Peabody) considers an advantage to Manufacturing Company is an immense American labor and citizenship will receive his (the Governor's) most hearty support. Judging from the continual actions of the military operating under his orders, it would appear that about every man in Cripple Creek who sees fit to exercise his constitutional right of refusing to work when for any reason he feels so disposed is in his estimation either an "agitator," a "walking delegate," or a "self-constituted" representative of some class of workingmen. One thing is certain, and that is, that where any of the victims of his military rowdyism are suspected of being "selfconstituted" representatives of workingmen they don't get much time to show their credentials. But Governor Peabody still loves the workingman (as so many other politicians do), and kindly assures them through our brother that he will aid them in the upbuilding of what he considers any advantage to American labor and citizenship. As an evidence of his desire to elevate the standard of American citizenship, attention is called to the recent outrage committed by his military ruffians in the imprisonment of women in the miserable bull pen which has been maintained in the Cripple Creek district -Coeur d'Alene fashion-for the victims of his Siberian despotism. The Electric Club. The Electric Club is the name of a society recently formed by the employes of the Westinghouse companies for their own betterment and advancement. Commencing with February, 1904, the club has issued the first number of the Electric Club Journal, which speaks well for the publication committee. The frontispiece is an excellent portrait of George Westinghouse, and the leading article is a response by Frank H. Taylor, Vice-President, to a toast at the dinner in connection with the annual meeting of the district managers of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company at the Duquesne Club, Pittsburg, December 3, 1903. The February number of the Jour nal is replete with technical information of value to electrical workers. The publication committee in its editorial comment, setting forth the purpose for which the Electric Club Journal is published, say: "That the engineering apprenticeship course of the Westinghouse Electric and educational institution is realized by few, even of those who are in every-day association with it. The apprenticeship system is so intimately connected with the purely commercial work of the factory, and is so overshadowed by it, that we do not commonly distinguish between them. But what university or technical school has two hundred graduate students studying electrical engineering? Where are there better laboratory facilities than in the various manufacturing and testing departments of the works? And where is there a finer engineering faculty than in the commercial and engineering offices of the company? For through the lecture and section work of the Electric Club, the officers and engineers of the company have truly become a faculty for the apprentice. It is true each one devotes only a very small part of his time to instruction; but, from their number, a little from each man is large in the aggregate. And the engineering apprentice is a graduate student; he knows what he wants and has the ability and the opportunity to get it; the amount of direction and inspiration he requires is adequately furnished by the work of the Electric Club. We are well within the truth when we say that the engineering apprenticeship course, supplemented by the Electric Club, is doing more for the advancement of electrical engineering education in this country than any single university or technical school. "The Electric Club is composed of Westinghouse men, and the papers read before it are largely by Westinghouse men; it follows that a majority of the articles printed by the Electric Journal will be written about Westinghouse methods and apparatus, by men who are responsible for Westinghouse practice. These articles, written for young men from a strictly engineering standpoint, will be all the more valuable because they are definite and relate to specific apparatus and methods, and are not abstract and indefinite. The better knowledge which may be disseminated regarding Westinghouse men and methods will be appreciated by many who are not now familiar with them. The advantage which the Electric Company will derive incidentally from the publicity given to its engineering practice will not lessen the value to the engineering public of the material we print." The privilege of subscribing to the Journal is not confined to members of the club, but anyone may receive it for one dollar per year by sending their subscription to the Electric Club, 735 Penn avenue, Wilkinsburg, Pittsburg, Pa. Women in the German Postal, Telegraph and Telephone Service. The following report by United States Consul J. F. Monoghan, Chemnitz, Germany, under date of December 10, 1903, is taken from Daily Consular Reports: While women were employed in the postal and telegraphic service of France and England as early as 1820 and 1830, Germany did not make a trial of feminine service until 1874. The main circumstance that led to the employment of women at that time was a scarcity of available men. When later the administration of the postal and telegraphic services were combined under one head, a general discharge of the women who had obtained positions in the service followed, largely, so it is reported, because Postmaster-General Stephan, who wielded a determining influence at the time, was irreconcilable in his opposition to the employment of women in the postal and telegraphic service. Hence, all women engaged in the telegraphic service were removed, and only a comparatively small number of those employed in the postal service reluctantly retained as a further experiment. Three years later, in 1876, these were also separated from the service of the Empire. The successor of Stephan, PostmasterGeneral Podbielski, was favorably disposed toward the employment of women. He laid considerable weight upon the successful experience with women in foreign countries, especially in the United States. Through his support and influence women were again introduced into the postal service, though only in limited numbers and purely for the purpose of further trial. The result was quite as satisfactory as had been expected, and since then the number of women in the German postal, telegraphic, and telephonic service has been rapidly increasing, until today they comprise an invaluable and indispensable part of the same. German Women in Postal Service.-In all postoffices of the third-class women assistants are appointed by the postmasters of the place, under strict limitations, however, of government regulations respecting age, character, and education. Such assistants must be of sound health, certified to by a government medical examiner. They must be entirely free from all deformities, of stainless character, from 18 to 30 years of age, and must possess a good common school education. The highest salary that may be paid to such assistants at third class postoffices is 500 marks ($119) per year. In postoffices of the first-class and railroad postoffices women may be engaged for service as typewriters or similar duties only. All women assistants have the character of government officials (Beamteneigenschaft), which means that on their withdrawal from the service after faithful, competent work during a prescribed number of years they have a claim to a pension (Ruhegehalt), under the law of the Empire, if their circumstances are adjudged such as to require it. German Women in the Telegraphic Service. Instead of being qualified to occupy only a certain class of specified positions, as was found to be the case in the German postal service women are privileged to take any positions whatever in the telegraphic service, subject at all times to the above-enumerated regulations respecting age, character, and education. They have a similar claim to a pension as those engaged in the postal service and in all respects are similarly employed, privileged, and discharged. German Women in Telephonic Service. At the present time, 4,000 women are employed in the telephone service of the German Empire. In Berlin alone, 1,000 women are engaged. These positions are so popular and the number of applications is so large that the number of accepted and qualified women whose names have been registered in the order in which they were considered is so large as to supply occupants for any possible vacancies that may result in the course of the next few years. Only physically strong girls are admitted to the service. They must possess a good character and be of respectable families. They must be between 18 and 30 years of age and either unmarried girls or widows without children. Educational Qualifications.-Every applicant must possess an education equivalent to graduation from an elementary school (Elementarschule). In making the application for a position it is necessary to produce a birth certificate, school certificate, certificate of conduct (Leumundszeugnis), in which are registered all praise or dissatisfaction expressed by previous employers of the person in ques tion, and a brief biography. The latter must have been written and constructed solely by the applicant. The written consent of the father or guardian is also necessary. Some time after the application, accompanied by all the required papers, has been filed notice is sent to the applicant to appear for examination, which embraces questions of arithmetic, German, and geography. The examination in German consists of a short essay on some familiar subject. In geography, the test places most emphasis on the political divisions of the German Empire and knowledge concerning the most important cities of foreign countries. The test in arithmetic covers in the main the four fundamentals, interest, and partnership. After successfully passing the examination the applicant is sent to an official medical examiner, who must certify as to her physical and nervous soundness, and especially as to the condition of her lungs and nerves. Practical Preparation and Advancement. Having successfully acquitted herself in all the foregoing tests, the applicant is now ready to begin a period of practical preparation. This work as an apprentice covers from three to four weeks, and during the time the learner - receives no salary. Having satisfactorily completed her period of practical study, the applicant is ready to enter upon a regularly paid position. Since, as was already stated, the number of applicants is always extremely large, a number of months or even a year or two may pass before a vacancy occurs. A position being open, the applicant can not enter upon the same if she has in any way, in the meantime, spoiled her record or failed to preserve a stainless character. She must also, at the time of her employment, be living with her parents, or in some other respectable place free from all question. The daily hours of employment vary from six to eight; sometimes Sunday work is required. The employe must, immediately after being engaged, begin her contributions to the sick fund (Krankenkasse beitreten), and in case she succumbs to sickness or injury she continues to draw three-fourths of her regular salary and receives free medical treatment. Her pay to begin with is 2.25 marks (53.5 cents) per day. After two years of satisfactory service this is raised to 2.50 marks (59.5 cents) per day. After two additional years-that is, after having been four years in the service-her pay is raised to 3 marks (71.4 cents). If after service for several more years the girl has shown herself capable and unusually diligent, she may be appointed as supervisor (Aufsichtsdame), with an annual increase in pay of 100 marks ($23.80). Aften ten years of faithful service another advantage is added in the form of appointment with full claim to a pension (Anstellung mit Pensionsberechtigung). After being thus engaged, her salary amounts to 1,100 marks ($261.80). This salary is then increased every three years by the amount of 100 marks ($23.80) until it amounts to 1,500 marks ($357). This is the highest salary that a woman can draw in the German telephonic service. It is sufficient to insure a comfortable existence to the employe, though to an American the amount may seem somewhat small, even for an exceedingly plain living. It must be remembered that the German woman living in Germany who belongs to this class of wage-earners can live with considerably less expense and with much greater comfort than would be possible in the United States. In England the salaries of positions of this kind are much better paid. Girls are admitted to the service at 15 years of age. During the first years, while they are "girl clerks," they receive from 800 to 900 marks ($190.40 to $214.20). When they receive a permanent position as "women clerks" their salary is increased to 1,100 to 1,200 marks ($261.80 to $285.60). After twelve years of faithful service they receive the considerable salary of 2,400 to 2,500 marks ($571.20 to $595). The best women are even appointed to positions as chief supervisors or assistants in first-class offices, with a salary of 10,000 marks ($2,380). The World's Exporting Nations. The United States again stands, at the close of the calendar year 1903, at the head of the list of world's exporting nations, so far as relates to the exportation of domestic products. This fact is shown by a series of tables just presented by the Department of Commerce and Labor through its Bureau of Statistics. There are only three "billion-dollar countries," considered from the standpoint of exportation of domestic products, and they are, in the order of the magnitude of their exports, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In the calendar year 1903 the exports of domestic products were: From the United States, $1,457,565,783 in value; from the United Kingdom, $1,415,617,552; from Germany the figures for the full year have not been received, but an examination of the figures of the year for which statistics are available justifies an estimate of $1,200,000,000. It is only within very recent years that the United States has taken her place at the head of the list of the world's great exporters of domestic products. In 1875 the exports of domestic products by the world's great exporting nations were as follows: United Kingdom It will be seen from a study of the above tables that the United States in 1875 stood at the bottom of the list of .$1,087,497,000 the four great exporting nations of the 747,400,000 world, that at the end of the next decade 593,052,000 it had advanced one place, a decade later 497,263,737 still another place, and in 1903 stood at In 1885 the domestic exports of these the head of the list as the world's greatfour countries stood as follows: est exporter of domestic products. United States United Kingdom United States France .$1,037,124,000 In 1895 the domestic exports of the four countries were as follows: year: Contributed Labor Legislation. In the June, 1903, issue of the Magazine, Bro. Maier made the following declaration: "I will publicly announce that I will not vote for any man for the State Legislature of my State or the National House of Representatives, who will not pledge himself to vote and work for such labor laws as shall be demanded by organized labor, and further that there shall be arrangements made whereby the unions shall be notified as to what was done, so the membership at large may be made cognizant of it." Here is the labor problem in a nutshell. If all union men would make this declaration we could solve the labor problem in a short time, short enough time to give the different representatives just long enough to convene and frame the law. It would not take weeks or months to debate it. Why? Because they all would understand that they were elected on a platform adopted by the different labor organizations, and if they ever expected to hold any public office or trust they would not hesitate a moment to vote on the question. Looking over one of our State papers I see where a United States Senator has been indicted by the United States grand jury for boodling. What can we expect from a man of this type, whom the people have put into office, who take a bribe or money from a corporation? If he will do this, what kind of legislation can we expect to help us? We have got to come down to the common level to get men to serve us, men who will not hesitate to declare their principles and after they have made their declaration of principles it stands in hand for the voters to see that they live up to them. I think it is the duty of our legislative committees to correspond with these lawmakers and ascertain what they will do in regard to the enactment of labor laws, and if they hesitate to answer this correspondence, write to the different labor organizations of their counties and notify them, and brand these men as not friendly to organized labor. If the workingmen will (and I hope they will) this coming election, vote for no man who will not pledge himself for the betterment of the laws for labor and the wage earner, we will all be able to look back in the days past and gone and say, it was good for us, and even our children and children's children, that we lived and voted right and for the betterment of the labor cause, of the people who are the bone and sinew of this great United States. Let us be able to say: "Yes, brothers, I was one of the men who shouldered my ballot and marched up to the polls and voted against such men as D. M. Parry and his doctrines. I was one voter who took a shot at them in November, 1904, and, by the grace of God I will vote against all such that may arise hereafter." Why should we vote for any man who is not our friend in the Hall of Representatives? What can we expect from them? Nothing, but to sell their votes to defeat our laws when some good, honest man frames a law to benefit us. It is the money they want, too, but how does the laboring man get his? He works from ten to twenty-four hours for a day's work. What we want is a standard law on all public works, making eight hours a day's work. I know an instance where an engine crew tied up for want of rest; they had been out but fourteen hours and were twenty miles from a terminal. The officials (local ones) called the crew upon the carpet for an explanation. They explained that they were tired and worn out, had had a hard trip previous to this one, and thought that they required rest. The office man says: "Your contract says you shall work sixteen hours before you can ask for rest. I will let you off this time, but hereafter I will require sixteen hours' work out of you, and be governed accordingly." What have we come to, slavery or worse? In times of slavery, a slave was fed when he was hungry, and a physician was provided when he was sick. Do we have the same privileges now? Yes, if we pay for them; and to think that we are required to work sixteen hours for a day's work. A fireman was brought before an official once for eating when he had orders not to. He had been on duty twelve hours and had four more hours to work before he would be at the end of his run. He was told that a fireman was not much who could not work sixteen hours without eat |