The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 12, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 11, 1909 Page: 1 of 8
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, . i
rHE 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
OKLAHOMA CITY. OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, SEPT. 11 , 1909
NO. 12
VOL. 2
,abor Department
(By One Who Knows.)
ibor should be proud of its achieve-
ts in Oklahoma. In no other state
he union are there so many provi-
is in the constitution and laws on
statute hooks In the interests of
laboring people as in Oklahoma
■ constitution provided for the elec-
i of a Commissioner of Labor and
first state legislature passed a law
ntng the duties of the Coiutnls-
lor of Labor. That law provides
the Commissioner of Labor shall
ry into eftect all lawB relating to
ar in regard to transportation, me-
nlcal and manufacturing Indus-
■s of the state, to supervise the
rk of free employment officers and
tory Inspectors, and to make rec-
mendations to the governor for
appointment of factory inspectors,
collect, assort and systematize re-
ts of all persons, firms or eorpora-
ns required to report to the Com-
isioner of Labor; to compile statis-
al detailed reports relating to the
nmercial, industrial, educational
3 sanitary conditions of the people
luded in the mining, transportation,
chanical and manufacturing Indus-
es of the state.
A state Board of Arbitration and
nciliation was provided for and the
ties of such Board prescribed by
k. A free employment bureau in
nnectlon with the Commissioner of
.bor's office was also created and the
ties and regulations prescribed
At the first election of state officers
larles L. Daugherty was elected La-
Commissioner and under his able
ministration the laws have been en-
rced and the conditions of the labor-
g people of this state today are
iual to those of any of the forty-six
ates. Among the things Mr. Daugh-
ty has done in this state are the
llowing: Enforced the eight hour
w in thirty-seven localities; through
s efTorts wages have been raised and
jurs have been shortened. There has
been a general raise of from one and
seven-eighths of a cent to five cents
per hour. afTecting about seven thous-
and laborers. This alone has been
worth to the laboring people of this
state more than the cost of maintain-
ing the Labor Commissioner's office.
Mr. Daugherty has arbitrated and
settled eighteen strikes satisfactorily;
he has removed thirty children from
hazardous employment, and twelve on
account of being under lawful age.
Through his efforts in factory inspec-
tion, the danger in industrial and man-
ufacturing institutions has been les-
sened by compelling 545 safe-guards
and safety appliances put on dangeous
machinery and the general sanitary
condition in 94:t institutions has been
improved.
And if this were not enough In
praise of the work of Mr. Daugherty,
it woitld be sufficient to say that
through the three employment bureaus
established by his direction three
thousand persons have been placed In
positions during the last fiscal year.
Remember, too, that when this de-
partment places a man or woman in
a position they are not compelled to
give, up a portion of their wages to
Ihe bureau. This is done free. It
would take to much space to here re-
late all that has been done to better
the conditions of the laboring man In
Oklahoma, hut if there are those who
feel that not enough has been done
they should make a careful evamlna-
tion into the histury of this depart-
ment which is not yet two years old.
Mr. Daugherty has only succeeded in
getting the office fairly on its feet
and the work of progress, the benefi-
cial results, are yet to be obtained.
With the laws that we have in this
state, with the machinery for oper-
ating these laws in the hands of an
efficient department, there is 110 dan-
ger that the laboring men and woman
of Oklahoma will ever be subjected
to die deplorable conditions which
are found in eastern states.
LABOR DAY 1909
Parade is the Largest in History of the City
Labor Day Notes
TATt PAIR PROGRAMME
day, October 4 th at 9. a. m.
Threatening weather on Labor Day
morning caused sorrow in the hearts
of the union men of Oklahoma City,
but fortunately the sun appeared at
about nine o'clock, dispelling the rain
clouds and by ten o'clock the streets
of the city were lined with an expect-
ant, record breaking crowd, to witness
the grand parade of labor on their na-
tional holiday. Far out on Grand ave-
nue the different organizations were
lining up together with many floats of
business men of the city and by 10:30
the movement began, headed by the
city police department and Chief Hu-
batka.
The Parade.
The immense parade, the largest of
Its kind in the history of Oklahoma
was divided Into four sections, each
section under proper marshalship and
under excellent discipline. The parade
was headed by the city police depart-
ment and Color Bearer H. L. Cooper.
The first division with W. M. Prahl as
marshal, was composed of bands,
speakers' carriages. Mayor Scales and
the city council and the fire depart-
ment. This excellent representation
of Oklahoma City was long and loudly
cheered by the vast throng of on-
lookers.
The second division under the mar-
shalship of Business Agent Traylor, of
the Building Trades Council, contain
ed a splendid union band, followed by
the beautiful queen's float with Miss
Virginia Obrlght as queen and her at-
tendants. This was the greatest feat-
ure of the parade. Well may the sup-
porters of Miss Obrlght in the friend-
ly contest be proud of their queen for
no better selection could have been
made in the city. The queen, as well
as her attendants, were all robed in
pure white and made an imposing
sight. The maids of honor were Miss
Mae W'einert, first maid of honor;
Miss Emily Swazey, Miss Estelle Tray-
lor. Miss Jennie May Traylor, Miss
trical workers (outside), garment
workerB, composed of a bevy of beau
tlful girls all In uniforms of blue,
tailors, automobile drivers, horse-
thoers, leather workers, barbers, team
sters. typographical union. (Pressmen,
gtereotypers and book binders 'nit.")
The fourth division, under marshals
Frank Shook nd D. Obright, contained
many Moats of friendly business men.
The city engineering department, wa-
ter department and street commission-
er's department.
The line of parade was through the
business district and as far north as
1 nth street, on Broadway, counts r-
marchlng from that point to the court
house, where the great parade dis-
banded,
The banners carried by the stone-
cutlers' local were very Interesting in
as much as the statements relative to
the letting of contracts by Ihe school
hoard of he city to outside contractors
were to the point and expressed the
feeling to a certain extent of all local
union men.
Let the women vote, was a conspic-
uous banner displayed by the women
suffragists league.
The float of the women's label
league was attractive and represent-
ed a work that Is fast gaining strength
In the labor movement.
Mont R. Powell, of the local typos
made a stirring labor day address in
El Reno. When it comes to union-
ism Mont is there.
J. Luther Langston, secretary-treas-
urer of the state federation, mnde one
of his splendid talks to laboring men
at Lawton Labor Day.
The teamsters made a fine showing
111 the parade. This is the youngest
union in the city and the boys have
adopted the slogan, "We will never
die."
Mike Williams, acting state printer,
is nt St. Anthony's hospital, threatened
with a siege of fever. Wo trust that
nothing serious will develop and that
Mike will be back on duty shortly.
John Von Elm as grand mashal, Wm
The afternoon festivities were held i prah| j [> Traylor, Tom Davis, Frank
The driving and saddle horses will ( Bessie May Walters, Miss Mattie Da-
be judged each evening at the Night
Horse show in front of the grand stand
commencing Wednesday evening,
September 29.
Prices of Admission:
General admission, 50 cents.
Children under 12 and over 8 years
of age, 25 cents.
Night admission, after 6 p m. free.
Band concert and vaudeville attrac-
tions, 25 cents.
REV. CHARLES STELZLE.
Trade unionism is passing through
a critical period in its history. It will
always be on the verge of a crisis,
because it has to do with life; for life
must mean growth, and growth means
pain.
But there are certain condition
First, there is the enemy from with
cut. Never before has there been such
a systematic effort made to destroy
organized labor. Employers' associa-
tions and citizens' aliances have large-
ly passed their period of hysteria.
They are now getting down to the job
Wednepday, September 29.—Open-
id Day and Oklahoma City Day.
Thul'sday, September 30.—Wiscon-
in Day and Old Boomers' Day.
Friday, October 1.—Educational
lay.—The Indiana State Society. The
,adies of the Maccabees and the W.
I T. U. will hold their meetings fc-
his day in the Auditorium on the
;rounds.
Saturady, October 2.—Oklahoma
["raveling Mens' Days.
Sunday, October 3.—Grand sacred
concerts by Slgi Llberatls and the
tate Fair Bands.
Monday, October 4.—Farmers' Da>;
-The Oklahoma Swine Breeders'
Association will hold their meeting
an this day.
Tuesday, October 5.—Illinois State
Society and the Knights and Ladies
of Security Day—The Oklahoma
Breeders Association will hold their
semi-annual meeting on the evening of
this day.
Wednesday, October 6.—Democratic
Day and Woodmens Day. The "Eiglv
ty-Niners"; The Oklahoma Corn
Glowers' Association and the Oklaho-
ma Association of Register of Deeds
will hold their meetings on this day
fid in the evening the Oklahoma Im
'proved Breeders' Association will
have their banquet.
Thursday, October 7.—Derby Day
and Ohio Day.
Friday, October 8.—Iowa Day. The
grand Live Stock Parade will be held
in front of the grand stand on this
day
Closing of Entries.
Entries in all Departments of Ihe
Fair, excepting the Speed Department
the Fine Arts and Textiles, will close
on Tuesday, September 28th at 6 p.
m.
Entries in the Fine Arts and Tex
itile Department will close at noon
on Saturday, Septembed 25;
Any exhiljitor In any department
can procure an exhibitors ticket foi
$3 which will admit them at the gates, j growth has brought
the grand stand and the paddock dur * —"
lng the ten days of the Fair,
A hand concert will be given each
morning from ten to twelve bj Sig.
Llberati's Grand Military Band.
The mornings will be given over ot
the meetings of the different ■socie-
ties, speech making and educational
features.
Judging in all Departments with the
exception of the Live Stock and Poul-
try will commence on Saturday night,
October 2nd.
Judging of Live Stock and Poultry
Departments with the exception of the
heavy and light horses will start Mon-
vis, Miss Drea, Miss Taylor, Miss Cor-
kle, and Miss Nancy Johnson. The fioat
was a work of art from the skillful
hands of V. J. Hansen, an experienced
decorator and builder of floats. It was
drawn by four beautiful white horses.
Next in line came the building
trades as follows: Plasterers, Paint-
ers, all in uniforms of white, headed
by one of the finest floats in the pa-
rade, a very worthy representation of
the Painters. Paperhangers and Deco-
rators' craft. Miss Walters, daughter
of Will R. Walters, seated under a can-
opy of green and white, was the occu
pant of this float and added beauty
| to th^ scene. Next in line came the
| electrical workers (inside), cement
I workers, structural iron workers, car-
I penters, plumbers and gas fitters in
| uniforms of white, stone cutters,
brick layers, lathers, with emblems
the industrial world which call for __
most careful thought on the part of J 0f their craft, hod carriers in uniforms
trade union leaders. No little two by of blue.
four propaganda method will meet the j The third division, with Tom Davis
situation. ! as marshal, was made up of the fol-
lowing crafts: Sheet metal workers
with artistic hats of sheet metal, elec-
at the State Fair grounds and we
doubt if ever us large a crowd assem-
bled before on these grounds. The
immense grand stand was crowded to
overflowing and the race track was
ompletely surrounded by the people,
all anxious to witness the many
sporting events that were to lake
place. Unfortunately the gathering
clouds at 3:30 opened up and a torrent
of rain fell, completely destroying the
opportunity of giving the main events
of the day. The only events given
were a one-half mile bicycle race, won
by Bricklayer J. B. Rulon, the one-
half mi I« motor cycle race, won by C.
E. Pendleton on his double cylinder
"Indian." The 100 yard dash was won
by F. W. Smith, bricklayer, the one-
hall mile auto race won by Norman
Smith, with a Veliee roadster, and the
Ave mile motor cycle race was called
on account of rain in the 7tli lap with
C. E. Pendleton under handicap an
acknowledged winner over his three
other contestants.
Owinfc to the illness of Robert W.
Hobbs, editor of the Daily News, he
was prevented from giving one of his
splendid and characteristic speeches.
Prof. Walter Tlios. Mills, one of the
deepest thinkers and masterly orators
ol' today on economic questions, gave
an interesting talk oil the subject of
How to Win a Strike, and was listened
to by a large and appreciative audi-
ence. Mayor Henry Scales was also
a speaker of the day and gave an ex-
cellent address. Governor Haskell ar-
rived on schedule time in the evening,
hut the rain had succeeded In driving
the crowds back to the city and it was
decided to postpone the governor's ad-
dress.
Labor Day, 1909. wil be long remem-
bered as the most successful ever
held in the state of Oklahoma and
to the tireless work of the committees
In charge can be given the credit of
the successful observance of a grand
old day.
Oklahoma is a great state and one of
whom all Oklahomans are justly proud
but it is no greater than its people
make it and ihe part taken by organ-
ized labor in the success and welfare
of our new state was fittingly and
conclusively demonstrated on Monday,
Sent. 6th, 1909.
Shook and I). Obright, as division
marshals deserve great praise on the
way they handled the Immense parade
as not one hitch occurred to mar the
proceedings.
It was remarked by many citizens
that the crowd labor day was the
most orderly gathering ever held in
the city.
OUIe S. Wilson, secretary-treasurer
of Local 283, Is under the weather.
Ollie has been In rather a bad shape
for quite a time and nothing but his
Indomltnble will power and energy
keep him going.
About the shortest sighted business
man Is the one who works Ills employ-
ees on a dny such as Labor Day. We
are sorry to state that we have a few
such In Oklahoma City, but very few.
Most of the wide awake merchants re-
spect labor and use every honorable
method to gain the friendship of the
wage earner.
Slim Grlmmlt, of Ihe gas fitters had
more fun Labor Day than any one.
Slim is a good judge of a fair light
and he says he saw the best one out-
side the fair grounds Labor Day that
ever happened.
sided press. No longer will the truth
regarding the workers' conditions he
suppressed and capitalism reign su-
preme. The labor editor is free; he
will not lend his paper to the sup-
pression of truth and injustice (union
official organB pleaBe lake note). He
gives a square deal, but the capital-
ists don't like that; they generally get
the worst of it.
come to be a specialization of indus- j ditions obtainable for those who take
tries, even within its ranks, which ■ part in its compilation. It must al-
bas very naturally resulted in juris- j wayS be an example of labor condl-
, „„ dietional strife. Even mob enthusiasm | The workers must understand
in a scientific, business-like way. They : better than this, for the mob will
are attacking labor through the courts. receive sympathy from the neutral on !'hat to do this requires money
They are employing expert lawyers, j |ookeri but jurisdictional strife not I that can only be gotten from th
msny of whom are absolutely unscru- j on]y causes bitterness and hatred
pulous, and who devote their entire j wjthin, but disgust and ridicule with- terest it is published.
time to the task of maping out cam- j QUt
paigns against the trade union, and ; Thjrd orgftnlzed
supposedly in the interest of their em- j ^ o wRh the ignorance of its
ployers. These efforts will fail to de- ; Qwn raemberSi but it must educate
stroy organized labor. They will purge | ^ genera, public It i3 lamentable
that even otherwise intelligent busi
News Items.
The news in a labor paper must bfc
of the highest moral standard. Noth
lng ought to be published having a
tendcy to corrupt the morals of the
young people. We must remember
that the young of today are the men
and women of the future, and that the
press forms a great part in the making
of these men and women. There is
too little attention given this and there
are many papers that draw the line
rather fine regarding this matter. In
fact in some cases it is so finely drawn
that one fails to observe it. All the
news having a leaning in this direc
tion ought, just the same as immoral
plays or obsene literature, to be strict-
ly prohibited, not merely covered over
txy a muslin gauze, as is done in
some papers, making it necessary
either to hide them from the cyeB oi
the young people or drop them alto
gether. If a labor paper is to be suc-
cessful tills cannot receive too great
attention ..It is also necessary to its
j success that nothing in the nature of
| calumny appears in its pages. Every
thing put therein must be of a relia-
ble kind—not the kind that is publish-
ed today and contradicted tomorrow
There must be no chance given to
draw it into courts prejudiced against
labor Interests.
Editorials.
We next give our attention to edi-
torials. These are articles which the
editor is solely responsible for and
great care ought to be given by him
it so that it will becomes tronger and
better, just as the church was purged
through the fierce opposition of the
oppressors. But there are certain
things within trade unionism which
.demand the attention of its truest
friends.
irst, tnere i Its very strength. The
com-
bined efforts of those in whose in-
A true labor
paper deserves your wholehearted sup-
, , m„„t rt„„, port to fight the unprincipled enemies that there is nothing in these that he
1 ot labor. j cannot prove to be absolutely correct.
There is always some one ready to Great responsibility rests on him re-
try and trample it underfoot. Why garding the articles he writes. They
should the courts and those of the cap ; must ever be of an educative kind,
them that would have tend-
ness and professional men are in ab- italist class wish to demolish a labor nothing In
solute ignorance of the principles of press? Why? Because a labor press ency to leadI the readers astray. There
organized labor If the public does is a powerful factor in educating the are those who will not or cannot think
not know about trade unionism, it ' workers, in keeping before them the for themselves, but let the editor of a
must be admitted that it is the fault conditions under which they labor, paper do al the thinking
of organized labor. It is net the busi- i jt stimulates them to unite to better believing an editor to
ness of the outsider to inform him j these conditions. It encourages and
growth of trade unionism In recent concerning trade unionism. It is helps in their industrial struggles. Ii
years hrts been one of the most signirt- i (hp tra(]e unjons' job to compel atten- |s ever ready to champion the cause
cant things of modern times. This ^j()R and correctly Inform the out- 0t the workers. The capitalist class
The llnion Review, the state farm-
ers' paper. Is now an Oklahoma City
paper, having been removed here from
Ardmore. Oklahoma City affords a
much broader field and the manage-
ment will make an endeavor to great-
ly improve the already splendid
mouthpiece of the great farmers' or-
ganization of the state.
until they came crash against tho
stone wall of some other editor's crit-
icism. and unable to withstand tho
impact their opinions are scattered
to the winds. Hence the reason that
we find so n*iny individuals with one
opinion today and another one tomor-
row.
Advertisements.
Next we have advertisement. This
is by no means the least to be con-
sidered in the composition of a paper.
Many a paper could not be run If it
were not for the financial benefit de-
rived from this source. It is well
known that advertising increases the
sale of advertised articles. That be-
ing so, then it is necessary that a
labor paper ought not to advertise any-
thing which would injure the workers
or make their conditions worse than
they were before. We find that som£
labor papers are very inconsistent in
this matter and advertise the sale of
that which is detrimental to the work-
ers' interests. If a paper Is to pul
financial interest before the welfare
of the people then It would bo better
a thousand timoB If the courts had
smothered Jt. You cannot advocate
better conditions and the uplifting of
the people on one side of a paper and
advertise that which goes to make bad
conditions and the downfall of the
people on the other. This might be
considered consistent In an uunprinci-
pled capitalistic press. But in a la-
bor paper, never! NO editor in do-
ing this need hide behind the mot-
to, "Help one another," for you can-
not consistently, "help tho few to
damn the many." There is no excuse
for a labor editor receiving financial
help from the degradation of his fol-
lowman. If it is really done for the
money in it, then It Is truly said thatr
Instead of having "In God We Trust"
on the money, it ought to be "In This
God We Trust."
Every worker knows the value ' 9
a labor paper, but every worker does
not know or take time to consider
the necessity of having one of their
own; which could ba done by every
unionist contributing his little mite to
furnish capital for starting such a
project. This would enable us to
have a dally or weekly paper which
with it a great j slder j and the C0Urts know this. They know
mass of enthusiastic fighters, but who, These are some of the problemE that it gives the workers knowledge
at the Bame time are uninformed as confront organized labor today. an(j tbat "knowledge Is power;" hence
to the fundamental principles of their That they will be adjusted in due time rea30n they wish to Bmother >t
cause. These will endanger the (bere can j,e no doubt. But immediate jn |jg jnfancy. It does not suit them
movement if no effort is made to give attention to them will save many a t],at_ tbe editor is so free with his crit-
their work Intelligent direction. There y(,ar of struggle and a great deal oi |cism 0f their actions and statements
must be better "team-work." Their at- iUjjpr|„g and heartache. against the working class, and that he
tack must not be that of the mob, bu
that, of trained soldiers. Clearly,
then, the lenders must see to it that
the reruits shal have a course of
training which will enable them to
"give a reason for the hope that is
within them."
Second, on
for them would be more able to combat the in-
be infallible terests of capitalism, as it would deal
They never think that, like the editor with matters arising from all parts
they ought to have an opinion of their and would be circulated all over the
wn; hence the reason there are so United States, fills is not said in din-
many 'stick-in-the-mud" kind of indi- paragement of any individual efrort
viduals—ever waiting on what the ed . made at presenl In conducting labor
it or has to say on a subject before i papers in the interests of the work-
they give a second-hand opinion on M rs. Great credit is due to the pi-
it. It is this state of affairs which j oneerg In this movement for supplying
the editor of a labor or any other pa labor with a reliable press these men
per has to contend with, making iV Iiave done yeoman service in the
necessary that the utmost care be ta-1 cause of democracy, and are desen-
ken that nothing be put in his articles | lng of our everlasing gratitude. No
would retard the march of pro-
THE LABOR PRESS.
There is a great deal to be
about the work
and the responsibility attached to the J alw
editorship of same.
man will hesitate to say to them:
"Well done thou good and faithful ser-
vants." These men who have done
ment of organized labor
The labor editor
account of the develop-1 must see to it" that his paper is pub-
there has lished under the best possible on-
| opens the columns of this powerful or- that
gan to all classes and shades of opir gress or stay the uplifting of the pe
i said ion. No, this freedom of press does pie. This is essential in a labor pa-1 '
of the labor press j not Butt our moneyed class, who have pei
avs been namnered by a here-to- Principles. The editor knows
fore press. But such davs are en-led; opinions leads in the wrong direction derstand that if this has been done
the workers have risen! No longer that these non-thinkers, like a flock j by individual effort that more could
will they be hoodwinked by a one- of sheep, would follow the same way (Continued
I not suit' our moneyed class; who have per if it is to be consistent with its the hard "spade work" in establishing
nut «• . « _ — if his a "labor press ' will more readily un*
Page 5.)
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The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 12, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 11, 1909, newspaper, September 11, 1909; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc106844/m1/1/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.