The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-07-06
NEWS OF TRADE AND LABOR
General Information Concerning Those Who Are Doing
the Work of the World.

u ueoCIlDtu ny lS spOHSoIb as d pldu
for carrying high-class music TO the
a doors of the poor" 1t contemplates
3 among other features the charity
{ band, which is to furnish free street
concerts during the summer in the
, crowded residence districts of the
city.
A call has been sent out to all Metal
Trades councils in ths United States
to send delegates to a convention to
be held in Chicago to form a National
Metal Trades federation. The Chi
cagO Metal Trades council is the orig
inator of the plan. The grades en-
titled to send delegates are: Machin-
lists, Elacksmiths, iron molders, pat
ternmakers, bOilermakers, iron ship
builders, inside electrical workers,
cranemen, stationary engineers and
fremen.
Many members of the United Asso-
citation of Plumbers, Gasitters and
Steamftters are urging that the or
gani2atIOn establish a home for the
aged and infrm. An offer az a house
in Pueblo, Col, is being considered
by the officers. 1t can be bought for
$4,000. The executive board has been
requested to call a special convention
to consider not only the home project
but an entire revision of the constitu-
ton. AS the United Association pays
all expenses of delegates sent by local
unions the cost Of a convention will
reach $4,000, For this reason some Of
the national officials are opposing the
proposition.
Fuel dismisses the idea of a billion
dollar coal trust with a sheer, saving
that to get control of the bituminous
coal OF the country would be about as
easy as to get control of the running
water OF the world. To quote: The
st. Louis GlObe-Democrat says that
nobody will be surprised at the report
OF the projected formation of a coal
trust that will take in most Of the coal
production OF the country. Certainly
not. There would be little surprise
at any sort Of a report that might be
started on Wall street for speculative
purposes, ana more particularly if the
report were some unfounded sensation
alism regarding the coal industry. The
fact that such a combination is abso-
lutely impossible for a hundred rea-
sons Sould not prevent people believ-
ing 1t any more than 1t would prevent
the newspapers from originating the
report"
The Labor Leader, of Baltimore, rec
ognlzes in the late Senator German,
OF Maryland, a true friend of labor:
Senator German was in every sense
a great man and an honor to his state.
Few men in public life in any state
suffered more abuse than he from en-
emles and those jealous of his power
inc ability, but the enemies some men
make predispose a favorable estimate
of themselves, and that was so in the
case OF the late senator from Maryland.
III an especial manner the labor man
Of this country have reason to deeply
regret his demise. While in the SEN
ate he, on numerous occasions, gave
manifestation of his regard for the
rights of the men who toll, and, in a
way that spoke for itself, showed that
he was willing to do all in his power
for them. Among the printers through
out the length and breadth of this land
the name of Arthur P. German is
know1 as that of a very dear friend,
for it was he, while chairman of the
committee on public printing, who, in
a large measure, secured for the men
the favorable conditions under which
they rCw work in Washington. Again,
many are the Baltimore printers who
now in that same public printing
by virtue of the helping hand of
Senator German"
A committee appointed by the Brit
parliament to investigate the
problem in England estimates
in seasons of depression there are
10000 tramps in that country and
1t Is never less than half that
number. Tramps are everywhere and
constitute IN eysore. They are con-
sidered to be vehicles Of infectious
diseases, Legislation by parliament
to regulate and mitigate the evil is
recommended, though no solution of
the problem short of finding employ
ment and paying better wages is re-
garded as possible.
Published reports that the Interna-
tional Building Trades Alliance has
declared war on the American Fedora
tinu nf q hnr &c Ianta1 Nv, DrnetJork
James Kirby and Secretary w. ]. Spen-
Ger. "The statement Is absolutely un-
true" said Spencer. President Com
pers knows that 1t Is not true, but
there are many who are not acquaint-
ed with the situation who will believe
the report until informed differently.
OF course, there are always enemies to
be found against every labor ~organiza-
ton. For purposes OF their own they
have sought to stir up trouble between
the Building Trades Alliance and the
American Federation Of Labor"
The official return issued by the
labor department Of the British board
of trade states that employment in
April continued to improve on the
whole, As compared with a year ago,
all the principal industries 0~ncludlng
the building trades) showed some i'm
provement, There was a decline in
the tinplate trade. In the 271 trades
unions, with an aggregate member.
ship OF 5S2,2O1, making returns, 81, 037
Tor SO per cent? were reported as un.
employed at the end of April, as com.
pared with 3.S per cent. at the end OF /:
March, and sc per cent. at the end Of
April, 1905.
Headquarters for the general con-
vention OF the International Brother
hood of Transfers, to be held In Chi
during August, will be- opened
L., A.. Gtae.. 1000.