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strong men, virile men, courageous men and audacious men, than ever before. Every organization of labor on this Labor Day, 1917, should reconsecrate itself to its mission and redouble its assiduity that Labor may participate in a greater freedom and a greater opportunity when the conflict closes than has ever been known before.

HONOR IN BEING A UNION MAN. No person need feel ashamed of holding a union card or a due book, says an exchange. No class of society or organization or philanthropist has done as much for the common people as the labor unions.

Philanthropists build a home for the working men and women after they have left the home of their parents.

Unions are making the home fireside fit for the sons and daughters to remain in the true home-that of their parents-by increasing wages so that

the father can support the family and make the home what it should be.

Philanthropists build libraries while unions shorten the hours of labor to give the workingman time to read the books.

Unions shorten hours of labor to place more of the men to work who are willing to work.

Cities build hospitals and the unions take care of the family while the bread winner is in them.

Labor unions have fought to save the children from the factory and place them in the schools by having laws enacted and increasing the wages of the fathers so that it would not be necessary to send the child to work.

Labor unions have done more good among their members regarding morality and sobriety than any other class through changing the surroundings of their members.

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BUILDING TRADES DEPT. American Federation of Labor

Mr. F. J. Schneider,

August 14, 1917.

Philadelphia, Pa. Dear Sir and Brother:

At the recent meeting of our Executive Council the question of bringing about the affiliation of local unions with our building trades councils was discussed, resulting in a resolve that the president of the department write a letter to each of our international unions in reference to the matter, hoping in this way to bring the subject to the attention of our general membership. Enclosed please find fulfilment of the request.

I hope the same will meet with your approval and that it will be given the publicity intended.

With very best wishes, I am,

JOHN H. DONLIN, President Building Trades Department.

Mr. F. J. Schneider,
Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Sir and Brother:

As president of the Building Trades Department, I feel it my imperative duty before a further lapse of time, to call to your attention, in the hope of reaching your general membership, one feature which with its ramifications is impeding our progress.

After many years of indifferent successes, venturing and experimenting, you will agree with me that organized building trades are in the channel which should bring ultimate success. In other words, our present plan of organization is befitting the time when craft organizations are imperative. A building trades department, a composite organization of the unions of that industry, and local building trades councils, too, are necessary to complete our plan. This form of organization is in keeping with that of every

great government, only governments can compel while labor organizations being voluntary in character cannot. But we must succeed, and can only do so by united effort, which to-day is lacking.

I wish to avoid the many phases used by men in our movement, such as the spirit of unity, etc., as I feel that ours is a strictly material proposition, and we should individually understand now and in the future that the success of each is dependent upon the other in the most matter-of-fact way that brotherly feeling handed to us like other platitudes, lasts while humans are not in competition-fraternally or as brothers in the blood.

There is no better example of this than to-day. Put different uniforms on brothers, and they will shoot each other, so with us, you must help me or we both suffer.

Capital and labor mean simply dif ferent walks of life, while the nature of the individual is the same in its weaknesses and virtues, cravings and ambitions. He who to-day represents labor, to-morrow may represent capital, and vice versa. The opinions of each change with his position. Capital has the same trouble as labor in the protection of its interests, and the same method must be employed by it as by us in order to make its efforts successful. The combinations of interests that have reached an understanding today are reaping good returns. Other industries which have no existing understanding are still going along with the old "dog eat dog" system, deriving no returns for their investments.

Organized labor has an understanding and plans to govern, but the methods of to-day would not indicate so, in spite of the fact that our future is dependent upon ourselves.

Now for the story that could be told in a few words, except that it may be better to gradually approach the subject: We have our plan of organization perfected. Our local unions do not all belong to the local councils, and why? If we were devoid of intuition we would be guided by instinct, nature's organizer, but humans will not be guided by nature's edict which leads the dumb. No worker has a right to say, "We are not affiliated with the adopted plan of organization," but they do say they are not affiliated, because the councils are not run as they should be, or just such an excuse, which is the same old stereotyped reason of the non-union man for failure to affiliate where he is eligible. That indomitable spirit in free man should prevail and assert itself by declaring: "I am a component part of this labor movement, and I will allow no man or set of men to mismanage any branch of it. It is a reflection and I will resent it."

I am sure you would not allow any other injustice to be inflicted on you without resentment. Do you smilingly submit and allow a continuance of abuse to exist without protest in civic affairs, or perhaps where you are interested for profit, or your right to worship as you choose, if you choose? No!

Nor would any other man with red blood in his veins. There is resentment every time. As a worker your interest is in the organization intended to better your condition, and is paramount to any other institution, and an injury to same should be resented as if your inalienable rights were deprived you. Many of our councils, like all human institutions, are mismanaged, I must admit, but the absentee is more responsible for this than the other fellow. We must and we will correct existing abuses. Men must be elected to administer to our councils who have an understanding of and the interest of our movement at heart. Every man cannot successfully manage a council, though every man thinks he can. We have many councils which are successful, but these

exist only where they are administered to by men of experience, understanding and integrity, all predominant factors and as necessary in our movement as the same qualities are in the success of any other institution or concern. The success of any institution is dependent upon its management. We must have men who can and will avoid promiscuous and jurisdictional strikes-men who will assume leadership and be guided by that virtue, justice, and not be susceptible to criticism, malignity, condemnation, yes, and even hatred, which are the penalties of success in our movement.

The situation in Russia, Mexico, China and elsewhere continues to afford an object lesson owing to the absence of effective government or recognized authority. Common sense people, with mutual interests such as ours, should recognize that sooner or later there must be unity of action, and when wrangling groups do nothing but menace, opinions turn instinctively to some one man hoping for a leader to dominate the situation. Theories of individuals are laid aside in hope of results. The will of one man leading to action is preferred to interminable friction and debate, while interests drift to ruin. If the man chosen commands confidence and support, and has the qualities for emergency, we are in consequence united to protect ourselves from that which is injurious, and to put into effect that which may be advantageous to our common lot.

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RESOLUTION

ADOPTED BY THE

International Typographical Union

AT ITS SIXTY-THIRD SESSION

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
AUGUST 13-17, 1917

WHEREAS, The congress of the United States, in considering war taxes, has had several proposals before it relating to the taxing of newspapers, both on the volume of advertising and profits, and by means of increased postage rates; and,

WHEREAS, The public press, and more especially the labor press, is the bulwark of our liberty and our freedom and a great educational factor, and should be free and untrammeled in its right to express opinions and its opportunity to circulate among the people; and,

WHEREAS, The newspaper industry is one that does not profit because of war conditions, but, on the contrary, is burdened with unusual financial obligations to the end that it may function at the maximum of efficiency; therefore, be it

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this convention, the congress should not, without thorough investigation and the fullest knowledge of all of the facts, levy taxes so burdensome to the press as to result in decreased publicity, nor to impose a tax that will materially and unwisely curtail newspaper circulation; and, be it further

Resolved, That we tender our aid and assistance to the press of the United States in any way that may be effective in securing for it justice and fair dealing as to direct taxation and indirect taxation.

Carrying Capacity of Copper Wire

As established by the National Board of Fire Underwriters

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The question of voltage drop is not taken into consideration in

the above table.

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