ness transacted at union meetings is secret, and at all events he knew absolutely nothing of what was going on at their meetings save that which the committee chose to tell him; the men in question were not discharged for activity in union affairs.

The other difficulty was a price-list involving an increase on about a dozen items. When the list had been discussed, item by item, Mr. Rosnosky said he would take the matter under consideration until the following day, at 3 o'clock. The committee reminded the employer that they came vested with full power to settle, and demanded an immediate answer. Mr. Rosnosky said he also had full power to settle, but the price-list involved material changes that would require careful consideration, and he declined to give an answer until the following day. The national secretary said the longer the men remained out, the greater the injury to them, and the prospect of a demand for still higher prices by way of indemnity. The employer said he could not consider the loss that might fall to them, inasmuch as the injury done to his business occupied his attention. The conference was on the point of breaking up when a recess was taken, and the workmen were separately advised to reconsider their position; and the committee, after a brief consultation, returned to the conference and stated that they would grant until the following day at 10 o'clock. The employer said that the time was too short. The conference was again on the point of breaking up, when a compromise was effected on this point, whereby a definite answer was to be given precisely at 12 o'clock noon. Mr. Mikol said that the union demand concerning the two discharged men was their reinstatement unconditionally. The conference thereupon dissolved.

1

At 12 o'clock, July 10, Mr. Mikol and the committee of the local Cap Makers' Union called to receive the employers' answer to their demand; and at the same time Mr. Rosnosky, senior member of the firm, who had arrived from New York, telephoned a desire for a conference in the presence of the Board, which was arranged and entered upon without delay. The conference closed without arriving at any conclusion. Two counter propositions to the price-list that had been presented by the committee were made by Mr. Rosnosky, and taken under consideration by the committee with the understanding that a reply would be forwarded as soon as possible.

On the 11th Mr. Mikol and the workmen's committee called on the Board and reported that the two propositions of William Rosnosky & Co. had been rejected by the union, and a formal strike declared. Within a few hours, however, a settlement was reached, whereby the two discharged men were reinstated and the strikers received into their old positions without discrimination, at wages increased, on the various items of manufacture disputed at the conference, from 5 to 10 per cent. No difficulty has since arisen in that factory.

WALTON & LOGAN-LYNN.

About the middle of July the entire force of lasters employed by Walton & Logan, shoe manufacturers at Lynn, joined Lasters' Local No. 22 of the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union. Prior to that time the lasting department had been run as a free shop. On Friday, July 18, some 54 hand lasters were discharged without being given any reason therefor. The workmen accused the firm of opposition to the union, and the union pronounced the discharge a lock

out. The firm denied that it was anything in the nature of strife between capital and labor; they were simply going to change their hand lasting to machine lasting; for that reason paid off their hand lasters, and that was all there was to it. The Board proffered its mediation, and advised the business agent of the union to seek an interview for the purpose of restoring harmony. He expressed a difficulty in believing that the firm intended to abandon hand lasting, and said that the officers of the union would seek a conference with the employer. On learning that negotiations were about to begin, the Board concluded to await the result before proceeding further in the matter.

On the 23d of July, as the outcome of the proposed interviews, a settlement was effected between National President John F. Tobin of the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union and Business Agent Jackman, on the one hand, and Messrs. Walton & Logan on the other. By this agreement the wages of the men were increased one-half cent a pair for piece work, and the firm consented to employ none but union men thereafter in the lasting department.

GOLDBEATERS-BOSTON.

The United Goldbeaters' International Union of America undertook to establish minimum prices for goldbeating. In some cases 4 cents a "book" had been paid to piece workers. On July 17 all the master goldsmiths in the United States were notified of a desire for a uniform minimum price of 8 cents a "book," and a minimum wage of $21 for such as were employed by the week.

The employers met in New York on the 18th, and published the following reply: —

Having received notice that the journeymen goldbeaters were to demand an advance in wages on July 21, without giving the employers sufficient time to notify their customers and to arrange prices, a meeting of the employers of the country was held in New York on Thursday, July 18, and after a full discussion of the situation came to the following conclusion :

1. That there is and has been no necessity for arbitrary action on the part of the journeymen, as the employers are now and have been for some time ready to give them wages to the extent of safety against the importation of leaf and the substitution of imitation leaf and the colored metal now being used largely. The only reason wages were not advanced long ago was because a part of the journeymen do not want it.

2. That no competent, sober and honest journeyman is out of work, and therefore about one hundred girls, whom it is proposed to drive from their positions, are doing no harm and are not taking the place of a single man, and it would be unfair, unjust, selfish and cruel to take their places; and, as every one worthy of work has a place, no good can be accomplished by such a course. Under these circumstances, the employers have decided that there is nothing to be gained for either party by touching this question, as it does not interfere in any way with what we suppose you desire, better wages on account of the increased cost of living, etc. It was therefore decided to pay, on and after Monday, July 21, 7 cents per book for beating work and $15 per week for week work.

This gives the journeymen all they could get if they struck for a year, and prevents loss of time and distress to any one. We desire to say that these wages are above the importation price; but, as you seem to be willing to take the risk, and as you will suffer most when the Germans take part of the market, the employers have decided to give the above wages at once. As you now can get good wages and all be employed, it would seem folly to go into a long contention on other points, as you are now offered the most that can ever be gotten out of the trade with the surrounding conditions, which must be taken into consideration by both sides.

The members of the union felt that their officers had been ignored, and, without awaiting the action of the officers,

declared a strike, which, however, afterward received the sanction of their national organization. The men quit work on July 19, the strike being hastened, it is said, by the discharge of some goldbeaters in Philadelphia. According to official accounts, more than 400 goldbeaters joined in the strike, of which 194 men struck in New York, 86 in Philadelphia, 31 in Chicago, 3 in Hartford, 8 in Springfield, Mass., and 40 in Boston, with a scattering of smaller numbers throughout the country.

On July 31 this Board interposed, with an offer of mediation to the Boston firms. The following is a copy of the demand:

FRED W. RAUSKOLB, Esq.

DEAR SIR: - I have been instructed by the United Goldbeaters' National Union of America to inform you that on and after July 21, 1902, the rate of wages set by this union shall be 8 cents per book and $21 per week for week work, and all men shall work direct for the employer; and also, no man shall be permitted to work where girls are employed for other than cutting; also, all goldbeaters working for any firm must be members of this union. W. N. BATTURS, National Secretary.

Mr. F. W. Rauskolb stated that his house was paying 5 cents a book, which price was 20 per cent. higher than in other cities; he was willing to pay 7, and had so offered. E. S. Cabot stated that the discharge of 3 work women was called for. The difficulty in Lauriat's shops at Medford, employing about 3 goldbeaters, was considered. Several interviews were had with employers and employed, but, as in all such cases, where the strike is managed by a national organization, the employees affected did not feel that they could make any concession. They said that they did not object to the employment of women, provided the women be paid the same wages as the men; but they were firmly