Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-08-26

VOu Was given lOT SICK anu uedtu
claims. Sixty-seven deaths occurred
during the year, of which nine were
by accident.
The royal commission on labor dis.
putes created in England last year is
making little Roadway. Trade unions
and labor organizations in all parts
of the country. have refused assist
ance and information of any kind to-
ward making the tribunal of any val
ue, owing to the fact that there are
no representatives of organized labor
on the commission.
l.. ]. Curran, the general president
of the International Union of Interior
Freight Handlers and Warehousemen,
wishes to inform the members that
the only official general convention is
that to be held at Kansas City, Kas.,
| in January, 1905. The organization
holds biennial conventions and GER
tain members criticised the general
officers because no convention was
held this year.
The secretary Of the navy has sent
letter to the protesting local labor
unions giving as his opinion that the
ten-hour workday in force in the con-
struction of the League Island dry
dock is not a violation of the federal
eight-hcur law, since that law only
applies to work done by the govern.
mert and not to work done by con-
tractor for the government
Many prominent men hold member
ship in the Brotherhood of Railroad
Firemen. I'VE have lawyers, doctors
and even clergymen in our organiza-
tion," said Grand Master Hannahan.
I'VE even have priest There are
several legislators and nearly every
line of business is represented in the
membership. can say without
egotism that it is doubtful whether
there is another labor organization in
the world that can produce a better
dressed or more intelligent lot OF
men than ours"
]. w. Johnson international secre-
tary-treasurer of the Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers Union. re-
PORTS that the recent vote for affilia-
ton with the proposed Structural
Building Trades Alliance was 6,135,
of which 1927 were in favor of the
affiliation and 2,60S against. He an
nounces that the final vote will show
the affilation carried by a vote OF
four to one.
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
| A. f. of L., was asked to explain
| unionism. In a sentence he replied:
1.-THE labor movement has for its pur-
pose the securing of the best possible
economic and social conditions for the
| masses; and the attainment OF these
with the least possible friction. the
meeting of problems as they confront
us; the making of the day after this
a better day than the one preceding"
The Journeyman Tailors' National
Union was formed at convention
held in Philadelphia in August, 1883.
Local unions of tailors existed in this
country when trade unionism was IN
it's infancy. They were among the
lrSC SklllGu WOIhl " ioi IL - >ONAA
bination for protection. Previous TO
the year 1900 records are shown
where unions of tailors existed in New
York and Philadelphia, and a union
was organized in Boston in 1906.
The three division plants of the In
ternational Harvester company in chi
cago have been closed for few days
to arrange for repairs and an inven-
tory according to the statements OF
the officials of the concerns. THIS
closing order throws idle about 10000
workers, nearly all of whom are union
members. The union wage scale does
not expire until Sept. l. The COM
pany announces that about one-fifth
of the employees will be furnished
work on the repairs and that all Will
be back within a month. Relations
between the corporation and the
unions have been friendly during the
year.
A proposition to organize the school
teachers of the country along trade
union lines created considerable dis
cussion at the recent meeting OF the
National Educational association. The
debate was precipitated by Miss Mar
garet A. Haley of Chicago. president
of the National Federation of Teach
ers. She said that teachers should
organize into trade unions in order to
secure better compensation for their
services. The pay they received was
not commensurate with the services
rendered, and the relief from these
impositions lay in the field OF organ
lied labor. The salary of teacher In
some places, she said, is barely
enough to keep horse.
It is settled policy OF the labor
movement that unions shall not pledge
their members to work for certain
employers only or to refuse to work
for certain other employers. Frequent
". when an agreement is being ne
gotiated between trade union and.
an organization representing num-
her of employers. it is proposed that
the members of the union shall bind
themselves to work for the members
of the employers association exclu'
s,yo,v These proposals are in most