Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-03-24
NEWS OF THE LABOR WORLD
Items Of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.

Items of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.
Bad leaders may for time sway a
labor union, but not for long. No
leader can last long who attempts to
use organized labor solely to his own
selfish ends.-The Tobacco Worker
The 1000 granite cutters of Quincy,
Mass, began a strike for readjust-
ment Of hours and wages. practically
tying up the granite manufacturing
industry of the city.
The Chicago fathers have won Their
strike for a closed shop agreement
The Employing Plasterers' Associa-
ton has agreed to that provision as
well as all others contended for by
the fathers, and $50 strikers will re-
turn to work.
OF 1,1S5 unions making returns to
the secretary of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor for January, with an
aggregate membership of 74,O67,
there were 63 per cent without en-
ployment. In the preceding month
the number out of employment re-
ported was 81 per cent.
The wage scale and working condi-
lions for $500 seamen employed on
the boats of the great lakes were set
tied at a conference between repre-
sentatives of the seamen and the
Lake Carriers Association. The men
will receive $27.50 until Oct. 1, an
advance of $3.50 over last years
scale.
Anthracite mine workers received
nearly 100000 in 1904 from the
sliding scale increase granted by the
strike commission, according to esti-
mates that have been made. In
creases were given in every month
except April and May, varying from
/ to Z per cent, and averaging for the
year 1-3 per cent month.
Reports received by the United
States Steel Corporation indicate that
the subscriptions by its employees for
preferred stock in the company I'M
der the profit-sharing plan will equal,
if not surpass, the $4,000 shares set
aside by the corporation. Employees
of the company now own $1,000
shares of the preferred stock
A united fight of all the teamsters'
unions in Chicago against the George
A. Fuller Company of Chicago will be
inaugurated March 6. The transfers
joint council at meeting last night
laid plans to tie up the business of
the concern and of all contractors
employed by it. simultaneously in
New York and Boston the transfers
took similar action.
A general strike of the smelter en-
ployes of British Columbia has been
declared as a result of the defeat of
the eight-hour bill for such employees
IL the British Columbia legislature.
the men are striking for shorter
hours. The owners say they are now
working on a basis of l per cent
profit and will tie up the mining in
dustry rather than grant the demands.
Judge Humphrey in the United
States Circuit Court at Springfield,
ILL.,, has granted an injunction against
twenty-siX strikers, restraining them
from picketing the works or in any
manner interfering with the operation
of the plant of the st. Louis Smelling
and Refining Company in Collinsville
Four hundred men are out, demanding
recognition of the union and shorter
hours.
Information from New York re-
ceived by prominent business and
financial men of Chicago states that
the United States Steel Corporations
management is making preparations
for a general wage increase affecting
the larger proportion of the big con-
Germs employees of every grade. 1t
is said that 10000 will be affected
and $12,000,0O0 added to the pay
roll.
The first labor convention composed
entirely of women will be held in Chi
cago in June. Nearly 300 delegates
branches of the Wom-
ar's International Union Label
.eague will be present, and
tho Federation of Labor has donated
500 toward entertaining the dele
gates. The Union Label League has
given $50. Other unions will also as
sist.
An unusual number of brakemen on
the Chicago & Alton railroad have re-
r,oued hecause of a new order of tho
management requiring brakemen to
ride on top of trains when approach