There being nothing furthre that I could do here, I proceeded to Waterbury, Conn., with the expectation of attending a meeting, my train being late I found on arrival that the Local had adjourned, there being not much business to transact that evening. However, I took up some matters with Business Agent Donahue, and the financial secretary which was the cause of my visit, and was pertaining to our Meriden Local. I was assured that these matters would be at once taken up and straightened out satisfactorily to all concerned. It was also pleasing to learn that this city has been enjoying very prosperous times and that our Local and all other Building Trades has made wonderful improvements in their organizations.

From this city I then visited Middleton, Conn., where it was rumored that there was an opportunity to organize a Local. On investigation, I feel that the time is not ripe to launch a Local here, but will keep in touch with the same and expect later on to be successful.

Receiving wire from Secretary Burke, I next visited Salem, Mass., where I attended a meeting of our Local No. 138, there were a few matters which had been troubling the Local and on which they desired information. I informed them to the best of my ability, and trust the same will be satisfactory to all concerned. I want to compliment the Local on the wonderful progress that they have made in cleaning up this district, after their last strike, especially is credit due to their energetic Business Agent, Brother O'Connell. The next day being election day, I proceeded to Boston as organized labor had two candidates in the field and was deeply interested.

Trusting that this report meets with the approval of the members and wishing all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, I remain,

Fraternally,

JAS. H. SHEEHE.

(Continued from page 18) Receiving a telegram from SecretaryTreasurer Burke to make Galveston at once, I left Oklahoma City that night, and when I arrived in Galveston took up the grievance with Business Agent McNally, in Freeport, Texas.

Westinghouse-Church-Kerr Co. has a big powerhouse and did not want to put our men to work. They wanted to use handy men, but our locals from Houston and Galveston, through Organizer Sheehe, compelled the firm to employ our men. This was last spring, when the work was completed, when the extension of the plant was completed. The same course was pursued by this firm, Business Agents McNally, of

Galveston, and D. D. Robb, of Houston, visited the job, conferred with Mr. Burns, superintendent for Westinghouse-Church-Kerr Co., but with no success, so telegraphed for me, but by the time I got there it was all straightened out and our men on the job. I then made Houston, saw Secretary D. D. Robb, who was satisfied with the settlement of job. After taking up some matters of importance in regard to the Texas State Association with Secretary-Treasurer John Hefferman, I left Houston for Ardmore to install our new Local Union, of which I will report later.

Hoping this meets with the approval of your membership, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I remain,

Respectfully yours,

JOHN M. RYAN.

TRADE UNIONISTS MAKE GOOD.

Washington.-F. C. Roberts, member of Typographical union No. 101 of this city, is commended for his work as labor commissioner of Porto Rico by Governor Yeager of Porto Rico in the latter's report to the secretary of war, which has just been made public.

In his annual report to the Porto Rico legislature, Roberts aroused the antagonism of every reactionary influence in the island when he declared:

"The labor movement of Porto Rico, as expressed through the unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, is the only influence in the island that is trying to Americanize the working people of Porto Rico to the American standard of living, and as long as such efforts are antagonized by the employers there will be conflicts between capital and labor in the island.

"It is no longer possible for big enterprises to be conducted in the island, as in the states, with a view only to paying dividends. The plan may succeed for a while, but strikes and industrial unrest will follow.

"Many employers in Porto Rico ought to think a little less about how much money they are making and give a little attention to what kind of people they are making.”

HUGE STANDARD OIL PROFITS.

New York.-Holders of Standard Oil Stocks will receive nearly $100,000,000 in cash this year. Add to this the distribution made as stocks and dividends and the amount reaches $128,909,663, as compared with $89,791,000 last year.

On December 1, 1911, the United States Supreme Court dissolved the old Standard Oil trust and broke it up into 30 or more companies. Since that time the total cash distribution made by the system's companies total $384,303,958. In addition stock dividends have been made in the same period to an aggregate of $187,443,330 at par, but actually worth to the beneficiaries several times that much.

Some Charger.

Bill actually charged double price for doing a corner job. When asked to explain why his charges should be so high for that particular kind of work, he told me that it took one man's time to keep on the lookout both ways.

Not the Lady of the Bath.

A young bride from a rural district came to Chicago on her wedding trip. She was assigned to a room with a bath, and she wrote her mother how nice the bath was and how she longed to take a bath in it, but it was only Wednesday. Force of Habit.