Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-06-10

ing their demands, as they ask for an
equalization of the wages by all pack
ers.
Labor unions Of Georgia are advo
eating the establishment of a bureau
of state labor statistics and mining.
There are now affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor: Inter.
national unions, 11S; state branches,
thirty-one; city central bodies, sos;
local trade and federal unions having
no international unions, 1872. This
does not include the charters issued
to local unions by affiliated interna'
tional uniong, the total Of these locals
being 26.400.
At Cleveland, May 81, behind closed
doors votes were taken for officers
by delegates to the convention of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers. Theodore ].
Shaffer Of Pittsburg, who has been
president for several years, was re.
elected. Other officers were reelected
as follows: Secretary.treasurer, John
Williams, Pittsburg; assistant secre-
tary, M. F. Tighe, Pittsburg; editor as.
ISOLATION journal, Ben I. Davis, Pitts
burg. The convention adjourned after
choosing Detroit as the next place OF
meeting.
The newest international union to
establish its headquarters in Chicago
Is the Hodcarriers and Building La
borers' International union. It was
formed in April, 1903, at convention
called by Samuel Gompers, and held
in Washington, D. c. When first or
ganized there were twenty-six local
unions affiliated. with membership
of about 10000, over one-half of which
was from the Chicago locals. At the
present time there are 173 local
unions connected with the interna
tional from all parts. of the country
and the total membership is $4,000.
THE state militia was degraded to
the uses of corporations which con
nived at the breaking Of the law. The
very men whom we used the troops tc
protect imported all-round bad men
the very men ran out of their camps
to break the law in Denver and car
| ry the election in their interests
With this statement Adjutant Genera!
Bell, heretofore the right-hand man Of
Gov Peabody in his military methods
| of handling recent labor troubles, in
| Colorado, announced his purpose to re
sign his position and have nothing
more to do with what he considers an
improper use of the state forces.
Orlando H. Baker, United States
consul at Sydney, New South Wales
reporting on labor conditions there
| says: Hardy a boat arrives here
from the United States without bring
ing some victims of the writer who
has pictured New South Wales as the
paradise of the workingman.' The
unions have by law monopoly Of the
work to be done at fixed prices. While
| some are we'll paid-mostly employees
| of government works-thousands can
| find nothing or very little to do al
any price. No encouragement is given
for immigrants who are dependent
upon their labor for living. These
facts should be known to Americans
Brass Molders' union No. SO has
| seeded from the Metal Polishers,
| Platers, Buffers, Brass Workers and
Brass Molders' international union
| and propose to form an international
| union of brass molders alone. 1t is
not likely that the brass molders will
| be given a charter from the A. F. OF
| L., as the Boston convention conceded
the Iron Molders' union jurisdiction
over the brass molders. The seces.
| sion was due to the failure of the re-
| cent strike of brass workers. The
| molders say that the brass workers
| and chandelier makers returned to
| work, leaving the holders out in the
cold.
An event of vast Importance ia
| trade unionism occurred in the British
| house Of commons on April %. BY q
vote of 23S to 1919 what was known as
the trade union bill' passed it's sec.
| ond reading in the house of commons
| in spite of an adverse speech and an
adverse vote from the premier Mr.
Balfour This bill legalizes peaceful
| plCk6lluS anu dHCHuo thC i'V VI Soh
spiracy in connection with trade dis
putes. 1t also protects trade union
bank accounts and other funds against
legal process for damage caused by
the action of members of such unions
| The bill, as Is there commonly known
was the outcome of the recent judg
ment in the Taft Vale railway case
when the Railway Servants Union
was mulcted in heavy damages fol-
picketing and alleged interfering
with nonunionists.
The labor editors Of the state OF
Illinois, the men who publish the
trades union journals for centra
bodies of organized laber in the small
communities, have formed state
association The meeting was held
at Springfield, but it is expected to
make the association permanent at
second meeting to be held at Peoria
| in June. The officers selected are:
President, E. A. Whitney Of the Ke-
vance Labor Herald; vice president,
s. w. Smalley, Galesburg Labor
| News: secretary-treasurer, r. E.