Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

council has passed resolution rec
ommending to all affiliated unions the
passage of law imposing fine of IS
on any member found guilty of pur-
chasing mems working clothes, such
as overalls, aprons, etc., or any kind
of a hat suit or pair of shoes without
the label.
The United States consul at Sydney,
Australia, reports that the length OF
days work in New South Wales has
been placed at eight hours, with
minimum wage of $1.70 per day for
common labor. Half-holidays are at
the employers expense, and the
state and banks and factories give
preference to union labor.
BY referendum vote the Bricklay-
ers and Masons' International union
has decided in fovor of the death ben
eft feature obtaining in many of the
other trade unions. The new benefit
will be 500 for members who have
been six months in good standing and
5000 for those five years or more
steadily on the unions books.
The Fox River Valley Manufacture
ers' association has opened its cam
paign by lengthening the working day
from nine to ten hours so that the
force of men may be cut down. The
Chicago-Milwaukee Brewers associa-
ton, unable to increase the cost of
beer, has dropped hundreds of its en-
III in, nv.ln 10 mo 20 in,
The Brotherhood of Painters, Deco
rators and Paper Hangers of America
has adopted an elaborate charter for
issuance to local unions. The charter
represents every branch of the craft
and Is printed in forty different col
ors. Treasurer M. P. Carrick designed
the charter and Frank Gersdof of Chi
cago Union No. 275 did the coloring.
Adjutant General Bell at Cripple
Creek, Colo. has issued a statement
defining martial law as 1t will be en-
forced. He defines military neces-
sity," insurrection and treason. OF
the latter he says: ARMED or unarm-
ed resistance by citizens of the United
States against the lawful movements
of the militia is treason and is pun
ishable by DEATH"
Franklin Union of Pressfeeders at
Chicago will be fined for contempt by
Judge Holdom for having violated the
Chicago Typothetae injunction. The
fine may be anything from 81 to $4,000.
Judge Holdom, in rendering his de-
cision said he thought he would not
fine the officers of the union, as he
could not establish that they were
cognizant of the violation of the in
junction.
The Illinois state bureau of labor
statistics has just issued the annual
coal report for the year ending with
June 30th. 1t shows a magnificent
increase in the production of coal in
Illinois over the previous year, which
in itself was record breaker. About
100000 more tons were mined in the
last year than in 1902. One of the
most remarkable things In this years
report is the table of fatalities, which
shows an increase Of so per cent.
Cigarmakers' union No. IA of Chi
cago has adopted sick benefit sys-
tenn, independent of the sick benefits
paid by the international union. The
plan has been in vogue in number
of cities throughout the country for
some time. Any union cigarmaker
under so years of age is eligible to
membership, and upon the payment of
81 year in dues is guaranteed sick
benefit of S. week for thirteen
weeks in any one year. No benefit Is
paid for sickness of less than one
weeks duration, nor for illness caused
through the use of intoxicants.
Last yeaF the union label Of the
Garment Workers was placed on over
34,500,000 garments" says Ernest
Poole in the Outlook This was an in
crease of 100000 over the year be-
fore. "ln the garment making bust
ness" he says, hours are shorter
work is less irregular, the shop is sani-
tary and the air is wholesome" On
the other hand, the work in the fac
tory is more intense and more mon
otonous than the old system. There
are still too many sweatshops. Not
long ago." says Mr.. Poole, Il saw
a $45 overcoat being pressed in a
small, foul sweatshop."
What can the unskilled wage-wor}x-
ers do who lack the quickness and the
ability that are required by the trade
unions? This question is brought up
by a young lady named Miss A. M.
Maclean, who has been investigating
conditions in the sweatshops of New
York and Chicago. Hundreds, perhaps
thousands of women and girls are in
the clothing trade, but they lack the
skill to come up to the trade union
standard. They earn as low as fifty
cents day, and work thirteen and
fourteen hours to get it. They can
never hope to work fast enough to sat
isfy factory foreman. What are they
to do?
An English cocoa manufacturer who
employs 1000 women in his factory
has hit upon a ~ew idea in the way Of
dealing with his employees. He has
employed four social secretaries"
whose business it is to see that the
of,Ixy