The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-15
in WAR TO BEAT GERMANS
American Labor Delegation In Europe
Goes on Record in No Uncertain
Manner.

fields. laboratories and factories,
'We will beat the Germans first
and speak to them afterward," de-
clared Chairman James Wilson and
George L. Barry of the mission ON their
arrival. 1--WE take the position that
we will not meet them In conference
under any consideration. We will not
be swerved from our main job--beat-
ing Germany-by any talk of confer
ence until they have been driven be-
mind their own frontiers"
Messrs. Wilson and Barry declared
they were delighted with their stay In
| England. They said they had expected
to find people weary of war, but had
found leaders and rank and file Of
British workmen as fully determined
| to pursue the war to a successful con-
lclusion as the American people.
"Even the pessimists do not talk
peace, but are willing to carry on the
war to a bitter end" they added.
| Shipowners and representatives OF
seamen's unions got together on many
vital questions at the shipping labor
conference, with the result that An
drew Furuseth, president of the Inter
national Seamen's union, declared as
nearly harmonious condition as pos
sible had been obtained OF the eve OF
the tremendous expansion Of the Amer
lean merchant marine. Wage differ
ences have been ironed out and plans
laid for recruiting men to operate the
new ships.
What women are doing to fill the
places Of men called to war has been
given another demonstration at De
troit, Mich. Postmaster William J. Ma
gel announced that so women soon
would begin carrying mail at the local
post offices, and since then one of the
large Detroit automobile manufacture
Ing companies advertised for girls to
drive and test cars" More than a
score of women already are engaged in
this work in one factory.
Thirty thousand irOnwOrkers of the
United States received increases in
wages, effective May 2, as the result of
the bi-monthly wage settlement be-
tween representatives of the Western
Bar Iron association and the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers. Puddlers receive an in
crease of 81 q ton and bar iron finish
ers' wages will be raised 10 per cent.
Puddlers under the new scale receive
$16.50 a ton.
More than 10000 employees of the
FIVE big Chicago packing companies be-
gan work May under Federal Judge
/ Alschuler's award on the eight-hour
basis. They viii be paid the same
wages for eight hours they have re-
ceived for ten since January IA. "Forty
4 Chicago firms engaged in the packing
| industry or its subsidiaries will be
| brought under the Alschuler award If
possible" said William q. Foster.
An ordinance requiring all idle men
to go to work or Jail was introduced
into the Aurora (Ill.) council by Alder
man Michael Smith. Every shop in
that city, a community in which small
factories abound, is in need of help.
The ordinance is aimed at men with
incomes, but no employment, as well
as at loafers who prefer to eat at IT.
regular intervals than to toll.
Reports circulated that the boiler
makers and iron shipbuilders employed
by the Chicago Shipbuilding company
at South Chicago are demanding the
same wages paid on the coasts were
ridiculed by Frank c. LaMarche, gen.
eral superintendent. He said the same
wages had been paid since April 1.
Governor Beeckman of Rhode Island
In a proclamation, ordered all able
bodied male residents between the
ages of eighteen and fifty to obtain
regular employment for at least thirty
six hours week, under penalty of fine
or Imprisonment for failure to COM
ply.
The Scottish Wholesale Cooperative
society has disclosed the fact that its
sales of millinery and drapery goods
increased last year from f1,000,000 to
f2,225,000. The president of the So
ciety declared that money had been
spent largely on tinery by munitions
workers.
A three-year agreement between the
Brick Contractors association of In
dianapolis, Ind, and Bricklayers' union
No. 3 of Indianapolis, was made. Brick
layers are to receive S. cents an hour
and foremen> bricklayers IS cents. The
bricklayers work eight hours day.
Trade union recognition is the first
essential IL employers would assist in
the minimizing of Industrial dissatis.
faction, says the committee on industry
and employment in New York city, af-
filiated with the mayors committee on
national defense.
The Bricklayers, Masons and Plas-
ters international union, with head,
quarters in indianapolis, Ind, has of.
ficially condemned strikes or any other
labor disturbances during the period of
the war.
OF the 100000 young Americans be.
tween the ages of sixteen and twenty
ono years it is declared that 1000, 900
are idle or engaged in unproductive
activities for substantial part of the
time.
liz Germany, In certain industries