The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-03

iopoi. III OtHSA WOluS, lHOIS buut
three-quarters of million women left
their homes to release that number Of
men for military service.
The members of organized labor In
Canada are not satisfied with the &C,
ton of the Dominion government in
dealing with the high cost of living,
and there is movement on foot to
have an army of workmen march to
Ottawa and, If possible, to press upon
the government tho necessity of act
ing Immediately.
The executive council Of the A. IT..
OF il. will suspend the charter of the
International Association of Bridge
and Structural Iron Workers union
April /, 1917, unless ne organization
complies with instructions TO revoke
| the charter of certain local union In
New York city which has violated
union rules.
Because of the death of Secretary.
Treasurer Tracy of the union label
trades department, the convention of
| the department placed this office in
| the hands OF the department execu-
| tive board to temporarily fill until the
next convention. The board has de-
ferred action until it's January meet
ing.
| A recommendation that old-age pen
sions be paid to members of the United
| hTinn 80 ga
are sixty-tive years old, and to disabled
miners under that age, will be made
by the special committee appointed by
John 2. White, president Of the organ
ization. to investigate the matter.
1t is the intention of President
Gompers to visit the Hawaiian islands.
Japan, China and the Philippines early
in 1917 and upon his return from the
Orient he may make an official visit
to Mexico and some of the Latin-Amer-
lean republics to advocate a world fed.
GRAFTON of labor.
The A. F. of l.. declares that stha
right of schoolteachers to organize
and affiliate with labor must be rec
ognized." The executive council has
been instructed to work to secure rep
resentatives of labor on boards of edu-
cation and as directors of state uni
versities.
A decree promulgated in the prin-
cipality Of Lippe, Germany, threatens
all women who refuse to work in the
fields as harvesters with punishment.
Those who, as wives of soldiers at
the front, are drawing separation al
lowances. will be deprived of them. Z
Hundreds of Italian orchard and
vineyard laborers in California have
organized union and affiliated with
the A. F. of L. Last season the wages
of these workers was So for an 11-hour
day. They are now demanding $3.50
for eight hours.
International officers of the Metal
Polishers and Platers' Union have adj
vised their members that they have
secured a~number OF substinitiaI con-
SESSIONS, including an increase of
wages with the Canadian Pacific rail,
way.
The Adamson eight-hour law for
railroad employees will be pushed for
decision by the Supreme court before
January /, when it becomes effective,
under an agreement between the gov
eminent officials and the railroads.
There is considerable activity in all
German factories. According to a
statement made by the bureau Of dis
ability insurance, the number Of wom-
en- employed in industries has in
creased in huge proportions.
1t is stated that probably 100000 of
the woman war workers in Britain
have been recruited from those for
merly engaged in purely feminine oc-
equations - domestics, dressmakers.
milliners, etc.
An appeal is being made by the
| training department of the British
ministry of munitions to women of ed
ucation and leisure to enter upon the
urgent national work In the munition
| shops.
| The number of British women EN-.
ployed in railway work has increased
more than 200 per cent. There are
woman ticket collectors, porters, en-.
CINE cleaners and workshop laborers.
Women represent from 10 to 16 per
cent of the total number of persons
employed on French railroads before
the war. In Germany they represent
between 6 and per cent.
Railroad workers and the American
Federation of Labor representatives
will try to formulate a program seek
ing to head off legislation looking to
compulsory arbitration.
The Turkish government has made
special appropriation of $1,980,000
to be used for the purchase of seed
grains for needy Turkish farmers In
the Turkish dominions.
According to the thirty-fourth an.
nual report of the fishery board OF
Scotland more than half the total num-
Der of Scottish fishermen are engaged
| in national service.
For each day in 1916, up to Novem-
Der 1, there were 800 industrial work
ers killed or injured In Pennsylvania.
! The monthly average Is 211 killed and
20,773 injured.
Brantford (Canada) Trades and La,