The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 52, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 19, 1909 Page: 1 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
\
I i
THE OKLAHOMA LABOR UNIT
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE F. E. C. U. OF A. OF OKLAHOMA
Endorsed by the
OKLAHOMA CITY BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
Endorsed by the
OKLAHOMA STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
Endorsed by the Oklahoma City
CENTRAL TRADES AND LABOR ASSEMBLY
VOL. I
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, JI NK It).
NO. 52
G! CONTRACTOR 0. A. CAMPBELL
In an Interview with the Dally
Pointer, relative to the plumbers
troubles, O. A. Campbell, member of
the firm of Campbell & O'Keere, ia
quoted as saying:
"Six years ago when the trades
council died a natural death after a
big strike, I had the contract for the
Culbertson building and Tom O'Keefe
was building the city hall. There
were forty or fifty Winchester, load-
ed, on the Culbertson building, where
the men knew they could get them if
anything was started. Of course, we
didn't know where all the guns came
from but they were always there. If
a general strike is called I suppose
there will be Winchesters on all of
the buildings where non-union labor
is worked, now, the same as six years
ago."
We are not surprised at such fool-
ish and uncalled-for remarks, though
the general public is no doubt as-
tounded. Such threats and insinua-
tions as are used in the above para-
graph are to say the fcast very inop-
portune and show just how Mr. Camp-
bell feels toward the working man.
The statement needs no further com-
imewt, and 'we will leave 1t. to the
judgment of an honest and fair-think-
ing people to determine who is the
lawless element in our community.
Mr. Campbel says that he is for
STATE FEDERATION NOTES TVPOGRAPHICflL UNION fOIES
organized labor, but if you will ex-
amine his conduct in the employment
of men you will find that he attempts
to employ none but those who are not
members of labor unions, excepting,
perhaps, the brick masons, and we
dare say that he would not employ
them if it were possible to get com-
petent mechanics outside their union.
"To show liow fair the labor people
have been in this controversy, Mr.
William Lynn, general organizer for
the plumbers "with headquarters at
Chicago, has been in the city for the
last fifteen days trying to effect a set-
tlement with the "masters," but fail-
ing to even get an official conference
with the bosses, Mr. Lynn agreed to
leave the matter with the labor com-
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce.
This committee deserves great credit
for the part it has taken in the mat-
ter, though up to the present, has re-
ceived practically the same treatment
at the hands of the masters that the
journeymen have received, excepting j of the manufacturers to the contrary
that a committee of the masters did
meet with them once. The business
men of the city seem pleased at hav-
ing been called upon to use their in-
fluence and good offices to the end
Tulas Unions are making greai pre-
parations to entertain the comim; con-
version of the State Federation which
will be held in that city, beginning on
August 2.
The ie:ail clerks of Woodward have
ask' d for a charter and will have their
local installed before many days.
The Clerks of Oklahoma City are re-
alizing the need of a clerks' union and
it is understood that a move is on
foot to reorganize their local.
The painters of Tulsa are in bettor
condition from a standpoint of mem-
bership than they have ever been be-
fore. Everybody who handles a brush
is making application to join this live
little local.
Cherokee has almost a hundred per
cent carpenters' local, and as fast as
carpenters come to town, they join the
union. G. A. Walker, the hustlins;
secretory-business agent, is largely re-
spi nsiblc for the good conditions at
Cherokee. Walker was formerly a
member of the Kansas City local.
The laboring people of Oklahoma
cat! buy labelled hats just the same as
before, notwithstanding the assertions
that a settlement might be reached,
and all are of the opinion that the
journeymen are absolutely fair in their
attitude.
ORGANIZER WALKER
IN EL PASO, TEXAS
Henry M. Walker, national organ-
izer of the American Federation of
Labor, is In El Paso and will address
a mass meeting of laboring people and
their sympathizers in Fraternal bro-
therhood hall next Monday night. Ev-
ery union member should be present
with his women folks to learn some-
thing of "Unionism and Its Benefits,"
which will be the subject of the dis-
cussion.
Mr. Walker is not a prohibitionist
by any means and in an interview
with a representative of the El Paso
Labor Advocate clearly outlines the
position of the organized labor move-
ment upon the issue. He said: "Or-
ganized labor feels and knows that
vshatever intemperance society suffers
from lies deeper than those who favor
prohibition are willing to acknowledge.
Prohibitionists would deal merely with
the effect. Organized labor would re-
move the cause of intemperance. Tho
chief cause of intemperance is the
damnable, unjust condition of affairs
in our modern industrial and commer-
cial life.
"As long as men. women and chil-
dren are compelled to work long
hours every day in the week with but
a brief respite on Sunday, for a bare
living something will be needed as a
stimulant. Who can estimate the
number of victims of that terrible
| must be done in the home, in the
church and in the school."—El Paso
Labor Advocate.
PLUMBERS AND GAS FITTERS.
Jas. F. Devine has been elected as
business agent of tho Plumbers with
offices in Labor Hall, 131/> S. Robin-
son.
Samuel Gompers will soon sail for
hi'. European trip of investigation. All
Europe will hail Americafs labor chief.
The Oklahoma State Federation of
Labor is becoming so prominent that
many people think it is the whole
American Federation of Labor. Just
last week a lady called up headquar-
ters end said: "Is Samuel Gompers
there?" and the repKy, of course, was
No. "Well, is John Mitchell there?"
"No." "Where is John Mitchell?" "Is
Frank Morrison there?"
THE FUTURE OF ORGANIZED LA
BOR.
(By Marion Tyler. Typo. No. 283.)
| Organized labor has ceased to be
- primeaval; arguments as to its con-
D^yine has recently come froni ! Btruct|on and pllrp08(,s are fading
away, as also are, in a great meas-
ure, the marked interpidity of earlier
I day differences. And with these steps
in the advancement of labor to a gen-
Kansas City .where he was a very ac-
tive member as well as business agent
of local No. 8 of that city, and we
are pleased to have him among us.
He wll And Plenty to do in Ok ahomn , conjp a congenla,
City, especially at the present time. , who]ego Amerlcantstic and material
National Organizer Lynn, of the ronfldencp enjoyed a„ke b>. thp „m.
Plumbers, was in Chickasha Thursday and UlP pmploypd.
on business connected with his craft.[t .„
The settlement of the Plumbers'
trouble in Oklahoma City is in the
hrnds of men who are working for the
best interests of our city and its peo-
ph. We trust the differences will be
settled satisfactorily and we believe it
will. The intelligent man or organ-
ization today is the one who is willing j
to arbitrate differences arising be j
tween employer and employe.
Union labor is established; per-
emptorily and certain. As long as in-
dustrial and commercial pursuits exist,
just that long shall the flag of organ-
ized labor unfurl its ensign to this
free republican air. And as the ten-
dency to advance and progress in all
directions is at the present time be-
PLUMBERS' ELECTION.
At the last election of No. 291 the
following members were elected:
President, F. McKevill.
Vice-President, Will Fox.
Recording Secretary, H. Kaiser.
Secretary-Treasurer. E. A. Kenuey.
Inside Sentry, A. E. Biggerest.
NEWS OF THE DIAMOND.
Happy Westcott joined the team at
scourge, tuberculosis, whose deaths [ Waco and will be quite strong support
can be traced to long hours of labor i 011 the trip. Everyone knows West-
and unsanitary surroundings? How j rott and we are glad to have him on
many millions of little children of both J the pitching staff of the Indians,
sexes are there in this country per- The start Jay's Indians have made
forming the tasks of adults in facto- on their long trip is very encouraging
ries, mills, mines, sweatshops and [ an(j the pennant bee has begun buz-
stores? Would it not be far better for J zjnK.
those who would make men and worn- j Prps. Moist can well feel proud of
en more temperate to take cognizance | tj,e success of his team lately and if
of these really great evil than endeav-1 the pennant does not float over the
or to enact laws that can not but j hall lot in Oklahoma City it will not
make hypocrites of ordinarily honest J b" the fault of President Moist or
folks? | Manager Jay.
"The prohibitionists' fanatical hal- i If a little pitch hitting hab been
lucinations upon the liquor question ; forthcoming in the ast seues wi i
causes them to lose 3ight of the great San Antonio, the In lans cou i
evils of child labor, long hours, low landed all four games. . .
and unsanitary conditions of Kelsey is showing up m gone ot i
wages
employment. Why not remove the
cause of intemperance? Statistics in
every day life show and prove that
more deaths are caused by tuberculo-
sis. in factories, workshop and stores,
owned by church members and pro-
hibitionists, than from all other
sources. Think it over. *
"Organized labor is opposed to pro-
hibition because labor believes in real
and the fans are glad to see it.
George is not only a good ball player
mind, who can picture in their mind's
eye that truly magnificent establish-
ment—a brotherhood of fellow-work-
men incorporated for the betterment,
socially and morally of all who breath
the insipid air of the business world
[in the coming generations? But we, in
[the march of time, and the realiza-
tions of its many rich promises have
I much else to do rather than lag and
j falter as the journey lengthens. We
are the prime factors, upon -vnose
S shoulders weary years yet unborn are
laying their prospective burdens.
To do thi3, we must concentrate our
every effort to the efficiency of indi
vidua! members; in crafts where it U
practical, schools should be main-
tained by national labor organizations
to the end that a higher standard may
be attained, the apprentice must be
governed by laws that are adequate to
existing emergencies. Reliability
must be considered, and not too light
ly—and another element, which though
sometimes slighted, is loyalty— n vir-
tue that will cling to the heart of
man when effliciency can no long'-r
battle for Its own inherent privi-
leges.
Then with this foundation of effi-
ciency. reliability and loyalty, the
storms of antagonism will beat against
our bulwarks with less effect than a
tiny spray of water dashes against a
temperance, and real temperance can place in the Western league^
come only through an honest desire of [ is hoping they will fin's 1 n < ->
the individual to be temperate in all
things. The shortening of the hours
of work, sanitary workshops and liv-
ing wages has proven to be a remedy
for intemperance as well as the
lengthening of the lives of laborers.
Then why not go to the root of the
evil at once instead of resorting to a
subterfuge? Reforms can come only
through organization and the educa-
tion of the individual to practice self-. of f|
control, through looking after the indi- ^
vidual's material interest, and
but is one of the cleanest fellows in I gjgant|c boulder.
the game. I jiutual identification will be^elf-evi-
Have you noticed the improvement ^ ^ smj] s an(] hand.shakeg wln
in the Indians' work on bases. blaze the paths of progress with swift-
Downey hopes to be in the game in surer stroke than either arms
a few days. His injury is healing very j ^
nicely.
Wichita is taking
ood care of first
Here
Moe S. Levy, reresenting the Her
man Wile & Co.. clothing manufactur
ers of Buffalo. N. Y.. was in the citr
Place. j this week. He informs us that the
Bell is showing a marked improve- ^ <)f rlothlnK made hy hls nrm ia in
mem all around in his plajing. strong demand and business is in
Eddie Noyes is no doubt the best (,r(,a8j ,n a verv 8aUsfactory way.
utility man in the Texas league. , Thlg is a aplendid ',in„ of clothing and
' priced right, and the union label
We wonder how many union men k of (|ouble lnterest to our
know that there is a h. t factorj in h
Oklahcim~' City and the best part of '
i£ « • -
Karvev. where vou can have insert the union labor clause in your
v style cf a Felt hat at reas- contracts, there will b
this on£uble pricee. jwith the labor unions.
i,u
troublt
Praise loudly—blaine softly.
Roy E. Stafford, editor of the Okla-
homan, has kindly caused the Okla-
homa n to '1m placed upon the maftlfug
list of the Union Printers Home. The
Oklahoma boys at this great institu-
tion will no doubt be pleased as well
as greatly benefited. ^
Operators are wanted at Lawton,
Guthrie, Ardmore and El Reno, and
hand men are wanted at El Reno, Ard-
more and Chickasha, according to ad-
vices received at the Secretary-Treas-
urer's office.
The Labor Day committee is com-
posed of the following members: M.
J. Williams, T. E. Blesh and O. S. Wil-
son.
For Sale—Several uncashed race
tickets. Apply most any Oklahoma
City printer.
The ancient headsman is reincar-
nated in the modern back-capper.
The smartest man in the world is
the photographer who can make us
look like we don't in a half-tone news-
paper cut. Ask Powell or Langston,
or Casler or Williams.
Weather Forecast: Winter all sum-
mer, rising temperature vicinity of
new machines, brainstorms both in
machine and ad rooms at Oklahoman
nightly from 1:30 to 2:30 a. m. But
then. Times will move in a few days
and we hope to be able to announce
fair weather for at least a week fol-
lowing.
Occasionally heard in the compos-
ing room at the Oklahoman after a
night's layoff: "I love my wife with
all my life, but. Oh, you kid."
Special—Chas. Dougherty, sojourn-
ing in Buffalo, N. Y., and incidentally
attending the National Association of
Labor Commissioners, fell overboard
a schooner of beer today. By the
time the life-saving crew arrived.
Dougherty came up smiling; he had
drank his way to safety.
T. E. Blesh and M. R. Powell, of
the News chapel, go straight home
these evenings. It is understood thev
even refuse to associate with Jack
Foster, sporting editor.
Duke dc Abruzzi Klmzey has ar-
rivd late at work several evenings
this week, but then, you know the
ponies are galloping these days.
Mrs. J. A. Robinson and children,
family of the popular machinist on
the Times, arrived in the city from
St. Joseph, Thursday. They will make
their future hoine here. It is needless
to say tlhat "Rob" Is happy.
Another proof reader has been given
a "sit" at the Oklahoman. Increased
work the cause.
W. N. Curtis, of St. Joseph, is the
new foreman at Warden-Ebrlght's.
Cards deposited this week are- J.
W. Rln<*s, El Reno; I'. L. Steidley,
Enid; J. L. Ettinger. Wichita; J. C.
Allen, Topeka; W. B. Leeman, Ft.
Worth; W. N. Curtis St. Joe; O. M.
Milhollan, Muskogee.
From a trades union standpoint th"
1 rinter is the peer of any craftsman
in the world. Short hours, good wages,
sanitary conditions, independence,
freedom of action and self-respect that
have in return bred respect on the
; j art of those with whom they com - in
contact either as employes or in bus-
iness relations; these are some of the
i characteristics of the membership of
i the typographical union. The t vpo-
L,raphical union prides itself on being
a responsible business organization, it
maintains a sanitarium and home for
incapacitated members, pays old age
pensions, provides for the burial of
deceased members, and endeavors
to procure employment for all. It
Una need its eight hour strike to th«*
< y.tent of three million dollars, an un-
dertakes that stands without .i par-
; llel in trades unionism. The disci-
pline of its membership is unparal-
leled, and Its motto is "Beware of en-
trance to a quarrel, but being in. bear
it that the opposed may beware of
thee."
Here's to the plumbers. Might does
not make right and we're with yo i
to the end because you're showing the
right spirit in conference and arbi-
tration. If the worst comes to the
worst we're still with you.
Some of the biggest kickers we have
to contend with in organized labor are
those members who see no good In
any proposition unl -is those member,
hnv< the entire management of all af
fairs. When not vested with this
| power they knock and kick and try
to put a damper on the deal. This
should not be, but it seems that we
! have to contend with the drawback.
LET THE STATE BUILD
E
By J. Luther Langston.
The State Federation of Commercial
Clubs Is at present attacking every
provision of the constitution that in
any way prevents the railway interests
from absolutely running the affairs of
the state. Not satisfied with provis-
ions and laws giving them equal rights
with individuals, the commercial clubs
are attempting to make the people of
Oklahoma believe that if certain sec-
tions of the constitution were repealed
railroads would be builded Into every
township of the state.
At first the interests said they would
be satisfied with the repeal of section
9. article 9, of the organic law, but
it has been suggested to the commer-
cial clubs by Mr, Gates and others that
not only that section, but a dozen
other must be either repealed or
amended to suit him before he will
spend any money in Oklahoma.
Did Mr. Gates ever stop to think
that if he and his associates do not
want to build railroads in Oklahoma,
the people can do it? Section 31, ar-
ticle2, of the constitution reads: "The
right of the state to engage in any oc-
cupation or business for public pur-
poses shall not be denied nor prohibit-
ed, except that the state shall not en-
gage in agriculture for any other than
educational and scientific purposes
and for the support of its penal, chari-
table and educational institutions."
Now, the commercial clubs have at-
tacked the board of arbitration and
conciliation, and want that amended
so as to enable the railroads to gel
aroung arbitration. They have at-
tacked the law known us the "rail-
road shop law," which requires the
railways to maintain repair shops
within the state. Let's see what
brought about this repair shop law.
In order to starve their helpless em-
ployes Into submission winter before
last, and frighten the legislative com
mlttees of the several railway brother
hoods away from Guthrie, the Shaw
nee shops were closed down and the
rolling stock of the Rock Island was
shipped to Kansas or Missouri for re
pairs. The railroads made their money
In Oklahoma, but were shipping their
crippled engines and cars to another
state, in order that their old bluff
might work again. The state federa-
tion of labor, through its legislative
committee, championed the repair
shop law, and it is in existence today.
Were the men to blame for this law?
No, the railroads were to blame; and
now they are asking for mercy. The
law will do the railroads no harm so
long as they are "on the square" with
the people of Oklahoma, but it will
compel them to do a little of their
business in this state, where much of
their dividends come from.
Let the state build its own roads
and develop these sections of the
state that need development. We
might as well begin this "government
ownership of railways right here in
Oklahoma. We can do it and I believe
that w will before we will submit to
the crippling of the constitution of
Oklahoma by such amendments as the
state federation of commercial clubs
propose.
Let's build and own our rnllroadg.
The farmers and laborers of the
state are responsible for every section
of the constitution to which Mr. Gates
objects, and before they will submit to
the repeal or amendment of one of
them they will have to be shown that
those sections are radically wrong.
But can it be proven by any man that
the constitution Is too "radical" before
it has been given a thorough test? The
constitution has not been thoroughly
tested.
Nine out of ten critics of Oklahoma's
organic law have never read the in-
strument; they have simply heard
what some other ignorant fool' or a
representative of the Interests has said
and taken the statement as a fact, and
proceeded to "cuss It."
Is capital timid?
Capital may be timid, but the repre-
sentatives of capital in Oklahoma, as
elsewhere, have enough gall to make
up for capital's "timidity."
! But how can a lifeless object be
timid?
| Who Is John W. Gates? Do you
I know?
Why, Mr. Gates is simply a Wall
street gambler, and his opposition to
any section of the constitution or any
section of any law on the statute
books of Oklahoma would be sufficient
evidence to my mind that the law was
all right In every particular, and thai
Mr. Gates saw an opportunity to
I "grab" something In Oklahoma if cer
] tain sections ot the constitution wero
I repealed.
Let's take advantage of section 31,
article 2 of the constitution and build
: ,>ur own railroads. e
FAIR AND UNFAIR DEATH OF MAX MORRIS
PLUMBING SHOPS
FAIR PLUMBING SHOPS.
Jno. Maloney,.
Fowler Bros.
Sullivan & Sullivan.
McGee & Gordon.
Veigiard Plumbing Company.
W. A. Rodwell.
Baumbaneh & Flannigan.
Taylor Bros.
Edgar and Stuart
Owen Bros.
Rice & Boismer.
Unfair Plumbing Shops.
B. 55. Hutchinson.
A. F. Blnns.
Fitts & Mann.
Phillips & Wilson.
Chas. Veigiard.
Home Heating & Plumbing Co.
Norman's Shop.
Harrell & Anderson.
Hanson Bros.
NEWS O FTHE PAINTERS.
Painteis' Local HOT have elect* d
111'i"' delegates to the Tulsa eonv >n-
tiea consisting of the follewin:^ mem-
buis: 11. J. Roberts, bu re-is agent
of £07 W. R. Walters, and Frank Mar-
tin
No. 807 voted to pai tlcipate in the
Labor Day celebration and you can
bet that the boys will show up right.
They always do.
An average of six new members '-at h
meeting night Is the record of No.
SOT lately. There is not much room
for non-union painters or paper hang
ers in Oklahoma City.
It Is estimated that OS per <en( of
the painting contracts let in til • cii:
ure done by union men.
Let your Unionism be broader than
simply being a member of one craft
Boost all crafts, call for all labels and
then keep doing it and you will' be rec-
ognized as a thorough union man.
Secretary-Treasurer of the Retail
Clerks International Union.
It was a sad blow to the clerks' or-
ganization when Max Morris died. It
has been more through the hard ef-
forts of Morris that this organization
has been held together than to any
other one thing and this was no doubt
the result of his superior intelligence
and loyalty to his craft. The clerks as
a rule are a bunch of hard over work-
ed spineless creatures and are never
willing to do anything for themselves
unless driven to it by the hardships
they have had to endure. This Max
Morris knew and the result was by
assisting the Retail Clerks to organiz-
they bettered their condition through
shorter hours, better wages and death
benefits and today the clerks have
really become a self-supporting craft.
Max Morris was also fourth vice-pres-
ident of the American Federation of
Labor and a much valued officer and
was a great factor in the upbrildin;-,
of labor.
Fair Electrical Firms
The following have agreed to the
new working rules.
C. B. Dillingham, 718 N Broadwav
Wm. M. Smith Elect. Co., 218 N.
Robinson.
Hodge-Scott Elect. Co., 20 W. Sec-
ond.
Bell Electric Co.. 20 W. Main.
W. A. Corras Elec. Co., Lee-Huck-
: ins Hotel Job.
Squires Electric Co., Oklahoman
: N'ewspaper Job.
Hutchinson Electric Co., Bass &
, Harbour Job.
But for labor unions, the working
people of today would be in a moi •
deplorable condition than the serfs of
Russia. Do the American people want
the same conditions here that obtain
in Czarland? No.
Hurrah for the Hatters. The label
I still lives.
HHH
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 52, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 19, 1909, newspaper, June 19, 1909; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc106826/m1/1/: accessed April 20, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.