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

Journeymen Tailors' Union in twelve
years was held at Bloomington, III.
John B. Lennon, general secretary, rec
with the garment-wOrkers of America.
During the year there was a net gain
of Twenty-Five locals, with a present
total membership of 10000 members.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, spoke
to the delegates.
An interesting analysis Of the an
nual report of the A. F. of l.. is given
by a writer in the Wall Street Journal.
The writer says that in only one year,
from 1896 to 1897, there was de-
crease. The most notable growth was
from 1899 to 1900-more than So per
cent. From 1902 to 1903 the increase
was 43 per cent, while in the past
year the percentage of increase was
only 14.5 per cent; yet actually 100000
new members were obtained.
The national headquarters OF the
Journeyman Tailors is to remain at
Bloomington, ILL., The convention de-
cided to ignore the petitions of Chi
cago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and
other cities. The delegates voted $3.50
to aid the striking garment workers
of Chicago. 1t was decided to hold
conventions every four years unless
the members by referendum vote de-
cided otherwise. The present conven-
ton is the first in ten years.
The bonus or premium system is
opposed by union molders in England
and Scotland. Announcement recent
ly was made by the secretary OF the
Friendly Society of Ironfounders,
which is the name of the Iron Mold
ers' Union, that the English and Scot
fish societies have decided upon an
alliance under which both societies
agree to boycott the bonus or pre-
MUM system. Under the agreement.
whenever the system Is introduced
into any molding shop it must in ev-
cry instance be opposed.
A settlement of the strike of lumber,
box and shaving teamsters, which has
tied up the business of sixty lumber
firms in Chicago since Jan. 80, was
effected at conference. President
Edward Hines of the Lumbermen' 6
Association, and President C. P. Shea
of the International Brotherhood OF
Transfers acted as arbitrators on
behalf of their respective organiza'
tons, and chose as umpire City Clerk
Fred Bender While the details of the
settlement were not given out, it was
announced that the strikers were
granted an increase of fifty cents a
week for drivers of two-horse wagons,
and that concessions were made by
the union to the employers. All OF
the strikers returned to work.
Beginning with the March number
the Monthly Review of the National
Civic Federation will publish YER
batim reports of the discussions at the
meetings of the department of indus
trial economies Employers, labor
leaders, professors of political econ
omy, editors of the daily press, OF
trade papers and magazines, authors
lecturers, lawyers and practical bust
ness men will participate. These men
will discuss such industrial topics as
TRADE Agreements" Wages and
Cost of Living THE Shorter Work
day" THE Open and Closed Shop
THE Union Label" The Minimum
Wage" Restriction of Output
piece Work and Day Work" "Arbi
tration,' Apprentices" and Intro
duction of Machinery"
The Bricklayers and Masons' Inter.
national Union of America, which held
it's thirty-ninth annual convention in
San Francisco a short time ago, was
organized in 1865. 1t is to-day among
the strongest of the labor organiza.
lions of the country, having doubled
it's membership since 1900. In that
year it had ASP local unions affiliated,
with a membership of approximately
$4,000 At the recent convention re.
ports showed SOS local unions with
membership of approximately $4,000.
The bricklayers have pursued policy
Of isolation almost since the time the
organization was formed. They are
not affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the local unions
in many cases do not affiliate with the
central labor bodies in the cities
where they are located. At the same
time the union has done great deal
to better the conditions of its mem
bers-in fact, the bricklayers have al
ways kept well in front in the build
ing trades. The headquarters of the
organization are in Indianapolis. Will
liam Dobson is international secre.
tary. and 4 native of North Adams,
Mass He has just been reelected
for another term. Thomas r. Preece
is first vice president and a Chicagoan.
He is we'll known in local labor cir
cles. being one of the organizers of
the present Chicago Federation Of
Labor and it's first president.
The International Association of
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
hoe dacided nv referendum vote