A dollar a day.

The members of L. U. 734, of Somerville, New Jersey, have obtained an increase in wages of $1.00 per day.

The new scale, of $5.00 per day of 8 hours, went into effect on October 1st.

No time was lost and everybody is satisfied with the change.

Our

HOME AND PENSION. Greeting: The Rank and File of our organization.

It lies in the province of few of our membership to think clearly of the morrow and provide wisely against its exigencies. Our personal thought is chiefly of today. Most of us are buoyed up by some approaching pleasure, be it ever so slight, and we consign our anxieties to pigeonhole things that must adjust themselves.

has taught that present impending misfortunes dissolve into irritations of minor sort. We certainly give little constructive resistance to the evils that threaten us in actual practice. We seldom do things, but merely think them. Past experience teaches us we have been moderately prosperous individually and enormously collectively, as an organization, thus we are content to depend upon a future hope for a continuation of this prosperity. Few of us take time to investigate our needs for tomorrow (if the Building Trades was good yesterday they should be good tomorrow) our recent past has been of uninterrupted prosperity. At present we are enjoying the most gigantic building boom our country has ever had. Precedent cast aside, there is no one to be guided by such experience. We must go back to first principles. In only one thing have we absolute faith. That is in ourselves as individuals and as an organization. We have demonstrated this by the unwavering support of the present issue at stake. The aged Painters' Home and Pension.

Now, then, about 180 locals voted for a home and a pension when the question was submitted, although the majority of them

LaFayette staff where to head in at, but we have it to do. They did all in their power to down this grand and noble cause. Document No. 81, or any other document that was ever before our organization, never had or ever will have a proposition to equal proposition No. 5 of Document No. 81. Our organization is still in its infancy regarding its numeral strength. The United States statistics claims 400,000 painters. Our organization is 31 years old and still in the rut. Can not claim an even one-fourth of that number. Let the staff at LaFayette put in their valuable time and get busy on a problem of that nature and not try to down a forward movement that will make our Brotherhood what it should be, a strictly first class organization.

Our late referendum has had a wonderful effect. There is lined up such cities as New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, San Francisco and in fact every important city in the United States. Now, then, Brothers, read your Journal regularly and become acquainted with the good points in unionism, that nothing but a Home and Pension can procure. Don't be a back number. Get in line with your endorsement. Remember the

With a marked unity existing throughout, the Painters' State Conference of Illinois in its second convention, held at Bloomington, Illinois, November 29-30, 1918, established a program that in its reality will bring to the painters of the state many beneficial results.

The first day of the session was devoted to hearing the reports for the past year, in which was shown much progress made in many channels; with the coming year of activity the Conference will be a well-established influence and worth.

During the past year much endeavor was made by the Executive Board in organization work; they felt that organization, with all its different phases, covered the whole situation.

The legislative program mapped out by the Conference is in itself a very large proposition; must have the help of all. Unless it can be shown to the lawmakers of the state that the painters of Illinois are a unit (and a fighting unit), it would hardly be worth while to go after the many worthy laws we are trying to have placed upon the statute books. To attain this end is the aim of the present Executive Board through its legislative representatives, President Tim F. Pell and Secretary-Treasurer W. E. Geimer.

The features of the campaign of the Conference for the coming year will be the continuation of the organization and legislation crusade, with an added spirit to the Clean Up and Paint Up movement, so successfully inaugurated by the Conference during the spring of 1918.

The Second Day Session in its greater part was devoted in amending the By-Laws of the Conference, and the discussion of various resolutions submitted.

Much interest was manifested in the proposition recommending a standard initiation fee for membership to the locals in the state; sums ranging from $5.00 to $50.00 met with the approval of the majority of the delegates present.

It was shown that locals having some medium of interest for their members-such

as a Mutual Aid Fund or a Sick Benefit feature-were making better progress than the locals not enjoying such measures.

The matter of the Five Day Week was recommended to all the locals in the state to consider during the coming year when arranging new scales and conditions.

It was also recommended to the locals to maintain a four months' crusade in or ganization work in their respective districts, beginning January 1st and continuing until May 1st; and to use such inducements as a low initiation fee to help gather the many workers of the trade who are unorganized at the present time.

Many other subjects of interest to the trade were before the convention. During the coming year great endeavor will be made to induce the locals to become affiliated with the Conference.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing term:

President, Tim F. Pell, Local 33, Joliet. 1st Vice-Pres., Walter E. Price Jr., Local 363, Champaign.

2nd Vice-Pres., Max Hahn, Local 27, Berwyn.

3rd Vice-Pres., P. Seth Gregg, Local 465, Ottawa.

Secretary-Treasurer, W. E. Geimer, Lo cal 184; address, 6217 S. Kildare Ave., Chicago, Ill.

Trustee, Len Cooper, Local 154, Elgin.
Trustee, Frank Gross, Local 66, Quincy.
Trustee, Adam Klein, Local 209, Bloom-

ington.

Statistician, J. A. Runnberg, Local 194,

Chicago.

A CALL TO ARMS.

I am writing to my brothers of Local 151 through our journal in regard to reinstating the brothers that fell out during our last strike. We lost quite a number of old members, many of them members for a period of from 10 to 16 years. They fell out for one reason only-the unnecessary levying kept on long after the strike was over. Now the high cost of living which prevailed made it very difficult to pay, which resulted in so many worthy brothers leaving the ranks disgusted.

Now, I am not saying that I am altogether right in what I have said, and what I am going to say, but I want to start or help to get the guns ready for action this coming spring. They all know that our ranks are weak. I think we are in the neighborhood of 200 strong, which is a very small percentage of the men of our craft. It is hard to get our old members back, though it might be accomplished if we

could only readmit our brothers (I mean the ones that fell out by reason of the unnecessary levying, not the ones that worked while the strike was on and then dropped out of the local) into our ranks without the payment of any initiation fee, or for a nominal fee, before a said date set by our local, and if each brother that fell out could be notified to that effect by letter. I am hoping to hear some other brother give the rank and file another push, for if we are going to do any good in our spring drive we have got to get back some of our old stalwarts.

Now, boys, let us get our rusty rifles and clean the mire from them. Let's get our injured brothers back with us at all cost, with our backs to the wall. For the first time in sixteen years we have got the master painters to recognize us as a fighting body. Unity is strength; don't let us be enemies, but let us fight to a finish.

Let us get together again in our local 151. Call a mass meeting, impose a fine on all members who fail to attend without a satisfactory reason, and get back with us our lost brothers. We should not only have a roll call of officers but of brothers, too, and at every meeting.

Now for the Spring push

JAS. H. Dodd,

Local 151, Toronto.

LEGISLATION AS AN AID TO ORGANIZATION.

The Painters' State Conference of Illinois, in its second annual convention, held in Bloomington, Ill., November 30 and December 1, 1918, discussed the question of legislation which would be of benefit to the craft from a viewpoint of both organization and health and sanitation.

The Executive Board of the Conference was instructed to draft a bill to be submitted to the Legislature of this state at this session. Such a bill has been drafted and will be submitted in connection with other labor bills through the Legislative Committee of the State Federation of Labor.

We believe if the membership throughout our state would interest themselves in these matters such laws would be enacted and be enforced. Every member of the craft should assist in every way possible to bring the matter to the attention of their representatives in the Legislature by a personal demand that such member shall vote in favor of such bills, and will be held accountable if they fail to do so.

Our bill is practically the same as the California hotel and tenement house law

A LARGE AUTOMOBILE PLANT IN CENTRAL New York State has opening for a high grade paint shop superintendent. Must know modern paint shop methods and be executive enough to oversee department of 200 men.

In writing give complete details of experience, age. etc., and address Box FAC, number-, Care of Painter and Decorator.

with a few minor changes to suit the situation in this state.

If this bill becomes a law it will create a vast amount of work for the members of our organization, and in so doing it can be cited as an example to interest the nonunion man who usually asks the question: "What can the union do to keep me at work?"

We believe if a campaign of education along these lines is followed out the coming year, our organization can increase its membership by at least 10 to 15 per cent in the State of Illinois.

Such a campaign is contemplated by the Painters' State Conference, and we would request the assistance of every union man in this endeavor, so that when the year 1919 closes our state will be the best organized state in the Brotherhood.

W. E. GEIMER,

Sec.-Treas. P. S. C. of Ill.

L. U. 391 IN LINE. enclosing photograph

taken in

Am Boston, Mass., Victory Day, showing what Local 391 (sign writers) is doing along welfare lines to help the boys "over there." It will have interest and value to our brother sign writers of the country.

The day before (Monday) was the biggest day old Boston has ever had; autos, trucks, teams, etc., were filled with cheering shipbuilders, munition workers, soldiers and workers going through the streets all day and night.

That evening Local 391 took action to secure an automobile and make banners boosting the War Welfare Work Week and otherwise take part in the celebration planned for Tuesday, Victory Day. The Local's banner was also carried in the car. Several hundred thousand people lined the streets to view the military parade, and our car was applauded at many points.

The Welfare Committee were very much pleased with our action and it no doubt will redound to the credit of unionism. We have received commendation from many sources and believe action along similar lines would meet with good results anywhere.

For the Celebration Committee,

EDWARD T. MONAHAN, Chairman.

GENERAL HOSPITALS AT FORT

SHERIDAN

Before the war ended-in fact, on October 4th, 1918-the painters started to do their bit by getting Fort Sheridan ready for the wounded soldiers. Two buildings were finished with a rush to take care of the shell-shocked.

All windows, stairs, radiators and steam pipes were screened off in these buildings to prevent accidents.

Men were gradually added to the list until 130 were on the job. This included a general foreman, 4 foremen, 2 shop men, 2 color mixers, 2 sign painters and 6 glaziers. The sign painters were kept busy making signs and numbers for the old buildings and numbers for the new buildings as they were staked out, so as to simplify the excavator's work. Signs were made for "Central Time Officer," "Discharge Clerks," "Shortage Clerks," "File Clerks" and "Foreman," the "General Contractor" and every sub-contractor and the architects. Numbers were made for twelve "Tin Lizzies" which the Government furnished to the different foremen and superintendents to make the long jumps about the grounds while large Pierce-Arrow trucks were used for hauling barrels of paint to each building. This was a big item as our first order of material amounted to $10,000.

When work was well under way, Capt. Ludwig, Construction Quartermaster, went to Washington for over a week and when he returned he wired back to the Major "when I returned the Conversion Buildings were practically completed and 50 per cent of the new hospitals were painted on the outside. It was the best managed job and best bunch of painters I ever saw."

As all Locals in Chicago were represented, the painters too lived up to the tradition of Chicago; we went "over the top." ED. SILVER.

GOVERNMENT WORK TROUBLES. Wages at Hammond, Ind. LaFayette, Ind., December 21st, 1918. Chief of Ordnance Department,

per hour.

War Department, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir:-The wage scale of members of the Brotherhood employed in the cities of Hammond, Gary and vicinity is 75 cents The wages paid painters employed in the plant of the Standard Steel Car Company, of Hammond, Ind., which is manufacturing pressed steel gun carriages, is only 60 cents per hour. These men are

A committee, representing the 60 members of the Brotherhood employed in the plant of the Standard Steel Car Company, petitioned the Chief of Production to pay them the same wages as is received by members of the Brotherhood employed on house work. The request was not granted.

The hours of employment have been re duced to eight, making it impossible for the men to earn a living. The extremely high cost of living, payments on Liberty Bonds, donations to various war activities, etc., make it impossible for the members of the Brotherhood to support their families decently at a wage of 60 cents per hour. We, therefore, urge the Ordnance Department to authorize and instruct the Standard Steel Car Company of Hammond to pay members of the Brotherhood employed as painters not less than the prevailing rate of the locality, which is 75 cents per hour.

Trusting we may receive a favorable response to our request, I remain,

work, equal to that done by members of the Brotherhood employed upon buildings

Board, 1607 H Street, N. W., Washing

ton, D. C.