The Trades-Union from Atchison, Kansas • 1

i i Ml 3 CJfcd AN INJURY TO ONE IS THE CONCERN OF ALL." VOL. I. ATCHISON, KANSAS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1885. NO. 3.

i i 1 RANDOM REFLECTIONS. STARVING AMID RICHES. men. A great many tricks are resorted to by the stores for the purpose of increasing the bill. If a miner wants a load of hay it is the practice to haul it for him in installments, the store charging for each hauling.

Miners have The Wabash strike was settled September 7th, but, owing perhaps to the fact that the same man owns both the railroad and the Western Union tele-, graph company, the result was not generally known until several days later, and then the contradictory statements left some people in doubt. It may now be said that there will be no further trouble in case the terms of the agreement are carried out in good faith by the railroad company. This strike on the Wabash was a strike for principle; a revolt against the edict that no Knight of Labor or member of any labor organization should work on the Wabash system. It was a strike not only for the discharged workmen of the Wabash, but for the wage-workers everywhere; not only for to-day, but for future days and years. It was the voice of freedom through the organizations of two million workingmen, warning modern despots of the great strike of 1876, when ancient despotism vas scourged from Columbia's shores in the fire and smoke of battle.

The warning was heeded, and it is well. PLATFORM OF THE KKIOHYS OF LABOR. The alarming development and aggressiveness of great capitalists and corporations, unless checked, will inevitably lead to the pauperization and hopeless degradation of the toiling masses. It is imperative, if we desire to enjoy the full blessings of lile, that a check be placed upon unjust accumulation and the power of aggregated wealth. This much desired object can be accomplished only by the united efforts of those who obey the Divine injunction, in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." Therefore we have formed the Order of Knights of Labor, for the purpose of organizing and directing the power of the industrial masses, not aa a political party, for it is more; in it are crystalized sentiments and measures for the benefit of the whole people, but it should be borne in mind, when exercising the right of suffrage, that most of the objects herein set forth can only be obtained through legislation, and that it is the duty of all to assist In nominating and supporting with their votes only such candidates as will pledge their support to those measures, regardless of party.

But no one shall, however, be compelled to vote with the majority, and calling upon all who believe in securing "the greatest good to the greatest number," to join and assist us, we declare to the world that our aims are: 1. To make industrial and moral worth, not wealth, the true standard of individual and national greatness. 2. To secure to the workers the full enjoyment of the wealth they create, sufficient leisure In which to develop their intellectual, moral and social faculties; all of the benefits, recreation and pleasures of association; in a word, to enable them to share in the gains and honors of advancing civilization. In order to secure these results, we demand at the hand of the State: 3.

The establishment of Bureaus of Labor Statistics, that we may arrive at a correct knowledge of the educational, moral, and financial condition of the laboring masseR. 4. That the public lands, the heritage of the people, be reserved for actual settlers; not another acre for railroads or speculators, and that all lands now held for speculative purposes be taxed to their full value. 5. The abrogation of all laws that do not bear equally upon capital and labor, and the removal of unjust techicalitles, delays and discriminations in the administration of justice.

6. The adoption of measures providing for the health and safety of those engaged In mining, manufacturing, and building industries, and for indemnification to those engaged therein for injuries received through lack of necessary safeguards. 7. The recognition, by incorporation, of trades unions, orders and such other associations as may be organized by the working masses to improve their condition and protect their rights. 8.

The enactment of laws to compel corporations to pay their employs weekly, in lawful monej, for the labor of the preceding week, and giving mechanics and laborers a first lien upon the product of their labor to the extent of their full wages. 9. The abolition of the contract system on national, state and municipal works. 10. The enactment.

of laws providing fof arbitration between employers and employed, and to enforce the decision of the arbitrators. 11. The prohibition by law of the employment of children under 15 years of age in workshops, mines and factories. 12. To prohibit the hiring out of convict labor.

13. That a graduated income tax be levied. And we demand at the hand of Congress: 14. The establishment of a national monetary system, in which a circulating medium THE TRADES-UNION. A CO-OPKATIVK NKW8PAPKR PUBLISHED BY WOKKIKOMEN.

Frank Hall JAS. W. KKIL.LY. PROPRIETORS. Jab.

W. Rkilit Business Manager. TEKM8 One Year 1 00 Hix Months 50 Three Months 26 An extra copy will be sent to any person ending us ten subscribers ($10 in advance) for one year. Remittances should be made by Postofflce Order, Postal Note, Registered Letter or Draft. Office: Nos.

109 and 111 North Fourth Street, Atchison, Kansas. Entered at the postofflce at Atchison as second class matter. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1885. There is a movement being made to organize a co-operative manufacturing association in this city within the order of the Knights of Labor. A preliminary meeting was held last Thursday night and the necessary steps taken to perfect an organization.

Another meeting will be held next week, when, it is expected, the matter will be definitely nettled. The Missouri Pacific railroad company will erect a $25,000 hospital on a tract of land near the fair grounds if the water works company will lay their mains out there. The buildings is designed to accommodate fifty patients, and to take care of all the Missouri Pacific sick and wounded north of Kansas City, and will be in charge of Dr. Holland. James A.

Loper has purchased a one-half interest in the Patriot office for $3,000. The Patriot, as the only democratic paper in the city and county, with its well established business, official patronage and press franchise ought to be worth more than $6,000, and if Mr. L.oper decides to devote his time and energy to the business management his investment will prove a good one. He is a successful and capable newspaper man, with a practical knowledge of the business in all its branches. On the inside pages of this issue is published an address of Mr.

W. S. Anderson, M. V. of Hope assembly, before Liberty assembly of the Knights of Labor.

Owing to limited space it appears in an abbreviated form, but sufficient is printed to give the reader an intelligent idea of the whole. Mr. Anderson is an active business man, but has found time to give the labor question earnest consideration, and expresses his views in a no less earnest manner. Turn to the inside pages and read what he has to say. Petitions are in circulation, and being numerously signed, to give the Rock Island and Chicago, Burlington Quincy roads the right to put down their tracks in Main street from the river to mill, and from there through the alley in the rear of the mill to the city limits.

For this privilege, it is stated, the companies propose to pay all damages to property, build the Atchison Southwestern road, and construct round houses and shops here. This looks like Atchison's opportunity for a boom unprecedented on Kansas soil. The engagement entered into between the Knights of Labor and the officers of the Texas St. Louis railroad, it is thought, will hereafter be adopted on all the railroads in that state. It prescribes that those who have quit work by the strike shall be reinstated, and shall not be discharged for any action taken by the strikers in regard to wages due, but this is not to cover negligence, intemperance or neglect of duty; that thirty days' notice shall be given to men before being di s-charged, except for cause, and in case of a raise or a reduction in wages a similar notice shall be given old employes are to have the preference of work, and all differences between companies and their employes shall be settled by arbitration.

The state board of charities met in Atchison on Wednesday to select a site for the soldiers1 orphans' home, but owing to the absence of Mr. Faulkner no definite action was taken. They visited the Brown Bier and Fullerton tracts, accompanied by Mr. Ropes, of Topeka, who is to be the architect of the building. While in session, the Luther Dickerson and John Taylor property, north of the city, and the Bucknum and Weber quarters, west of offered as suitable sites.

Toe board adjourned, subject to the call of the president, and the members departed for their respective homes. At the next meeting of that body the matter will be settled, and we hope, for the sake of the orphans and the community at large, they will see the advantage of locating it west of the city. We suggest that Joe Wade offer them a quarter section of his land, south of Woodland park, which is the most desirable of any mentioned so far. no. 3.

There are some whose sole talk to the workingman consists in pointing him to instances of those who have risen, and telling him that there is plenty of room at the top of the ladder. One can not rise without leaving others below him, and there must be lower rounds to fcrm a ladder as well as upper ones. There can be no foremen or superintendents without workmen under them. A mechanic may be an honest, industrious man, with a fair amount of skill, but he must have natural qualities beyond these to enable him to rise. All his steps upward must be on the shoulders of his less gifted or more unfortunate brothers.

l.4A thousand men must sow in toil and tears that one may reap in gladness." Why then try to encourage the workingman by saying that he may draw a prize in the lottery of life, where his chances are- one in 999 It is better for the general welfare that the track-hands have their $1.50 a day than for the general manager to draw his $25,000 a year. One great trouble with workingmen is their groundless suspicion and jealousy of their fellow laborers. Supposing one of your associates wishes to run for office, you vote for him, he is elected and disappoints some of your expectations, are you any worse off because you did not cast your ballot for one who has no sympathy for your aims and aspirations Is it wise to support an avowed enemy because a professed friend may prove treacherous Beware of communism and communistic utterances. The reforms we desire and the policies we cherish are just and lawful. If we unite in demanding them at the polls, we can secure them there at last peaceably.

If we are not strong enough to carry our measures in this manner we could never accomplish them by revolution. A minority of a people never succeeded in a revolt. Those who have not the courage and firmness to vote for their principles will never cultivate sufficient daring to fight for them. We see in all the democratic papers a repetition of the campaign cry last fall, "Turn the rascals out." Some of the ultra republican organs approve of this measure, because "to the victors belong the spoils," and a consistent radical should be ashamed to hold office under a bourbon administration. From a partisan point of view this may be all right.

If a party by electing a president and a majority of congress thereby leases the government for four years, then such a tlieory is correct. If the public welfare is to be sacrificed to partisan interests and advantage and the object of elections is simpljr to retain certain men in office, or to replace them with others, then the declaration of independence has become a dead letter. There is a large and constantly growing class of citizens which believes that the object of government is the benefit of its citizens, that public offices were not created as rewards for party service, and which will insist more strenuously at each succeeding election that honest and capable men be retained in office, and that knavish and incompetent partisans be dismissed without regard to party, and that legislation be in the interest of the people. For Jackson's motto let us substitute, "To the people belongs the government." Kicker. NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Mrs. Burnett, formerly of Atchison, was acquitted of shop-lifting at Topeka Saturday. Wm. Kerrigan, has been appointed general superintendent of the entire Missouri Pacific system. A gang of burglars, consisting of six colored and one white man, have been discovered and arrested at Sedalia.

Brosnahan and O'Brien, the alleged Missouri train robbers, have been discharged, and Hurly and Carroll, arrested near Topeka for the same crime, are held for trial. The postmaster at Ellsworth, has been recommended for removal for mailing circulars at his office that should have been mailed at Boston, and thereby increasing his salary. W. Walton, agent of the Wells-Fargo express, was knocked down with a sandbag at Sterling, on the night of the 15th and robbed of a package containing $1,100, a gold watch and a pistol. Carefully prepared reports show an immense corn crop throughout the middle states.

In Nebraska and Indiana the crop is heavier than ever before known, and in some of the other states it is the best for many years. Dora Milton, a young lady of good family, near Mound City, died September 11th from strychnine. An inquest elicted a startling state of affairs, implicating J. M. Wayne, well and popularly known young man of the neighborhood.

He was arrested and is now in jail. The Abject Poverty of the Poor Pennsylvania Miners. Their Childrci Growing Up Without the Light of Knowledge. New York Sun. Pittsburg, Sept.

15. Labor in Pennsylvania is in danger of starving to death. Nature here sings a delightful song to men who are eager for work and wealth, but she crushes many of those whom she gets into her power. There is scarcely a spot in this rich state which does not hold out golden promises, but in these early autumn days, when the heavy corn crop dreads only lest a premature frost may prevent its glazing, a fear is growing to be conviction the fear that the promises have been whispered into too many earSi Iron, zinc, granite, slate and coal nave tempted thousands vast armies into the broad domain of Penn's state. Nature has done everything to make her the richest state in the country.

Many owners of her soil draw princely incomes from the land, without investing a dollar or performing a day's labor. Their houses are surrounded by noble trees, and billowy meadows stretch away on every side, while underneath the houses and the great stone barns, hundreds of feet below the deepest growing roots of the tallest trees, men and bys dig for coal and iron. Almost everilng necessary for the perfect making of the king of metals is ut hand. The ore and the fuel are here, and time after time nature has increased the blessings of the men who develop her resources. In six years it will be a century since old Philip Ginter stmbled over a piece of anthracite coal, and last year 30,000,000 tons were mined.

It is unnecessary to search long or deeply for the cause of the discontent of the laborers. In the coal and iron regions a man's wages range from $14 to $35 a month. The best paid iron miners are making 'about $14, and the best paid coal-miners about $35. The prevailing rate of wages in the iron mines is seventy cents a day. The amount of money which each individual has for food, clothing, medicine, and all necessaries, counting three adults to a family, a man, his wife and two children, ranges from ten cents to thirty-four cents a day.

A miner has work for from ten to twenty days in the iron and anthracite regions, and it is the half or two-thirds time which makes the rate of wages meaningless. Rents are high. A man whose monthly income is $10 pays $4 for rent, and in some places rents run up to $15 and $30. Five dollars a month is the amount charged generally by the companies for the tenements which they own. Almost every mining community has its "shanty town." and it is there the laborers and miners are to be found.

These people, living thus in dwellings without a single attractive feature, eat scanty and unwholesome food. Ten cents a day will not command much in the way of meat, and the men do not have much besides the cheapest kind of vegetables. The ordinary dinner in a miner's hut consists of potatoes and cabbage. A thrifty man will keep a pig, and, if he can get a piece of ground, will raise potatoes and cabbages. He is sure then, through the winter, of a barrel of pork and another of sourkrout.

But the great majority of miners have to buy their food, and it is very expensive, especially where the company store is maintained. This institution has recently been made illegal by the legislature of Pennsylvania, but the corporations find means of evading the statute. Four or five of the leading stockholders, for instance, will own the store and put in an agent to manage it. A commission is paid to the agent, or the store building, owned by the company or operator, is leased for from $12,000 to $20,000 a year. The property is worth actually from $300 to $400 rental.

This large sum represents prospective profits, less a fair sum for the agent's services. These stores charge from 15 to 30 per cent, more than is charged by the regular village store-keepers, and the agents do their best to tempt the men and their families to extravagant expenditure. A miner's credit is good until his monthly earnings are exhausted, and, though the law of the state requires that all wages shall be paid monthly in United States money, there are many mining places where nothing is received by the men at the end of each month but a receipted bill for rent, for the sharpening of tools and for goods bought at the store. A large number of suits are now pending to test the validity of these receipts, some of the workmen having sued a corporation for wages, notwithstanding the payment of the store bills by the company. On the trial the suits were decided in favor of the working- been ordered to lay off for severaL days because they were few dollars ahead of the store, and haw been compelled to remain idle until their indebtedness at the store equaled the sum due them by the company.

Low wages, half time, and the tyranny of the company store are starving the miners and their families and compelling them to bring up their children without education. In a few years the region will be black not only with coal dust, but with the darkness of ignorance and of which spring from ignorance. Potts vtlle, Sept. 16. Capt.

Anderson, chief of the coal and iron police of this district, with headquarters in this city, pronounces the dispatch from Shamokin, describing the alleged lawlessness prevailing in that region, absolutely baseless. He declares that the "Molly Maguires" have no active existence, and that affairs were never in a condition of more perfect quiet and security. While the miners and laborers have an open organization, known as the "Amalgamated Association," its objects are entirely legitimate, and there is not even any prospect of a strike. TRADE-UNION TOPICS. A long strike ended this week.

Fourteen months ago the glass blowers in North St. Louis went out on the refusal of the manager of the works to pay the the union scale, which was paid by the Great Western, the only other flint glass factory in St. Louis, The number of striking blowers was only only twenty-seven, but their going out stopped the works, and they have remained idle until this week. During this long period of idleness several attempts were made at a settlement of the difficulty, but the owner was firm in his refusal to pay the regular price. The Flint Glass Blowers' association sustained the men, regularly paying each of them six dollars per week out of the fund provided cr such occasions.

Under the influence of the opening and improvement of the fall trade, the proprietor of the works made the men a proposition last Saturday, which was accepted. It is understood that the settlement was reached by mutual concessions. This is one of the longest strikes on record in this country, and demonstrates the staying qualities of the glass blowers and the soundness of their trade organization which took care of the unemployed workmen for fourteen months. The miners' convention at Indianapolis, before adjournment, adopted a resolution authorizing the executive secretary to draft an address to the mine operators of the country, asking for a joint meeting with the executive board, for the purpose of adopting market and mining prices in such a way as to avoid strikes and lockouts, and to give to each party an increased profit from the sale of coal. George Clark, of St.

Louis, has been endorsed by the democratic party of his own city and the Missouri congressional delegation for public printer. He is ex-president of the International Typographical Union. His appointment would be very satisfactory to the printers of the country. The coal miners strike in the Monong-ahela, district for an increase from to 3 cents per bushel for mining, is spreading and is reported to be the most general ever known in that part of the state. The merchants tailors of Leavenworth Monday submitted a proposition to their employes to reduce wages.

The latter refused to accede to the proposition, and the result is a lockout of about thirty-five men. Twelve Pittsburg glass tableware factories, which have been closed since last June for the usual summer vacation, resumed operations on the 14th, giving employment to 2,000 men. A bricklayers' strike is in progress at Little Rock, Ark. R. F.

Trevelick addressed a large audience of working-men there last Saturday evening. A parade of labor organizations took place in Baltimore last Saturday afternoon, and was participated in by several thousand. As the season advances building increases and the trades are generally employed. SHORTHAND HISTORY. M.

V. B. Bennett An Iowan, Read law, Captain in the army. Dem. state senator, Editor of the Copperhead, A hard talker, free drinker, Candidate for 18S8, Defeated, removed to Xansas, Reformed politics and habits, An out-and-out prohibitionist, Candidate for governor.

Why not? Mr. Needham, representing the Union Pacific division of the Knights of Labor, met Mr. Bromley, representing President Adams, of the Union Pacific company, at Rawlins, Wyoming, on Tuesday, and both gentlemen spent the day in investigating the Chinese trouble. It was shown that the Chinese were brought back against their wishes. Mr.

Needham is quoted as saying "The information I received astounds me. The situation is desperate and calls for heroic measures. It is feared there will be trouble unless the Union Pacific re-codes from its position and sends the Chinese out of the country. It is likely, however, this matter will settle itself in a few days, without, interference from any one. The Chinese here are becoming demoralized.

Thirty boarded yesterday's west bound express, and a like number bet out for the west on foot, with their baggage on their backs. The white miners were told they could go back to work this morning, and will likely do so if no attempt is made to work Chinese with them. So far, the Chinese have been afraid to go down into the mines, and have consequently been idle since the riot." Last Thursday evening the members of Railroad Center Lodge, No. 31, of Locomotive Firemen, accompanied by their wives and sweethearts, assembled at their lodge-room in the Bruna block, prepared to have a good time. The first thing on the programme was the presentation of an elegant banner to the lodge, the gift of Mrs.

J. A. May, wife of a member of the Brotherhood, which was done in a fitting manner. This was followed by a splendid banquet, prepared with care for the occasion by the ladies, after which dancing was in order. It was the most complete "dress" affair ever given by Railroad Center Lodge.

The well known firm of Elwood of our city, have just added to their store a ladies' cloak and shoe department, where the ladies are exclusively by themselves in the selection of cloaks and shoes and the trying on of thejsame. Their large purchases of cloaks, dry goods and staples have just arrived, and they are making low prices that astonish everybody. They hold a special sale of dry goods to-day (Saturday), and a special sale of gents' underwear tonight. We advise everybody to attend, as special sales at Elwood Co's mean low prices. WEDNESDAY'S WEDDINGS.

At the residence of the bride's parents on North Second street, Miss Mary A. Raynor and Mr. Fred. Wild, of Des Moines, Iowa, Rev. F.

T. In galls officiating. Mr. Wild is a paymaster on the Wabash railroad. At the residence of Mr- and Mrs.

E. W. Sargent, Miss Kittie Barr, sister of Mrs. Sargent, was united in marriage with Mr. Edward K.

Rea, of Carroll county, Mo. Rev. Abiel Leonard, rector of Trinity church, officiated. Mr. Benjamin Marshall, of the "Little By ram," was married to Mabel Carr, Judge Locker performing the ceremony.

A SMALL BOY'S IDEA. He was small for a witness, but he knew a good deal more than there were indications of. "Take the stand," said the lawyer. "Right you are," he replied, stepping up and sitting down carelessly. "Do you understand the nature of an oath?" "Well, I should smile," and he threw a barefooted leg over the arm of the chair.

"Were you ever on the witness stand before?" "Not any." "Then how do you know the nature of an oath?" "Easyl I've been around lots o' times when pap was choppin' kindUn wood, and seen the sticks fly up an' him a swipe across the snoot. Guess you never split much kindlin' fir yer wife, did yer?" in necessary quantity shall issue direct to the people, without the intervention of banks; that all the national Issue shall be full legal tender in payment of all debts, public and private and that the government shall not guarantee or recognize any private banks, or create any banking corporations. 15. That interest-bearing bonds, bills of credit or notes shall never be isnued by the Government, but that, when need arises, the emergency shall be met by the issue of legal-tender, non-interest-bearing money. 16.

That the Importation of foreign labor under contract be prohibited. 17. That, in connection with the postofflce, the government shall organize financial exchanges, safe deposits, and facilities for deposit of the savings of the people in small sums. 18. That the government shall obtain possession, by purchase, under the right of eminent domain, of all telegraphs, telephones and railroads, and that hereafter no charter or license be issued to any corporation for the constructionor operation oi any means of transporting Intelligence, passengers, or freight.

And while making the foregoing demands upon the stute and national governments we will endeavor to associate our own labors 19. To establish co-operative institutions such as will supercede the wage system, by the introduction of a co-operative industrial system. 20. To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work. 21.

To shorten the hours of labor by a general refusal to work more than eight hours. JjL 22. To persuade employers to agree to arbitrate all diff erences which may arise between them and their employes, in order that the bonds of sympathy between them may be strengthened, and that strikes may be ren dered unnecessary. CITY MARKET MENU. Soup.

Juice of the watermelon. Entrees. Watermelon staffed Watermelon Scolloped Watermellon Corned Watermelon Livers Watermelon on the Half Shell. Vegetable. Watermelon Mashed Watermelons Un- niashed Pastry.

Watermelon Pie Watermelon Bolls. Relishes. Watermelon Salad Watermelon Sliced Watermelon on the Bhine Watermelon on the Deer Creek Fruit. Florida Watermelon Georgia Watermelon. Desert.

Watermelon with straws. Subscribe for The Trades-Union. ft.