second and fourth Friday, Trades and Labor Hall,
E. Water st.

Hicksville and Westbury, L. I., 671-F. S., T. Bortwick,
Mineola, L. I.

Fishkill on Hudson 501-R. S., L. J. Flynn, Glenham,
N. Y.

Irvington 143-R. S. and F. S., Frank Gilligan.
Troy 12-Bus. Agt., P. J. Guerin, 1050 5th ave. Fed-
eration Hall.

[blocks in formation]

Columbus 248-R. S., J. F. Smith, 51 S. Washington
ave. F. S., Frank H. Sipes, 147 W. Rich st.
Lorain 240-R. S. and F. S., John G. Webb, 607 Broad-
way.

Youngstown 810-R. S., R. K. Ellis, 533 Lakewood ave.
OKLAHOMA.

Oklahoma City 755-R. S. and F. S., Chas. E. Robkar,
23 E. 5th st.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Bethlehem 474-F. S., Frank Link.

Bradford 110-F. S., F. H. Holmes, 2 Dewey ave.
Lancaster 380-R. S., Fred Beppler, 520 W. Vine st.
Pittsburg 72-F. S., F. L. Koch (pro tem.), 19 Monas-
tery st.

Pittsburg 699-R. S., Paul Gallick, 902 Montooth st.
F. S., Jos. Henkel, 68 Curtin ave., Mt. Oliver, Pa.

RHODE ISLAND.
Arctic Center 741-R. S., Paul Richard, Arctic Center,
R. I.

TENNESSEE.
Chattanooga 226-F. S., J. M. McKinney, Box 5,
Sta. A.

TEXAS.

Bryan 659-R. S., W. L. Maund, Box 614. F. S., L. O.
Zanetti. Meets Friday nights 7:30, Painters' Hall.
Bay City 651-R. S., R. G. Tillman.

Dallas 873-R. S., Ray L. Haney, 1707 Main st.
Hillsboro 930-R. S., G. V. McCleskey, Box 246. F. S.,
Geo. Downing, 203 Smith st. Meets K. P. Hall every
Thursday.

San Antonio 408-R. S., J. F. Stewart, 322 Denver blvd.
F. S., W. R. Pennington, 118 Theo. ave.
Longview 998-F. S., David Porter, Gen. Del.
Yoakum 730-F. S., Wm. Jackson.

UTAH.

Ogden 22-R. S., W. H. Purdy, 228 28th st. F. S., Wm.
Horrocks, 3450 Adams ave.

VERMONT.

Bennington 493-R. S., Chas. Robson, 225 Depot st.

WASHINGTON.

Hoquiam 1076-F. S., E. Davidson, 922 Maple st.
Renton 220-R. S., Will Tachell. Meets Monday night,
Socialist Hall.

WATCH YOUR BENEFITS.

Local Unions in Arrears.

Any L. U. becoming two months in arrears for per capita tax to the General Office shall at once be notified by the G. S.-T., and failing to settle all arrearages in fifteen days from date of such notice its members shall not be entitled to benefits nor shall they be again entitled to benefits until three months after all arrearages are paid. Section 24 of the Constitution.

Unions two months in arrears on closing monthly accounts November 30, 1912:

160, 245, 854, 365, 377, 379, 387, 404, 416, 429, 439, 482, 532, 541, 559, 606, 610, 643, 675, 719, 723, 761, 772, 791, 865, 883, 911, 937, 951, 958, 973.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]
« iepriekšējāTurpināt »