one or more classes of employees. We dwelt at considerable length, in our report of last year, on this question of a constantly mounting wage-scale. With the industry already burdened as is perhaps no other, and with all opportunity to pass on to the "ultimate consumer" any appreciable part of its ever increasing operating and other expenses precluded, it has become a serious question in the minds of many employing brewers as to how much higher shall wages rise before the reaction so long predicted, and which moderation and good counsel alone can avert, becomes a reality. Your Committee forbears to say more upon this point, feeling that in its report of 1914 it sounded sufficient warning.

Twenty-eight strikes, including a few lock-outs, have occurred, involving about 4000 employees. Four of these strikes were due to failure to reach an amicable settlement of questions of contract renewal; others arose from minor disputes of one kind or another. Eleven of them were lost by the employers, one was lost by the unions, seven were settled through compromise; eight are pending, though it should be explained that three of these do not involve breweries or agencies. The strikes remaining unsettled are those of Washington, D. C.; Alexandria, Va.; Wilmington, Del.; St. Joseph, Mo.; and Philadelphia, Pa. This last mentioned strike involves merely an agent for a firm located. in another city where the entire number of breweries is being struck against. One of these strikes is now in its second month, two are in their fifth, one is in its sixth, and another is in its ninth month. In all, two hundred and twenty-five workmen are involved. Last year our report showed that not more than 5 per cent of the total number of men employed had been on strike during the entire twelve months; this year the percentage was slightly higher.

One hundred and seventy cities entered into new contracts during the past twelve months; these contracts cover from 17,000 to 18,000 employees. Of these new contracts those for three years and those for two years are in about equal proportion, with a scattering few limited to one year; these last having been permitted to renew automatically.

Although we have reason to believe the number of strikes which has occurred might have been still fewer in number, the brewing industry remains secure in its position as having fewer serious

labor troubles than any other important industry. In saying this we do not flatter ourselves that as an industry ours is singularly free from friction as between employer and employee. That friction which arises when either employer or employee inclines to treat other than objectively the rights of the other manifests itself continually; but eventually a way out is found and what might have culminated in a serious disturbance is averted. Without in the least disparaging the efforts put forth by the officials of the unions to keep the more radical of the rank and file in check, the employers of the industry may well claim the larger credit for this condition. The average brewer is inclined, when involved in a labor dispute, to follow the line of least resistance. Not so much because of lack of courage of his convictions, as because of his psychology as an employer. The conditions of the industry with which he is identified, have inspired him to regard with uncommon indulgence the human side of labor. The workingman, moreover, is his customer and should have more consideration than any other class.

Some there are who take the position that this sentimental viewing of the human side of labor may be overdone, is being overdone; that it has failed to beget a reciprocal attitude upon the part of the unions, and on more than one occasion stimulated them to even greater efforts to force acceptance of their demands. This point of view is no less worthy of consideration than is the other and more complaisant one. As to which of these two viewpoints shall eventually prevail in the industry, your Committee ventures no prediction beyond that in the ultimate determination of this question the unions must accept the final responsibility.

CONCILIATION BOARDS IN THE INDUSTRY

Our predictions concerning the conciliation boards in the industry at St. Louis and Chicago, seem to have been well founded according to recent advices from those important brewing centres. Mr. C. Norman Jones, Chairman of the St. Louis Board, informs us that the local board has worked well, although it has developed a few faults which could not have been foreseen by its sponsors. However that may be, the industry at St. Louis has been free from strikes for more than two years, or since the conciliation board has

been in existence; whereas prior thereto minor strikes of one kind or another were of frequent occurrence, keeping the local industry continually in hot water.

Mr. Austin J. Doyle writes that the Chicago board continues to give satisfaction. So much so that no dispute has gone beyond the board. (The Chicago plan of conciliation, like that of St. Louis, it should be explained, provides also for arbitration but only as a last resort.)

Your Committee commends the idea embodied in these conciliation boards to the attention of both employers and workmen in other brewing centres. The practical value of such boards as a means whereby to eliminate senseless strikes has long been recognized in the Printing and other industries; now that it has been demonstrated in our own, the example of St. Louis and of Chicago should find many emulators.

BREWERY WORKMEN'S CAMPAIGN

The Brewery Workmen, as stated in our report of last year, have gone into the work of opposing prohibition in a most intelligent manner. At their convention of 1914 it was decided to give coordination and fuller effect to their campaigning and for this purpose a bureau was organized, with International Secretary Proebstle in charge. Although only in its first year, this new department of that organization has accomplished much that must, as time goes on, have telling effect in its particular field. It makes its appeal to trade unionists, members of building associations and other organizations of workingmen. A noteworthy feature of this work is the formation of Trades Union Liberty Leagues. These have been formed in several states, and within the coming year it is hoped to organize them in every state in the country that has thus far rejected Prohibition.

In the State of Ohio, where the Brewery Workmen did yeoman work a year ago, they are preparing to take even a more conspicuous part in the campaign there this Fall. Each member of their Ohio unions, to mention a mere detail of their plans, has been assessed three dollars for this one campaign, just as each of the 60,000 members of the general organization is assessed one dollar

a year for the purpose of financing the new bureau. Narrow indeed would be the view that in taking so considerable a part in this important sphere, the Brewery Workmen are doing no more than they should do. While such criticism would be true enough, it is equally true that the intelligence and thoroughness wherewith they have gone about this work of propaganda deserve our full and hearty recognition.

THE QUESTION OF UNION-MADE MACHINERY

Since last reporting to you there has been no appreciable change in the status of this vexatious question. The machinery-making firms (with few exceptions) and the metal trades unions are as far from composing their differences as ever. The pity of it is that, while ever ready to help the two parties to come to a reasonable understanding, the brewer-who has had no hand in the origination of their quarrel-is made to suffer, ground, as it were, between the upper and the nether millstone.

Baffled as we have been time and again in our efforts to have removed, through one means or another, a condition that is so unfair to the brewer, we have not entirely despaired of its elimination, and hope at some time during the coming twelve months to be in a position to report the successful accomplishment of this task. Pending which we again remind you of the advice given in our report to the past several conventions, which was to the effect that when contracting for machinery, our members should in every case provide for its installation by the respective manufacturers, and that the contract should be so formulated as to stipulate that a substantial portion of the purchase-price shall be paid only after installation has been fully completed.

NATIONAL JOINT CONFERENCE BOARD

In reporting to you last year, your Committee informed you that, in the person of its chairman, it had proposed to the International Union of United Brewery Workmen the creation of a joint conference board representative of that organization and the United States Brewers' Association. The object being to provide a means whereby both organizations could, through their chosen rep