Kansas agitator., 1905-05-12

reaches Portland carries men VINO
have beein lured by INSCRIPTIONS en-
ployment agents to seek work on the
Lewis and Clark fair grounds at high
wages.
The tribunal of Chaux-de-Fonds,
France, has decided in favor of an en-
ployer who sued his men for damages
for going on strike. The workmen,
who were employed in a large watch
mandatory, went out on strike re-
Gently without consulting their en-
rloyer or formulating any demands.
The manufacturer sued the men for
damages, and the tribunal condemned
nine of the rirgleaders Of the strike to
pay their employer twelve days pay
each.
George w. Perkins, president of the
Cigarmakers' International union, has
issued his annual report, showing the
financial transactions of the organiza-
tion during the past year. The ac-
counts show that the officers of the
various local unions handled in the
twelve months ending Dec. 81, 1904,
the sum of $2,5S3S64.74. The cash
balance on hand Jan. 1 of this year
was $3.50. .234.2O.
| venture to say that so per cent of
the tramps and beggars to-day are the
victims of parasitical trades-those
trades where the workers do not make
enough, despite all their labor, to be
self-supporting. Boys and girls are
forced into the sweat shops and GER
tan trades at twelve and thirteen
years of age. They cannot get ahead.
They do not get enough to properly
nourish their bodies and reach matur-
ity with reduced vitality.-Walter A.
Wyckoff.
There is an upward tendency in
wages in Great Britain. Several i'm
portant trades have already secured
advances, and others have completed
agreements for advances during the
coming summer In most cases the
increases are restorations of the scales
that prevailed PRIOR to the general re-
ductions which took place in 1908. In
a few cases the increases show net
gain over the rates that were in force
prior to the 1903 cuts.
There will be no strike in the ship
yards of South Chicago. At meeting
between representatives Of the Ameri'
can Ship-Building Company and the
unions of shipbuilders an agreement
was made to advance the pay of the
workmen 1-3 cents an hour on all re-
pair work. The advance does not
apply to work being done on new con-
tracts held by the company. The 500
workmen in the South Chicago yards
have been threatening a strike unless
the advance conceded them was
granted.
A complete reorganization OF the
Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers is being urged
by several of the lodges. The princi-
Pal plan suggested provides change
in the name, form of government, and
method of arranging wage scales for
the various branches of skilled labor
employed in iron, steel and tin plate
mills. An unusual number of recon-
mendations are made for changes in
the present system Of electing officers.
All of these are to be considered at
the thirtieth convention Of the associa-
ton, in Detroit.
w. D. Mahon, president of the Anal
ssmated association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees of Amer
lea, has just issued the "year book" of
the association, showing the gains and
losses Of the past year. 1t contains
comparisons of wages and working
conditions in all cities throughout the
country where the street railway men
are organized and proves by facts and
figures that last year was a prosper
Gus one for the organization.
In the matter of the Porto Rican
labor difficulties Secretary Morrison OF
the American Federation OF Labor sent
a cable message to Gov. Winthrop in
forming him of the report that the
police of the island are interfering
with the peaceable meetings OF work
ingmen there. He made no further
representation to the governor, but
wired to the Porto Rican representa-
tive of the federation instructing him
to insist on the right of free assembly.
"Women are the lowest paid and the
least considered in the field of labor"
said Miss N. Nichols of Neighborhood
House, in her address on Social and
Sanitary Benefits to Women Wage
Workers Through Organization" deliv-
cred before the cooperative class at
the First Congregational church of
Evanston, III. Continuing, she said:
"The only way she can have voice in
the things which are Of vital interest
to her is by organization. Belonging to
a union creates a feeling of independ-
ence among women, and brings to her
many advantages, such as we derive
from our clubs and societies."
At a meeting of New York building
trades delegates representing 10000
omployers and more than $4,000 me-
chanics a plan was adopted which abb
solutely prohibits strikes or lockouts.
provides for the appointment OF
general arbitration board, an execu-
two committee. special and trade arbi-