The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-01-07
WORLD or LABOR

AT a meeting of managers of
practically every cooperative store
in southern Illineis an association
was formed to combine their buying
power that better prices may be Sc
cured as we'll as exchange views
on cooperation.
That the strike breaking activi-
ties of these so-called detective
agencies have reached a point where
they are menace to the industrial
peace of the nation is appar ut TO
everybody. The "agent provoca-
teur" of the worst DAYS of terrorism
In Russia and the treachery and
cruelty of his methods differ In few
respects from those of the spies,
informers and gunmen in the en-
ploy of strike breaking organiza
tions.
Organization work in preparation
for general strike of at least 80,-
600 shirt waist girls in New York
Philadelphia, Boston and Newark
is being carried on by Ladies Waist
and Dressmakers' Union, Local %.
The strike will probably be called
in the middle of January. The
sbirt-waist makers declare that lhey
are losing out under the provisions
of the protocol which is now fore
ing truce between them ard the
employers. A new wage scale will
be presented.
The Navy Department employs
more artisans and skilled mechan
les than any other executive de-
parfment of the Government The
labor employed in the industrial
shops of our naval stations is in
general of high grade, since all
classes Of war V. ssels contain an
installation of machinery that is of
the most approved design and mar
ufacture AS this installation must
always be kept in the highest state
of efficiency the navy yard forcS f
mechanics will undoubtedly com
pare favorably iu skill an intellt-
gence with the compliment of any
efficient industrial establishment.
Substantially every privilege, emol-
uInent or right obtained by the Ma
tional Federation Of Labor for the
workmeu of this country has been
primarily secured in great part
through oar navy yards and ar,
senals. Our ex-Secret aries of the
Navy have, therefore, either di
rectly or indirectly, been most i'm
portant and far reaching factors in
influencing the trend of the rela-
ti1ns now existing between capital
and labor Rear Admiral Edwards
in the Engineering Magazine.
A place for representative of
labor on all legislative, executive
and miste.ial bodies, to include
Federal. State aud municipal gov
ernments, was the demand made
upon President Wilson recently by
the American Federation of Labor,
through Samuel Gompers, its pre-
sldent. Frank Morrison, secretary
of the American Federation of La
Dor, aud Andrew Furuseth accom-
panied Gompers on his visit TO he
President. The conversation lasted
about fifteen minutes, during which
time Gompers made it clear that
fuller recognition of he rights of
| labor was expected by his orgsni-
zation. Mr.. Wilson, while non
committal, promised to consider
the matter seriously Samuel Com
pers afterward stated that repre-
Isentation on any commission
which Congress may authorize for
the investigation of the railway
situation in the United States is es-
pecially desired. Mr.. Gompers
told President Wilson that organ
lied labor was ready to give its
support to the defense of the ma
ton and should be allowed voice
in making preparations.