66

LD ABE," as he was familiarly called, was born February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Ky. Having graduated from the "University of Hard Thumps," his career was somewhat varied, he having educated himself to enable him to practice law, later having been a Captain of volunteers in the Black Hawk War, four times a member of the Illinois Legislature, a member of the lower House of Congress and eventually one of the greatest Presidents of the United States. With a plain and simple greatness he did what he thought was right, and he was right because he stood for the truth. And he stood for the truth no matter how many stood against him; he did not care what people said about him, or thought about him; he cared about that tiny voice that comes from the heart-the voice of conscience that says, "Be true to yourself!"

Lincoln understood men; he seemed to be able to look right down into their hearts and see all the good and all the bad, and then bring out only the good. He was kind-hearted and

unselfish and never went back on his friends. It is pretty hard to admire a man who does not agree with you, but Lincoln was great enough to judge his enemies justly and without bitterness. He wasn't afraid to work and always admired a man who did. Judging by the following quotations, Lincoln no doubt would have been a charter member of the Rail Splitters' Local Union had the American Federation of Labor been in existence at that time. He said "An honest laborer digs coal at about 70 cents a day, while the President digs abstractions at about $70 a day. The coal is clearly worth more than the abstractions, and yet what a monstrous inequality in the prices.

"Inasmuch as most good things are produced by labor, it follows that all such things of right belong to those whose labor has produced them. But it has so happened, in all ages of the world, that some have labored and others have without labor enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits. This is wrong and should not continue. To secure to each laborer the product of his labor, or as nearly as possible, is a worthy subject of any good government.

"As labor is the common burden of our race, so the effort of some to shift their share of the burden onto the shoulders of others is the great durable curse of the race.

"The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues and kindreds.

"These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert to fleece the people, and now, that they have got into a quarrel with themselves, we are called upon to apropriate the people's money to settle the quarrel.

"The same spirit says: 'You toil and work and earn bread, and I'll eat it.' No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a kind who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of man as an apology for enslaving an

Toronto, Ontario, Feb. 5.-The convention of the Bricklayers and Masons' International Union voted to affiliate with the American Federation of Labor. The convention instructed its Executive Board to take no steps to make this declaration effective "until they are fully convinced that no law exists that will compel or force any subordinate union of our organization into any sympathetic strike of a jurisdictional or of any character without the consent of our international officers."

Trade unionists point out that as the American Federation of Labor grants complete autonomy to its affiliates on all matters referred to in the bricklayers' instructions to their Executive Board, there can be no reason why this international cannot immediately join with the great family of trade unions under the banner of the American Federation of Labor.

The convention also declared in favor of affiliating with the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada. The pur

pose of this organization is to urge remedial legislation for Dominion

workers.

GAINS FOR POSTAL CLERKS

Washington, Feb. 5.-The House Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads has approved the Tague bill, which allows compensatory time for holiday service to postal clerks and carriers. This legislation was suggested by the National Federation of Post Office Clerks. Other features in the post office supply measure urged by these union clerks, and approved by the committee, are:

Restoration of the salaries of demoted collectors; promotion of 2000 clerks from $1200 to $1300 and $1400 yearly; raising of all laborers from a $720 to an $840 grade, and a provision to prevent manipulation of the substitutes' pay by withholding appointments to the regular force.

The labor group is preparing to support these remedial measures for the postal workers when the bill reaches the floor of the house.

BOSTON

The history of civilization has proved that no country, endowed with maritime "talents" has ever risen to prime importance unless it used those "talents." History has proved that no nation can possibly succeed commercially unless it controls in its own hands the bulk of the ocean transportation facilities of its exports from the producer to customer, and the banking, exchange and insurance transactions that accompany that

commerce.

We invite people to come here; having arrived, we must afford them the means of sustenance; of supremest importance is the opportunity of steady employment.

Steady employment of labor is impossible unless there be continuous "run" of manufacturing plants. Continuity of "run" is impossible unless there be continuity of disposal of the things made. The absorptive powers of our domestic trade being far in arrear of our productive capacity in the matter of costly increased exports is not one of choice. It is a matter of industrial life or death. And the continued almost exclusive use of the oceanic transportation facilities of competitive commercial nations, themselves striving to sell the same kind of goods to the same line of customers whom we are striving to reach, is absurd.

Hence it is that in the very near future the exigencies of economic conditions in the United States will demand a complete recodification of our shipping, navigation and maritime laws.

But it never will if this demand comes only from what is termed the "shipping interests" or even from the people living in the maritime States.

It is the people of the centre and Middle West who hold the destinies of the nation in their hands.

And relief must come from them, not as a matter of charity to the petty remnant of our at present existing American foreign shipping, not as a favor extended from the island to the maritime States, but as the very vital concern of the island States themselves, as a matter concerning their own permanent prosperity, as recognition of the economic fact that only by selling goods to non-Americans can we liquidate our indebtedness to foreigners.

Everything in every town and city in the Union is bonded, except the air we breathe.

The water we drink, the sewers we use, the streets we walk upon, the schools we send our children to, the street and railway cars we ride upon -all, all (save the air we breathe) is bonded. Interest must be paid. Το whom? Mostly to foreigners.

No wonder the cost of living is high! The only possible way of decreasing our foreign debit balance is by increasing our foreign credit balance. In other words, so long as we persist in creating debit balances for ourselves in America, just so long, somewhere else, do we create credit balances for others and against ourselves.

How used we to offset these credit balances in past years? By the export of foodstuffs. But in 1912 we actually imported more foodstuffs than we exported.

How have we paid our debts to foreigners in the past ten years? By the issuance of more bonds; that is, by getting still deeper into debt. Getting further into debt, of course, means higher taxation everywhere to pay the increased interest on that increase of indebtedness.

What folly it is for us to borrow money from outside sources to establish and develop industries and then to sell only one-tenth of the fruits of those industries to outsiders! It is as though a large store were to borrow $500,000 for its building, put in a stock of $1,000,000 of goods and then expect financial success by doing 90 per cent. of its business with the people who worked in that store! This is exactly what we are doing in America. It is the goods a store sells to outsiders, to persons not in any way connected with that store, that keeps the establishment going. And we only export 10 per cent. of what we make! Germany exports 40 per cent., England 50 per cent. of what they make.

It was in this way that Germany gained her commercial freedom. It is in the above described way that America wil lead the world.

has come a

Little did the United Hatters think ten years ago what a mighty principle would be eventually established by their action, a great cause and a great sacrifice was theirs, and now the issue having been decided adversely, and out of all this travail and litigation new act of Congress, known as the Clayton anti-trust act, which declares "That the labor power of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce." The organized forces of labor are showing that they can share with their fellows and pay the bill. Will you give an hour's pay? This question will be answered affirmatively by all of our members at a summoned meeting. No. 5 has always stood ready and willing to help every worthy cause.

We have an organization known as the Pennsylvania Division of the Women's National Defense Leaguesome name. Now, fellows, if the women of this country decide that we must be prepared there wil be nothing to stop them, so don't fold your arms, but discuss this matter. This is something of vast importance.

Governor Hoch, of Kansas, says: "He reads American history, in my judgment, with very defective vision who does not see upon every page of it the impress of Providence. I firmly believe the American people are as much the chosen people of God today to carry on His great purposes in the world as were the Israelites of old his chosen people to exemplify His will in their time. In proportion as we measure up to this high ideal I am sure we will prosper as a people, and in proportion as we fail in this sublime mission we shall suffer morally and materially. The white man's burden is upon us. We cannot with safety to ourselves shirk its responsibilities. The Christian civilization committed to our care, typified by our flag, will ultimately encircle and dominate the globe if this nation does its duty. Our first duty, then, is ever to remember that righteousness exalteth a nation."

We had a peculiar accident the other day. The car was about four feet above the floor, and both men were inside removing the operating device. We stood a step-ladder in front of the open space, with the car operator in front of the ladder, to prevent any one from walking into the pit. A handsome collie dog came rushing into the hallway, between the man's legs, underneath the ladder, and down he went. He escaped with a broken leg.

It is hard to make your work fool proof and dog proof.

Old Mr. Ground Hog paid his annual visit to these parts on February 2d, and, according to tradition, the winter is over.

An old woodsman from Maine told the writer that the woodchuck was the weather forecaster up that way.

He would bury himself in a hollow tree or some secure place, and be prepared for the long winter's siege. Along would come Mr. Skunk and make trouble by crawling into the same hole, being too lazy to burrow for himself. So you see all the skunks are alike.. They wait until some other fellow has a nice place. Then they butt in, and if you ever butted into a skunk you know the odor was anything but pleasant.

That was a good resolution passed by Brother McLeod, and we hope others will come across.

We have had more inquiries for Journals during the last month than ever before. We must continue the good work.

Bro. Wm. Evans was taken sick on the street and died shortly after being admitted to the hospital, on January 27th. He was a consistent member, and always loyal and generous.

The Wm Cramp Ship and Engine Building Company, of this city, employing about 4000 men, have increased their wage rate 10 per cent. No. 5. W. B. MACALISTER.

An Engineer's Earnings.

I am a locomotive engineer, and I have been pinching myself ever since I read an article in yesterday's paper to the effect that we passenger men earn $4000 per year.

I sure would like to know what my wife has done with that money, for I fail to find any bank books laying around loose. Gee! I hope Phil Belknap didn't read that article; else he may lecture us on the pauperizing effect of so much money on the working class.

Again, in today's issue we find an editorial suggesting the advisability of the public giving their protection to the railroads in case of labor trouble. This, I assume, means the passing of a law making it a misdemeanor for a railroad man to cease work on account of any demand for betterment, and in that event I suppose we would have the State militia outside the house to escort us to work. Should we apply the old adage, "You

can lead a horse," etc., we would probably be court-martialed and shot for treason against the moneyed interests.

Now, laying aside the comedy for a moment, I want to state some facts in connection with an engineer's pay.

During the past twelve months I earned $1500. There being 312 working days, totaling 3120 hours, at 10 hours per day, I averaged 48 cents per hour.

Now, each and every railroad company has a most delectable system of regulating hours, known as the "Automatic Extension." Working this system (and believe me, they've worked it to a frazzle), they can spread 10 hours over a 24-hour period and still call it 10 hours. Thus a man can work five hours, cut off six, work five more and then he has nothing to do till tomorrow, which, by the way, is only six hours off by that time.

Now, we have come to the conclusion that we only live once, and everything indicates that we are a long while dead; so we reason that we ought to have at least 14 hours off for rest and pleasure, even though it means decreased earnings.

The railroad men of this country are going to attempt to hit this longhour system a crack next March, and if it doesn't fall we are certainly going to walk around back and see what's holding it up.

We don't want overtime; we can't expect an increase; but if the company insists on working us unreasonable hours they must pay the penalty. -Courtesy of John R. Baird, Local No. 5, Philadelphia.

PITTSBURGH, PA.

Business has improved a little since our last report. But still a number of brothers polishing bricks.

Bro. E. A. Johnston had a close call at the Jones Saw Building on February 2d. One of the stay rods of the cab came down thirteen stories and went through the plank he was