Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-11-04

umns Of their journal, and thereby Sc
cure matter for publication that is
both interesting and instructive, the
editor of that journal will offer a prize
each month for a short essay on the
best method of performing some stat
ed kind of work connected with the
various branches of painting and deco
rating. The best of such stories sent
in will be printed in the journal, aside
from being awarded prize.
After q conference with a score OF
contractors regarding the adoption of
plan of compulsory arbitration to
settle labor disputes in the building
Structural Building Trades Alliance
of America decided to submit the
proposition to the National Building
Contractors Council for it's approval.
Well-known Independent building con-
tractors also will be asked to approve
of the plan, and should sufficient en-
enlargement be given, it is proposed
to have arbitration agreements be-
tween international unions in the
building trades and similar organiza-
lions among the employers. The In
ternational Association of Gravel, Tile
and Composition Roofers, comprising
$4,000 members, made application for
membership in the alliance.
The American Federation Of Labor
has joined the movement for the ex.
termination of tuberculosis, President
Gompers realizing that thousands OF
workingmen in the large industrial
centers suffer from that dread dis
ease, caused largely by the unsanitary
condition Of factories, workshops, mills
and mines. The Illinois State Fedora.
ton of Labor, in convention in Aurora
last week, also took steps to prevent
the spread of the disease in this state
and planned efforts to secure remedial
legislation at the coming session OF
the legislature. The Central Federal
ed Union of New York city has also
named a committee for the prevention
of tuberculosis, which committee, like
the other two larger organizations
will place before local unions all in
formation that may be gained in re
gard to the dangers and the safe
guards that should be taken and will
aim generally to diffuse such informa
ton.
The United States Steel Corpora
ton has planned to compensate its EN-
ployes for suggestions that will in
crease the consumption or reduce the
cost of manufacturing it's products. A
notice has been posted in its various
mills throughout the country, as fol
lows: For the purpose of stimulating
the use of our various products of
both the sheet and tin mills, by de.
veloping new purposes to which they
may be advantageously put. we desire
that the cooperation and assistance OF
yourself and all subordinates, includ.
ing the workmen in your mills. We
would like to have it understood that
anyone offering suggestions which are
developed so as to increase the con.
sumption Of our products will be prop.
erly compensated. 1t will also be an
opportune time to have our workmen
understand that we stand willing and
ready to properly compensate them
for any method or device they may
suggest or design that will reduce our
cost of manufacture.
The call for the ninth annual con.
vention of the International Seamen's
union, to meet IN San Francisco Dec
s, has been issued The various unions
of lake seamen will instruct their dele
gates to that meeting and also to that
of the American Federation Of Labor
to make demand that jurisdiction be
given the seamen's union over every
person employed on boats. The long
shoremen's union has organized the
firemen, engineers, tugmen, fishermen
and several other crafts working on
the lakes, and this attempt of the Lake
Seamen's union to take jurisdiction
will be the elimination Of a fight
that has been threatening for several
years. The seamen are willing to con
cede to the longshoremen jurisdiction
over all workers along the docks, but
claim that the dividing line must be
drawn when it comes to vessels. The
longshoremen, on the other hand, have
been laboring for almost a decade tc
bring under their jurisdiction every
employee on and along the lakes to
form one organization, to embrace
every person who is earning his bread
in any manner through lake traffic.
"Once an agreement Is entered into
by and between a local union and e
corporation, contractor or an employ
ers' association, it should be adhered
to during its existence, unless broker
by the other party thereto" Such is
the advice given the members of the
Brotherhood of Blacksmiths by the in
ternational officers through the me
dunn of the magazine issued by the
parent body. Editor Kerr tells the
membership good judgment should be
used at all times when the question OF
agreements with employers is up fol
consideration. The article ends with
this advice: Good judgment should
be used at all times when the ques'
ton of agreements with employers is
up for consideration. A reliable bust