Turn-of-the-century loggers and sawyers in the Pacific Northwest.

More Dates >May/Jun 1899 Mar/Apr 1899 Jan/Feb 1899 Nov/Dec 1898 Sep/Oct 1898 Jul/Aug 1898 May/Jun 1898 Mar/Apr 1898

'Prospects Still Better for a Larger Increase'

In June of 1899, McGuire reported that the Brotherhood had grown more than a third in less than a year and a half. The items from locals explain something of how it was done. The AFL's concern about "court-made" labor law may explain part of the reason why.

"In the past three months, we chartered 46 new unions, and since February 1st gained 6,485 members in good standing. On February 1st last, we had 30,660 members and on June 1st the membership increased to 37,145 members. In April our gain was 2,663 members, and in May 3,205. The prospects are still better for a larger increase this month.

"Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Carpenters unions of this city are making an aggressive campaign to enlist the support of non-union men to enforce higher wages and stricter trade rules this coming spring. Public meetings have been held, and a circular to the trade was issued and with splendid results. "Ottumwa, Iowa-At a recently public meeting of Union 767, a large number of contractors attended and expressed their support.

"Springfield, Ill. - Every union carpenter in this city is at work, and several large jobs have been unionized during the past few weeks. "New Castle, Pa.-The union is in an exceedingly healthy condition. Within a short period we initiated 56 new members and reinstated quite a large number.

"Leavenworth, Kan. - Local Union 499 has succeeded in obtaining the eight-hour working day for its members, and this will certainly have the effect of largely increasing their number.

"San Francisco, Cal. - The work of organization both here and in Oakland is making considerable headway, and the unions are rapidly increasing in membership. The reports from all sections of the coast are gratifying and encouraging, and indicate a general interest in the movement."

"The use of militia or of United States troops to keep order during strikes, and above all the increasing use of injunctions as a means of interference in labor disputes, have resulted in a widespread and deep distrust of the government and especially of the courts.

"Although workmen have always disliked the use of troops to keep order during strikes, the strongest resolution passed by the American Federation of Labor on this subject before 1896 went no further than to urge that officers of the militia should be men friendly to the working classes. A resolution in the convention of 1896, however, recommended trade unions to discourage the enlistment of their members in the state national guard.

"The Federation has always favored the repeal of the so-called conspiracy laws. Thus the Federation demands an amendment to the Sherman anti-trust law to exempt trade unions from the provision that combinations in restraint of inter-state trade are illegal.

"The trade unionist's distrust of the government centers in his opposition to "court-made law," by which he means the recent extensive use of both mandatory and restraining injunctions by courts of equity as a means of interfering in labor disputes. He feels that a far-reaching change in the law has been made, not by Congress, but by a few judges.

"This feeling of distrust is heightened by a suspicion of the motives of the judges, who, trade unionists [believe], have favored the employer at the expense of the workman."

• P.J. McGuire
  Founder of Labor Day and the UBC
• Leadership & Vision
  The struggle for the eight hour day
• A Century Ago
  100 years ago in Union History