Official Journal of the International Union of Steam and the National Transport Workers' and Operating Engineers Union. The constitution adopted provides that joint action can be taken only after the consent of the three organizations concerned is obtained. Through American inventive genius the United States occupies the dominating position in the sulphur industry of the world, and Italy, which formerly held this position, now ranks second. The United States not only produces enough sulphur for home consumption but has begun to place sulphur on the European market. Sulphuric acid is probably used for a greater variety of purposes than any other chemical, one of the most important being the manufacture of superphosphate, used in artificial fertilizers, from phosphate rock. The total sulphuric acid production in the United States in 1914 was 3,762,000 tons, valued at more than $24,000,000. The quantity of natural gas commercially utilized in the United States in 1914 is estimated to have amounted to 592,000,000,000 cubic feet, valued at more than $94,000,000. Epoch-making features in the nat ural gas industry are the development of the internal-combustion engine for the economic consumption of natural gas, whereby a saving of 90 per cent of fuel may be effected as compared with burning natural gas under a steam boiler with only 10 per cent efficiency. Other features are the development of the mud-laden process for stopping the flow of gas and conserving the supply underground until needed and the development of the process for extracting gasoline from casing-head gas. In the past there has been enormous waste and the total waste is still discreditable to the nation. John B. Lennon, treasurer of the American Federation of Labor and a veteran fighter for industrial democracy, who is revered and loved by the men and women of organized labor, has agreed to serve as treasurer of the Committee on Industrial Relations, and will be on the job in Washington this winter as one of the leaders in the fight. The choice of Mr. Lennon as treasurer means that the Committee will never lack the active advice and counsel of three trade unionists who have been tried on a thousand battle fields and never found wanting. James O'Connell, second vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, and president of the Metal Trades Department, has his headquarters in Washington and is giving all his spare time to the Committee's work. It was the presence of O'Connell and Lennon on the Federal Commission that enabled Walsh to win the fight to put over the Manly report and they will now lead in the fight to get the facts uncovered by the Commission into the hands of the people. Besides Lennon and O'Connell, the Committee will have at all times the active assistance of John P. White, president of the United Mine Workers. When not in Washington, he will keep in close touch with the Committee through representatives in charge of the headquarters of the Mining Department at Federation headquarters. Chairman Walsh and other members of the Committee called on President Gompers and Secretary Morrison at Federation headquarters and reached an understanding that will insure perfect harmony and co-operation. Chairman Walsh let it be clearly understood that the Committee will look for leadership at all times to the organized labor movement of America. Its job will be to keep everlastingly before the American people those facts about American industry, which entitle the labor movement to the support of every man or woman who wishes to be considered a good citizen. Florists require for the protection of hot water pipes under greenhouses and elsewhere, a most serviceable protective paint. Chas. H. Allen, a florist of Floral Park, N. Y., recently investigated the condition of such pipes which sixteen years ago he had painted with a silica-graphite paint. He found the Mr. Allen Pipes still free from rust. declares his intention of using the same paint for other hot water pipes with which he is equipping a new structure. The recent publication issued by the Wm. Powell Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a 20-page booklet on their "White Star Valves." This book briefly but completely discusses the function of these valves, and illustrates in sectional the several types made by the Wm. Powell Co. The booklet contains full information as to construction, operation and prices. Requests for copies to the company, by mail, will be gladly acceded to. Local Union No. 20 Gives Annual Entertainment and Ball Mr. Editor: The sixteenth annual entertainment and ball of Local Union No. 20, New York City, held on Saturday evening, November 20th, has passed into history, and will be known and remembered by all who were fortunate to be present as the one night in which there were so many high city officials and their families responded to our invitations, and by their presence honored our boys far beyond our most sanguine expectations. Heading the list of our honored guests is Marcus M. Marks, Borough President; Col. Frank H. Hilles, Superintendent of Public Works; F. J. H. Krack, Superintendent of Bridges; August M. Wise, Alderman of the 21st; Frank Mullen, Alderman of the 24th; Thomas M. Farley, Alderman of the 18th; Capt. McFarland, president of the International Irish Federation, and many others who escaped the escaped the writer. It was particularly gratifying to the committee and members to hear from the lips of our distinguished guests the nice things said about us and our annual affair, and their promise to be with us a year hence. The one regrettable incident was the absence of our international officers, who, on past occasion, were very much in evidence, but unfortunately this year they were attending to their business on the coast as delegates to the American Federation of Labor convention. The usual large crowd turned out to meet not only the city officials, but old. friends and new ones. This above all other nights is where imaginary grievances (for that is all they are) are forgotten, and the glad hand of good fellowship extended to one and all, and to put it mildly, our gratifications were. realized to an overwhelming degree. The spacious hall, the second largest in the city, was dressed up in a new suit of beautiful decorations. The various colors and flags blended to gether pleased everyone. Great credit must be given the proprietor, Mr. Halpern, for his display of artistic work, which brought forth many flattering comments. Barry was at his best and presented a programme of eight vaudeville acts that could not be duplicated in our foremost vaudeville theatres. At the close of the entertainment one of the most pleasing incidents of the evening not on the programme took place. This was the presentation of a magnificent silver set, consisting of fifty-two pieces, to the President of Local Union No. 20, Brother Thomas Bagley, it being the occasion of his second term in that office. The presentation speech was made by Business Agent Michael Murphy, who, at the proper time, tipped off the bearers of the burden of silver, Billy Walsh and Tom Mulvey. The struggle these gentlemen appeared to have in carrying the layout from the wing to the center of the stage gave the impression that a large portion of the Cobalts had found its way to the New Star Casino. Anyway, all's well that ends well. Our president, in accepting the gift, chose well his remarks, and like a great big overgrown school boy, blushing with a mixture of pride and embarrassment, withdrew with the applause of the house following him long after his exit. The floor cleared, and after the initial waltz came the Grand March, led by President Thomas Bagley and conducted by Brother Fred Lemke, assisted by Brothers Moran, Hampton, Rowley, Schmitz and Lindler. By actual count there were three hundred and ten (310) couples in the march, more than filled the outside border of the hall. Never before were there less bungling than was seen in this year's March, and when the thirtytwo couples marched forward abreast on the final lap, the audience simply went wild with enthusiasm. Our old friends, the Harrigans, with fiddles and Irish bagpipes, kept up a lively pace of Irish music that filled the hearts of the young folks, yes, and old ones, too, with delight, while on the main floor could be seen the fancy stuff "a la Castles." For real wholesome enjoyment you must hand it to Irish jiggers. Unstinted praise must be given to the committee on arrangements and all members who added their little bit to the entertainment and ball of 1915, which was considered the greatest ever. Following were the committees: Floor Manager-Fred Lemke. Assistants-Thomas Moran, M. J. Hampton, Bernard Rowley, Alfred Schmidt, Fred Lindner. The business men of the city, as usual, filled the boxes and otherwise made things hum. We are indebted to these gentlemen in a great measure for the financial success without which our burial fund would of necessity suffer. We take this opportunity of extending ard Quann, Patrick Phillips. to our patrons our united thanks and want them to feel it is our desire wherever practicable to reciprocate, and will be considered their privilege to so demand. Reception Committee-Edward McDonald, chairman; Frank Lennon, Michael Moran, Edward Wilson, Rich Arrangement Committee - William H. Walsh, chairman; Patrick J. Honan, secretary; James A. Stewart, treas urer. Take Tariff Out of Politics American Federation of Labor Convention Unanimously Indorses the Idea of a Non-partisan Tariff Commission By unanimous vote the American Federation of Labor at its recent annual convention in San Francisco, adopted a resolution favoring the creation by Congress of a non-partisan tariff commission. Delegates representing more than two millions of organized workers throughout the country concurred with the sentiment expressed in the preamble to the resolution, that the political methods which have been followed in dealing with tariff schedules, have been in a large measure responsible for periods of industrial stagnation and consequent loss of employment to wage earners. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, in a stirring speech before the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, criticised our political methods of tariff making and declared that the question was an economic one and should be handled in a scientific manner by a permanent tariff commission. For the first time in the history of the country, it is proposed to establish a real tariff commission on which labor and agriculture shall be directly represented, as well as manufactures and commerce. The plan suggested by the Tariff Commission League of which H. H. Gross of Chicago is president, provides for the creation by Congress of a high class commission, which shall have full powers of investigation and shall from time to time make such recommendations as may seem warranted by the facts in any particular industry. The old methods of political log-rolling must end. Tariff schedules must be prepared by experts, not by politicians. The action of the American Federation of Labor convention has added impetus to the movement for a permanent tariff commission, but the organized workers cannot afford to rest with the mere passage of resolutions. The situation demands action. The politicians, who for personal reasons wish to keep the tariff in politics, must be informed in no uncertain tone that this is a movement of the people. The politicians have muddled with the tariff question for generations and failed to give the country satisfaction. Now they must step aside, or be pushed aside to give the people a chance. Future tariff schedules must be based on justice and fairness to all sections of the country. They must be determined by economic needs and not by political expediency. This can be done only by the creation of a competent tariff commission. The time for action is now. Congress at its present session will be asked to pass a bill creating a permanent non-partisan tariff commission. The wage workers of the country must show that they are behind this bill. They are the ones who have suffered most through unscientific tariff tinkering at the hands of politicians. They are the ones who have found their means of earning a livelihood suddenly cut off while the politicians at Washington wrangled over tariff schedules. Workingmen, this is your opportunity to do something of real value for yourselves. Show the politicians that you understand that the tariff is an economic question and you are interested. Show them that you mean to take the tariff out of politics and place it on a sound economic basis. How can this be done? The answer is simple. Have your local unions adopt resolutions, similar to resolution No. 105, adopted by the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor at San Francisco, advocating a permanent, non-partisan tariff commission. Instruct your local secretary to send a copy of the resolution to the Senators and Congressmen in your states and districts. Write individual letters to your Senators and Congressmen on the subject and show them that you are alive to your interests. They cannot afford to ignore your demands. They rely on your votes to place them in office and keep them there. They are your servants and will carry out your wishes if you make them known in the right way. Don't wait for the other fellow to do something for you. Do it for yourself, then you know it will be done. Your trade union teaches you to rely upon yourself and to fight for what you want and ought to have. Apply that teaching to this situation. Get after your Representatives and Senators and tell them what you want. If you need any literature on this subject, or you have any suggestions to offer, write to the Tariff Commission League, 1322 First National Bank Building, Chicago. Local Union No. 68, Newark, N. J., Installs Officers of Ladies' Auxiliary A special meeting was held in Local No. 68's rooms on Thursday evening, December 9, for the purpose of installing the officers of the Ladies' Auxiliary Local No. 6 of Newark, N. J., and the following members of the Ladies' Auxiliary were installed in office by President Gottfried Joithe of Local 68: Past President-Mrs. Louisa Essex. President-Mrs. Bertha Hebeler. Vice-President-Mrs. Helen Brien ninger. Chaplain-Mrs. Sarah E. Galloway. Recording Secretary-Mrs. Madeline Startup. Financial Secretary-Mrs. Caroline Frielinghaus. Conductor-Miss Helen Brieninger. Auditing Committee-Mrs. Barbara Kittel, Mrs. Charlotte Maguire, Mrs. Barbara Lichel. After the meeting refreshments were served to all, and dancing followed. HARRY SCHAUB, Secretary. |