Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-15

Dor, Sunday closing or other improvements
in working conditions. The question or
wages has not entered into any OF the
strikes. except that reduction In hours
has always meant an increase in wages.
The annual meeting of the American Rail-
way Engineering and Maintenance of Way
Association will be held in Chicago March
Fl, % and %. A large amount of work has
been laid out for the convention and 1t has
been arranged to hold three sessions on the
opening day and possibly three on the las'
day. The evening of March % will be oc-
cupied by smoker. The work of the stand
Ing committees during the past year has
been directed largely in the direction OF
establishing methods, etc, with a view to
their inclusion in the Manual Of Recon-
mended Practice, which will be published
shortly after the convention. The secretary
states that prospects are for very full
attendance" at the annual convention.
Henry George, jr., referring to the recent
labor troubles in Russia, said: obviously
the greatest strike in the world is that
which began at ST. Petersburg when the
factory hands refused to continue labor in
their factories and, led by Father Gopon
and accompanied by their wives and their
children. marched toward the Winter Pal
ace of the czar, there hoping, praying. that
their sovereign would meet them and hear
their pitiful cries for ameNoration of their
hard conditions of labor.
1t was a peaceful professor. The priest
leu the multitude IN the name OF SIOu. he
carried aloft the sacred ikon of his faith.
He preached peace to his followers and the
avoidance of arms. 1t was to be a process
sion of faithful and lava biding subjects
to the little father to present a sorrow
full and beseeching memorial memorial
telling of their wretched condition and i'm
ploring him to help them This was in per-
feet accord with the right of petition-a
sacred right in every country of Europe
and of immemorial right in Russia.
We all know the horrible greeting that
that procession of the submissive. the de-
voted, the tender and innocent received.
We al. know how the car did not go to
meet these suffering people; how he
manned away from the scene and in hiding;
how his ministers and mobiles met the plea
for help and mercy with rifle blast. bayonet
charge and saber slash Men, women and
children were savagely cut down, and they
dyed the snow-covered ground with their
blood. 1t was the answer of autocracy to
the appealing cry of humanity. Death and
damnation belched forth from the serried
ranks of soldiery, and the peaceabe indus
trial strike became in a flash death yrap-
pie between the rich, comparatively small.
educated, pampered, arrogant and when its
privileges are involved, cruel house of have
and the vast, wretchedly poor. fer the most
part uneducated. ng-sufferng and as long
humbly submissive and little complaining
house of want
A bill has been introduced in the Penn
sylvania legislature which provides for con-
veying air to workers imprisoned in sub
terranean excavations in case of accident.
The proposed law requires that in all pits
which shall be started for the purpose of
mining coal or clay after January l, 1906,
when twenty or more persons shall be en-
ployed therein the owners must pipes
not less than six inches in diameter beneath
the floors of all tunnels. Pipes not less
than four inches in diameter are to be run
beneath the floors of all passages. These
pipes must connect with main tube and
open into the various headings.
While the primary purpose of the bill is
to supply pure air to imprisoned workmen,
the tubes will also be used as a means of
hasty communication, or as a means of
transporting water in case of fire. Mine
foremen must inspect the working of The
tubes and see that the entire system is in
proper shape. Inspections must be con-
Quoted at intervals of not less than seven
days, neglect to do so on the part of the
foreman being misdemeanor. The punish
ment will be a fine of not more than 500
or Imprisonment of not more than ninety
days, or both.
According to a report just issued by the
American Federation of Labor, IS charters
have been issued to recently formed labor
organizations, follows: State branches,
L; central bodies, 5; federal labor unions, 4;
local trade unions. 8. The central bodies
were: Trades council, Scammon, Kan;
Trades assembly. Ennis, Tex; United Labor
Congress, Mahoning county Ohio; Fedora
tlOn OF 1IdDOT, SeCald MO-, anu anu
Labor Assembly, Keokuk. Iowa. The fed
eral unions were formed at Vallejo, Cal;
Savannah, Ga; Bellaire, Fla, and Marble
head Ohio.
Of the 11S5 unions making returns to
headquarters of the federation for Janu-
airy, with an aggregate membership of "a
067, there were 6.3 per cent without en-
ployment. In the preceding month 1,271
unions, with a membership of 80, 125, re-
ported 81 per cent without employment
Several small strikes occurred last week
in Pittsburg and elsewhere, growing out Of
differences existing between the organiZa-
tons of plumbers and steamfitters, and the
trouble threatens to become serious unless
an adjustment is soon made.
Two national bodies claim jurisdiction
over certain kinds of work. They are the
United Association of Journeymen Plumb
ers Gas Filters, Steam Filters and Steam
Filters Helpers of the United States and
Canada, and the National Association of
Steam and Hot Water Filters and Helpers
of America.
For over two years energetic efforts have
been made at different times to bring about
an amalgamation of the two national bodies
but without success. The proposition of the
United association to the National asso-
citation was Endorsed by Frank Rist, the
arbitrator appointed by the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, and was subsequently in
dorsed by the executive council of the fed
Grafton.
Luke Grant, a Chicago labor writer, says
IAN organization for the purpose of bring
ing about closer relations between labor
anions and the church is being formed in
Chicago. The movement had its inception
in New York several years ago, and while
it has been little heard of, it has accom-
plished great deal in the way of creating
an agitation against sweatshops, child la
Dor, Sunday work and other evils which the
labor unions are striving to correct.
This organization is known the
Church Association for the Advancement
of the Interests of Labor. 1t publishes a
monthly paper called Hammer and Pen,
and it's membership is composed of earnest
men and women who are communicates Of
the Episcopal Church. Such well-known
men. as Bishop Henry c. Potter of New
York and Bishop William Lawrence of
Massachusetts, have given the movement
their unqualified Endorsement and are active
members of the association
"Bishop Coadjutor of Chicago Charles P.
Anderson is giving the movement his APP
prevail and encouragement well as a
number of other rectors of Protestant Eps-
copal churches. Although the movement
is in Its inception in Chicago and has hard
iy got we'll started. it promises to be sue
cess, and can hardly fail to be a powerful
aid in uplifting the conditions of the work
erS.
During the past week Miss Harrette A.
Keyser, secretary and organizer of the as