The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-11-16

1t was officially announced at the
headquarters of the brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers at Cleveland,
that requests had been made, not
only to the lines Of Chicago but also
to a number of the big eastern sys-
tens for higher wages and better
working conditions for all classes OF
trainmen. 1t was said that similar
requests probably would be made to
every railroad in the United States.
! Organized labor in the "a states in
which the farmers have organizations
will he asked TO use only farm prod
uets bearing the label of the Society
of Equity and to build receiving sta
| lions in the various cities for the dis
tribution of such products. In re-
turn for this the farmers who are
members of the Society Of Equity pro-
pose not to perform skilled labor un-
less they become members Of a labor
union and not to take the places of
union men in case of a strike. They
also agree to use goods bearing the
union label.
w. b. Conkey, the wealthiest print
largest printing establishments In
the West, and has been known for
twelve years as the greatest foe to
union labor in Illinois, has changed
his policy, II became known that he
signed an agreement with Chicago
Printing Pressmen's Union No. 3 to
employ none but union pressmen.
This is taken as the first step that will
gradually lead up to the unionization
Of the 1900 employees in the great
2O.acre plant OF W. B. Conkey & Co.
at Hammond, Ind,
Justice Gaynor Of the New York
Superior court recently delivered an
opinion holding employers liable to
| damages for injuries suffered by
children in violation of the child labor
law.
Mitchell day" was celebrated in
Wilkesbarre, Pa. by a large parade
Of mine workers, There was a total
suspension of mining In the Wyoming
district, and every local" was <epre-
scented in the procession, which trav-
ersed the principal streets of the city.
After the parade a mass meeting was
held on the common, which was ad.
dressed by w. b. Wilson, national
secretary and trustee Of the United
Mine Workers, and other speakers.
All of the northwestern railroads
have accepted the new contract pre-.
scented by the bollermakers, and the
union and the road have completed
the terms of the agreement. Under
in several things. Overtime Is to be-
paid for at the rate of a price and
one.half up to midnight, ard then
double price on all continuous run
Of work. Time and one-half is to be
paid for work on Sundays and legal
holidays.
Austria Hungary and Italy, the last
| countries to feel the effect of the or
ganized labor movement, are now
making more rapid progress than the
countries wherein unIonism was de-
yeIoped much earlier.
It Is announced that the British gov
eminent has met the views Of tho
| labor members OF the house of com.
mons on the trades disputes bill. The
attorney general has drafted an
amendment to clause four of this bill
which will leave no loophole for
another Taft. Vale decision and which
leaves union funds beyond the reach
Of attack.
Secretary A. J. McKeiyey Of the
National Child Labor Committee made
q sensational statement recently In
Philadelphia. He said: There are
more children under 16 employed
in the mills Of Pennsylvania than In
all the Southern states put together.
II is estimated that there are $4,000
children working in the cotton mills
Of the South. In the Industrial states
over 1900 900 children under 16 work.
According to Secretary McKeleey
there are more children under rs
years Of age working in the mills Of
free America than In Germany, Eng
land and Italy combined.