The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-01-23

nave been taken as model by PreS1. |
dent Roosevelt in suggesting the |
American employers liability legislar |
tion has proved so unsatisfactory in |
the 1S months that it has been tried |
that English underwriters announced |
their intention of greatly increasing |
the rate of premiums on this class of |
risks. The act covers every imagin- |
able class of labor and is SO sweeping |
as to leave practically no loophole for |
the employer however free from moral
responsibility he may be for accidents |
to his employee.
Springfield, Ill.-Replying to a cir
cular letter issued by President Lewis
of the United Mine Workers of Ameri
ca, John H. Walker, president of the
Illinois organization, issued an appeal
to the members of the union for sup
port in his position. Walker, who is
a candidate against Lewis for the
national presidency, characterized
Lewis and his associates as character
assassins" and charges them with
causing all the dissension that exists
in the national body. The appeal is
made for friendly delegates in the in
ternational convention to be held next
year.
New notwithstanding the
unanimous protest against the Jail sen.
fences imposed on Samuel Gompers
John Mitchell and Frank Morrison, the
Central Federated Union here re-
ceived from Mr.. Gompers a letter, in
which he notified the unions that he
had discontinued, on the advice of
counsel, the I'VE don't paeronize" list
in the future issues of the Federation
| list, the labor organ. Upon hearing
| this the Cent raj Federated Union also
decided, upon the advice of the chair.
man, to suspend it's unfair list.
| Panama. = American workmen on
| the Panama canal threaten general
| strike on account of the sentencing of
| an American named Fraser. Fraser,
| who was an engine driver on the Pa
mama canal, was convicted of assault
| and sent to prison here. Leaders of
the canal workmen say they will order
strike unless Fraser is released on
bail. Officials of the Isthmian Canal
commission at Washington know moth
ing of the threatened strike.
| Paris, France.-About the latest
thing in the line of labor unions in
Paris is the recently formed "Associa-
ton of Inventors which aims to or
ganize all mechanics and other work
men of an inventive bent, and thus
prevent them from becoming the vic,
Tins of those who may try to steal
their ideas. All patents obtained will
be held in common, and all cases in
the courts will be conducted by the
| association.
Wilkesbarre, Pa.-Orders were post
| ed at all the colleries of the Pennsyl
vania Coal Company and the Hillside
Coal and Iron Company for a suspen-
sion of work for ten days. A majority
of the employees are foreigners, and
they usually spend SO much time in
the Christmas period celebrating that
it is impossible to get a complete
working force.
Lowell, Mass.-As a result OF q
meeting of the sheet metal workers,
held recently, the employers voluntar-
lily granted the eight-hour work day
without reduction in pay from the
amount paid for the previous nine
hour day.
New York-Leather workers on
horse goods expect before 1910 to make
general demand for the eight-hour
day in the trade.
Philadelphia-With thunderous
affirmative vote, the Central Labor
Union of Philadelphia and vicinity,
representing $4,000 men, at a meeting
declared that the sentencing of Com
pers, Mitchell and Morrison has once
more reminded trade unionists of this
country that the Bucks Stove and
Range Company is still on the unfair
list Of organized labor"
!, Washington.-Oficia Of the 18th
milan canal have instructed Leroy E.
!, Parks, it's labor agent in Europe, to
close his Office in Paris and return to
the United States. Instead of three
agencies in the United States the
number has been reduced to one, as
more laborers are going to the zone
than are leaving every month.
Boston.-January the printing
) pressmen's unions of Boston and vicin
r ity began work on the eight-hour work
5 day in the book and job shops under
the terms Of an agreement made some
months ago with the Boston Typothe
/ tae, the association of many Of the lar
/ ger employing firms, and with the
union label printing offices owners.
; Augusta, Ga.-A metal trades depart
; ment of the American Federation OF
Labor is being formed.
London, England.-In both England
: and Scotland several rescue stations
2 have been organized in connection
1 with experimental galleries devised fol
e the purpose of training golfers in the
5 methods of effective rescue work In
S the event of explosions, pit fires and
e other underground accidents.
London, England.-The total mum
t Der of persons employed at mines anC
n at tho uuarries Of the United Kingdom