Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-04-22
NEWS OF THE LABOR WORLD.
Items of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.


Items of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.
Job printers of Louisville have asked
for an increase in wages of $3.50 a
week and an eight-hour day.
The Commercial photographers
Union now reports 10000 members.
Seven hundred were added in March.
The Ashland mine at Ironwood,
Mich, operated by the Cleveland
Cliffs Iron Company. suspended opera
tons. Three hundred men are idle.
The city firemen of Houston, Tex,
have formed a union and secured a
charter from the American Federation
of Labor.
The Leather Belt Makers union has
demanded the union shop and that in
dull times hours be shortened and no
men laid off.
The four strongest points of sue
cessful trade union, says John Mitch
ell, are as follows: 1. High dues; 2. A
system of benefits; 8, discipline; 4
A union label.
The Granite Cutters union has in
its organization SO per cent of all tn l.,
cutters in the United States and a
reserve fund of 100000 with which
to prosecute any fight.
The labor papers of the State of
New York are advocating the forma-
ton of an organization of union"
of the publishers Of that class of pa
pers. The Labor Journal Of Rochester
began the agitation.
Unable to agree to an arbitration
of their differences, the Iowa miners
and operators split in joint conference
with the result that every mine in the
state shut down, throwing 1880 min
ers out of employment.
According to the report of Secre-
tary Carrick of the Brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators of America,
the organization paid s74,279.5O in
death and disability benefits in the
two years ending with 1903.
Free employment bureaus are in
successful operation in thirteen states
Ill IulS ClSH COuh-
tries also have the same measures. A
move is now on foot to establish a
similar bureau in Massachusetts.
I There will be a general suspension
of building operations in Terre Haute
because several trades, particularly
carpenters, want an eight hour day
and IS instead of 30 cents an hour.
Plumbers want so instead of 40 cents.
Employees of the Erie railroad are
seeking readjustment of wages.
Last year increases averaging per
cent were made in all departments.
The agreement was to last one year.
The employees now wish another ad-
vance.
The American Federation of Musi.
clans will hold it's next annual con.
vention in New York City the second
week in May. New York Local No
80 is preparing an elaborate program
of entertainment for the visiting
musical artists.
Every member of a trade union
must stand upon his merits as me-
chanic," says Henry White, the secre-
tary of the United Garment Workers.
"a trade union is not formed to give
protection to the incompetent men or
women in the trade"
The ACCESSIBILITY of inaugurating a
general movement for the purpose of
abolishing night work in all bake
shops throughout the country is be-
ing discussed by the members of Bak-
cry and Confectionery Workers In
ternational Union of America.
John Mitchell, president Of the
United Mine Workers of America, and
William Dodds of Pittsburg, elected
fraternal delegates to the interna-
tional mining congress to be held in
Paris by the United Mine Workers of
America, expect to sail for Europe
May 5.
The Boot and Shoe Workers union
is to start an extensive campaign of
newspaper and other advertising for
the union stamp at once. All local
unions of the B. and S. w. U. and or
ganized labor throughout this country
and Canada will be asked to look for
the stamp when buying shoes.
The breach between the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company
and it's machinists became wider when
]. w. Kendrick, third vice president
of the company, gave his ultimatam
TO a union committee. emphasizing his
refusal to make any agreement with
the International Association Of Ma
chinists.
The financial statement Of the.
American Federation of Labor shows