Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-11-20

mon stock has caused the manage
ment to curtail operations.
Secretary Wilson of the United
Mine Workers, who has returned from
Pennsylvania, states that number Of
operators in the Hazelton district
threatened to lay off their miners
who attended the Mitchell day" cele-
bration, but he has not yet been ad-
vised as to the carrying out of the
threat.
1.-THE average workingman is
more valuable citizen than he used to
be, because he earns more money and
spends It," says the editor Of the st.
Louis Labor Compendium. by
| spending his money he is better citi'
zen than he would be II he retired to
miserable hut, pinching every cent
possible and boarding his savings in
a stocking or in hole in the ground.
| The International Union OF Brick
layers and Stone Masons holds its
annual convention in Trenton, N. j.,
early in January, when the PROPOSE
ton to affiliate with the American
Federation of Labor will again be
taken UP and sent to the membership
for a vote. The proposition a month
ago failed to be carried by only a
few votes.
Thirteen glass cutters, who call
themselves the Immortal Thirteen,
and who are employed at the Missouri
Glass Works, comprise the smallest
labor union in st. Louis and also In
the world. They are the only glass
cutters working west of the Missis-
sippi rivce, and when they wish to
enjoy 6 half holiday the cutting de-
partment of the plant is compelled to
shut DOM.
#. W. Rowe of Pittsburg, president
of the American Flint Glass Workers
Union, is seeking proofs that cert'sr
finely shaded glass can be made at
Toledo. On his evidence depends
whether twelve Englishmen detained
at Ellis Island will be admitted or
expelled from the country. They
were being brought in on the plea
that their work was unknown to
American workmen.
Nothing but organized labor can
hold it's own with Morganized CAPT.
tall" snys a writer in the Car Worker.
"Wfen 1000 men organize. every man
has the strength of 999 men behind
him. An u1organized body of men, on
the other hand, is like lot of tramps
working for their dinners. A single
| H. ;x,;Ju To about q rnMtsh
chance of stopping the march Of the
trusts as red ladybug would have to
flag an express train"
The management Of the Vandalia
railroad has voluntarily increased
wages for engineers, firemen, con-
ductors, brakemen and baggagemen
on both passenger and freight trains
for all divisions. The advance is
from 10 to 20 cents a dag, hsuied on
the trip basis for regular runs, and
the hour basis for extra ruET. The
Vandalia did not reduce wages OF
train service men ia 1893, "a most
other roads did.
President Gompers o. the American
Federation of Labor, by direction Of
the executive council of that organiza-
ton, has issued an rsS.at' 10 union
workmen warning tf.cm against par.
ticipating in the movement to hold q
national convention to form national
protective laborers' union. The move.
ment is directed to dividing and dis
membering the labor cause, Mr.. Com
pers states, and he urges all members
of the American Federation to pay no
heed to the proposals.
Colorado's gold production has been
reduced during the past two months
So, 900, 900 by strikes. The strike OF
the miners at Cripple Creek, inaugu.
rated to aid the mill men, virtually
stopped shipments to mills and smelt.
ers. Now, however, 5000 nonunion
miners are at work and ore is being
hoisted and shipped for treatment.
The tonnage has fallen off one-half at
Cripple Creek and during the past two
months a shrinkage of 100000,
mainly at Cripple Creek, has resulted.
The October output was 43,500 tons,
worth $1.112,OO0.
| NSdIly oil thC hOhCy PhAd AhSo eouS
unions goes back to the members in
various ways. The average yearly
sum paid by the member of labor
organization is about SIS. An increase
in wages of five cents day would be
enough to raise this amount. THE
labor unions affiliated with the Ameri.
can Federation of Labor gather annu'
ally about $25,OOO,OOO into their treas
uries-money earned by hard work, "
says Samuel Gompers. OF this i'm
mense sum about $22,000,0O0 is spent
in sick. death. and unemployed bene-
fits, tool insurance, and so on. About
$4,000 900 is spent on strikes"
Joseph A. Labadie of Detroit, a vet
eran labor agitator and organizer, is
unique among labor men in that he
never sought or held offices in trades
unions. However, through his writ
ings and his work in an unofficial ca
pacity, he has gained high rank
among labor men. Mr.. Labadie is
of French and Indian extraction, the
dash of the Indian blood in his veins
coming from his fathers side. He
first Joined the labor movement in