Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-10
cHIcAGo. Feb. 90 man should

ChlCAiO, rep- " A man SnOuIC
! De dragged out and shot when he ha.
reached the age of IS years. He has
outlived his usefulness. He is dead
timber In the pathway of progress un
der modern Industrial conditions.
suggest that law be drafted and
submitted to the legislature for pass
age which shall provide that all per
sons be shot at the age of 45 years
unless they can show that they have
enough property saved up to keel
them during the rest of their natural
lives"
This was the way the serious ques
ton of an age limit for mechanics and
laborers was put by one of the speak.
ers at the meeting of the Chicago
Federation OF labor. 1t was said
that some OF the railroads and large
manufacturing establishments now
refuse to hire man over 35 years of
age. and that mechanics are discnarg-
ed at the age of As years by these con
Germs because they are too old.
Daniel Kennedy of the boiler-mak-
ers union stated that twenty-five first
class mechanics in his trade who had
applied for work at the car shops OF
Tie Chicago and Northwestern road
at Fortieth avenue and Kinzie street
within the last few weeks had been
turned away soley because they were
over 80 years old. Another delegate
said that the Illinois Central road will
not hire mechanic if he Is over 45
years old. Machlnists. carpenters
and men in other trades testified that
a similar age limit was being enforc-
ed by various classes of employers.
Robust men in the prime of life
told of the subterfuges they were
compelled to resort to In securing
employment Many confessed to
having dyed their gray hair time and
again to give the youthful look nee
essary to secure work Those who
had a tinge of gray in their boards
said that they had to keep a clean
shaven face to avoid detection of their
age. Those who wore eyeglasses
said they were compelled to leave
their glasses at home to hold their
jobs.
A communication from the Broth
erhood of boiler-makers and iron ship
builders brought the matter to the at
tention of the federation. 1t was
as follows:
There Is question that is agitat-
ing the minds of a great number of
mechanics and laborers today have
the misfortune to be in the prime of
life and cannot secure employment
in the mechanical trades on account
of the age limit that is enforced on
number of railroads and in the large
manufacturing establishments. 1t is
deplorable and unjust and our object
in bringing II to your attention is to
see If some action cannot be taken by
the Chicago Federation of Labor to
correct this evil,
This aroused all the delegates. In
stantly number jumped to their feet
to tell of instances where the best
mechanics had been discharged in
the prime of life because of their
age. After giving several instanc-
es in the machinists' trade, William
F. Ielican suggested shooting at the
age Gf As as the measure that would
probs bly, meet with the approval of
the large employers.
COlISThNTINOPLE. Feb. 6.-Nah-
mud Pasha. brother of the Sultan,
has again been sentenced to death
and his execution is to take place al
most Immediately. Political in
trigues caused the sentence.
BOSTON, Feb, 6-The will of the
late Congressman Charles Sprague
leaves ten million dollars to his wife.
Mr.. Sprague died in sanitarium
from mental disorders.
CHICAGO, Feb. G.-Up to noon to.
day ten bodies had been taken from
the buildings on 22d and Archer
streets, which were last night wreck
ed by an explosion OF gas which re
suited in the demolition of the build
ings and the imprisoning OF nearly
100 persons by the falling walls.
1t Is thought this forenoon that
three of the injured will die.
1t is believed the explosion was
caused by the explosion of the gas
pipes under the buildings The gas
escaped, ignited and exploded.
The buildings were soon in flames.
and only the herculean efforts of the
firemen prevented the whole block
from being destroyed.
So terrific was the explosion that
several people in passing street cars
were injured by the shock and by fly
ing debris.
The property loss will be about one
hundred thousand dollars.
Eleven bodies have been recovered
50 far from the scene of the fire at
22d and Archer streets. This Is be
lieved to be the full casualty list
The dead are Otto Trostel. his wife.
nephew brother and four children;
Sophie Kneip, hired girl; Otto Gier-
man, an employee; Mary Rosenthal.
a visitor
There were 23 injured by the ex-
plosion and the fire. 1t is now be-
lieved the explosion was caused by
Trostel thawing the frozen natural
gas pipes.
rIJEVENNE pNvp Eab q c-nanio