Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-07-24
NEWS OF THE FIELD OF LABOR

1
Low wages mean primitive meth
DDS of production"
w. ]. Smith, of Chicago, was elected
fifth vice president of the Flour and
Cereal Mill Employees international
union at its recent convention in Du'
luth, MINI.
with each recurring advance in
wages, improvements in machinery
and motive power are introduced
tending always to lessen the cost OF
production"
President Adam Menche Of the ILL
nois State Federation Of Labor has
been appointed state factory inspect
or by Governor Yates, and he assum-
| ed the duties of his new position on
July /.
| Over 1000 woodworkers went on
strike at Chicago when they received
authentic notice that their employers
would not grant their demands for
minimum wage scale of approximate
ly twenty-eight cents an hour.
The National Association of Steam
filters, the charter Of which recently
was revoked by the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, does not take kindly
to the idea of amalgamation with
the United Association of Plumbers.
The Inland Steel company's big mill
at Indiana Harbor was shut down in
definitely. The machinists went on
| strike some time ago and now 300
| men are thrown out of employment.
The company refused to sign the wage
| scale demanded by the men.
1.-THE energy now directed toward
simply organizing men and seeking to
better their condition by raising
wages must be more largely turned
toward the political and economic
questions Of the day, upon which labor
and capital depend. "-Clarence Oar
| row.
Springfield, ILL.,, proposes to cele-
brate Labor Day this year in fitting
style, judging from the literature sent
out by its committee, in which they
individually invite every resident Of
the state to come to Springfield and
help make their celebration sue
cess.
At Hammond. Ind, the business men
met and passed resolution demand
ing that the police protect the plant
of w. D. Conkey from Chicago labor
agitators. The action was taken be
cause of a report that the printing
trades were about to begin further
efforts to unionize the plant.
The unions of butchers at the Chi
cago stock yards donated $1,000 to
members in Kansas City who suffered
losses through the recent floods. An
additional sum of $500 has been sent
by the international organization, and
more will be contributed from Chi
cago as rapidly as it can be dis
tributed.
The Employers Association, which
says it has 5000 members, including
most of the business men of Kansas
City, has started movement to re-
peal all city laws that discriminate
in any way between union and indie
pendent labor. There are several
city ordinances that favor the prod
uct of union labor to the exclusion of
independent labor.
Dan Richmond, president and or
ganizer of the International Associa-
ton of Railroad Clerks, writes from
Sheboygan that he has organized
unions of railroad clerks in Milwau-
kee, Fon du Lac, Oshkosh and Mani
towoc. He says he is receiving val
liable assistance from train crews,
telegraphers and other railroad men.
Five hundred machinists in the en-
ploy of the Inland Steel company, at.
Indiana Harbor, struck because they
could not reach any agreement with
their employers regarding a new
scale. They ask for an advance from
thirty-two to forty cents an hour, and
an eight hour instead of ten hour
day. One thousand men will be
thrown out of work.
At a recent mass meeting held at
Belfast, Ireland, in connection with
the shipbuilding trades convention it
was resolved THAT, in the opinion
of this meeting. the law relating to
trades unions as rendered by the
Judges is inequitable and unjust and
requires immediate amendment such
as will adequately protect trades
union funds and insure justice to the
workers"
Thomas ]. Dolan, Jr., general secre-
tary of the International Brotherhood
of Steam Shovel Dredge Engineers
and Cranemen Of America, is making
tour through the mining regions of
Minnesota and Wisconsin. He writes
that two large locals of the crafts
have been organized at Hibbing and
Eveleth, Mimi, and that engineers re-
ceive $3.50 a month and cranemen
$40 a month,
Employees n the disclaimers
shops in Scranton have organized an
aid society, through which members
receive seventy-five cents day in |
case of sickness or accident. The |
services of doctor and medicines