Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-08-14

workers employed directly by one EN-
ployer. Under our modern system o
production, no worker Is independent
and each In some manner handles thu
product Of another, SO 1t follows that Z
sympathetic strike might involve thu
entire country and bring about revo
luton. No sane uniopist believes II
such a course, but some Of them Dc
not stop to consider whittier they are
drifting.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
The convention of the Longshore
men, Marine and Transport Workers
International Union at Bay City adopt
| ed strong resolutions against the
present stevedore system as practiced
In Chicago. Delegate Harmon asked
the body to take the matter up and
adopt method by which the practice
can be broken up. He claimed that
dozen stevedores in the city and
one at South Chicago did not work
except to collect money and pay the
men. The claim Is also made that
these men receive the same as the
men who do the work. and at times
have half dozen jobs on at the
same time.
Without dissenting voice the Chi.
cago Federation of Labor voted to
create a great strike fund with which
to continue the labor war against ting
Kellogg company. The delegates went
to the limit of their authority under
the constitution of the federation in
voting for an assessment of s cents a
month to be levied on the members
of every local identified with this cen
trail labor body. 1t Is claimed there
are 100000 organized trade unionists
in Chicago who may be called upon to
lend financial assistance, their contri
buttons amounting to $4,000 month,
for the conduct of the campaign
against the employers.
The withdrawal of the teamsters
from the strike against the Kellogg
Switchboard and Supply company OF
Chicago has to large extent cleared
the local atmosphere, although 1t has
not settled the strike. The other
unions are now preparing for pro
tracted struggle, which they hope will
end in the same way as did the strike
at the Allis-C Chalmers plant. which was
waged for fourteen months. After
fighting the unions through the law
courts and otherwise, that firm is now
employing only union men, and the
leaders believe that the same condi
tons will eventually be brought about
In the plant of the Kellogg company.
The question of jurisdiction between
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmen and the Retail
Clerks International Protective asso.
citation was settled at the recent con.
vention. In small towns where the
market butchers are now organized
and are members of a mixed local
union with the grocery clerks they
will not be divided, but in cities where
there is sufficient number Of estab
lished separate locals, the market
tion of the Butcher Workmen. In
markets where the two classes are
employed and the proprietor desires to
use the union-shop card both classes
must receive union hours and condi
lions before the card is granted.
Robert Kerr, general secretary OF
the International Brotherhood OF
was in Chicago a few
days ago and chartered local union
of blacksmiths' helpers formerly affil
lated with the Allied Metal Mechan.
les association. The recent strike in
this city of the blacksmiths' helpers
demonstrated clearly that the helpers
and journeymen should be in one
uaion and under one Jurisdiction. In
separate organizations there is likely
10 be continual conflict, and the inter.
asts of the blacksmith and his helper
are so nearly identical that they
should be together. Secretary Kerr
says that the Brotherhood of Black.
smiths has enrolled over $4,000 mem.
bers in the past ten months. and has
now membership Of over $4,000.
The combination strike and lockout
which has kept building operations at
/ standstill in New York for nearly
wo months seems to be nearing the
end Several of the unions have &C.
,epted the plan of arbitration pro.
POSED by the contracting firms. but a
lumber of others are holding out.
some 10000 of the strikers went back
O work. During the 81 days of the
midtown, according to the New York
Times, the total loss has not been less
han SOS, 100000, nearly million and
quarter per day. This loss may be
ivided as follows: To the strikers,
n wages. $1S,O00,000; to the con.
FACTORS, in interest, Office expenses
nd loss in contracts, $3O,0O0,OO0; to
ther workingmen forced into idle
ess, $2O.0O0O0O.
Pittsburg comes to the front this
ear with new labor organization to
axe the place of the present parent
American Federation al
.abor. knights of Labor or whatever
rganization may be in existence
7hen this one is launched. The new
rganization forming in the Smoky
'ity has an ambitious name-the sen.
to of Labor-and is intended to super.
EIDE the above organizations. The
urnosec NJ the Senate Of Iahor oc