Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-03-31

hace idDOr was reduced about 10 per
cent, and 1t is probable the operators
Will agree to restore part of the re-
duction in preference to granting the
shorter work day, which is said to be
mpracticable.
A movement which has for its OBJ
ject the combination of the farmers
OF the nation into a gigantic organi-
cation, for the benefit of it's members,
has been started in Iowa. H. H. Carr
OF Chicago, who is connected with the
board of trade. is one of the principal
promoters. According to Mr.. Carr,
the movement has for it's object the
banding together of the farmer and
the country merchant for their mutual
advantage. Each county is to be sub
divided into school districts, each of
which is to have its organization.
The British trades unions are now
voting on an interesting scheme of
collective insurance on the lives of
children of union men under IA years
of age. The unions are required to
notify the parliamentary committee Of
their acceptance or rejection Of the
plan on or before April 80 next. In
list of figures submitted based on
actual observation, it is seen that for
the small sum of l shilling year, or
less than 1 farthing a week, the chill
dren of union men can be insured for
such sum as the law allows, but in no
case to exceed G2, 10 shillings a
death. The law in England forbids
payment of insurance to exceed 6 10
shillings on children dying under 3
months of age, and statistics show
that IA per cent of them die under
that age.
The annual report of the bureau Of
labor statistics of Massachusetts,,
which has just been issued, shows
that there were 1913 labor disputes in
the commonwealth for the year end
ing Sept. 80, 1904, or nineteen less
than the preceding year. Of that
number 1874 were strikes, twelve lock.
outs, and two partook of the nature Of
beth strike and lockout. The results
are summarized by Charles F. Pidgin,
chief of the bureau, as follows: "Ot
the 1913 strikes and lockouts. thirty
nine succeeded, Twenty-Five were COM
promised, forty-five failed (the men
being reinstated), fifty-eight failed
(the places of the strikers being
filed, fifteen were pending at the
close of our period, while in twelve
cases the results of the strikes were
not ascertained. To enforce requests
for increase in wages was the direct
cause of fifty-two strikes. The ques'
ton of wages was an important factor
in ninety-seven strikes, or 1899 per
cent of the total number. Adherence
to trade union principles ranks as the
next cause in Importance, there being
nineteen under this head"
A bill has been introduced in the
Pennsylvania legislature which pro
vides for conveying aid to workers
imprisoned in subterranean excava.
tons in case of accident. The pro.
posed law requires that in all pits
which shall be started for the purpose
OF mining coal or clay after Jan. l,
1906, when twenty or more persons
shall be employed therein, the owners
must run pipes not less than six inch.
es in diameter beneath the floors OF
all tunnels. Pipes not less than four
inches in diameter are to be run be.
meath the floors of all passages.
These pipes must connect with main
tube and open into the various head.
iIgs. While the primary purpose OF
the bill is to supply pure air to i'm
prisoned workmen, the tubes will also
be used as a means of hasty commune
cation, as as 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
conducted at intervals of not less
than seven days, neglect to do so on
the part of the foreman being a mis-
demeanor. The punishment will be
a fine of not more than 500 or i'm
prisonment of not more than ninety
days, or both.
Although the English trades unions
are taking an active part in politics
by naming their own representatives
for Parliament, some of them are still
puzzling over the old question OF
whether politics can be discussed in
branch meetings. Recently a branch
of the Amalgamated Society of Car.
penters and Joiners put the question
to the executive council if such dis.
cussion would be permitted under the
rules. The reply is as follows: 1T
is self evident that our society, hav.
ing embraced in it's objects labor
representation on elective governing
bodies, it necessarily involves ques.
lions of policy, and cannot be sepa-
rated from the subject of government,
and thereby becomes at once a polit.
ical question. Therefore, to forbid
branches from discussing same at
their meetings would be most unrea.
sonable position to take up, seeing
that three members to stand as candi.
dates for Parliament are being Sc
lected, and their political views will
have to be considered and discussed
uben making final choice We how.