Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-04-01

oO>N>
times are here at last, and every hui
man being in this country would be
glad to believe these editorials to be
true. Unfortunately, the news col
umns of these same papers, censorized
as they are, contain facts enough to
prove the CHASTITY falsity of the pros
perity claims. Here are some random
extracts from the news record:
The 5000 operatives at the Atlantic
and Pacific cotton mills, at Lawrence,
Mass, have decided to accept the 10
per cent reduction in wages, which
went into effect on the LIST ult.
The annual report of the board OF
state charities of Pennsylvania reviews
the work accomplished by the board
within the last year. w. B. Streeter
tells of the child saving work that is
now being carried on under the direc-
ton OF the board. The special effort
OF the department, he says, is to find
homes for children on farms. The re-
port of the board on outdoor relief for
the poor, based on the returns made
by township trustees, shows that with
in the year one person in twenty-seven
received public aid. The total number
of persons aided within the year was
82.312. as against 67,414 the previous
year. or the number aided 76,S99 were
white and 544 colored; 56,340 were
Americans, 1866 Irish and 1885 Ger
man. In majority of cases aid was
extended on account of sickness or
death in the family. The total amount
expended in outdoor relief within the
year was s3SS, 693.57. as against $780,
255.29 during the previous year.
The employees of the Wheeling steel
plant in Benwood, w. Va, about 500
in number, have been notified of sec
ond reduction of wages within twelve
months. The present reduction affects
all employees, and runs from II to rs
per cent.
Seven years is an early age at which
10 experience the irony of fate. But
little Willie Rodney, aged Z, knows
what grimly satirical person destiny
is. Willie is 4 boy orator. During the !
which resulted in Mckinleys
election he astonshed and delighted |
all San Rafael, Cal, with his speeches
about Republican prosperity. Worthy
members of the G. o. p. regarded him as
heavcn-in inspired, and even stanch dem
ocrats were shaken in their faith by
Willje's speeches. "Out of the mouths
of babes" they quoted and felt that
Willie Rodney must have prophetic
sight when he pictured open mills and
busy folk, well-filled larders and hap
nv families as a result of McKinley's
elegtipn. Now Willie Rodney lives in
buck room in San Francisco tene-
ment, with his mother, who has wash
ed clothes until she can wash no
longer, and knows what it is to be
very hungry They haven't tasted
meat in weeks. Crusts are luxury to
them. Willie's CLONES are pa'oho"
FROM head to foot.
About forty employees of the bleach
;rg denartment of the American Print
ing company at Fall River, recently
struck because of an excessive reduc-
ton in wages, which they claim has
been made.
The police stations of both PittsburG |
and Allegheny. Pa, are literally pat
ronized these nights, but Allegheny
central station accommodates more
dodgers, perhaps, than does the safety
palace. Last night, says a Plttspurg
paper. up to 9 o'clock twenty-seven
men had applied for and received lodg
ing at the north side station Of'these
twenty-seven twenty were Skilled
worknen. whom lack OF work had
finally driven to the necessity OF be-
coming a public charge. There were
blacksmiths, carpenters. engineers ma
cbinists, bridge-builders and one or
two other trades in the list, including
a printer, painter, a tailor and
glass blower.
Fifteen hundred suits of clothes were
contributed by the mail carriers OF
Chicago to the destitute miners at
Ladd, III.
The labor trouble in New England
has grown more acute but 1t is not as
Stunning phase favorable to the men,
The present status is, in fact, distinct
ly gloomy for the men and women
who wear away their lives in the
mills. The prospect is that there will
be no great rebellion on the part OF the
wage-earners, for our working people
have grown so accustomed to Ill treat
mept that they have, in many cases.
lost hope of doing anything to better
their condition,
government Ownership OF Railways.
Nv an overwhelming majority the
neopIe of the Helvetian Republic have