The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-04-11

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Gompers OK
the American Federation of Labor,
closing the argument for the eight
hour bill before the house committee
on labor, emphatically contradicted the
assertion that had been made before the
committee by employers that working
men as a rule were In favor Of work
ing over time il they received extra
pay for it. He claimed that the rep
resentatives of some of the employers
who had appeared before the commit
tee during these hearings had been In
strumental in securing legislation
that practically has made outlaws OF
union workmen. Asked by Mr.. Vree-
land to explain his meaning Mr.. Com
pers said: 1.-The suits that have been
brought against the organizations OF
labor and which have reached final de-
cision by the supreme court of the
United States have outlawed the or.
binary actions Of the labor organiza-
tons that had been regarded as law
full until those decisions were rem
dered."
Detroit, Mich.-Representatives OF
the Dredge Owners Protective asso-
citation, who have been in conference
with delegates from the four labor
unions of the dredge employees, have
completed their wage agreements with
all the unions. Wages remain practi-
cally unchanged from last year. but
whereas last year the men practically
declined to work overtime on any
conditions, this year the owners can
obtain overtime work by paying
double wages, or, in some instances,
az times the regular wages.
Cincinnati.-The Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers gave its final de-
cision not to accept a reduction in
wages. The case will not be put up
to the interstate commerce commits
sion. Mr.. Burgess, assistant grand
chief of the organization, said: "The
engineers are now actually suffering
a 80 per cent reduction in their wages.
Men who made $3.50 month year
ago are now getting about 500. This
is bad enough without talking about
another cut of ten per cent"
st. Louis.-The American Car and
Foundry Company plant in South st.
Louis has closed down, throwing 1900
men out of employment. In normal
times the plant employs 5000 men.
but 100 were laid OF several weeks
ago. 1t is also stated that the men
yet employed in the three other plants
near st. Louis will be dismissed with
in a few weeks. Lack of orders Is
given as the cause.
Boston.--"New England is to be
the scene of the most serious railroad
troubles this season, our international
believes and that's why we are here"
is the statement made by the trio of
international officers of the car work
ers' unions who are now in this city.
They are Martin Ryan Of Kansas City.
Benjamin p. Lewis of Memphis and
John H. Suthons of Buffalo.
Ashtabula, O.-John O'Brien Of
Cleveland. former representative Of
the Structural Iron Workers union,
was sentenced to six years imprison.
ment at hard labor in the Ohio peni-
Tertiary at Jefferson. having been con-
vfcted of assault with intent to main
George Riley, a non-union foreman, in
labor riot at Ashtabula Harbor on
February 5.
Chicago-The Industrial Workers
of the World propose to organize
every branch of the milk industry.
from the persons who milk the cows
to the men who deliver the milk. The
organization announces that steps will
be taken to form national union Of
the employees of the industry.
Boston.-Notice has been received
by 1000 employees in five factories In
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. con-
trolled by the United States Rubber
Company, that the mills will be closed
shortly, SEINE for an indefinite period
and others for several weeks.
st. Louis.-Announcem was
made by the Missouri PaciflcLron
Mountain railway system that the serv-
ices of 1000 men employed in the COM
pany's shops at the foot Of Sidney and
De Kalk street here will no longer be
required.
New York.-W. H. Wood, president
of the American Wooden Company.
said that his company is now operat-
inS about ten per cent. more of its
mills than 1t did q month ago. Some
increase is made from week to week.
Westbrook. Me,-Orders were re-
ceived from the 8. D. Warren Com
pany Of Boston to place their paper
mills here on short time. They will
run five days week. One thousand
men will be affected.
Halifax.-Measures for the better
payment of school teachers, the better
Ia -