Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-01-20
NEWS OF THE LABOR WORLD.
Items Of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.

Items of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.
| The trade agreement between the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners and the Amalgamated So
ciety of Carpenters and Joiners has
been extended for one year.
Wages on municipal work at Al
bion, Mich, have been increased 70
per cent during the year now closing
by the trades unions, according to re-
ports of the organizers for the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
The cotton ginners of Texas have
organized a union through which they
propose to hold back all reports OF
the amount of cotton ginned, so as to
make it impossible for spectators to
attempt to fix the price of cotton.
There is larger percentage of peo-
pie engaged in commerce and trans
portation in the Netherlands than in
any other country. The percentage
is 17.2. The United States is close
second, with 1863.
The National Labor Tribune OF
Pittsburg has entered upon its thir-
ty-third year. 1t is the Oldest labor
paper published in the United States
and is the only survivor of a large
number that were started about the
same time.
Announcement has been made of
t., he, Df
mage men employed by the Howard
Axle works of the Carnegie Steel
company, to take effect Jan. l. The
cut ranges from 16 2-3 per cent down
to per cent.
After endeavoring since April n
last to settle wage scale dispute by
arbitration, the Blacksmiths' union
and the Chicago Metal Trades asso-
citation have abandoned the undertake
ing as a result of being unable to
choose an arbiter.
Organizers Of the International
Brotherhood of Transfers have be-
gun to form unions of automobile
drivers who operate business vehi-
ClSS. HC iiiONChChI, "hiSh oeoi wv
in New York, is being carried on in
all the larger cities of the country.
The 1900 census gives the number
of wage workers in the United States
as 2S,2S5,022, divided as follows: Pro-
fessional, 1,264,737; trade and trans
portation, 4,77S,233; domestic and
personal service, 5,691,746 manufac-
turing, 7,122,9S7; agricultural pursuits,
10,438,919.
In the platform of the recently or
ganized Canadian Labor League
planks are included advocating pub
lie ownership of natural opportunities
and public utilities, the initiative, ref.
erendum and power of recall, the abo-
lition of bonuses to railways and the
abolition of child labor.
Thomas |. Kidd, after more than
fourteen years of continuous service
as secretary of the Amalgamted
Woodworkers' International Union of
America, voluntarily retired yester-
day and will be succeeded by John G.
Meiler, who was secretary of the Chi
CdSO WOOuN hCI SOuhNll
The Illinois Coal Operators Asso-
citation has increased in membership
during the past year from 175 mem
bers, operating 259 mines, to 207,
operating 307 mines. The increased
tonnage of mines belonging to the
association has been between 4,000,-
900 and 100000 tons of COAL
Negotiations are in progress be-
tween the officials of the Window
Glass Window Association and the
Glass Snappers' Protective
Association for the merging of the
TWO organizations in the Window Glass
Workers Association. The snappers'
has membership Of
about 1900.
The Boston Elevated railway COM
,any distributed $4,000 among it's
employees as New Years present for
he faithful performance of duty dur
ng the last year. Each of the COM
,any's employees who made a good
ecord during the year was given SIS
n gold. Ten per cent of the men
allied to receive any reward.
An act recently passed by the house
# representatives of Rhode Island
rescribes fine of $3.50 to $500, or I
from three to six {
months, or both, against any employer {
+ corporation attempting to prevent |
working people from belonging to a {
abor organization as condition of {
ew or continued employment.
American Federation of Labor or c
anizers in the Pittsburg district are
usy in an effort to get all local 7
Mons to affiliate with the Iron City c
entral Trades Council, in compliance s
18th an order recently issued. It is q
roposed to have every union in the