Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-06

rate Of three . week. and many OF the
former members are seeking reinstatement.
unions attached to the international and
the membership II 1900 in round numbers.
James w. Kline, who was elected presi-
don't at the recent convention. Is from Kan
sas City, and held the position of second
Vice president for several years. He led
the strike of blacksmiths on the Union Pa
ctfic railroad two years ago and Is man
OF ability. good speaker and organizer.
George j. Werner, who was elected seere-
tary-treasurer. Is Chicago man, and was
secretary of the Homestead Lodge OF help
ers since II was organized four years ago.
He fs helper, and the fact that man
from the ranks OF the helpers has been
elected to the highest position of trust in the
organization Is expected to do much to ce-
ment the feeling between the two classes
OF workmen. The helpers had a separate
organization of their own until two years
ago. when they became part of the brother
hood The convention made a change in
the management of the official journal, and
under the new rules President Kline IS
editor and manager ard Secretary Werner
associate editor
The Amalgamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway Employees of Ameri-
ca is the first national labor organization
In America to adopt the old-age pension
system. Although in an embryo state now.
the project may be said to be fairly
launched. Beginning with January 1 next
the per capita tax to the national organ!-
cation Will be Is cents month. instead of
10 cents, as formerly. OF this amount. 8
cents per member is to be placed in a spe-
cial fund to pay death and Stability
claims, and when the fund shall have
reached $fp, 600 the officers are instructed to
put the old-age pension plan into operation
The trades most affected by contract
prison labor are the shoe workers. iron
lnolders. garment workers reed and rat
tan chair workers and broom workers. OF
2S penal institutions visited y employed q
total of 4.253 convicts in the manufacture
of boots and shoes. These 4253 shoe work
ers are paid an average wage of As cents
q day. and they are turning out 25340 pairs
of shoes every day. six days week. 81
weeks year, which are dumped into the
shoe market under various names and la
bels that are devised to conceal from the
public their true character.
The last legislature Of Minnesota passed
bill providing for the establishment of
a. free employment bureau. An appropria-
aon OF $,IJ0 per annum was made for the
maintenance of the same. Since opening on
June j last, the bureau has placed APO
persons in positions at a total expense Of
s93S.o7 an average of less than 30 cents
for each person.
Coppersniths throughout the country are
taking a referendum vote on the question
OF afhiIating with the Amalsamated Sheet
metal workers International Union. There
are about l.2OO men in this industry in the
country, and they are well organized
Inc Canadian Typothetae has begun to
import printers from England to break the
printers strike. The Typothetae was unable
TO get printers in Canada to take the places
OF the strikers although wages were offered
Ior elght hours of work under open shop
conditions. Some Of the English strike
breaking typos Will be sent into the states
1t is said. recent dispatch from London
states that 80 competitors in one detach-
meht were in readiness to cross over TO
America in charge of the agents of the
Typothetae.