Strike-Breakers' Wages (EDITOR'S NOTE: Wallace M. Short, editor of The Unionist and Public Forum, published at Sioux City, Iowa, with his vivacious virulence handles all questions wherein the welfare of organized labor is in the balance between justice and exploitation, in a manner which permits of no "between the lines" meaning, and accordingly "calls a spade a spade". In a recent issue of Mr. Short's peppy weekly, we garner the below, which tells its own story and, so here goes:) "SCABS!" Some people object to that word. So did Benedict Arnold object to the word, "Traitor." But Benedict Arnold was no more a traitor to the aims and purposes of America than is the wage earner *** who takes the "bait" for a few weeks in order to assist in reducing his fellows to a condition of helplessness. I will not advise you to call your neighbor a "traitor" nor a "scab." But that is what we call him. Send your neighbor over to us, and we will agree to tell him just where he stands in the eyes of loyal and upstanding freemen; and if he comes, we will promise to make him like it. We will treat him courteously, and just show him some cold facts and history. Then he will BRAND HIMSELF as a "traitor" and a "scab," and thank us for helping him to get his eyes open. HE WAS ORGANIZED LABOR'S Dr. Willis Luther Moore, chief of the United States Weather Bureau from 1895 to 1913, and internationally known scientist, died from heart disease. He was 71 years old. He was a member of many scientific organizations throughout the world. For many years he was an honorary member of the International Typographical Union. This scientist was given the plaudits of organized labor when, as chief of the weather bureau, he insisted that printers employed in his department should pay assessments caused by the eight-hour strike in 1907. Dr. Moore was denounced by anti-union elements but he refused to deal with any worker who violated his obligation. H Philosophy with IPEU a Spear Point E who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. The orderly arrangement of his time is like a ray of light which darts itself through all his occupations. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidents, chaos will soon reign.-VICTOR HUGO. In France the workman likes to understand what he is doing. When his job is done he likes to look at it, pass his hand over it, as if caressing it, and to think, "It is done. It is not for the boss that I do this, is is for myself, for my contentment, for my pleasure, for my dignity." -EUGENE BRIEUX. thus attracting failure. No matter how hard you work for success if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavors and make success impossible.-BAUDOUIN. Make Life Worth While The people of the United States have more of all the things that make life worth living than any other people on earth now have or ever did have. With all of the wonderful opportunities thus offered it is up to each and every individual to carry on and so guard his life and conduct that he will derive the greatest possible benefits in this, the grandest and most glorious period in the life of the world.-New Albany (Ind.) Tribune. Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you but even with him; forgiving it sets you above him. . . Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none. -BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The optimism of the chief in any organization or department is contagious and stimulates the entire group. An executive should be a manbuilder, delegating tasks to other men, but not trying to do their thinking for them; rather helping men to think for themselves. Men grow with responsibility. Department heads should learn to meet emergencies; it is in times of need when initiative is required that human values are weighed. Commonsense methods call for sympathetic supervision which adjusts responsibilities to the capacity of the individual.-R. E. M. CowIE, President, American Railway Express Co. To be ambitious for wealth, and yet always expecting to be poor; to be always doubting your ability to get what you long for, is like trying to reach east by traveling west. There is no philosophy which will help man to succeed when he is always doubting his ability to do so, and The sun will shine after every storm; there is a solution for every problem, and the soul's highest duty is to be of good cheer.-EMERSON. Every salesroom should be equipped with a full length mirror with this suggestion hanging above it: "Before you go out to tell people you represent this firm, look yourself over and see whether you do or not".-COLEMAN COX. Make each day useful and cheerful, and prove that you know the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be happy, old age without regret, and life a beautiful service.-LOUISA M. ALCOTT. To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. To understand it well, both parties and all the circumstances must be fully heard; and to accommodate the differences, temper and mutual forbearance are requisite. -GEORGE WASHINGTON. The reason so many men fail is because they will not make the sacrifices of time, of pleasure, of comfort, demanded by success.-JAMES COUZENS. Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, and be careful of your promise. There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth, and pursue it steadily. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry, and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy nation. The Growth of the Five-Day Work Week By GEORGE F. HEDRICK, General President S we are entering the New Year, 1928, believe it will be of interest to our readers to know what further progress we have made in our endeavors to inaugurate and establish the Five Day Week. While our progress has been steady, it has not been as great as we, at the beginning of the year, anticipated, due largely we believe to the fact that many of our members do not realize the true significance of it and business in the various branches of our trade has not been as flourishing as it has been for several years previous so it follows that there are some who prefer the five and one-half day week in order to secure the extra half day's pay. At the expiration of 1926 we had approximately 35,000 members working the Five Day Week. At the close of November, 1927, we had approximately 45,000 members working the shorter week, or more than one-third of our membership. In our endeavors to establish the Five Day Week we are of course confronted with considerable opposition; particularly from the Chambers of Commerce in many localities and some of the Building Trades Employers' Associations, who have always opposed every attempt that has been made to shorten the hours and improve working conditions. Last but by no means least, there appeared in the October, 1927, issue of the American Builder-Economist, which is published in New York City, the following article quoting Prince William of Sweden: "In Sweden we have not tried the five-day week," said the Prince, "but I believe it is a very bad plan. Two days out of seven is far too much leisure for a strong, active man. He does not need it. He grows restive under it. "We go in for the five and a half day week. Close shop at noon on Saturday and have the whole of Sunday as a day of rest and recreation. "Our workmen have demanded and received higher and always higher wages. An attempt is being made to reduce wages now. Why? Because living is very much cheaper than at any time since the war." Doubtless if his Royal Highness had to work eight hours per day as does the American toiler, in order to earn a livelihood, he too, would be advocating fewer days per week for the workingman, but as he has never had to resort to labor of any kind, naturally is opposed to an able bodied man having two days' rest each week and prefers instead that the working man be idle three, four or even five months rather than spread the work out by shortening the hours of labor. With the constantly growing introduction of new mechanical devices, some of which appear on the market almost daily, it will not only be necessary to establishi the Five Day Week in the building industry but the time is coming and it is not far distant, when it will be necessary to establish it in many other industries throughout the country if we are to continue to maintain the so-called present day prosperity. Another important factor entering into the necessities for the establishment of the Five Day Week, is the fact that Government statistics show conclusively that the population is increasing at the rate of more than 1,200,000 souls annually which means, that as the years pass, employment must be found for the growing population and the problem is going to be a serious one from the angle of the labor-saving devices when considered in connection with the increasing number to be given employment. Another article appearing in the American Builder-Economist states that leading economists, professional men, editors, bankers, manufacturers, transportation executives, wholesalers and producers of raw material in response to a questionnaire expressed themselves as being opposed to the Five Day Week and concluded with the statement that less than one-fifth of those answering were in favor of the adoption of the Five Day Week, which is conclusive proof that they are not unanimous in their opposition. It will be observed that no expressions were obtained from Secretary James J. Davis of the Department of Labor, or from the leaders of organized labor, notably President William Green of the American Federation of Labor, or members of the Executive Council thereof, nor from any of the officers of the Building Trades Departments or its affiliated international organizations. Notwithstanding all the opposition, the workingmen themselves, particularly those who are organized, are entitled to and have something to say regarding how many hours they will work and they are doing their utmost to regulate the hours so that all or most of their fellowmen will be employed throughout the year which undeniably adds to growing national prosperity. On the other hand, the Builders' Associations that are opposed to the Five Day Week are apparently not united on the question, for appearing in the Weekly News Service of the American Federation of Labor, is the following: "BUILDERS INDORSE FIVE-DAY WORK WEEK "Santa Barbara, Cal., Nov. 26.-The Builders' Exchange has given their hearty assent to a five-day week for carpenters. "The carpenters asked their employers to favor the short week, and were notified by the manager of the exchange: "The board of directors of the exchange has directed me to inform you that this change meets their entire approval and they further feel it will be advantageous to everyone concerned and beneficial to the building industry as well." Personally, I have talked to other builders who have expressed themselves very much the same and hold to the belief as we do, that if the prosperity of the country is to continue, the adoption of the Five Day Week is inevitable. We are not trying to, nor do we want to convey the idea that the Five Day Week will be a balm for all of our troubles such as lack of employment at different seasons of the year to which those, particularly of our trade, are too frequently subjected, but we do believe that by adopting the Five Day Week some of the lost time at least can be eliminated. Without entering further into detail, it is advisable at this time to again call attention to the list of cities and towns under the jurisdiction of the International Brother(Turn to page 26) hood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, that have thus far adopted the Five Day Week (see back cover), meanwhile confidently hoping and expecting that the busy season in 1928 will result in many more being added to the already growing list. We do not expect the Five Day Week to become firmly established in a week, a month, or even a year, but we trust by ceaseless and untiring efforts, that it will in due course of time, as has the Eight Hour Day, come rightfully into its own, and once the American people are accustomed to it, we are convinced that they will agree that it is one of the greatest, most humanitarian and best accomplishments of sincere and patriotic citizens, which has occurred in our present generation. Striking Coal Miners Given Substantial Ο NE of the most refreshing pieces of mail which has come into General Headquarters during the holiday season was a letter addressed to your General Secretary from Brother Elling Munkenby, President of Local Union No. 106, of Duluth, Minnesota. That letter is so full of deeply sincere and generous sentiment that it is well worth printing, so we ask you to read it for yourself: "It is Christmas day. I have just read the journal. Your greetings to us, and on the opposite page the appeal for aid to the striking miners. "Our union in response to the appeal from your office, called a special meeting. When the meeting was called to order, the subject matter was put before the house; a motion was made to donate fifty cents per member out of the treasury of the local. From all over the house voices were heard and in unison,-'No, we don't want that, we want to place an assessment on ourselves; we want to feel that we, personally, at least have done something to help the situation down there in the coal fields. We want to pay a personal assessment of $1 each.' "The motion prevailed and a check for $120 was forwarded to Secretary Frank Morrison, at headquarters of the American Federation of Labor, A. F. of L. Building, Washington, D. C., with instructions to call for more if need be. "I feel that I want to convey this information to you on account of the fine spirit displayed by our members with most of them out of work, have been for sometime, and no prospects for any work before spring-which is surely an irreproachable evidence of true brotherly spirit indeed. "In conclusion permit me to say that BOSTON PURE COLORS Ground in Linseed Oil-The Standard of the World "PERFECTION" FLAT WHITE High in Content-Superior in Effect JOHN W. MASURY & SON 42 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO MINNEAPOLIS |