Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-03

secretary-treasurer, three members tC
constitute a board of audit and as
many delegates to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor convention as the
association Is entitled to.
When employers realize that the
"rusher" is not the average, but the
exceptional, workman, and should be
paid accordingly; when they realize
that the least efficient is entitled to a
decent living; when they realize that
it is not always expedient that they
should be the sole judges of working
conditions, and that the workman has
rights also; when they are ready to
consider manhood of as much import
ance as profits; when they cease rele-
eating men at S5 years of age to the
human scrap pile, they will have done
much to remove the evils of which
they complain.-Chicogo Inter Ocean.
Unions must not rush men to Pan
anna to work on the canal with the
idea that they will receive high wages
and have an easy snap. Every man
should have his contract hard and fast
before he leaves the United States"
This warning has been sent over the
country by officials of the American
Federation of Labor. According to re-
ports made by labor men who have
visited the isthmus the wages paid
there are no higher than in the United
States, although the danger of disease
is a thousand times greater.
The Illinois state law. placed on the
statute books as a direct result of the
United Mine Workers. strike of 1898,
providing punishment for all employ.
ers who advertise for workers or
bring workers into the state during
time of lockout. strike or other labor
troubles without first informing them
in detail of existing conditions, is to
be tested in a Chicago court. The
plaintiffs are five shoe workers of st.
Louis, who are supported in their fight
by the Chicago District Council of
Shoe Workers and the affiliated
lodges. The defendant is the J. E.
Tilt Shoe company, which will be
aided by the Chicago Employers as.
ISOLATION and the Manufacturers asso.
citation.
A high mortality rate in the ranks
Of the Metal Polishers, Buffers and
Platers' union, Local No. 6, due, it is
said, to the deadly nature of the mate
rails used in that class. of work, has
led members of the organization to
seek the passage of law prohibiting
the employment in the trade of women
and boys under IS years. The Chicago
Federation of Labor has approved the
plan and has instructed its legislative
to bring the matter to the
attention of the state legislature.
At Danville, ILL.,, one of the best or.
ganized unions is the Laundry Work.
ers' local. which is setting out with |
he new year to improve the wage
which is exceptionally low
1t that point The union is being di.
'ected in it's work by the secretary
Miss Blanche Brown, a popular young
ady in trades union circles. Wages
n the laundry work at Danville are
'ery low and the attention of the
lnion miners, transfers and clerks
las been called forcibly to the fact
md they have pledged themselves to
i'd Miss Brown and her girl members
0 shorten hours and increase the pay.
1t present, mangle and hand ironers
eceive wages ranging from rs cents
o 81 per day.
An eight hour day has been sug
ested by some as an incentive tc
reater exertion. Doubtless a mar
,ill work with more vim if he knows
e has to keep it up but eight hours,
instead of ten, but an eight-hour day
ill not eradicate the evil. A man who
nurses" his job. believing that by do.
lg so he increases his chances of EN-.
loyment, will do the same thing il
e had four hour day. When work
len realize that by limiting output
nd adding to the cost of production
ley are actually cutting their own
ages; when they realize that every
ew machine which lightens labor
anefts mankind generally; when they !
,alize that greater productivity o. @
lie part of the shoeworker or the tail 6
adds to the wages of the carpenter y
: bricklayer, by giving him cheaper
loes and clothes, they will not resort
artificial methods of curtailing out [
lt.-Eychange. e
Finding that the American Labor
ZION, which was organized several =
ears ago by Eugene V. Debs, was not &
successful as it was expected, the
aders in that organization. with
lmber of outsiders, have planned
to form new inter.
.tional union on class lines. The con. =
ntion will be held in Chicago June
William D. Haywood, Charles H. :,
oyer and John M. O'Neil of the West
n Federation of Miners; Daniel Nc
)nald and Charles Smith of the Amer VI
n Labor union, and Charles q. Sher- h
an of the United Metal Workers are I,
e leaders in the movement. While
lgene V. Debs' name is not appended
the call for the convention, the
her signers state that he is in SYM y
thy with the movement, and would @,
va ciupod tho document if ho bod