The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-27
GENERAL LABOR NOTES


about the formation Of a new political
labor party composed strictly of men,
bers of British trade unions, as OPP
posed to the labor party, which In
cludes the socialistic element. The
meeting did not indicate that the
movement had any great strength.
The majority Of the delegates were
unknown in labor circles and very
few represented any strength in their
unions. The absence of leaders of
national prominence showed that the
labor politicians do not take the move
ment seriously.
BY the end Of July 1t will be neces-
sary to enroll men for merchant ma
rine training at the rate Of 1000 q
month in the next IS months, so great
is the multiplication Of the ships of
the merchant fleet. Six hundred new
ships will be put into commission on
the west coast alone, and 1000 new
men will be needed each month for
year and half merely to man these
vessels. There are now rs free navi-
CATION and eight free engineering
schools ir operation,
Abolition of the individual wage
contract at the General Electric
!. Enrks. j t.ssilel5 Mass, has been
= VI - sfi1lB WI ~ y Fa'7s ~ 81
BOAR 10fth ba. prevented q .rlEe
am5le the 1000 employees there.
This aD10eat.ol may be - 4JIctulner
of similar acton to eliminate irrita-
ton among many laboring men work
ing under similar conditions. Chair
men Taft and Walsh still endeavor
to work out fair collective bargain
ing plan.
While the house was adopting the
conference agreement on the $780,
100000 sundry civil bill it was re-
vealed that it will be the effort Of
the war labor policies board to stand
ardize wages as a means of meeting
the acute labor situation. Acting Re
publican Leader Gillette declared he
believed the labor of the country
would be "held in the grasp Of the
board" and he questioned the wisdom
of comforting so much power on 1t.
A resolution protesting against the
prohibition amendment to the agrlcul-
tural appropriation bill now before
congress was adopted by the Central
| Federated Labor union of New York
The resolution urged President Will
son to use his influence against legis
lation which would deprive working
men Of "their food drink"-beer--
which one speaker asserted would bt
obtained, whether legally or Illegally
The first union of cigarmakers Of
America was formed early in thu
fifties, in Baltimore, but it was no
until June %, 1864, that a nationa
cigarmakers' union was formed, which
at their convention held in Buffalo
in 1864, was changed into the Cigar
makers International Union Of Amer
lea.
In London more than 200 members O
trades unions met to form a politica
party distinct from the present labo
party. Resolutions were adopted pro
testing against the latter's termination
of the political truce.
Wisconsin's industrial commission
has been asked to fix $3.50 weel
as the minimum wage for women an,
minors employed in that state.
The practicability Of protectiv
clothing for women and girl worker
has been demonstrated in British In
dustries.
The number Of women factory work
ers in Michigan has more than doubles
the last year, according to official eS
Inmates.
A recently created ministry of pub
lie welfare in Austria has control 0
industrial and protective labor legis
lation.
The Michigan Association of Worh
ers for the Blind is training blind me
chanies to repair gasoline engines.
Six hundred employees of Lewis
town, Pa, concerns have opened CT
operative store.
A movement Is on foot Throughout
Ireland at present to form an Iris
labor party.
At the Woolwich arsenal in Ems
land 2SO00 women workers are en-
ployed.