The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-01
GERMAN WORKERS FEEL PINCH
Their Wages Not Equal to Greatly In
creased Cost Of Living-other
Labor News OF interest.

| has been so per cent, while the living
cost has gone up 300 per cent. The
greatest increase in wages has been
received by Prussian metal workers,
who are now getting SO per cent more
than they formerly received. Increases
as low as 16 per cent have been re-
ported and some women are still being
paid less than $3.50 per week. The
purchasing power Of money has drop
ped to one-fourth Its value before the
war, according to the bulletin. Ger
man workingmen, 1t says, are being
underfed. One egg per week Is their
allowance. Oleomargarine Is limited
to an ounce and half for family
Of four. Sugar is more plentiful, the
family allowance being one and one
half pounds. Coffee is practically un.
obtainable. Potatoes are the heaviest
item In the ordinary diet.
Socialism in America was branded
as poisonous German propaganda by
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor, In a
speech at Cleveland In behalf Of the
Liberty Loan. Mr.. Gompers declared
he had been changed from "the most
active pacifist in America to a good
| fighter" and he said that labor will
not meet in q peace movement until
the war is over and labor parties Of
all countries can be represented.
The Calumet and Hecla Mining
company and its ten subsidiary cor
porations announced general raise
over the present minimum wages Of 0
per cent, with increases running up to
25 per cent for some classes Of under.
ground work, effective May l. The
contract system remains in force,
making even greater earnings pos
sIble. It is said about 10,500 men will
be benefited.
New England's labor problem has
become so serious that the Thomas G,
Plant company, one Of the largest shoe
manufacturing concerns In the country.
advertised for women with babies OF
small children who are experienced
shoe stitchers. The company has In
stalled large nursery and will have
staff of kindergarten teachers while
their mothers work.
Five thousand switchboard operators
Of the Chicago Telephone Company
have received an advance In pay OF
10 per cent. In announcing the In.
crease the company explained that II
has been at pains to strike balance
between the increased cost of opera,
ton during war times and the In,
creasing cost Of living confronted by
the operators.
The Holland government closed the
big state artillery shops at Hemburg,
five miles north of Amsterdam, be-
cause of strikes. There was serious
rioting near the shops when mobs at.
tackled men going to work. Many per.
sons were wounded when troops charg.
ed the crowds. The police arrested
the strike breakers.
Differences between the Bethlehem
Steel company and its employees,
which grew out Of the extension OF
the eight-hour shift to ten hours and
twenty-five minutes in machine shop
No. 4 have been adjusted. Demands OF
the employees for time and one-half
for overtime, night shift included, and
double time on holidays were granted.
Portland (Ore.) has lost its "boot-
blacks" They are "shoe sinners" now.
The polishers have all joined Shoe
Sinners Union Local 1885, and have
advanced the price of their "wares"
to Is cents for the common or garden
variety Of shine, and 20 cents for an
oil shine.
The Krupp works, German gun and
munitions manufacturers, employed
more than 10000 persons in February,
and the number was then expected to
reach 126,00 in April, according to an
Essen dispatch. Thirty thousand WON.
en- were among the employees.
Chairman Hurley wrote to Chairman
Sherley Of the house appropriations
committee asking that the bill to In
crease the wages of government EN-.
ployees generally $120 a year should
be amended to include the employees
Of the shipping board.
Five hundred union workers Of In
diana Harbor erected Red eros!
"hut" 100 by 100 feet in dimensions
in six hours and dedicated 1t with Q
parade Of the various craftsmen wht
took part In its construction.
A general strike In sympathy with
striking street car employees became
effective at Waco, Texas. Five thou
sand men and women, it is estimated
| by strike leaders, did not report fol
| work.
One hundred and fifty newsboys a.
Seattle went on strike because al
evening paper refused them higher
percentage on their sales. Police re
serves went on duty to break up mob.
near newspaper offices.
| A cooperative bakery conducted by
a Denver union is said to have saved
the people of that city $1,000 day
recently by underselling the bakery
combine"
Army officers, enlisted men ani
civilian government employees al