IBEW membership increased from 23,500 in 1913 to what number in 1919?

The increase in IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) membership from 23,500 in 1913 to 148,072 in 1919 reflects significant growth within the union during a time of industrial expansion and labor organization activity in the United States. This period was marked by increased mobilization of workers, particularly during World War I, when demand for electrical workers surged due to the war effort and industrial growth.

The correct figure of 148,072 indicates the union's effectiveness in recruiting and organizing workers in response to these changes in the labor market. This rapid expansion is essential to understanding the historical context of labor movements and the role of electrical workers in the broader landscape of American trade unions.

In this context, the other numbers suggest levels of growth that were either too optimistic or improbable during that specific timeframe, given the challenges and realities faced by labor unions in the early 20th century.