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,

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 per hour. 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 skilled mechanics doing a high class of work, equal to that done by members of the Brotherhood employed upon buildings

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,

Wages Fort Riley.

The members of the Brotherhood working under the jurisdiction of the Construction Division of the Army on the Fort Riley Military Reservation, Kansas, have been awarded seventy cents (70c) an hour-the prevailing rate of wages in Junction Cityin the jurisdiction of which the reservation is situated.

Conditions at Fort Sheridan.

1. This is to advise you that subsequent to your interview with Major Gailor and the writer at this office on the 17th, a letter was addressed to the Constructing Quartermaster at Fort Sheridan directing him to correct the conditions which make it necessary for the men to leave Chicago before seven o'clock.

R. C. MARSHALL, JR., Brigadier General, U. S. A., Chief of Construction Division.

By F. N. FARRAR, Major Q. M. Corps.

Wages at Fort Snelling.

Not Yet Out of the Woods.

(In December number was printed correspondence between the Construction Division of the Army and the General Office in reference to the wages paid painters at Fort Snelling, Minn. The Chief of the Division finally approved a schedule providing for the established scale of St. Paul and Minneapolis-621⁄2 cents-but he failed to instruct the constructing quartermaster to pay the new scale, hence additional correspondence).

Jan. 8, 1919.

248 C. R.-A. D. (Fort Snelling). Mr. R. C. Marshall, Jr.,

Brigadier General, U. S. S.,

Sir:

War Department, Washington, D. C. Under date of November 29th, in a letter over your signature (by Major Farrar), you informed us that the Post Quartermaster at Fort Snelling, Minn., would be furnished a schedule providing for a wage rate of 622 cents per hour for painters in his employ.

You will recall, perhaps, that we furnished satisfactory proof that the prevailing rate of wages in St. Paul and Minneapolis is and has been since May 1, 1917-622 cents per hour. The painters employed at Fort Snelling have been paid 564 cents per hour.

The men report that up to January 1st the new rate of wages had not been paid. We respectfully request that the Post Quartermaster at Fort Snelling be instructed to commence payment of the prevailing rate of

No. From: To:

Chief of Construction Division. Mr. J. C. Skemp, G. S.-T., B. of P., D. & P. of A., LaFayette, Ind. Subject: Painters Rate at Ft. Snelling.

1. Your letter of the eighth is at hand and receipt of same is hereby acknowledged.

2. Regarding the matter of rate for painters at Ft. Snelling, you are advised that this office issued a rate of 62% cents for painters which was duly approved as of date of November 29th, 1918.

3. This gave the constructing officer authority to pay that rate if in his judgment it was necessary to do so, but no instructions accompanied the schedule which forced him to pay the rate.

4. It would be poor business policy for this office to attempt to compel a constructing officer to pay a rate higher than that for which he can readily obtain men, and his instructions specifically state that the schedule rate shall be considered as a maximum.

5. In this particular case the work was probably done by utilities men or by regular employees who come under the civil service, and if that is true the Constructing Quartermaster is well within his rights. R. C. MARSHALL, JR.,

Brigadier General, U. S. A.,

Chief of Construction Division.
By F. N. FARRAR,

RCM:FNF: MH

Major, Quartermaster Corps.

LaFayette, Ind., Jan. 17, 1919. Hon. Newton D. Baker,

Secretary of War,

War Department, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: On May 1st, 1918, an agreement between the Master Painters' Association of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Painters' District Council of the two cities went into effect. Under this agreement wages of painters were fixed at 622 cents per hour. The painters employed by the constructing quartermaster at Fort Snelling

-where buildings were being remodeled and adapted for hospital use-were paid 564 cents per hour.

Affidavits from the President and Secretary of the Master Painters' Association of St. Paul and from the Twin Cities District Council of Painters to the effect that 622 cents is and has been the prevailing rate of wages for painters in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and from men employed at Fort Snelling that they were being paid but 564 cents, were forwarded to the Chief of the Construction Division of the Army and to the Quartermaster General. The Chief of the Construction DivisionBrigadier General Marshall-notified us that the evidence submitted being sufficient to establish the prevailing rate of 622 cents a schedule would be furnished the Post Quartermaster at Fort Snelling authorizing the payment of that rate of wages.

On January 4th we were notified that the painters at Fort Snelling were still being paid at the rate of 564 cents per hour. We requested the Chief of the Construction Division to inform us when the new schedule went into effect, and that the men be paid the amount due them as the difference from May 1st, 1918, between the wages they had received (based on the scale of 564 cents per hour) and the amount they should have received at the established rate of 62% cents per hour.

Enclosed is copy of the reply of the Chief of the Construction Division to our letter. You will note that it states that it is left to the discretion of the Post Quartermaster as to whether or not he shall pay the prevailing rate of wages. This would seem to be in direct conflict with the provisions of the agreement between yourself and President Gompers which, as we read it, provides for the payment of the prevailing rate of wages in the locality on all construction work done for the War Department.

The allegation (in paragraph 5 of the enclosed letter) that the work in question might come under civil service rules is hardly well taken. If the work is not construction work why should the Chief of the Division state (paragraph 4) "that it would be poor business policy for this office to attempt to compel a constructing officer to pay a rate higher than that for which he can readily obtain men. ***". Again, if the work is not construction work, why did the Chief of the Construction Division assume the responsibility of issuing the rate to the Post Quartermaster at Fort Snelling?

I bring this detail matter to your attention with reluctance and would not do so

"CHRISTMAS, 1918"

(Too late for December number)

"Lo, ye shepherds-fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord * * * * and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Four times the Christian world has celebrated its pre-eminent holiday with the carol sung by 75 centimeter mouths of gun metal.

And now, in 1918, it sees the envoys of all nations assembled around the Yule-log -will they bear the good tidings-on earth peace, good will toward men?

Their business is to find the right basis for peace; they are expected to work out a permanent peace.

And we, the common people, hope for the best. But way back in our innermost mind sits the devil of doubt whether it can be done.

Can we expect a permanent peace from the envoys and representatives of war-faring governments, most of them governments builded upon war?

Such governments and the prevailing soul-less economic system are the cause of all wars of modern times; of the present war and of any future wars. If their agents really will a permanent peace, they must at least accept and invite the cooperation of the blameless-the working people and the women and mothers of all nations-to pile logs upon the Yule-block, and to bring their wishes and hopes and demands to the council. For they alone know how to keep watch over the Holy Fire; they alone know how to celebrate Christmas.

*

* and the star, which they saw in the east, went before them and stood over where the young child was."

Will the Star of Bethlehem stand over the house where the Peace Conference is assembled?

There they will dispute and argue and bargain about terms of peace, and about indemnities and penalties; about frontier regulations, and independence of and protection for small nations, and such things. Some of the "victorious" will contend for the old principle "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth;" others will say "Let us find

the instigators of the war and bring them before our Court" (oh, that the carpenter's Son could be there to tell them "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone"). And still others will thus try to mediate "We have gained our end and aim in the war for democracy, and have overthrown autocratic militarism; now let us combine justice with forgiveness; let not the innocent, the common people of the smitten countries, suffer for the sins of their former rulers and tyrants; let us be Christians and do good to them who have wronged us."

"But," will the patriots reply, "what of the ruined cities and hamlets and the devastated fields and orchards? What of the immense sums we have spent to preserve freedom and liberty and to protect humanity against imperialism and to make the world safe for Democracy? What of our war debts, our bonds, and the interest to be paid on them?"

"But the star that came up from the east stood over where the young child was * and this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And unless the envoys and representatives of the nations, now assembled around the Yule-log, will cooperate with those who have to bear the burdens of war, and take their counsel as to what constitutes freedom and liberty, the Star will wander on until it comes to the real birthplace of a new world, of a new freedom; it will finally throw its lustre upon the young child's manger, which may still be in the obscure, not yet seen nor understood by the many.

"The Saviour," "Freedom," "a New World." These are words only-words which humanity has talked and hoped about since human intelligence evolved out of the caves of eternity but not words to be taken lightly in these times. Nor are all those suppressed and "unmailable" writings about these things only "scraps of paper."

women

"The Saviour"-the child conceived long ago and reborn today; the "New World" are merely the images of ideals which lie "wrapped in swaddling clothes" in the heart of liberty-loving men and everywhere. And no Herod, be his name "Kaiser" or the "prevailing economic system" can ever slay this "young child," even though he hollow out the core of the earth itself and fill it with gun-cotton. And it will grow strong and tall and outgrow its manger and its obscure birthplace; and it will outgrow even Christianity and any system that does not give room for its humane gospel-to leave the old forms to the dead; to forget the wrongs of yesterday,

and pass lightly upon that which is bad today; to work out and build up a better human society, which is of all men.

If denied its voice in the Council of the present Peace Conference it will speak out at a future time-and then this voice will be like the thunder of a new Creation. The Saviour reborn at some future Christmas, the human self-consciousness, will pass over the sins of our fathers, and will forget the wrongs done by our brothers; he will overthrow the tables of the money-changers and cast out all them that sold and bought in his temple; and he will make his temple a house of prayer, and his prayer will be the acknowledgment of life's trend toward all that is good and beautiful; and he will throw out all man-made law-books and impress therefor upon the human soul the simple teaching of the Nazarene; "therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

"Lo ye shepherds, and mind ye well: tear down the prison walls, and give free. dom of thought and speech and the written word; remodel the workhouses of wageslavery into temples of human endeavor; and build up a New World of permanent peace by giving equal opportunity to all your brothers-'good will toward men'!" -AHSAHDT.

GREETINGS AND GRATITUDE Resolution Adopted by L. U. 11, Boston, Mass.

Recognizing with pride the heroic part played in the winning of the war by the American Army and Navy, we send our greetings and our gratitude to the members of this Union in the service, and to their comrades in arms whose heroic deeds have shed imperishable glory upon our flag and brought enduring liberty to the world.

We open our hearts to them in welcome, on their return to this country, and pledge our best efforts to open also the doors of opportunity, of advancement and reward.

A copy of this resolution to be spread upon the records of the Painters' and Decorators' Union No. 11.

Submitted by,

DONALD H. C. MACINTYRE, Pres.

German's greatest commercialized industry was dye manufacture. In that, she was virtually supreme, now she will find her supremacy challenged. The du Pont Company has set out to utilize her vast expert chemical organization and plants in the manufacture of analine dyes. Already her dye works are turning out and delivering to the textile and other trades many of the colors and shades that German dye works claimed could not be matched.