Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07

Inc WofklnSmen OF Manitoba, Canada.
are busy forming ii labor party They
nope to be able to combine all factions
and go into the campaign next year.
Dayton (Ohio) painters have indorsed
a proposed scale which calls for an eight
hour day and a minimum rate OF 40 cents
an hour, the new scale TO go into effect
April 10.
Theatrical stage employees of San Jose.
Cal. have formed a union of their own.
caused by dissension which has resulted
from being under the jurisdiction of the
Sacramento local.
Boston (Mass.) Cement and Asphalt
Workers Union recently voted to retain
It's membership in the Building Trades
Council, and reconsidered its vote to af-
flllate with the building trades section of
the c. L. L.
The secretary of the Iowa State Fed
Grafton of Labor has announced that that
body will work for the passage of a bill
making election day holiday in law and
IN TACT, so that laboring men may have
ample time in which to vote
The new scale of the San Francisco
minimum to 81 a day from $32J. In re-
gard to the new wage schedule of the
BIacksmiths' Helpers Union the minimum
wage has been raised from $2.75 to So
Chicago Qll.) builders are fast reject
ing the open shop. Sixty-five of the mem
bers of the Masons and Contractors AS
ISOLATION of that city recently held ban
quet and declared that in the future
agreements would be made with unions.
An eight-hour day agitation has been
started by the machinistS' lodges of Bos-
ton, Mass. Committees are hustling to
complete the organization of the men and
eight-hour and organizing literature is be-
ing circulated broadcast in the endeavor
Union painters of New York City are
advocating a six-hour workday during the
winter season. The main purpose is to
increase the number of situations during
the dull season. 1t is reported that most
Of the employers are favorable to the idea
An Independent Workingman's League
is being organized at Kingston. Ont 1t
will be a distinct body from the labor
unions. and will discuss all questions CON
corning workingmen's interests 1t may
also make itself felt in municipal cleo
ticns.
An increase in the wage scale is asked
by the various hodcarriers' locals of Al
legheny Pa. to go into effect on May l.
1907. An advance of 2h cents an hour
is asked by the hodcarrierS. who are now
being paid 81 cents. or $3.50 for work
ing day of eight hours.
Officers of the International Brother
hood of BOokbinders announce that il has
been decided to make a general demand
for the eight-hour Workday and that the
day when it will go into effect has been
put to a referendum vote of the 10000
members of the brotherhood.
There is considerable unrest in the
New England shoe manufacturing district
owing to the fact that a number of firms
have sent out their spring samples with
out the unionl label attached. The agree
ment between most of the unions and the
employers expires on March l. and the
unions have filed notifications of protest
against the manufacturers.
In 1903 there were 1898 establishments
in the United States covering the manu-
facture of foundry and machine shop pro-
ducts. against 1924 in 1900 The capital.
however, represented by these had in
creased from $500. 100000 70 SS45OOO.-
600 in 1905. The wage earners numbered
34S.3S1. receiving $195.0O000O in 1905.
against 800 321. receiving S1S2. 00O. 900 in
1900.
Organized labor in Chicago failed to
support the Union Labor bank recently
established and it has changed it's charter
and will hereafter be known as the Inter
national Trust and Savings bank. 1t was
anticipated when the bank began business
that it would become the depository of all
the union labor banking business. rs en-
ployeS. with the exception of a practical
banker. were union labor men: all its
supplies bore the union label: but labor
refused to patronize it.
y. o. Nelson. a wealthy manufacturer
of st. Louis. has offered to take all chill
dren under the age of IA from the mills
and factories of that city and place them
in school. He agrees to pay one-half the
wages earned provided the women's clubs
of the city pay the other half
The government of New Zealand pro-
poses to make advances up to S1.1Io to
workers who desire to erect dwellings on
urban or suburban lands. Applicants
must not be in receipt of more than ST.
900 a year. and the loan and interest o
per cent? are payable in thirty-six years
in half-yearly payments.
There are at present 800 shoe factories
in the United States using the union
stamp. according to a report recently is
sued. These factories give employment to
over 10000 union workers.
That the union label stands for some
thing is evidenced by the fact that it is
so often counterfeited. Scarcely a week
passes that some one is not arrested for
tLe illegal use of the union label
Officers of the recently organized Long
shoremens Union. at Pittsburg. Pa. state
that the scale. which demands a general
wage increase of so a month. has already
been signed by many independent river
operators.
An early meeting of the commItte-. of
the governing labor organizations of
Great Britain will be held to consider the
question of restricting organization and
to bring about the consolidation of GER
tain existing unions. Fourteen of the larg-
est trades unions of Great Britain recent
ly held conference to discuss the matter.
Portland. Ore, has established mu-
nicipal employment bureau. in which
work and workers are to he listed free of
charge. This step was taken by the
City Council because of justifable COM
plants made against private employment
agencies. Other western cities are watch
ing the Portland experiment with great
interest.