Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-17

Board OF Trade, just issued, shows
that the accumulated funds of 100
principal British trades unions amount
to $22,75O,O00. This sum represents
about 500 for each member of the
unions included in the 100 selected.
The total number of members of all
unions in Great Britain Is nearly
100000.
N. Y, N. H. G Fl. railroad telegraph
ers and towermen are we'll pleased
over the success of the o. R. T. gen.
eral board in securing the recognition
OF the order and the first agreement
for telegraphers with the officials of
that road The agreement provides for
overtime pay, increases the wages Of
the lower paid men, grants number
of concessions and provides a method
for the adjustment of disputes and
, grievances.
After conference of less than an
hours duration between General Man.
ager Atterbury of the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad, and Grand Master Morrissey,
Vice Grand Master Lee and the board
OF adjustment of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, Mr.. Morrissey an
nounced that the differences between
the company and the men have been
amicably settled.
An interesting feature in the trade
union world in France is the develop
ment of the so-called labor exchange.
These exchanges are local organiza-
tons, including members of the differ
ent cities, and correspond in some par
ticulars to central labor bodies in the
United States. Originally founded for
the purpose of finding employment for
men out of work, these labor ex-
changes, including the great majority
OF the unions within the cities, have
gradually extended their scope and in
fiuence, so that they may almost be
called the heart of the French labor
movement.
Claiming that they were offered the
free services of attorneys who expect
ed to secure their fees from the costs
to be obtained in the success of the
suits, the striking clothing workers
have decided to sue their former en-
ployers for losses sustained in wages
since the strikes and lockouts began in
November. The remainder of the local
plan, as told by Secretary Stern of the
union, is to have modified the injunc-
ton orders standing against the union
and throw the costs of that action
upon the employers. This. if success
ful, will establish a precedent in in
junction suits against labor unions.
The Central Federated Union of
New York city had a serious debate at
recent meeting upon the question of
establishing an executive board. 1t
was argued that such a committee was
necessary in order to consider in
secret such measures as were in en-
bryo and could be presented to the
delegate body later in fair shape for
consideration and debate. The oppo.
nents-for there were delegates who
opposed an executive board-pounced
upon the matter as a scheme to form
a star chamber cabal. The delegates
debated a long time over the matter,
but the board was established, with
an equal number OF delegates from the
building trades section and the mis-
cellaneous sections.
One general union of all mine work
ers in the United States and Canada
was predicted by John Mitchell in his
annual address to the miners conven-
ton at indianapolis this week. He is
urged to the statement by recent ac-
tions of the Western Federation of
Miners, a socalistic organization of
metalliferous miners, which has at
tempted to take in coal miners. In
discussing this action, Mr.. Mitchell
sounds warning to the socialistic or
ganzation, saying that any attempt to
disrupt the coal miners organization
will be accepted as a challenge, and
that the doors Of the United Mine
Workers of America can be readily
swung wider, to include employees in
metalliferous mines.
The reports of Secretary-Treasurer
Dobson at the annual convention of
Jnc DTlCkldyeT S anu SlOn0udSOnS
union at San Francisco, showed that
fifty-four new unions had been char
tered during the year, making total
of 1873 locals, with $4,000 members now
in the International During the last
ten years $750,000 has been expended
in sick and disability and death bene-
fits. In ten years but two strikes have
been ordered by the International. One
of these affecting forty men is now on
at Durham, N. C. AS the international
has paid but $4,000 in strike benefits
in ten years its claims to be most con-
servative and to exhaust all efforts at
settlement of any disputes before or
dering strikes is well sustained.
In recent address before the Eco
nomic Club of Boston, President Eliot |
of Harvard university gave his ideas
on the danger of socialism to the |
trades union movement, and the most |
effective way, in his opinion, to check |
the radical tendencies of some leaders
on both sides. He said, in part: EN-
ployers must be better and more |
strongly organized, and unions must |