Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-05-20

clothing and notions trades. A con-
sentative estimate is that there are
less than 1000 workmen out in that
city.
In contrast to one year ago, when
43,600 workmen were in strike In
Chicago, there are but $4,000 men, ap.
proXimately, out at the present time.
Demands of various kinds, including
increased wages, have been made by
$4,000 union men, and in some in
stances negotiations are under way
for q settlement.
The total amount of benefits paid
by the cigarmakers' union in 1903
amounted to $374,96S.03, while the
total receipts from dues, assessments
and initiation fees reached the sum of
$751;, 942.56. Since the union adopted
the beneficial system twenty-four
years ago it has paid out in benefits
the enormous sum of S., 930,051.5S.
Several hundred miners quite work
at Burnett, Ind, because their pay
envelopes were on the basis of the
new scale for the entire month Of
April. The operators held that the
annual wages contract dated with
April 1 and that, although not finally
signed until after the first of the
month, applies for all the mining done
in April.
The French transatlantic steam
ship line officials say there is no pos
sibility that the strike of officers OF
the merchant marine at Marseilles
will extend to transatlantic liners,
mainly because all the officers Of the
transatlantic steamers are attached
to the French navy and therefore not
subject to the agitations of the mer-
chant marine.
When the British trade unions
adopted the approximation benefit
there were many who ridiculed the
idea, and said it could not be paid. In.
surance men said that it might go for
a few years, but it would eventually
swamp the unions. 1t has not done
so, however, for none of the unions
adopting it have defaulted on single
claim, and the amounts in their treas.
uries have been kept up, in spite OF
the drain.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
Several of the unions in Philadel-
phia are asking for increases in
wages, but the demands are not &C.
companied by strike ultimatum. In
the building trades the principal
rskiiled branches are under agree
ments, which were signed some
months ago, and will in some in
stances last through 1905. The mas
ter builders advisory board declares
that its stubborn fight of last year
against strikes, and particularly the
sympathetic strike, has had salu-
tary effect.
Labor leaders throughout the coun-
try are optimistic in their views OF
the labor situation at the present time
and with the annual May day demands
of the unions and the signing of new
agreements less trouble is expected
than on any May for years. With
costly lessons learned from past strife
and a more conciliatory feeling pre-
vailing among employers and en-
ployes, students of the labor situation
look forward to a year fraught with
less friction and loss on both sides,
and of great benefit to those affected
directly and indirectly by labor con-
troversies.
The local lodge of Locomotive Fire
men at Lafayette, Ind, has outgrown
its headquarters and is to have new
home. The union has been initiating
new candidates regularly and reports
that a number of the firemen have
been promoted to the other side OF
the cab and have gone into the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers. Lo
cal No. sc is one of the best lodges of
firemen in the state of Indiana. The
members have just received an In
crease on battleship type engines
from $3.50 to $3.50 per 100 miles and
on the Atlantic type Of engines from
s1.9O to $2.05 per 100 miles.
The convention of the international
Brotherhood of Bookbinders which
will open in St. Paul, Mimi. on June
a. promises W Dc OuC u uhuouoA IL
terest. 1t will not only be of interest
to the bookbinders Of Pittsburg, who
expect to bring the next convention
there. but also to the general trade
in this country. Great Britain and
other countries. In England and Ger
many, where unions exist and where
shop conditions in some respects are
much better than in America, steps
NAV be taken to form an international
agreement between these countries
respecting travelling cards and other
matters from which great benefit to
the trade may result.
Ralph Smith, M. P, recently made
in New York the best defense Of
unionism ever made there, says an ex-
change. He concluded by telling his
hearers a story of John Burns, M. p,
who once took part in an important
cricket match at one of the large
asylums in the city of London. Some
5000 lunatics under the control of half
a dozen guards were present to wit
ness the game. When the sports were
over the chief warden conducted Mr..
purns around the institution. Look