SOME OF THE EMPLOYERS ARE
PLAYING A FAIR GAME
In the turmoil of strike in which
toilers in Chicago have been forced
to quit their jobs in an effort to force
bosses into giving a" 4iving wage, it
is refreshing to find a few instances
of workers getting their rights
without the use of drastic means.
One such instance was that of
Maurice L. Rothschild & Co. grant
ing its clothing workers every re
quest for better wages and shorter
hours, and another comes to light
v In the outside machinists getting a
raise of 50 cents a day without hav
ing to even threaten strike.
None of these machinists are em
ployed in making munitions of war,
so other employers cannot point to
them and say "war contracts give
those bosses' big profits with which
to pay big wages when their men ask
increases."
The outside machinists are mostly
employed on construction work, in
building new buildings or installing
big equipment They now get $6
for an 8-hour day. Chas. W. Fry,
representing local No. 126, Machin
ists District Council No. 8, looked
after the interests of the workers in
getting the strikeles raise from the
bosses. Over 500 workers are bene
fited. The 4ownstate workers are not
lagging behind in the fight for bet
terment, according to John Walker,
pres. 111. State, Federation of Labor,
who was in Chicago between trains
following a state tour.
Within a short period the down
state union molders have doubled
their membership while the machin
ists have trebled theirs.
At Decatur the chauffeurs have
gamed a 25 per cent increase by or
ganizing and the glovemakers are
on strike with bright chances of vic
tory. The smelter workers at Collins,ville
and 800 pattern workers at Spring
field have asked Walker to send or- J
ganizers, preparatory to making de-
mands on their employers.
'In Knox county tne farm hands
have formed a strong union, the
first of its kind, perhaps, in Amer
ica. Some farmers have joined the
union.
At a score of other places the state
federation has either successfully .
ended 6f is continuing favorable
looking strikes.
o o
REGULAR ARMY TO BE 206,000
U. S. CONTROL FOR GUARD
Washington, May 15. A defense
force in time of peace of 654.006
men was proposed in the army
bill which senate" and house conferees
reported to both branches of con
gress after several weeks' close c"on
terence. Though a compromise, the meas
ure includes" all the provisions urged ,
by "big army" men except the fed
eral reserve.
The defense force will consist
of an army of ' regulars totaling
in all its branches 206,000 men in
time of peace and 448,000 national
guardsmen 800 for each senator
and representative.
From now on national guardsmen
must take an oath to the U. S. as well
as to the state as the principal step
in pie "federalization" of the guard.
This double oath wUl require them
to engage in service outside the U. S.
if the president calls them.
In previous wars governors of the
states, disapproving of campaigns
outside of the U. S. mapped out by
the president, have ordered guards
not to leave and the guards had to (J
obey them rather than the president.
o o
SOME GIRLS
At' the annual turkey roast of the
Rural Improvement society of Hewitt
chicken was served, no turkeys being
available. However, the cooking was T
done by the young ladies of the com
munity and nobody knew the differ
ence. Hewitt, O., Sun.