In the Labor World by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 13.

In the Labor World

By Editor

In the Labor World.—A bitter contest is now on in Sacramento, Cal., where the Builders' Association, the Contractors' Association, and the Citizens' Alliance have determined that the “open-shop” policy shall rule. All the workmen in the building industry, except the carpenters, are now out, and these will soon have to cease work, because of the strike of other workmen. . . . It is estimated that 20,000 men in the building trades in New York City are now out of work, and that the number will be increased daily. . . . It is expected that 10,000 lithographers throughout the country will be locked out soon on account of increased demands. . . . Some thirty large clothing manufacturing firms of Rochester, N. Y., have discontinued the use of the union label on their goods. . . . The masons of New York City are now on strike, and the bricklayers are giving them their support, thus tying up a great amount of work there. . . . At Telluride, Colo., the Citizens' Alliance, armed with guns and revolvers, recently drove out of that place between seventy and eighty union men and sympathizers. . . . Serious riots occurred at Chicago on March 15, when striking employees of the American Can Company attacked a number of teamsters. Men were beaten, and cars smashed, and the police were unable to preserve order.

It is reported that a Colorado fruit grower has succeeded, after seven years of experimentation, in producing a seedless apple. Great things are claimed for this new variety of apple.

The Supreme Court of the United States has given its decision in the great merger case. The merger was a combination of several of the great northwestern railroads; and this combination was attacked on the ground that it was a violation of the antitrust laws. The court decides, by a majority of five to four, that the merger is a trust according to the meaning of the law, and is, therefore, an illegal corporation. This decision upholds the decision of the Circuit Court of Minnesota in every particular. The railroads have given no inkling of the course they will pursue in the future.

Thirty Russian students in the German schools of Berlin have been expelled from Germany. It seems that the German Government was permitting Russian officers in Germany to watch resident Russians, and these students protested against Germany giving her consent to the operation of the Russian spy system there. Thirty of the students who signed the protest were given from five to eight days in which to leave Germany.

Enemies of the Russian Government are becoming active again since the reverses of the Russians in the Orient. This is manifest in the circulation of anti-government literature, in the placarding of cities with posters denouncing the government, and occasionally in the throwing of bombs. An act of the latter class occurred in the city of Vilna, Russia, on March 16, when the interior of the large Alexander Chapel was wrecked by a bomb. No lives were lost.

Another bill has been introduced in the French Chamber of Deputies by the premier, in opposition to the Catholic monastic orders. The bill has strong support, and will, without doubt, become law. It suppresses all monastic schools, and prohibits the monks and nuns from teaching, except in private. The premier declares that the clerical teachers are deforming the minds of the French youth.

The Post-office Bill is now before the House, together with the report of Assistant Postmaster-General Bristow. It is expected that considerable of the time of the House will be taken up in the discussion thereon, as the report seems to implicate members of the House in illegal acts in connection with post-office appropriations and with appointments in the postal service.

Germany, by a vote of both houses of legislation, has repealed the antijesuit law of 1872. This restores the Catholic clergy to all the rights which they possessed in Germany before the antijesuit law of Prince Bismarck went into effect. This is in pursuance of the emperor's policy to make friends with the pope and secure the support of the Catholic party.

The use of cocaine is rapidly becoming alarmingly prevalent in this country. A very small portion of this imported drug is used legitimately. Some states have laws prohibiting its promiscuous sale, but the laws have not been enforced. It is said to rob its victims of their mental faculties in briefer time and in greater degree than any other drug.

In the naval maneuvers of the English home fleet, on March 14, a new expedient was tried to prevent the successful attack of submarine boats. This consisted of a special net operated by two pilot boats, which were so maneuvered that the attacking submarine was enmeshed in the net and rendered powerless and helpless.

President Joseph Smith, of the Mormon Church, held a family reunion at the Beehive House in Salt Lake, on his return from the Smoot investigation in Washington. There were present at this family gathering President Smith's five wives and thirty-two of his forty-two children.

The chief of the young car-barn bandits of Chicago, who has been convicted, now confesses to the killing of twenty-three men in his short career of crime. The circumstances of the murders are given with such detail as to prove undoubtedly that he has told the truth in his confession.

A bill is now before Congress to extend the coastwise navigation laws of the United States to the Philippines. The opponents of the measure claim that this is in the interests of the shipbuilding trust, and propose to prevent its passage if possible.

A negro was recently murdered by lynchers at Mojave, Cal., on the ground that he had committed a serious offense. It has since developed that the man was entirely innocent, and several of his murderers are now under arrest.

The census of India, just completed, shows a total population of 284,361,056. Less than one-fourth of the population is in what is known as native India. This census has revealed the existence of a hitherto unknown tribe, the Tabo.

Emperor William is making a tour of the Mediterranean. It is rumored that, after one or two heavy battles in the Orient, he will be authorized by Russia to intervene in behalf of peace.

German settlers in southwest Africa are suffering terrible punishment at the hands of the blacks. Many of them have been murdered in the most cruel and bloodthirsty manner.