The labor world., 1900-01-06

/ that might not be amiss in our midst
By reason of compulsory arbitration
adopted, employers are bound not tC
pay below an established minimum
wage rate. Bootmakers, for instance
are to receive not less than SLIGO a
day, and graded up to $500; overtime
! ]time-and- -a-half. The eight hour day
prevails. Butchers are paid $500 tt
f, $3.50. Curriers', S1.60 to $500. The pay
of apprentices and the number is stip-
ulated in each trade, as we'll as the
sanitary conditions under which men
may be permitted to work, and the re-
port is given where numbers of en-
| ployers have been fined for violatins
these laws; in one instance the en-
ployer was not molly fined $10O, but had
to pay into the union treasury $4,000
for violating the agreement made witt,
the union.
City council Of Brussels, Belgium,
voted $1,000 to defray the expenses of
workmen to be sent to the Paris expo
sition. Socialist physicians recently
met in Brussels and organized So
ciety for the propagation of socialism
among the medical fraternity. The
miners Of the country also held con-
vention and resolved to reorganiZe up
On an improved basis The greatest
activity is displayed among the work
efs in anticipation of securing larger
representation in Parliament at the
coming election. EG
The printers strike in Pittsburgh
has revealed at last one thing, and that
is the utter hypocrisy of the would be
trust-smashing organs. The Post and
six other daily papers, which have
loudly demanded the disruption of capi-
talistic combinations, have all joined
hands and put. up $4,000 each, to be
forfeited if either Of them withdraw.
The owner of the Post, the chief anti
trust organ, is the president Of the
newspaper trust and the man who was
instrumental in forming it.
The fight against the New York Sun
is still being waged with great bitter
ness by organized labor despite the
court Injunction 1t is limited that
powerful capitalistic interests are back
ing the Sun, and also that some of the
other daily papers are secretly sup
porting the Sun in order to break the
power of the Typographical union.
The strike and boycott of the printers
lin Kansas City also continues, and the
machinery of the courts is being en-
ployed to keep the people guessing.
A $5O,0OO,0O0 combine has been incor-
pcrated in New Jersey for the purpose
Of buying retail stores in cities of
10000 Inhabitants or more. The COM
pany expects to control from 500 to
1000 retail stores. The store trust will
probably manufacture some of its goods
and purchase train load lots, thus cut
ting deep into profits, with the result
|;that small competitors will be swept
out Of existence and into the labor
army.
There. is said to be a string attach
ed TO the raise Sc wages secured by
The average raise per employe is Il
cents a week, but it is claimed the liv-
ing rates in the industrial centers have
been advanced so arbitrarily that the
little II cents disappears before the
workers can get a good grip on it.
Old song! Now you see it, and now
you don't.
On the one hand the Illinois Supreme
court has raped the trusts with a
hostile decision, and on the other the
nti-department store law, enacted by
the last legislature to prevent the little
merchants from being crushed, was
declared to be unconstitutional.
The railway telegraphers of the Big
Four are dissatisfied. They claim they
were left out in the cold when wages
We're raised on that line, and that the
effect will be the disruption Of the fed
Grafton that existed among the various
brotherhoods.
There is some fear in New York that
the rich contractors are accommodating
a big fund to be used in smashing tho
building trades unions. The latter are
quite strong in the metropolis, and if
a fight starts it will be a battle royal.
The Socialist party Of Oklahoma was
permanently organized at a conference
i of delegates from all factions at Okla
hOma City $this week. Every county
will be thoroughly organized prepara-
tory to next years campaign.
The hard and soft coal miners of
Pennsylvania are talking strike again.
They want more wages and the bosses
declare their demands would have the
effect of forcing an industrial depres..
sion, which might become general.
The Socialists of Denmark are try
ing to push a bill through Parliament
| which will enable municipalities to
borrow money In order to construct
| workmen's dwellings where necessary.
The Wall Street Economist, finan-
cial organ, predicts that by 1910 John
d. Rockefeller will own one-half the
total wealth Of America.
| The American Political League is the
name of new reform party that
will trot out presidential ticket in
Boston on July 4. .
! Social Democrats organized branches
at Kansas City, Kan, Milwaukee,
Wis, Bonham, Tex, and Coudersport,
Pa.
It has been decided by referendum
| vote to hold the national convention of
the Socialist Labor party in Roches-
ter, N. Y, January %.
| Tho ,,oovop,opt Of bo orropita :