The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-12-21

Springfield. Ill.-The Chicago, Peoria
it had granted the demands of the
switchmen for an increase of four
cents an hour. The Wabash railroad
has granted increases from SIP to
$120 per month to conductors, from
sos to SCI per month to passenger
brakemen and of four cents an hour
to yardmen. The increases goes into
OBJECT December 1.
New York.-A referendum vote is
being taken by the Interior freight
handlers international union on the
place for holding the next convention
in January. At the last convention
Buffalo, N. Y, was agreed on, subject
to vote of the membership, but the
indications now point to New Orleans
La, being chosen. The freight hand
lers have made remarkable gains in
the past year, the membership now
being 1000
Boston.-George L. Cain, of Lynn
general president of the league of
| employees of United States navy
yards, stations, gun factories and
| arsenals, has had his work and plans
| Endorsed and cooperation voted by
| practically all the local unions of
trades engaged at the local navy yard
This month Mr.. Cain is to make a
trip in the interests of his organiza-
| ton to Brooklyn and Washington. He
| will be also in Washington January
10, when he has an appointment for
| another interview with President
Pnncnvo1t in, int pf %I,1
| eminent mechanical establishments
employees.
Minneapolis.-Some of the impor-
tant declarations of the A. F. of L.
convention in the decision regarding
political action were: I'VE hold that
the economic function and power of
trade unionism is by far it's greatest
instrument for good We further hold
| that the solidarity of our movement
must not for moment be permitted
to be endangered by the attempt to
identify it with a partisan political
movement. We must have with us, in
our economic movement, men of all
parties as well as of all creeds, and
the minority right of the humblest
man to vote where he pleases and to
worship where his conscience die
tates must be sacredly guarded We
may properly furnish him the facts
as they occur in the legislative field,
the records of legislators, ETC., and
then leave him to use his own politi-
cal Judgment. Political movements
are ephemeral. The trade union move
ment is not alone for to-day. It's ex-
istence is too valuable to be staked
on success in the political arena. The
political wooden horse bears within
it those who would destroy the walls
of our impregnable defense. We are
not political party. We disclaim
political party jurisdiction. We set
up no claim of authority over the po-
litical acts of our membership. We
could not if we would, for all the po-
litical authority we might assume
would not vitiate the protection due
every man from the union which
grants him his card. If we are to Gre
ate new tests of regularity in union
ism we must first obtain new power
from the affiliated bodies which make
up the federation. We are legitimate.
ly concerned as to those measures
which affect our legislative and Judi
cial rights. We, therefore, recommend
to trade unionists everywhere the
duty of independent voting and the
formation of such organizations out
side the trade union as in the judg
ment Of the membership in each 10
cality may be deemed most effect
! i've"
MISUNDERSTANDING the discus
sion of the subject of women in in
: dustry at the convention of the Amer
> lean Federation of Labor, some of the
officers of national unions denied the
charge that they were not doing theil
duty in the way of trying to organize
women. John B. Lennon declared
that in his trade women were taker
into the union and received equa
wages with men. He said that all The
unions in which there are wome1
members have adopted the same pol
icy.
Chicago.-The railroads centering il
. Chicago refused demands of locomo
tive engineers for higher wages, tn
; eight hour day and modified physica
y tests, including less strict rule gov
erning eyesight. The latter regulation
was originally advocated by the Bul
= lington engineers. but since has bee
Endorsed by engine employees of al
the roads, and now threatens to b
one of the chief questions of dispute
The railroad officials declared the re
. quests as made were unreasonable
but signified their willingness to NEE
and confer again with the engineer:
provided the latter possessed autho
ity to negotiate.
Hazleton. Pa.-The 400 mine worl
ers employed by c. M. Dodson & Co
e operating the Beaver Brook collier.
u went on strike because the manage
ment declined to pay them Frida,
the regular pay day. Saturday We
q the day set by the company.
SC Chicago-Increase in salaries ran
u ing from 10 to 20 per cent, have bee