The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-26
saved in this country II the United
States had Belgium's death rate.

to organize the craft throughout the
country.
| The Arkansas State Federation of
Labor Is active in urging upon the
/ people of that state an amendment
to the constitution providing for the
| initiative and referendum. 1T is form
ing clubs for the purpose through
out the state.
There are now only $4,000 lace
makers in Belgium, as compared
with 10000 in 1875. The maximum
wages paid to the most skfiful lace
makers never exceed thirty cents a
day, and out of $500 workers only
about twenty are paid the maximum.
W. G. Lee, president OF the Order
of Railway Trainmen, speaking at
st. Louis the other day, declared
that the complete amalgamation of
the various organizations of railroad
employees was one of the possibili-
ties of the near future.
The recent convention Of the
Bricklayers and Masons Internation-
al Union decided to place the ques-
tion of erecting a national home, sim
liar TO that of the printers, before
their local unions for discussion for
ten months, at the end of which
time it will be put to referendum
vote of the membership.
The trade unionists generally in
England are much embarrassed by
the fact that the law does not per-
nit them to use their funds for
political purposes, and they are put
ting pressure on ministers to bring
in a bill to legalize such proceed
ings.
Two large labor bodies have re-
Gently decided to affiliate with the
American Federation of Labor-the
Brotherhood OF Railway Carmen and
the Western Federation of Miners
OF the 205 local unions in the latter
body only five voted against the
proposition.
The American Federation of La
Dor, which is organizing the sugar
refinery employees, has just issued
charters to three newly formed un.
ions with a total membership Of
900. The refinery workers are
endeavoring to obtain a minimum
wage scale of IS cents an hour,
1t Is quite possible that in five
or ten years time the 80 odd CEN
tral unions Of Germany, now num-
bering two million workers, will
be organized into fifteen or twenty
big unions, each open TO all
the workers in an industry or
| group of industries-coal, iron and
steel making, metal working, building
trades, transport, furniture, cloth
ing, food, printing. etc,
As a result OF the failure of the
big strike last year, the labor unions
of Sweden are reported to be en-
tirely demoralized. The rank and file
are in revolt and refuse to pay in
any more money, declaring that the
funds used by the leaders last year
were wantonly wasted.
In 1900 Belgium adopted what is
called an insurance annuity and Ma
tionally sustained pension act. I'm
der 1t annuities are granted accord
ing to age and account of premium
paid. Pensions are paid to all over
sixty-five years under certain pre-
scribed conditions of want and dis
ability.
The cost of living during the past
fifteen years has been rapidly in
creasins. In ten years 1t has gone
up 40 per cent This tendency will
probably never decrease very ma
terially. While wages have gone up
they have by no means kept pace
with the living expenses. The in
crease in the rate for thes killed
workers has been about 90 per cent,
but the wages OF unskilled labor have
remained practically stationary
AS a result of a recent confer
ence between representatives OF the
union machinists employed on the
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul rail
road on the division extending from
Chicago to the Missouri river, the
company has increased the pay of
the shopmen one cent an hour. The
raise dates back to July 2S, and
about 1000 machinists will be thus
benefited
Delegations from fifty-seven gram
mar schools of Buffalo, y. Y, have
organized a teachers union along
the lines of the ordinary labor
union. This will be affiliated with
the American Federation OF Labor.
The union will be called the Teach
ers' Educational League. 4 demand