The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-10-30
I'm L.abor's Realm
Matters of Especial Interest To and Con-
corning Those Who Do the
Work of the World

Boston.-A gigantic movement, born
of long time unrest, is in progress in
the leading cotton textile districts of
the world, looking toward a general
curtailment of production for the re-
mainder of this year and during 1910.
The reasons advanced are the
gradual increase in the cost Of
raw material and the failure of
the dry goods markets to re-
spond in a way to assure continued
profits to manufacturers. The cur
tailment movement had its inception
in Lancashire, the greatest cotton
goods producing district in the world.
On September IL. the Arkwright club
of Boston. representing 100000 Of
the 100000 spindles in New Eng
land, sent out to all the cotton mills
in this district, which is second in
the industry to Lancashire, an agree
ment for signatures for curtailment.
The proposition calls for suspension
of work for 224 working hours be-
tween the date of the agreement and
August 1, 1910. to become effective
when 100000 spindles have been
signed up. The curtailment Is not
likely to become effective in this state
in the immediate future, as many
mills that will sign will be unable to
fill present orders without steady run
ming until well into January. The
Rhode Island and Fall River manu-
facturers are, as a rule willing to cur
tail production. The curtailment has
also been taken up by southern cotton
mill owners. The board of governors
Of the American Cotton Manufactur-
ers' association, at meeting in Char
lotte, N. c., adopted resolutions set
ting forth their claim that the present
disparity between the price of cotton
and cotton goods precludes the posi-
bility of the successful operation of
southern mills. A committee was ap-
pointed to formulate a curtailment
agreement which every mill in the
south will be urged to sign The cot
ton mills of New England, including
yarn mills, employ upward Of 100000
hands.
Chicago.-The recall of the charter
of local union No. by the Interna-
tional Union of Steam Engineers was
sustained by Judge Petit in the circuit
injunction formerly entered which re-
strained Matt Comerford. general pres
ident Of the union, from revoking the
charter and taking the books, seals
and records of the local. The local
union of engineers offended the in
ternational union several months ago
by entering into contracts with the
Chicago and Milwaukee Brewers as
sociation without having them sane
toned by the general executive
board.
Orange, N. J.-Rumors of settle
ment of the hating strike, which have
been circulating here for the last week
or more, were intensified when 1t be-
came known that the firm of e. v.
Connect & Co. of this city had laid
on permanently IS per cent. of its non
union force, with a view to re-Opening
its factory at the end of next week
with union employees. The Is per
cent. retained, it is understood, will
get union cards. They consist OF
union deserters or men who have con-
tracts with the firm.
Gary, Ind.-The total contracts
placed with all rail manufacturers
this year have aggregated little over
$780, 900 tons, 100000 tons Of which
are for next years delivery. 1t is es-
timated that the rail mill capacity of
the country is now between 10000
and 100000 tons annually. It is ex-
pected that the Gary mill will be
able to turn out 100000 tons per
year when the plant is completed. The
estimates of total production include
light as well as standard sections.
Pittsburg, Pa.-With nearly half a
million tons of standard rails on the
books of the Illinois Steel Company,
over half of which Is Bessemer, it
seems certain future demands Of the
Steel Corporation for Bessemer rails
must come to the Pennsylvania mills.
The Alabama mills already are well
filed, large part of their tonnage be-
ing for export.
Indianapolis, Ind.-The Information
al Printing Pressmen and Assistants
union has gone heart and soul into the
movement for the conquering of con-
sumption among its members. A prop
osition Is now advanced for the en-
tire membership to contribute annual
ly one days pay toward the establish
ment of tuberculosis hospital.
Pittsburg, Pa.-At the recent glass
bottle blowers convention 1t was de-
cided not to publish an official trade
journal. The organization has sys-
tenn of keeping the members posted
and fears that the publication of
journal woul tend to give important
information to outsiders for whom it
is not intended.
Washington.-The labor situation in
Switzerland has peculiar features. A
considerable part of the country's in
dustrial operations are carried on in
the rural districts, the employees work
ing in their own little strips of land
during the short farming season Of the
summer, and in the factories or other
industrial establishments the rest of