Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08
IN LABOR CIRCLES
oaEs.

There is said to have been warm
meeting of the bookbinders' union last
night. The supporters of Public Printer
Stillings and his opponents are said to
have clashed over resolutions condemna-
tory of his methods. Finally a motion to
kill the resolutions by laying them on
the table was defeated and action was
deferred until the next meeting of the
union. There were some spicy debates
between leaders on both sides, it is said.
The annual report of an English lunacy
commission shows an alarming increase
in the population of Great Britains asy
lums.
At the beginning of this year one out of
every 2S2 persons in England and Wales
was reported to be insane. Ten years
years ago the ratio of insane persons was
only one to 314. + rom 1869 to 1906 the
population of England and Wales in
creased 5512 per cent, while the insane in
creased 1:s:} per cent.
A significant fact Brought to light by
the report is the spread of senile de-
30 per cent of last years fresh lunacy
cases. Discussing this phase OF the sit
uation. one medical authority expressed
the belief that we live too long for the
klnQ OF Work most Oh us 90.
The advanced medical knowledge of to-
day." said the authority referred to,
keeps a multitude of persons alive whose
minds are practically worn out. The pres
ent age demands more brain work and
ne-ve strain from every one than were
demanded only a few years ago. The
physical wear and tear has decreased.
while the brain work and the strain on
the nervous system have increased
The excessive strain on the body and
brain of the worker in industry today is
due to the speeding up of industry and
the absorption of all the vitality of the
wage worker. Increasing insanity under
such conditions is no surprise.
Mrs. Cobden-Sanderso the distinguish.
ed woman suffrage leader who is travel
ing in this country. said in public adj
dress a few days ago:
Il went into a glass factory in Pitts
burg the other day and saw children
working in that dreadful place. In Penn
sylvania you have very small children
for fourteen years of age. The manage:
wanted me to take souvenir. He Of
feed me a pitcher. 1 said: I do not
want to remember your place Then |
saw a little broken crucifix. l said: 1
will take this. if 1 may l have that
crucifiX. 1t bears the figure of One who
loved children. | say to you that thou
sands upon thousands of children are be-
ing crucifed in America today. and that
the ballot
The membership of the Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of
America now exceed the 10000 mark
During 1906 forty-one of the siXty-four
unions affiliated with the General Fedora
ton of German Trades Unions at Berlin
paid unemployed benefits.
Labor unions not affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor have a
membership of about 100000, making the
membership of all the labor Unions in
the United States about 100000.
The third annual report of the Inter
national Trades Union Federation shows
that in countries of Europe the total MEM
bership of trades unions in 1903 was
4,414,3S9, out of whom 80, were fe-
males.
Machinists and boilermakers in the Great
Western shops at Des Moines and Oeiwein,
Iowa. will work nine hours instead of ten
hours hereafter. The men will also re-
ceive time and one-half for overtime and
Sunday work.
vigorous protest is being made by the
Melbourne (Australia) Trade Hall Council
against the Colonial Sugar Refinery Com
pany being permitted to import contract
labor while plenty of willing workers car
be obtained in Australia.
The strike at the plant of the Bruins
wick Bake Collender Company. Chicago
has been settled. the firm agreeing to hire
only members of the carpenters union
The woodworkers will have to join the
carpenters union.
Dock men employed by the Duluth. Mes
saba and Northern Railway were notified
that on November | their wages would be
a6x
with a promise made before the strike last
summer. Under the new scale day mer
will receive $3.50 a day and night mer
1915.
A labor candidate for vacant seat ii
the Australian parliament has hit upor
novel idea-'young age pensions, or
the ground that they are wise and mer'
ciful, and would be commercially proft
able to the commonwealth" He adds thai
they would conduce to good citizenship
and "enable the struggling parents Of
large families to bring up their children
decently and with credit to themselves
and the community.
The international office of the pressmer
and feeders has just issued bulletin
giving the number of members enjoying
the eight-hour day at present The fig
secured the eight-hour day, numbering
2194; number of fiat bed pressmen who
have secured the shorter workday or are
now enforcing the same. 7.103: number OF
feeders. 6,252; pressmen not yet having
secured the eight-hour day. 1895: feed
ers, 1.75S Total who secured the eight
hours, 10, JJ1
A recent national strike that was hard
ly heard of was that of the Stove Mount
ers' International Union for the nine-hOuI
day 1t is only now. after the shorter
workday has been gained. that Edward
Fay. first vice president, makes the facts
public. The strike began September D.
when the firms in many cities. Cleveland
among them, conceded the nine-hour day
and in some instances advances in wages
as we'll In Cincinnati, Portsmouth and
Piqua and number of cities In other
states the men walked out and gradually
gained their demands.
TRANSFERS TO COMMISSION.