The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-21

President Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor, In
statement commenting on the decision
of Justice Wright, of tho D1stfiS1
Ct Columbia Supreme court, sentenc-
ing Secretary Frank Morrison. Vice
President John Mitchell and himseif
% prison for contempt of court IN
which among other things, he says
This decision typities in an acute
manner the contention which labor
has made against the practice which
has been usurped by courts of equity
in dealing, not with property rights,
but with personal relations, normal
personal activities, a practice entire
~ at variance with constitutional gov
ornment with government by law
In this case the Judge has acted the
iaitiator Of criminal contempt, APP
pointed the attorneys OF private lltl-
gants to prepare a complaint and
prosecute IL to a conclusion. Inc
judge has heard the evidence. He
himself determined the credibility Of
witnesses. He then formulated his
decision and executed it by impos-
ing prison sentences"
President A b. Lowe, of the
Brotherhood Of Maintenance of Way
Employees reports that new agree
ments have been secured by his or
ganizaticn with the following rail-
roads: Boston and Maine, Boston and
Albany, Vancouver Island. Mi1ne-
apolis and ST. Paul, NickIe Plate,
Coal and Coke. Canadian Northern,
Sesboard Air Line and the Virginian.
The employees OF the Barbour AS
phalt company at the plant located
at Perth Amboy. n. j., after a strike
lasting some weeks, have at last
reached a satisfactory agreement with
the company a2d have returned to
work.
Between ). 900 and 5000 fur work
ers employed in shops in New York
city have gone on strike They are
demanding u nine hour day. the work
ing hours TO be between s o'clock In
the morning and 6 o'clock in the
evening with an hour lunch and q
half day holiday on Saturday; that no
overtime work shah be done during
the months of October, November and
December: the abolition of the inside
contract system and that the work be
given out directly from the manu-
facturer. The leaders of the strike
express confidence In the outcome.
1t is reported that the following
reforms relative to labor conditions
are to be instituted by the United
States Steel corporation: Abolition of
seven day week in all mines, mills,
works of the corporation except un-
der special circumstances; the elimi-
nation of the socalled long turn" in
continuous processwork. A committee
has also been appointed to consider
tho question OF the practicability OF
the reduction OF the hours Of labor.
Since the last report given out by
hn n nf naF ~ "a tors n N n
joiners local unions Of that organiza-
tons have secured increase in wages
for their members in the following
cities. Norwich, N. Y, South Farm :
ington. Mass, Penn Yam. n. y, and
Cannonsbhrg, Pa,
The building trades department of
the American federation of labor an
nounces the formation of new coun-
ellis at Fargo, n. D., Jacksonville. ILL.,.
Karkakee. III, and a state council in
Indiana.
The employees Of the street rail-
ways OF Boston. Mass, have been on
strike for several weeks. The lead
ers of the strikers express confidence
III the ultimate success of the strike.
The street railway employees o.
Pittsburg, Pa, recently secured an IA
crease OF liz cents per hour.
Plans are on foot in San Francisco
for the erection of a hundred thou
sand dollar labor temple.
The clgarmakers OF Toronto have
secured an increase of 81 per thousand
on hand work and 50 cents per thou
sand on mould work About 500 men
are affected by the increase.
The platform adopted by the Demo-
cratic National convention at Balri-
more last week contains the following
planks In regard to labor:
THE expanding organization OF in
dustrv makes IL essential that there
should he no abridgemenr of the rights