Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-17
NEWS OF THE LABOR WORLD.
Items of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.


A union of brewers and maltsters
has been organized at Mankato. MIMI
Membership in the journeymen
blacksmiths' organization has IN
creased an average of over 1000 per
month in the last year.
Samuel Gompers OF the American
Federation of Labor, strongly urges
the employment of workingmen from
Porto Rico in the construction of the
Panama canal.
In New York state carpenters ana
joiners have at last succeeded in FORM
ing a district -ouncil that includes the
four cities of Albany, Troy, Schenec-
tady and Cohoes
Union bricklayers of Lancaster, Pa
have made demand on the local con-
tractors for an increase in wages OF
five cents an hour. They also want
half holiday Saturdays.
At Fricase, Italy, 600 women, en-
ployed in the tobacco factory struck
for higher wages. In a subsequent
collision with a company OF infantry
eight soldiers were wounded.
During the last year there were
1859 men and 14,147 women employed
in the shops of Detroit and Wayne
county, Michigan. The average wage
for the men were $1.94; for the wom-
en- $1.09.
President John F. Tobin Of the In
ternational boot and shoe workers OF
America will shortly visit New YORK
and vicinity, on an agitation tour, look
ing over the local unions and pushing
the shoeworkers' label.
The Railway Mems Union in Italy
recently threatened the government
with strike on all the state railways,
il it persisted in passing an act max
ing it criminal offense against the
state for railway men to go on strike
There is a bright outlook for the
bridge and structural ironworkers dur
ing the coming year, according to re-
ports compiled at the headquarters of
the International Association of Bridge
and Structural lronworkers.
A conference OF Chicago trade union
representatives, called by the Must
clans Union, refused to consider the
report of committee declaring for
the placing of labor ticket in the
field for the spring election.
The International Association of
Railway Clerks has withdrawn from
the American Federation of Labor and
will receive a charter from the Ameri-
can Labor Union Feb. l. The clerks
will become part of the United,
Brotherhood of Railway Employees.
One more attempt is to be made by
the BARRIERS of London, England, to
form union with view of altering
the terrible conditions under which
the vast majority of them carry on
their work. The experiment has often
been made, but hitherto every effort
has been frustrated.
Through the excellent Intervention
of the mayor Of Nottingham, Eng.
it is probable that the threatened
strike in the lace trade may be avert
ed. Such strike would not only
directly affect about 1000 hands, but
between 1000 and 5000 other hands.
many Of whom are women and girls.
Under the operation of the New
York child labor laws, enacted in 1908,
the number of children permitted to
work in factories continues to de-
crease. In the old city of New York
the number of factory employment GER
tificates issued to children by the de-
partment of health in April, May and
June, this year, was 612, against 942
last year, decline of more than one
third.
The Iron holders Union of North
America paid out the sum of $27S,-
S06.37 in benefits during the year 1904,
outside of strike pay 1t was divided
as follows: Death benefits, AGO.
sick benefits, $205, 69S.25; out of work
benefits, $1S,70S.12. AS the organiza-
ton has no stipulated out of work ben
Gifts the latter sum represents exemp-
ton from dues to members out of en-
ployment. 81
Through the INTERPRETATION of Pres
ident Gompers of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor settlement of the
strike of the boot and shoe workers
against the j. E. Tilt company, of Chi
cago, which has been in progress since
Nov. 10, is looked for. Correspondence
between the manufacturers and Presi-
dent Gompers resulted in the an
nounced decision of the latter to send