davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
Carpenters, Horseshoers, Bricklayers,
Stonemasons and Several Local
Unions Demand for Eight

Unions Demand for Eight
Hours.
Action of the Executive Council of the
American Federation Of Labor, in session
at Indianapolis, March 25.l
At this hour when myriads of workers
are seeking employment, and in their de-
spair, numbers of them are captiv ated by
the seductive theories and glittering prom
ises of securing State help, we, the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, reaffirm the neces
sity of concentrating all the forces of the
practical labor movement by the voluntary
and collective efforts of the trades unions,
backed by sympathetic public opinion.
The general and constant introduction of
machinery, the minute subdivisions of
labor, the irregulality of employment, the
continually recurring periods of industrial
stagnation and financial panics, the hope
less wall of the unemployed, all demand
equalization of the opportunities that will
come from the general adoption Of the
eight hour day. All other ''isms" and
economic theories within our ranks should
be subordinated to the great task of giving
work to the unemployed and of bettcring
the wages and conditions of all who
toll.
There is no movement Of more value to
the working people than that which will
tighten the burdens of those who are over
worked and underpaid, and which will give
employment to those who wander our by
...l l.; 81, xv, oaorobi,r IL, yoi, fo,
better chance to live. The realization OF
the eight hour day to them means better
food and raiment, happier homes. better
citizens, nobler manhood and a higher
civilization.
AS we approach this question, we realize
fully the magnitude of the interested and
selfish forces arrayed against us, the indif-
ference of the working people themselves,
their old-time prejudices and the many
dissensions which divide them. More than
all, we recognize the need for more thorough
and complete organization of every
craft and occupation on trade union
lines before we can undertake a general Or
simultaneous stand for the eight hour day.
This severe industrial crisis from which we
are now emerging, however, should be
helpful lesson to lead the industrial classes
into such compact organization, which,
when once attained, will bring still greater
achievements TO the working people.
We heartily approve the shorter work
day asked for by the Journeymen Horse
shoers' National Union, and tender it and
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters our
active CO operation and united assistance in
their present efforts to reduce the hours Of
toll. We congratulate them that they are
in a position to undertake this movement
without our financial aid.
To insure continued and successful efforts
by the working people in this direction, the
President and Secretary of the American
Federation Of Labor are hereby directed to
issue an address to the wage workers Of the
country urging them to join the trade
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
ROUBAIX, FRANCE.

What the Socialist City Council is
Doing.
The Socialist Town Council Of Roubaix
is further extending its system of free
meals to school children under pressure
from the reactionaries, who after doing
all they could to prevent the institution
of school meals, are now abusing the
Council for its niggardlness in only grant
ing free meals to the junior scholars
The meals consist of a good milk soup or
vegetable broth, followed by roast or boiled
meat, then fruit or eggs, and bread and
light beer.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Now, thoughtful workingmen to day,
WILL times improve?
Just look the matter through and say,
Will times improve9
Under the present barbarous rule,
The great combine, the sweaters school
Answer this question calm and cool,
Will times improve?
Just look around and calmly think
Will times improve?
Your chains are welding link by link,
Will times improve?
Machines are daily being made
To rout hand work in every trade,
Soon craftsmen will be in the shade
Will times improve!
So long as capitalists hold sway
Times WON'T improves
So long as ignorance blocks the way
Times won't improved
So long as workingmen are blind
And are content to lag behind,
There nothing surer in my mind
Times won't improved
So long as man remains slave
Times won't improve!
And sweaters grind down to the grave
Times won't improve!
And the many are content to do
The wish and bidding Of the few
So sure as yonder sky is blue
Times won't improve
j. H. FAIRFIELD.
II T,Ouis Mo-
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.
Strikes in Great Britain In 1895.

Str.KeS III UTeHl bTItHIH III IoVO'
During the year 1895 there were in En-
gland, Scotland and Ireland 772 Labor dis
putes, affecting 243, 500 persons, as COM
pared with LOCI disputes in 1894, affecting
1924, PAS persons-a material falling of. OF
these strikes, 20 per cent were successful,
Al per cent partly successful, and the rest
either failed or the result is unknown; but
it is estimated that the great Midland coal
strike in 1898 cost the country no less than
ego, 900, 900.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
MADRID, SPAIN,
Pablo Iglesias Again Free.

The well known Labor leader and ed
itor of ''El Socialista," Pablo Iglesias, is
now liberated, having served his term of
Imprisonment at Malaga for acts in con-
nection with strike. He writes thanking
the Socialists of Spain for their energetic
agitation and for their kind acts towards
his family while he was imprisoned.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

ing the mischief wrought BY the un.
necessary stockholders, middlemen, and
gamblers already referred to. But it is
likely that the big gamblers, landlords,
and money bags returned to Parliament
by the operatives will interfere with the
business Of their smaller brethren? 1t is
likely we shall hear Of mice suggesting
further improvements in the modern
mouse trap?
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

these tracts Of vacant land are, as r1le,
widely scattered in relatively small bodies,
and not in such condition as to attract the
settler.''
Alphabetically speaking, the United
States is now occupied from the Atlantic
coast to the second tier of States hey ond
the Mississippi, with the exception Of the
Ozark Country of South Missouri and
Arkansas, a part Of Western Louisiana
and some heavily wooded sections of Min
nesota.
1t is necessary to go beyond the western
boundaries Of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri
and Arkansas to find 95 per cent Of the pub
lie domain. There, in fifteen States and
Territories, are Co., $50, 900 acres still unoc-
cupied, and there is water supply for only
| "A, 900, 900 acres. Mr.. Newell says that TO-,
est, 96, 900, 900 acres woodland, and the re-
! mainder, 374, 900, 600 acres, can only be
utilized ;~r grazing. In these same fifteen
States and Territories the United States
has already disposed of 25S, COZ, 2S9 acres.
In five years there has been disposed OF
continue it would be only sixty three years
until every acre of the public domain would
pass into private or corporation ownership.
But there is only small percentage which
is worth anything for settlement, and at
the present rate of disposal that will all be
taken in less than nine years.
The United States is rapidly nearing the
end of free homes It's limit of agriculture
development, so far as the addition Of
acreage is concerned, is in sight. ''Over
600, 900, 900 acres, or more than three fifths
land States consist Of open, treeless
country says Mr.. Newell. although
there is not sufficient supply of moisture
to support or encourage the growth CT
trees upon the greater part of this vast
area, yet almost everywhere heritage Of
one kind or another has succeeded in
obtaining foothold, and during portions
of the year at least furnishes excellent
grazing. The soil of this country is usually
fertile, but the Investigations Of water
supply have shown that it is highly i'm
probable that sufficient supply Of water
can ever be obtained to reclaim more than
very small percentage of these arabic
lands. The greater part must always re-
main uncultivated, except in so far as
plants adapted to arid conditions may be
init oduced.'
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
Who Owns the United States and who
Is Responsible for the Whole
sale RObberys

When the figures are given showing to
what extent the Government has wrested
the public lands from the people and given
them to railroad corporations, exaggeration
of the infamy of the proceeding is scarcely
possible. Men see the figures piled up and
look at them in sort of dazed way as they
do when reading statistics of other crimes,
and thus the outrage has been permitted to
proceed until 1871, 442, 0S3 acres Of the
peoples land have been given to enrich
railroad corporations as follows:
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
INTERNATIONAL.
LONDON, ENGLAND.

The London Society of Competitors.
The annual report Of the London Society
of Compositors just issued to members con-
tains the following particulars: The society
numbers 10, $50 members, and during the
last year has paid eli $50 lSs Cd in allow
ances to 2, Isl unemployed members, an
average relief to each claimant Of 95 los lid.
The weekly proportion of subscription per
member required for unemployed claims
amounted to I'D. The recorded deaths
of members is 1877, made up as follows:
Phthisis, AZ; bronchitis and pneumonia,
10; paralysis and heart disease, IL; syncope
and influenza, 80; tuberculosis, decay,
softening Of the brain, apoplexy and
epilepsy, Is; the remaining 81 deaths being
accounted for by about eighteen other
causes
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01


The foregoing figures tell the story of a
shameful and criminal disposition Of the
public domain. This alien ownership of
land in the United States exceeds by 5000
square miles the entire area Of Ireland, and
the work of grabbing our public lands by
aliens still proceeds. Nor is this all. There
are seventeen companies and individuals
who have grabbed more than 1000, 900
acres of the public lands, or an average of
about SO, 900 acres each and this land piracy
does not include the immense estates in
Texas nor the land grants in California and
New Mexico.
When will the people of this country have
sense enough to make the land-this free
gift of nature-the common property of the
people, of the nation?
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

1t must be considered that the municipal
election laws Of Belgium are even more
unjust and more In favor Of the Capitalist
class than the laws which govern the cleo
ton for national representatives, inasmuch
as they give some men three votes and
others who own no property, no vote
at all.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
South Carolina. 49,. 80, $40 10, 564, SO6
Georgia. see. ....... 50, AIS $1,000, 900



Totals ........ 200, $50 191, S22, 600
Tabulated, the lands owned by aliens
amount to nearly "a, 900, 900 acres, or 81, 900
square miles, an area as large as that Of
South Carolina and New Jersey combined,
as follows:
Alien Owners. Acres.
Arkansas Valley Co., Colo. ...... ], 200, 900
Prairie Cattle Co., Colo. ......... ], 200, 600
An English syndicate, No. 3, in
Texas 3, 900, 900
The Holland Land Co., N. Mex. 4, 500, 0C0
Sir Ed Reid and syndicate, Flor 3, 900, 900
English syndicate in Mississippi. |, 800, 900
MARQUIS of Tweedale. ...,. .... /, $50, 900
Phillips, Marshall & Co., London |, 300, 900
German American syndicate,
London. ................... $50, 900
Bryan H. Evans of London. ..... ECO, 900
Duke of Sutherland. ......... 425, 200
British Land Co. in Kansas ..... 800, 600
VIA. Wharley, NJ. p, Peter
boro, England ................. 80, 900
Missouri Land Co., Edinburgh. 300, 900
Robert Tennet of London. ...... $50, 200
Dundee Land Co., Scotland. .... 247, 900
Lord Dunmore .... 100, 200
Benjamin Neugas, Liverpool. 100, COO
Lord Houghton, in Florida. ...... $4,000
Lord Dunraven, in Colorado. 80. 10000
English Land Co. in Florida. zee. $4,000
English Land Co., in Arkansas. O,OOO
Albert Peel, p, Leicestershire 10000
Sir j. L. Kay, Yorkshire, Eng. 5000
English syndicate, Wisconsin. -. 10, 200
Alex. Grant of London, in Kansas 35, 900
NJ. Ellerhauser of Halifax, in
Virginia. 600, 900
A Scotch syndicate in Florida. 800, 600
B. Boysen, Danish counsel, in
Maine. ......... $4,000
Missouri Land Co., of Edinburgh 1G5, 900
Duke of Northumberland ..... 19l 200
Duke of Devonshire. ............ las, 526
Duke of Bedford .. 139, 1913
Duke of Cleveland. .............. 100, $50
Sir w. w. VIM ............ l,652
Earl of Carlisle .............,.. rs, $40
Duke of Rutland ... 70,039
Lady Willoughby ........... 59,912
Earl of Derby. .... SO, sos
Earl of Brownlow .............. 81, 799
Lord Londonsboro. ..... ........ SO, 655
Duke of Portland ................ %, 259
Marquis Of Aylesbury ........... 55,O5l
Earl Yorborough .... "a, $40
Earl of Cowder ... 81, $50
Earl of Fowls ........ 46,095
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

The Growth of Socialism Among The
Belgian Wage Workers.
The following figures are taken from the
official report and show the strength of the
three political parties, in the last NUM-
cipal elections.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
World of Labor
An Old Capitalistic Saw, a Question
and an Answer.

Written for the Socialist Newspaper Unionl
Oh, workingmen will be all right,
When times improve.
They'll all have lots Of dollars bright
When times improve,
For they'll get work and generous pay,
Their hours will be but eight per day
And they'll be righted every way
When times improve.
Yes; workingmen will be quite great,
When times improve.
They'll help to guide the ship of State,
When times improve.
Their lives will be one round Of fun,
No happier men beneath the sun,
What e'er they ask it shall be done
When times improve.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

King, AK G. Co. in Cleveland reduced
the wages of their employees. Result-a
general strike. Better times!
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
LABOR NOTES.

Modern Civilization Illustrated.
Three hundred miners in Bezin, Belgium,
strike for higher wages.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

The Rhode Island Cotton Mill Companies
have decided to cut wages or reduce run
ming time at once. Fine prospects!
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Carpenters make new move for eight
hours. P. j. Mcclure spoke in st. Louis
on the eight hour question.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Fifty girls in the shirt factory of Tootle,
Wheeler g. Motter have gone on strike.
Cause: Starvation wages-as matter Of
course
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Fifty girls in the shirt factory of Tootle,
Wheeler e. Motter have gone on strike.
Cause: Starvation wages-as matter of
course.
Over 30, 600 miners in the Astrau district
in Austria have gained their strike for
higher wages and better conditions in
general.
Human life is cheap Sixty-fve miners
most of them fathers of families-killed
in an explosion near Brunnerston, New
Zealand.
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shops in
Washington, Ind, have been closed in
definitely. Four hundred men out of en-
ployment.
st. Louis Trades and Labor Union will
discuss the subject ''The London Inter
national Labor Congress- at its next
regular meeting.
Five thousand Central and Northern
Pennsylvania miners accepted cents
per ton advance. How many cents ton
the wages had been cut, the telegraph
failed to state.
American Federation of Labor, Execut-
i've Council, met in indianapolis and
transacted considerable business. The
eight hour question was discussed.
Ellis g. Lessig Steel Company, in Potts
town, Pa, raised the wages Of their 500
employees 10 per cent. During the last two
years the wages had been reduced at least
30 per cent.
The street car men Of Philadelphia are
again riding the strike horse. They claim
that the Railway Monopoly has violated
the agreement entered into with the en-
ployes after the last strike.
st. Louis Building Trades Council
threatened to make trouble, if the Republi-
can National Convention Hall be not
strictly union made. But the trouble may
not become so serious after all, since the B.
C. leaders are still solid with the g. o. P.
Four English machine filters, imported
by Fall River (Mass) mill men are de-
tanned at Ellis Island, N. Y, under the
alien contract labor act, and the importers
have appealed to the Government at Wash
ington to permit the contract to be carried
out.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
LAND GIVEN TO RAILROADS

LAND GIVEN TO RAILROADS.
Names of Corporations. Acris.
Illinois Central, Mobile and Chi
cago ................ 1855, 053
Mobile and Ohio River .. 1,0O4, $40
vicksburg and Meridian .... 404, 500
Mobile and Ohio ............ 230, 400
Alabama and Florida ...... 419, 400
Selma, Rome and Dalton. ...... 4S1 800
Coosa and Tennessee. ........... 1872, $50
Mobile and Girard ............ $40, $50
Florida Railroad ................ 442, 542
Florida and Alabama ...... 1876, 6SS
Pensacola and Georgia .......... 1858, 720
Florida, Atlantic and Gulf ..... 1872, 1853
North Louisiana and Texas ... 6l0, $50
New Orleans and Opelousas and
Great Western. =. ...... 967, $40
Leavenworth, Lawrence and Gal
weston. ..... .......... 500, 900
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. 5000, 900
Union Pacific, Southern branch. /, $50, 900
st. Joseph and Denver City,. 1,700, 900
Portage, Winnipeg and Lake Su
perior, Wisconsin Central. E. 1850, 900
La Crosse and Milwaukee. ...... 624, S13
st Croix and L. Ike Superior POI, 100
st. Croix and Bayfield, Branch :. IA, 800
Lake Superior and Mississippi. 900, 900
Sioux City and st. Paul. ........ 524, 800
McGregor Western. ..... 1, 53G, 900
Grand Rapids and Indiana ... So, $50
Southern Minnesota and Mime
sofa valley ................... 404, OOO
Marq. and Ontog., Marq. Hous-
ton and Ontario. .......... 221 DOG
Peninsula Chicago and North
westerly .............. 24O, 900
Minnesota and Pacific. ...... 1,OS9, 455
Minneapolis and Cedar Valley
minnesota CentraD ........ 257, S6l
Winona and st. Petats .... 564, 900
Southern Minnesota. ......... 735, 900
Hastings, Minnesota and Red
River North. .............. 555, 900
Union Pacific .................1 2, 900, 900
Denver Pacific ................. 1000, 900
Kansas Pacific ............S... 5000, 900
Central Pacific and Western ~ 5000, 900
Hannibal and st. Joe union Pa
cific Central branch) ....... ISL, 044
Sioux City and Pacific. | so, 600
Burlington and Missouri River. 2,441, 900
Northern Pacific .............. 1000, 900
California and Oregon Central
Pacific ....................... $500, 900
Oregon Central and California. $500. 900
Atlantic and Pacific. ......... AZ, 900, 900
Southern Pacific ........... $500, coo
Oregon Central Oregon and
California; ............... 1900, DOC
Southern Pacific (branch le). $3.50, 600
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
vicksburg. ...... ............ $500, 900
Texas Pacific. ......... ..... 5000, 900
Stockton and Copperopolis $50. 800, 900
Total 10. 40. OS3 |
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Over 30, 600 miners in the Astrau district
in Austria have gained their strike for
higher wages and better conditions in
general
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01
A Sound Threshing for an American
Jingo-LabOrist.

Jingo-LabOrist.
Kerr Hardie, in his London Labor Leader,
sends the following timely words Of greet
ing to the Pacific Coast
1.-THE Coast Seamen's Journal is the
official organ of the Sailors and Firemen 6
Union on the Pacific Coast. In the issue
just received there are some clever verses
by j. Holto, from which / give the follow
ing as specimens:
So it's steady, boys, be steady, an it's
ready, sir, aye ready,
Pass the grog around, an drink it to the
lees;
To defend the flags tradition should be
every mans ambition
By God We'll lick the Mistress of the
Seas.
Come the naughty British nation, come the
whole entire creation,
Come the heavens an the earth-come
Hades, too;
Let Old Glory wave forever, we will strike
our colors never,
For Columbia S tars will either die or do.
Hank the drums insprin' rattle, bark your
country's call to battle,
Hitch your trousers an get ready for the
fray;
Drink her down and don't be fretful, here s
to all the past forgetful-
Jacks his country's ownest, dearest son
to-day.
Appearing in a Labor paper, such senti-
ments are a disgrace to the movement.
Why should the Jack Tars of America shoot
the Jack Tars of this country because two
sets of Gold Bugs quarrel over the owner
ship of strip of land in South America?
The Government workers at Sacramento
passed resolution in q similar vein to the
above few weeks ago.. Were it not for
the growth of the Socialist movement,
which, as the resolution of the Oakland
Trade Council, protesting against war,
shows, is getting hold of the best class of
workers, we should despair of progress in
California.
Cheers for the Working People of
Italy.
The Italian defeat has more morals than
one, says London Justice. 1t is instructive
to notice how all the representatives of
Capitalistic civilization, however much at
loggerheads they may be otherwise, stand
I'M and hug each other, in face of the
common barbaric enemy, just as
they do in the face of the
common Socialistic enemy. Queen Vic
toria and the Austrian Emperor send con-
dolescences to Umberto on the failure of
his marauding expedition against power
with which they are at peace, and a
potentate with whom they have no ground
Of quarrel. Even the French bougeoisie
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

In viewing these figures the question
arises, what is their area in square miles9
In giving an answer it will be interesting to
note the States whose area in square miles
and acres approximate the area of the lands
given to railroad corporations, as follows
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Human life is cheap Sixty-five miners
most of them fathers of familes-killed
in an explosion near Brunnerston, New
Zealand.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-01

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shops in
Washington, Ind, have been closed in
definitely Four hundred men out of en-
ployment.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-22
ALL FOR REED.
Pennsylvania Is Becoming Solid for
the Man from Maine.
Pine Tree Stale Citizens Flccdng 10 Join the
New Reed Club.

Portland, Jan. 2l-Hon. Isaac W.
Over, who has just returned from an ex
tended trip through the states of Pennsyl-
yania and New York, brings news that
will be read with interest by Maine and
especially Portland people.
81 found that about every other man |!
met" remarked Mr.. Dyer, today, was
decidedly favorable to Mr.. Reed for the
Presidential nomination. Out in western
Pennsylvania the drift is strong for him
and throughout that entire section the
Deoplc have great admiration and warm
friendship for Mr.. Reed -
Colonel Thomas p. Shaw, who at the
organization of the Maine Reed Club in
this city, last Wednesday, was chosen its
secretary, is receiving numerous appica-
tions from citizens DESTROYS of becoming
members.
The committees appointed for the work
of arranging the necessary details have
not yet been called together, but probably
will be within {. short time
No definite plans in regard to trans
portation OF these who will attend the St
Louis convention have as yet been made
and will not be until after the meeting of
the Western railroad agents, who will as
semble in Il few weeks
The details in regard to the hotel ac-
commodations will be closed in a few
DAYS.