Labor Troubles and Disasters
Picketing by strikers is declared illegal by the appellate court at Chicago. This decision upholds an injunction against the striking iron moulders issued by Judge Holdom on petition of the Illinois Malleable Iron Company. In Oakland, Cal., the proprietors of the principal butcher shops have declared a lock-out against the union butchers, as an answer to certain demands of the union. The employers declare that they will employ no more union butchers as such, and have advertised for non-union help. The packing houses are upholding the employers, and state that they will supply no meat to butcher shops operated under the rules of the union. There is a strike of teamsters now on in Kansas City, Mo. The drivers of the local transfer companies have joined the striking truck drivers, and it is feared that eventually all the drivers of the city, numbering 3,000, may go out. It is feared that there may be further trouble, also, in the Colorado mines over the arrests of union men. Twenty persons are reported killed through the collapse of the steel skeleton of the Hotel Darlington in New York on March 2. Carelessness and the violation of building regulations were the cause of the disaster. The steamer Queen, of the Pacific Coast Company, plying between San Francisco and Puget Sound ports, was partially consumed by fire, while about thirty miles off shore, on February 27. Two women and twelve men lost their lives, most of whom were drowned in putting off from the ship in boats. After the fire was extinguished, the surviving passengers returned to the ship, which managed with much difficulty to reach her destination. A great amount of damage was caused in Oklahoma and Kansas on March 3, 4, and 5 by extensive prairie fires. Only three lives are reported lost, but the damage done to farms and buildings is estimated at $500,000. Notwithstanding the fact that the "powers" of Europe are endeavoring to maintain the outward form of peace in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey, ugly rumors of impending war continue to come from that district. It is reported that the Turkish ruler has finally decided to refuse the plan for the reorganization of the gendarmerie proposed by Austria and Russia. Fears are expressed in the capital of Bulgaria that, even if war with Turkey is not imminent, it will be impossible to avoid a conflict later, unless some agreement with the Porte is soon reached. The Albanians are still under arms in spite of the fact that they have had several disastrous meetings with the Turks. A fresh outbreak is reported in Albania of considerable extent. Russia, Austria, and Italy are now considering the Balkan questions with a view to the maintenance of the statu quo. In the case of Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah, who is now before the Senate committee appointed to inquire into the legality of his election, testimony has been given several days in succession, by President Smith, of the Mormon Church, regarding the polygamous practises of the Mormon apostles. President Smith freely admitted that he continued to live with and support all five of his wives, and also admitted that other prominent members of the Mormon Church were doing practically the same thing. He also freely admitted that in so doing he was violating the laws of his own State; but that he preferred to do that rather than abandon any of his families. Senator Smoot's right to his seat in the Senate is not being questioned over indulgence in polygamy, but because of the oath which he took as an apostle of the church. The Panama Canal is receiving considerable of the attention of the President and his cabinet. The matter of the canal title has been under consideration during the week. Attorney-General Knox has rendered a decision to the effect that the title is perfect, and that the President is authorized at once to pay to the Republic of Panama the $10,000,000 provided for by the treaty, also to pay to the Panama Canal Company the $40,000,000, which the United States has agreed to pay that company for the property. The canal commission will soon go to the isthmus, and the work of actual construction will begin soon after. The Japanese-Korean treaty is not favored by all the Koreans. The opposition, on March 3, threw a number of bombs at the residence of the foreign minister and his secretary. These officials escaped uninjured. Japan has cautioned Korea to prevent further demonstrations of this kind. It is reported that four of the "powers" have refused to recognize the new treaty between these two countries. Russia was, of course, the first so to declare herself. A bill, aimed at the disfranchisement of the negro, has passed the Maryland Legislature by a strict party vote. It provides for the amendment of the Constitution to regulate suffrage, and its admitted purpose is to eliminate the negro vote. Chicago's Health Department reports 2,300 deaths from pneumonia during this winter, and that the epidemic is now at its height. It claims nearly twice as many victims there as does tuberculosis.