Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-01
I=.l.@assSsSsAMM q
HIk'YYsYgzszES,a
ZgZHyGDlT


j., have decided to start a shirt company,
with a capital stock of $4,000.
East Liverpool, Ohio, with a popula-
ton of $4,000, is one of the most strongly
organized cities in the United States.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men has appropriated $1,000 for the ben
eft of the Western Federation of Miners.
Non-union garment workers in many of
the shops of New York State have struck
for better conditions and are asking to
be allowed to affiliate with the union.
Recent statistics indicate that the total
trade union membership of Great Britain
and of the United States closely approx
innate. The similitude ceases here, how
ever, as in the British Parliament labor
has 80 commoners.
Max S. Hayes, writing of the printers
strike in the International Socialist, says
that So per cent of the printers are now
working on the eight-hour day, or about
10000 out of a total of $4,000. About
5000 are still on strike, and 5000, either
by agreement or other reasons, have not
joined the movement.
Two union iron molders were arrested
in Minneapolis for an alleged assault.
When the case came to trial they were
found absolutely innocent. Two private
detectives for the non-union foundry, who
arrested the union men, were at once put
on trial for assault, found guilty and
sentenced to so days each in the work
house. Justice with cap that time.
Chinese residents at Panama are siren
uously opposing the introduction of coolie
labor, on the ground that the climatic con-
ditions are such that a heavy death rate
is sure to follow. Every political party
in California has declared for the strict
maintenance of the Chinese exclusion act,
without modification of any kind, and for
the extension of the act so as to exclude
Japs and Koreans.
From the Colonial Printer and Sta
toner, of London, England, it is learned
that there is movement on foot by ting
members of the Manchester branch of tbs
typographical association which has for
its object me increasing of wages for both
hand and machine composition. The en-
ployes point out that the existing scale
of wages in the Manchester district has
prevailed for 80 years. In 1896 the en-
ployes were granted shorter workday,
with no reduction in the wage scale.
The Rhode Island State bureau of in
dustrial statistics has issued its annual
report for 1905. 1t shows that the num-
Der of wage earners has increased nearly
10 per cent over 1904, with 59,43S as
against 4,1S9 the previous year. In the
same period the total wages paid increas-
ed more than II per cent, from $22630,-
$50 to SO. 136, 300 Ar even greater in
crease is shown in the value of products
with a gain of IS per cent, the figures
showing S126, 44O. 252 in 1905. as COM
pared with 500, 40, 1913 in 1904.
The Michigan Supreme Court recently
gave the following decision of Importance
10 all trade unions 'Workingmen have
the right to fix a price upon their labor
and to refuse work unless that price is
obtained. Singly or in combination, they
have this right. They may use persua-
sion to induce men to join their organiza-
ton or refuse to work except for an es-
tablished wage. They may present their
cause to the public in newspapers or cir
culars, in a peaceable way and with no
attempt at coercion. If the effect in such
a case is ruin to the employer, it is dam
mum absque injuria, for they have only
exercised their legal rights"
The report made at the New England
label conference of cigarmakers unions
at Portland the other day were most in
teresting 1t was shown that there is
but one non-union cigar factory in all
New England and that there are but 20
Cigarmakers employed in the six States
who are not members of the union. Not
a child is working in any cigar factory in
New England. The New England confer
ence alone spent $4,000 on label agita-
ton and advertising. The aggregate
spent by the local Unions in addition is
estimated at probably 100000.
The Roofers' Protective Union of Bos-
Ton. secured a wage increase last week.
It asked for a 30 cents a day raise, one
which would make the new rates $3.50 a
day Tor all-around roofers. 1925 a day
for gravel roofers and S275 a day for
helpers. 1t was finally agreed after con-
ferences. that the present scale continue
until Jan. /. then a raise of % cents
would be made, and on Jan. 1, 1903, the
wages would be again raised % cents.
The union accepted the offer. This is the
first wage increase the roofers have re-
ouested or secured in IS years. although
during the interval they have reduced the
hours of labor to eight each day.