Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-05-05
NEWS OF THE LABOR WORLD.
Items Of Interest Gathered from Many
Sources.

Grain handlers and elevator men In
Cincinnati are forming union.
The last census gives nearly ten
million negroes in this country. and
the assertion is made that n per cent
of them work in fields.
Block PAYERS and hammers unions
from different parts of the country
will meet in Washington next month
to form an international union.
because of a dispute over the ap-
pointment of check weighman at
the Slippery Rock coal mines, near
Sharon, Pa, strike of the several
hundred miners employed was called,
The union workmen employed by
the Leopold Desk Company in Bur-
lington, Iowa, went on strike because
of a refusal of fiat increase of 10
per cent in wages. One hundred and
sixty men are affected.
A general strike of the miners In
the northern peninsula Of Michigan
may be called of 10000 men, which
would affect as many others. Opera
tors say they will close down If the
strike is called. Wages and recogni-
ton of the union are at stake.
One hundred italians employed on
the new line being built by the Penn
sylvania railroad near Lancaster. Pa,
struck and forced a suspension OF
work along the entire four miles
OF track, severely beating two gangs
of Austrians who refused to join them
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor issued a state
ment to labor organizations affiliated
with his organization announcing that
the United Metal Workers Interna-
tional union is no longer affiliated
with the American Federation of La
Dor.
The strike Of the produce teamsters
at Philadelphia is ended. The strikers
notified their employers that they
were willing to disband their union If
they restored their positions. All were
re-employed and they pledged them
selves never to join another union
under penalty Of dismissal.
Chicago cab drivers hold the NOR
tality record, says the Medical Record.
The business agent of the Cab and
Drivers union states that out of
total average membership of 1900
there is a death rate of 70 for the
last twelve months. These figures
represent more than five times the
normal mortality Of Chicago.
The 1000 conductors and motormen
of the United Railways company of
st. Louis, were notified by General
Manager Robert s. MCCULLOUGH that
frequenting saloons or racetracks
would subject the offender to instant
dismissal. Each employe was warned
in a letter addressed to him by the
general manager, which he received
upon going to work. e..-.t
The following officers have been
elected by the Lake Seamen's union
for 1905: General secretary, William
Penje general treasurer, Thomas A.
Hanson, Milwaukee agent. Alfred
Pearce; Toledo agent, Andrew Haga-
rey;.. Cleveland agent, William Shaw;
Ashtabula, agent, F. Benson; Tona-
wanda agent, Thomas Lester; Buffalo
agent, George Hansen.
William ]. Gilthorpe,. secretary and
treasurer of the Brotherhood of Boiler
makers and Iron Shipbuilders, ex-
pressed himself perfectly satisfied
with the strike conditions along the
Santa Fe system. 1--WE did not want
I'd strike" he said, "but the only way
I'd get consideration seems to be by
striking" The union officials give the
number of strikers at 349.
The Oliver Iron Mining company
at Duluth, Mimi, issued an order to
Mitchell at Hibbing,
to close down the underground mines
and barricade the buildings. Twelve
mines are closed as result of the or
der, and none except certain pit prop
cries of the company will continue
operations for the present. Two thou
sand men are thrown out of work.
Several wealthy Pittsburg capital
lists; headed by Henry Fownes, the golf
expert, nave CfOScu u ucdl lOI OUU
acres of land in Beaver county, near
Allequippa, paying therefore $780,
900, on which, it is announced, will be
erected at once large blast furnace
and other mills. The plant will be
run in opposition to the steel trust.
Pressed steel cars will be, built under
a patent controlled by John Dodds.
The strike of 200 granite workers at
Booth Bros and the Hurricane Island
Granite company's quarries, at Wal
dbboro, Maine. which has been
oh two months, was settled, the
nj en being granted an increase of
twenty cents day to, SO. on three
ear contract. These firms are quar-
rying vast quantities of granite on
contracts for Chicago buildings, and
the strike interfered considerably
with building operations IN that city.
Pennsylvania State Federation of
Labor, in session last week, adopted
a resolution condemning "the au-
tonomy plan now ADVOCATED by the
American Federation of Labor" as
tending ito the creation Of disruptifG
rehabilitation f3ehfs. arfaying union