Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-23

and relating stories OF abuse ana Iall-
ure to keep contracts. There has
been, however, a considerable move
ment of Mexican laborers to the
United States this year; and 1t seems
to have been related to the shortage
of laborers in some Southern cotton
fields, owing to the emigration north
ward of negro laborers. II such a
movement should spread seriously
throughout Mexico it would create
great embarrassment in some dis
tricts."
'"The press of Mexico has been con-
siderably occupied for some weeks
past with reports and comments upon
what they consider very extensive
and a very deplorable tendency among
Mexican laborers to emigrate to the
United States. According to reports,
Mexican laborers have been crowding
tie border cities en- route to the cot
ton fields of Texas, Oklahoma, and
even Louisiana and Mississippi. 1t IS
also reported that many, disgusted
with their treatment, are returning
disillusioned by failure to receive the
high pay promised to them. Some OF
the periodicals severely criticise the
ranch owners and mine owners OF the
country, the former of whom, they
state, keep their laborers in the OLD
condition of peonage as far as pos
sible, holding debts over them ana
paying the smallest possible wages,
al. TOTO
conditions which have arisen in Mexl-
CO, while the mine owners. are taxed
with not taking adequate measures for
the safety of their workmen and with
absorbing the major portion or the
wages paid to them in profits OF the
company stores, which are generally
operated at every camp OF any size,
tickets on them being given the work
men as pay.
The call for the twenty-second an
nual convention of the Illinois State
Federation of Labor has just been is
sued by President Barney Cohen and
Secretary James f. Morris. The con-
vention will be held in Aurora, be-
ginning Tuesday. October II, at 10
o'clock. The call is, in part, as fol-
| lows:
The Illinois State Federation of
Labor is a deliberate body, calculated
to benefit the trades unionists and the
working class of the state in the way
of legislation, agitating for union
labels. pushing boycotts, and the gen.
eral advancement of trade unions in
our state. In view of the work per-
! formed by the Illinois State Fedora
ton of Labor, through its legislative
committee in forcing the enactment of
various laws for the benefit of the
wageworkers and the people in gen.
eral. and while a great deal was &C.
complished at the last session of the
legislature, there still remains great
deal to do. Realizing further that the
work can be more thoroughly done
and with greater ease when backed
up both morally and financial, by
every organized body in the state,
therefore | wish to call your attention
to the necessity of your union affiliat-
ing with the State Federation OF
Labor and be represented at our next
state convention to be held at Aurora,
If possible, and in that way help to-
bring about the changes and reforms
most needed 1t Is not necessary for
me to tell you how essential it is for
your union to be affiliated, for as you
all know, better organization means
better conditions, and we cannot be
too thoroughly organized. Therefore.
hope that your organization will at
your earliest convenience become a
part of the Illinois State Federation of
Labor and be a power to battle for the
rights of working men and women.
every trade union in the state that
is DESTROYS of complete organization Of
labor in every city in the state should
be represented with a full quota OF
delegates. 1t is as essential for a
trade union to affiliate with the state
federation as it is to affiliate with a
central body. The federation is en-
deavoring to do in the state what your
central body is doing in the city.
Therefore, the Importance Of this con-
vention should not be lost sight Of
AS it is expected that THIS convention
will be the largest ever held, let every
live and energetic union be repre-
sented."
"a little feature of the Topographic
cal Unions international convention
at st. Louis deserves more notice than
it has yet had. 1t was proposed to
adopt a resolution warning the men,
bers of the union not to enlist in the
militia Any man with good, red blood
in his veins would have been delighted
to see the way the labor men treated
the resolution. They did not simply
vote it down. They jumped on It,.
metaphorically, with hobnailed boots.
They said that membership in labor
union was no reason why any labor
man should be unwilling to be ready
to defend his state, his country or his
flag from enemies at home or abroad.
The Typographical unions of this
country are made up largely of men
who think for themselves; and in this
matter they thought like true Ameri-