Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-10

Chicago. Herman Lilien, the retiring
general president, refused to be a can
didate, as he said he had all the work
he could attend to among the locals
in this city. He was, however, elected
delegate to the next convention of
the American Federation of Labor, as
was William Koenig. also of Chicago.
The next convention of the Ma
tional Association of Bureaus of La
Dor Statistics will be held in San
Francisco next spring. when Stats
ticians from throughout the United
States will meet to consider labor and
economic questions. The California bu.
reau recently affiliated with the ma
tional organization and it's application
for membership was accompanied by
an invitation to hold the next conven.
ton in San Francisco.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of Boston is about to open a
school for preliminary practical train.
ing in applied electricity. 1t is not to
be trade school, for it does not pro.
pose the turning out of electrical work
men, but is intended to give those who
come daily in contact with the prac.
tical application of electricity
chance to learn something of what 1t
is all about. 1t will also give to be-
ginners preliminary instruction that
may lead to further technical train
ing.
All were confident that conditions
would be greatly improved as the re-
suit of the agreement reached be-
tween the manufacturers and union
leaders through the efforts of Gov
Douglas. Although the 12h per cent
reduction, because of which the strike
was begun, went into effect, the feel
ing seemed general that the governors
arbitration of the question OF the mar
gin of profit for the manufacturers
between the price Of raw cotton and
that of the finished goods would bring
about higher scale.
An exchange says the smallest inter-
national union in the country is the
National Chemical Plumbers and Lead
men in the business in this country,
and they require high degree of tech
meal knowledge and professional skill.
Now, why does not "Bill' Spencer get
after them, andd bring them into the
United Association of Plumbers, in
stead of chasing the steamfitters?
There can be no question about juris-
diction, as the man who can fuse lead
is certainly a plumber.-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
At the national convention Of the
United Mine Workers of America the
credentials committee reported 657
delegates, representing 1850 locals,
and casting 1862 votes. The auditing
committee reported the receipts and |
expenses for the year as set forth in |
the secretary's report. The chief ex-
penses were S1,067,500 for strike re.
lief and $199,725 for officers salaries |
and expenses. There is on hand $685. |
952.
The beneficial features provided by
the Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electrical Railway EN-
ployes of America for its members
are very good. and during 1904 the
paid benefits to the fam
lilies of 152 members who died. Seven
members disabled also received sub
benefits. The annual report
shows $15,175 was disbursed in death
claims and $675 in disability pay
ments The association showed a net
gain at the close of the year of twelve
locals and the general membership
has increased 5000. The strike bene-
Ats paid out in four strikes during
the year reached $13,130, or 1926
weeks benefit at S. per week. OF
the death claims paid 16 per cent re-
suited from consumption and II per
cent from accidents.
THE Trade Union Movement in
England was the subject of an ad.
dress delivered at Hull House, Chica-
90, by James Wignall, fraternal dele
gate from the British Trade Union
Congress to the recent convention of
The American Federation of Labor in
San Francisco. Constant agitation"
declared the speaker, has reformed
many abuses that existed fifteen years
ago. Labor unions have had laws
passed providing that no man engaged
n the liquor traffic shall have control
over gangs of workmen and they have
secured much better provisions for
he education of their children at pub.
ic expense. 'In America l find too
much internal dissension among labor
lnions. In England we have much
ess of it, and what we have is given
IS little publicity as possible" Z
The desirability of code of uni
orm basic laws for the central bodies !
with the American Fedora ,
ion of Labor has been long admitted
" those experienced in organized la
'or. The question was considered at
he recent convention of the fedora
ion held at San Francisco, and re- I
erred to the executive council of that !
ody to formulate uniform basiw laws
or the government of all central
odies, and submit the same for rati-
cation at the next convention of the
With this end in view