Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-09-02
FARMERS CONGRESS-
Officers and Delegates Flocking in.
to st. Paul for Their Meeting.
The EIGHT. HOUR Law IN KANSAS.
The Attorney General Rules That 1t Does
Not Apply to state Emploves-The
Railroads and Elevators In Chi
cagO swamped In Grain.

81 fAuL, MINI, aug. ol.-Iiif du-
vance guard of the delegates and Off
GERS of the National Farmers congress
arrived in numbers yesterday. Most
of the officers registered at the Ryan
hotel, which will be the official head
quarters. One OF the first to arrive
was i. f. Clayton, of lndianola, Ia,
president of the congress. At the pres
ent session an important theme will
be discussed, viz; Strikes and their re-
lation to the farmer 1t Is believed the
congress will pass resolutions asking
the federal congress to enact measures
which will result in a better system
for the control OF strikes and the pro-
lection Of commerce during their reign.
President Clayton said yesterday:
believe that strikes are often necessary,
but also believe that they should be made q
last resort am in favor Of requesting the
federal congress to direct the enforcement OF
the interstate commerce laws, which protect
commerce at all times also want to see the
federal congress pass laws which will control
the gigantic trusts Of the present time. We
believe that trusts are Illegal want to see
trusts regulated and labor troubles settled by
arbitration. In the failure OF this we, as a
class Of farmers wish to see the interstate
commerce laws enforced, believing that strikes
are injurious to the interests Of farmers.
THE EIGHT-H0uR LAW IN KANSAS.
Topeka, KAN, Aug 81. Deputy
Grain Inspector +, W. Frasius, located
at Topeka, has called upon the attor-
ney-general, through the state grain
inspector, for an Interpretation of the
eight-hour law. lie worked IS hours
the other day and he wants to know
whether he can get extra pay for
it. The Encouragement has writ
ten an opinion on the subject
in which he says the eight-hour
law does not apply'to state officers
and as deputy grain inspector
is state officer, hence it cannot be
applied to him. He adds by way Of
suggestion that there is nothing what
ever in the law books that could be
construed to mean that deputy grain
inspector has not the privilege to quit
the job when he thinks the work is too
hard. The Encouragement holds that
no one comes under the law but labor
ers and mechanics and is inclined to
think that laborers and mechanics do
not except such Of them as are paid by
the day. In other words, he does not be-
lieve thatany man working for the state
can claim the privileges Of the eight
hour law whose duties and compensa-
ton are fixed by act Of the legislature
ALMOST swAMPED IN GRAIN.
CHICAGO, Aug. Sl.-The railroads
and elevators in and around this city
are being literally swamped with the
unprecedented amount Of grain from
the west. The railroads not only have
every box car in service, but are board
ing up stock cars and rigging up other
equipments in vain efforts to handle
the traffic. The st. Paul, Burlington
and Rock Island were blocked
with grain trains for miles
out of the city Sunday, and
every side track in the country
is being used for storage tracks. Yes
terday 6,Os5 cars of grain were offered
for sale on the board of trade. This
means two days receipts. The receipts
of corn for the same period were $500.
The bulk of the stuff is being con-
tracted to 60 east via water The de-
mand for vessel room is SO great that
the lake rate from Chicago to Buffalo
has advanced 100 per cent, or two
cents per bushel, and boats cannot now
be secured at this rate. The total
shipments from Chicago to the east via
lake last week amounted to 100, 1888
tons, of which 1872, 26s tons were grain.