The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-12-27

Chicago.-John Mitchell, president
of the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca. announced finally that he would
not be a candidate for reelection. The
miners chief denies a rumor that Ae
is quitting the labor field to enter
politics. 1t has been persistently ru-
mored that place in the cabinet of
President Roosevelt awaited Mr. Nit
chell if he would go after it. Il am
quitting the labor movement solely
because my health is impaired said
Mr.. Mitchell. There is an impression
that l am retiring to accept an APP
pointment to some high political Of
fee l wish to say that so far as |
am concerned no tender of any politi-
Gal appointment has been made to me,
and If such a move is contemplated
l know absolutely nothing about it.
New York.-The Iron Age says:
1.-THE volume of new orders for fin
ished iron and steel is still light and
little improvement is expected during
the current. month. So far as figures
are available they justify an estimate
during November of about 40 per cent
of the capacity of the mills Until
lately the steelmakers were most rad
ical in blowing out blast furnaces,
the United States Steel corporation
now having only As per cent of it's
pig iron capacity in operation. Now,
however. the merchant furnaces are
pursuing the same conrse in increas-
ing numbers. 1t is expected that by
the 18th of this month the greater
Of 70 FIN in tho MahOn-
ing and Shenango valleys will be
idle"
Marquette, Mich-Through the eff
forts of organized labor the manufac-
ture of cigars in Marquette prison is
to be abolished. The contract expires
the first of the year, but the contrac-
tors have been given four months
grace to wind up business. The con-
victs who have been making cigars
will begin the manufacture of overalls
The garment workers will take up the
| fight where the cigar makers left of,
protesting against the convicts being
put to making overalls. There were
only 100 of them employed at cigar
making; there are 200 now said to be
employed in the new overall factory at
the prison.
Augusta.-The Georgia Federation
| of Labor went on record through an
interview issued by it's president, D.
| P. O'Connell. after meeting of the
| executive committee, as deploring the
| reduction of railroad rates and fares
through legislation and opposing any
| further legislation of the kind. Mr..
| OConnell contends, as does also the
executive committee, that labor condi-
| tons in the south have been disturbed
by the legislation. which has caused
| shortening of hours, and thereby re-
| duction of wages, as well as being the
direct cause of numbers of working
men being laid off.
Appleton, Wis.-The superintendent
of the Little Chute Pulp company has
been fined 500 on the charge Of hav-
ing in the mills employ boy of IA
years. 1t has developed since the
trial that many children below the age
limit are at work.
Missoula, Mont-A reduction of
about Is per cent of the clerical and
operating forces of the Northern Pa
,cific went into effect. Several hun
dred men were laid off here at the
;roundhouse. the car shops, and in
train crews.
Youngstown, O.-Work has been re-
sumed in the Valley and Brown-Bon-
nell steel plants which were closed
down last week.
Milwaukee.-Suit for $4,000 has
Oeen instituted in federal court against
the Western Union Telegraph com
pany for the alleged failure to deliver
message during the recent strike
The plaintiff is w. G. Stumm OF
Staunton. ILL.,, who claims that the fail
Mre to convey to him a message offer
ing him a position in a mill in Vene
.Zuela, South America, lost him the
ISL 800 position and a chance for flu
ture advancement.
Bethlehem, Pa.-Because of dissat
isfaction with the tonnage scale, in
stead of the per diem rate of wages
most Of the expert workmen at the
new rail mill in the Saucon plant o
the Bethlehem Steel works are OF
strike.
Claremont, N. H.-Instructions have
been received from the Boston Office
fof the company ordering the running
ttime of the MOnadnock cotton mill'
There reduced to seven hours daily
Five hundred operatives will be at
fected.
Bethlehem, Pa.-The strike at thu
; Sauquoit silk mill is sympatheticall.
growing. One hundred and six of thu
,175 weavers are out, together with ;
dozen spinners.
!. Hazelton, PA movement ha
been started here to raise fund o
$50, 600 among the United Mine Work
ers Of America as a testimonial tt
John Mitchell upon his retiremen
. from the presidency of the union. Mr.
Mitchelfs retirement is due to i'll
Health. 1t is proposed to hand hin