Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-02-19
BALABOR I'D BA
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: tons and promote the formation there
of local unions with charters from
the American Federation.
Among the international labor con-
ventions already called are the piano
and organ workers in Chicago in July.
brotherhood of teamsters at Cincin-
natl, Aug. 1; the butchers in the same
city May 8, the united brewery work
ers at Indianapolis in September, and
the BARRIERS at Louisville Oct. 4.
The amalgamation conference Of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen and
the international Association of Car
men is off. the split coming on the
question of admitting colored men and
affiliation with the A. F. of L., and a
difference of opinion as to whether the
employees were eligible to membership
as actual carmen.
Less than $4,000 of the 10000 men,
bers of the Brotherhood Of Painters.
Decorators and Paperhangers voted
in the international referendum cleo
ton. President ]. c. Bahlhorn Of De.
troit, Secretary.Treaurer M. F. Carrick
Of Lafayette, Ind, and the old board
of officers were reelected. The elec-
ton Is for two years.
A decision in favor Of affiliating
with the Structural Trades Alliance
has been reached by the general ex-
hood of Carpenters and Joiners at In
dianapolis, Ind. The report in favor
of such affiliations will be submitted
TO the various locals of the brother
hood for a referendum vote.
The Oregon Supreme Court has de.
cided that direct legislation is in har-
mony with the United States constitu-
ton. This decision, and the decision
of the Kansas Supreme Court that the
eight-hour law is constitutional, are
the two most important events in the
line of social progress that have hap
pened for many months.
Judge Kinkade Of the common pleas
court at Toledo, Ohio, rendered de-
cision refusing an injunction asked for
by the Ricard Boiler and Engine works
to restrain their former employees from
picketing the works. He held that the
firm should resort to arrests for pro-
lection and that injunctions should
only be invoked for protection where
the law fails.
The executive board Of the Inter
national Brotherhood of Transfers de-
cided that hereafter before any affiliat-
ed local union can go on sympathetic
strike of any kind two-thirds majority
of the whole local about to be involved
must be secured and Endorsed by
two-thirds majority vote Of recent
council of that vicinity and then re-
ceive the Endorsement of the general
executive board.
Colin Mckay, former labor editor OF
the Montreal Herald, writes to say
that the coal miners of Nova Scotia
have become prosperous by uniting
politically in defense of their inter
ests. "a legal eight-hour day is in
force" he says, land the miners re-
ceive in most instances SO a day.
which is equal to SIS in New York. Ow-
ing to the excellent system of mine
inspection disastrous mining accidents
are practically unknown"
Ethelbert Stewart, special agent OF
the United States Department OF
Labor, estimates the strength Of mem.
| bership in American labor organiza.
lions at about 100000. He gives the
American Federation of Labor credit
| for 100000 members, the railroad
brotherhoods $4,000 and the brick.
layers, stone cutters, letter carriers,
| Western Federation of Miners,
knights of Labor and other organiza.
lions not in the American Federation
Of Labor about 100000.
If the labor unions do not guard the
victories that they win it is not long
before they will find themselves as
ford to be too careless or confident.
The latest evidence of this comes
from Illinois. Three factories on the
Fox River are now attempting to re-
establish the ten-hour day. 1t is a
fact that in some of the steel trust
DlaULS WIZ WI hCu
eight hours day now work twelve.
A national convention of delegates
representing unions Of composition
roofers, damp and water proof work
ers met at st. Louis, for the purpose
of organizing national organization
of that craft. When organized the
new national union will take char
ter from the National Building Trades
council. The cities represented at the
convention are New York, Chicago,
Newark, Denver, Paterson, N. j.; New
Haven, Conn; st. Louis, Kansas City,
and st. Joseph, Mo.
The latest labor news from Austria
liza shows that the union men in that
country are going into politics. An
election is soon to be held and sixty
three labor candidates have been NOM
mated. The total number of vacan-
cies is ninety-four. The labor men
are we'll organized and have plenty Of
money and enthusiasm. Tom Mann.
the famous English labor leader, has
done most of the work of organizing.
and he has now retired and bought
- yy;otorio