Labor Standard, Adolph Strasser and others, he founded the Amalgamated Trade and Labor Union, of New York city, and actively agitated for the enactment of beneficial labor legislation in New York State, such as the establishment of a Bureau of Labor Statistics, the abolition of prison convict-contract labor, reduction of the hours of labor, and the abolition of the manufacture of cigars in tenement-houses; the latter measure after being passed was decided unconstitutional by the Court of Appeals. When the call was issued in 1884 for a Convention of the Journeymen Tailors of the United States, in Chicago, he was elected by an almost unanimous vote to represent the New York union; in the convention he was prevailed upon to accept the secretaryship of the National Union, and was unanimously reelected at the convention held in Baltimore, in August, 1885; though busily engaged in the labor movement, he still found time to improve his mind by study; he attended the evening high school in New York for three successive winters, and also belonged to the literary class attached to the Cooper Union, where he acquired a readiness in debate and eloquence of speech; he still works at his trade. WRIGHT, JAMES LENDREW.-Born in County Tyrone, Ire., April 6, 1816, of Scotch-Irish ancestry; family soon removed to St. John, N. B. and to Philadelphia, when he was in his eleventh year; early education in Mt. Vernon grammar school and in private academy of Charles Mead; was early apprenticed to George W. Farr, tailor; served over six years; at his majority became member of Tailors' Benevolent Society; in 1847 begun in business in Frankfort, near Philadelphia, whither he removed in 1848; in 1854 became manager of large clothing-house; in 1862 helped organize Garment-cutters' Association;, was its president many years, and when it dissolved; was very active in labor matters at this period, traveling much and forming many lodges, and paying most of his expenses; in 1878 had 54,000 votes as Greenback-Labor candidate for State treasurer, and 82,000 votes for Secretary of Internal affairs, by same parties; was chosen first Venerable Sage of Local Assembly No. 1, Knights of Labor; afterwards Master Workman; always an earnest and ready advocate of the Order. O'Donoghue, DANIEL J.- Born in County Kerry, Ire., August 1, 1844; removed with parents in 1852 to Bytown, Can., which subsequently became Ottawa; at thirteen apprenticed himself to printer; remained there for following nine years; also was active member of St. Patrick's Literary Association, and of a volunteer fire company; joined volunteer militia rifle company and studied military tactics; refused to take oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria when Fenian movement arose, holding the order so to do an unjustifiable insult to Irish loyalty; removed to Buffalo, N. Y., soon after, and obtained situation on Com. mercial Advertiser; joined Typographical Union; spent a few weeks in Ottawa in May and June, and set on foot measures culminating in formation of a Typographical Union; worked in Chicago and Memphis for balance of year; then in New Orleans and Mobile, returning to Ottawa in following August; for next ten years worked at trade; helped form many local trades-unions; was several times president or secretary of local tradescouncils; was first vice-president of Canada Labor Union, formed at Toronto, 1868–9; many times president of Ottawa Typographical Union; in 1874, chosen by workingmen of Ottawa to the Provincial Legislature to fill vacancy; in 1875, re-elected for the term of four years; was originator and advocate of many important labor measures, which became law; in 1879, removed to Guelph, unable to get work at trade in Ottawa on account of his trades-union sentiments; after eighteen months removed to Toronto, where now resides; in 1883, joined Knights of Labor; represented them at the Hamilton and Cleveland Conventions; in 1882, represented Toronto Typographical Union No. 91; since then Labor Assembly No. 2305, of which he was financial secretary for two years; is now Secretary of Legislative Committee of Trades and Labor Council; also employed in Ontario Bureau of Industries and Statistics; has been newspaper reporter, editor and publisher, and contributor to labor journals and various widely circulating newspapers of England. DIAGRAMS OF LABOR AND CAPITAL. The diagrams on the following pages are given as object lessons of the relations of labor and capital. In Diagram No. 1 are given the total wages of men employed in those mechanical and manufacturing industries where more than five thousand men are employed. These figures are obtained from the last United States census. We have obtained the number of men employed according to the statistical returns under the head of males above fifteen. The total of wages of men was obtained by subtracting the total wages of women and children, and is based upon a careful computation of averages. The cost of living for a family of four persons, amounting to $430, is given in detail in Diagram No. 2; as will be seen, this gives no balance for saving. Diagram No. 2, giving the expenses, was obtained after a careful examination of returns made to the Bureau of Statistics of Labor, as published in several reports of that department. It is not our intention to convey the impression that no saving is made by the persons employed in the manufacturing and mercantile industries; but the startling fact is made clear that the heads of families receiving but the average, and having no assistance from other members of their family, can make no saving except by depriving themselves of the absolute necessities of life; and that those receiving less than the average are deprived of the opportunities of even a decent existence. Diagram No. 3 is an exhibit of the advantages of money capital over labor capital, as given in Diagram No. 4. The figures in this table are obtained from the same authority and from the same establishments as those presented in the other diagrams. It will be seen that the balance over cost of materiał and wages is greater than the total wages of men in Diagram No. 1, and is 38 per cent on the capital invested. Out of this percentage there would properly be deducted the expenses of sale and management, of which no statistics are given. But with any proper deduction for these items there would still remain a very large percentage of profit upon the capital invested. The total wages paid to all persons employed in these establishments amount to $931,596,465. These figures are omitted from the diagram for sake of uniformity in the comparison. Diagram No. 4 is a presentation of the comparison between labor capital invested and money capital invested. We obtain the amount of labor capital invested on the basis that annual wages represent six per cent of the labor capital. No one can dispute the statement that the labor capital of a nation is the most important factor in its material civilization. The cost of living is to the laborer what the cost of material and wages paid to labor are to the manufacturer. Under an equitable economic system, the laborer would receive such a percentage upon his investment of time, skill and endurance as would provide for the constant depreciation of his investment. The claim that the deposits in the savings banks are those of wage workers is false, as was shown in the third and fourth reports of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor. We ask a critical examination of these diagrams, believing they contain an exhibit of the injustice of the present wage or competitive system. |