N behalf of the members of the General Executive Board and myself, permit me to say that our re-election is most highly and sincerely appreciated and we are indeed grateful for the support given us, which in itself is proof that our work has been satisfactory to the membership at large and we hope from the experience already gained, together with the willing co-operation of the officers and members of our local unions, which we trust we will receive in the future as in the past, to be able to accomplish even more than has been for the good and welfare of the local unions of our Brotherhood.

Recently, I attended the Conventions of the American Federation of Labor and Building Trades Department which were held in Atlanta, Ga., the proceedings of which have already been published. I was also present at a joint meeting of all the local unions while there and visited and addressed a joint meeting at Macon, which was largely attended, many of the employers of the city being present. The independent Hebrew Painters' Union of New York City.

During our stay in Atlanta, President Gompers informed Secretary Skemp and myself that before leaving Washington for Atlanta he had been visited by a committee of the United Hebrew Trades of New York, who entered a plea that he might prevail upon us, our colleagues and our organization to do them the justice of affording them organize an opportunity to under the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, so that they might aid their fellow-workers in the Brotherhood and aid in the general work of the labor movement.

them President Gompers advised to submit the above request in writing and further suggested that they take the matter up with Secretary Skemp and myself at Atlanta.

In compliance therewith a conference was held Sunday morning, November 19th, Secretary Skemp, Vice-President Swick and myself representing our Brotherhood and S. Lebowitz, Max Kezimerisky and A. Mellen representing the Hebrew Trades. They informed us that they had organized 3,500 painters in Greater New York, all of whom were desirous of becoming members of our Brotherhood and that there were yet thoussands of unorganized painters in that city. Before adjourning, we agreed to take the

REPORT

matter up with the New York District Council and to also bring it to the attention of our General Executive Board. We have since received a communication from them stating that their membership now numbers over five thousand. Official documents in this entire matter will be submitted to you for your consideration.

Aid for Members on Strike. The time is rapidly approaching when many of our local unions will have under consideration the working conditions and scale of wages for the coming year, and upon the action of the good thinking members, will largely depend their future prospects.

From all sections of the country we are being asked for financial assistance to help them in their struggles for better conditions. In fact the appeals are so numerous that we find ourselves unable to comply with all, owing to the limited amount of funds at our disposal for that purpose.

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It is a sad state of affairs when we are compelled to see our members and their families suffer because of strikes and lockouts in which they have become involved in order to maintain principles. Hundreds of our members were in need during the past year and many of them are still having to endure severe hardships because of the strikes and lockouts at the present time, yet we are not in a position to render them the needed assistance. It is wrong that our members who are fighting for their just rights and privileges should have to surrender all because of insufficient means to properly maintain themselves and their families.

What our organization most particularly needs is a Defense fund sufficiently large to guarantee each and every one of our members who are called out on an authorized, general strike or lockout, a stipulated sum per week and if our membership will not or does not care to amend the Constitution in order that we can obtain a proper Defense Fund. the General Executive Board will eventually have to levy a weekly assessment which they have a right to do, according to Section 69 of the Constitution which reads as follows:

"When a strike or lockout is duly sanctioned, the G. S.-T. shall, if necessary, notify each local union to send a fixed sum per week to the General Office; the President and Recording Secretary of each local union thus notified, shall order its Treasurer to forward the sum required each week for a period not to exceed six weeks, unless otherwise provided for. Local unions failing to comply with this provision shall be suspended."

In trying to enforce the above law, we find ourselves confronted with the fact that many of our unions are wholly unable to meet such obligations owing to the depletion of their treasuries and for this reason the Board has so far refrained from enforcing the above section.

In view of these facts, I urgently request you, as Members of the General Executive Board, to keep in close touch with the various cities in which trouble is expected, bring the committees from both the employers and our members together and, by so doing, many of the strikes and lockouts that threaten to arise can probably be avoided.

Requests for Organizers.

Reviewing the work of our organizers, will say that we have every reason to be proud of same. The number of requests for their services is daily increasing, over one hundred having been received up to date. Now, to comply with each and everyone would be utterly impossible as funds will only permit of the employment of a small staff of men and it therefore behooves us to use our best judgment in assigning them to the various districts where the best results can be attained.

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In many cities from which we receive requests however, the members who are already organized, could by their earnest endeavors, easily build up and instill new life into their respective locals, for without co-operation on the part of the members themselves, even an organizer's efforts are sometimes in vain. However I am pleased to say that during the past two years of our administration, we have added over ten thousand members to our roll and with the coming of spring, our busy season, I look for a still greater increase.

I would suggest that you, as Members of the General Executive Board, visit as many cities from which we receive requests for organizers, as is possible, call special meetings and devise some system of organizing that will be beneficial to all.

Trusting that our future efforts will commend themselves to the favor of all our members, I conclude this report with my most earnest and sincere thanks to Secretary Skemp, the Members of the General Executive Board, officers and members of our local unions and district councils and our organizers, for their ever prompt and willing co-operation, making possible the present success of our Brotherhood. Fraternally yours,

GEO. F. HEDRICK, General President.

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URING the six months ending December 31st, 1911, 26 unions were organized and 38 unions were consolidated or surrendered their charters, leaving 935 unions in good standing.

We hold the substantial gains made in the past two years. The membership at the close of the year exceeded that of December 1910, by 2,000 and that of December, 1909, by 7,500. We have made good the losses that came with the hard times-hard for the workers-in 1908 and 1909 and have established new records. With approximately 75,000 members, the Brotherhood is the largest organization of painters, decorators and paperhangers in existence.

Each year the winter falling-off grows less, a sure sign of growing stability. But as long as the earth rolls round the sun and the seasons keep their order painting will be a seasonal occupation, the Spring rush will be followed by the Summer lull, Fall's activity by Winter's compulsory vacation, and the improvident painter in the heyday of his prosperity and popularity will forget his dreary days of adversity and fail to emulate the thrifty bee by preparing for the time when again his services will be a drug upon the labor market. But hope springs eternal in the human breast; as in springtime youth lightly turns to thoughts of love, so, as the fields grow green and the trees bud, the mind of the housewife is filled with a longing to clean up, to scrub, paint and decorate, to make things spick and span-and the painter's lease on life is renewed.

The indications are that we shall emerge from the hibernating season exceptionally fit to make new records. The presidential-election-year bugaboo has had its day. Big business has learned to take care of the nominating conventions so effectually that it is indifferent to the results of the election. In the building industry things are proceeding as though

Total, 26.

Unions lapsed and consolidated, 38..

there were to be no election. The work started, for which plans are prepared, or in prospect, justifies the expectation of an exceptionally busy season in the painting business,-an excellent chance to win better wages and a shorter work day. This is encouraging as, unfortunately, there is no let-up in the increase in the cost of living. If we are to hold our own-and we are determined to do more than that we must have more money.

The increase in the membership is permanent and we are making equally satisfactory progress in other and not less important directions. Many local unions have raised their dues, established sick benefits and in other ways are strengthening the ties that bind the members. A marked improvement in discipline, a greater confidence and a more militant spirit are everywhere in evidence. The sum total of these forward steps is the answer of the men of our craft to the challenge of those who have declared war upon organized labor; the concrete result of a ten years' campaign in the eternal and irreconcilable struggle between the many who labor and the few who profit.

Finances.

The report of the auditing committee and accountant (pages 93-95) shows each fund to be holding its own and that there has been a welcome addition to the baiance to the credit of the death fund. Six months' experience has proved the wis dom and the necessity of the increase in its income; if this had not been made the report would have shown a loss of $10,000.00 instead of a gain of $14,000.00 during the half year. The income exceeds present expenditures but the steady increase in the number of claims for benefits and in the amounts due clearly indicates that within a few years-a short time in the life of the organization-the revenue of the fund will be no greater than is needed to meet its obligations.