The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 19, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 30, 1909 Page: 1 of 8
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"W. mmn .
"THE SOCIALIST PARTY HAS NOT ENDORSED THE REPEAT. OF SECTION 9, .4RTTCLE 9"
THE OKLAHOMA LABOR UNIT
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE F. E. C U. OF A OF OKLAHOMA
r
Endorsed by the
OK> ahoma city building trades council
Endorsed by the
OKLAHOMA STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
Endorsed by the Oklahoma City
CENTRAL TRADES AND LABOR ASSEMBLY
VOL. 2
OKLAHOMA CITY. OKLAHOMA. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30. llMH).
No. n
SAVS
Let's Bury the Hatchet
By MARION TYLER
Not long ago a certain Individual. l=ed labor seek to dwarf the com-
118 Inspections Made and +
Only 18 Cases of Child
Labor Reported
+++++++++++++++++
♦
what the interests ♦
seek to amend
State Factory Inspector Warren has
just completed his work in Oklahoma
"Section 9. Neither shall any
railroad company, transporta-
tion company, or transmission
company, organized under the
* lust conrpie:ea nis -
f f ntv in all 118 inspections of facto + laws In this state, conso Idate
\ Citj. in all lis inspect. private or Judicial sale, or
m
vies and work shops and twelve of
department stores were made this ;
year au increase of thirtyeight over
1 08.
In the 11S factories and twelve de-
partment sjtotes inspected employes
were found as follows: 799 females, 2,-
092 males—an increase over last year
of 1,181 persons.
The inspections were segregated as
follows: Machine foundries and ma-
chine shops, 5; printing establish-
ments, 18; bakeries, 16; laundries,
12: wood working concerns, 9; oil
refineries, 1; oil mills, 2; flour mills,
3; brick plants, 2; garment manufac-
turing and millinery establishments.
5; miscellaneous factories and work
shops, 36.
Air Warren states that conditions
in Oklahoma City are away above the
average of other cities throughout the
state, and decidedly better than he
found them here last year. Only
three sweat shops were found and im-
mediate corrections ordered. In one
place sixteen girls were found work-
ing in a room fourteen by sixteen feet,
with poor ventilation and no chance
for escape in the event of fire. In an-
other, ten men and women were em-
ployed ill a small room poorly venti-
lated and overcrowded. The worst
condition found bv '.Mr. Warren was in
a basement factory on Broadway,
where three people were working, and
he states that the ventilation and un-
sanitary conditions were something
terrible.
Eighteen cases of child labor are re-
ported, contrary to the laws of the
state, a number of which have been
referred to the truant officer to be
dealt with under the provisions of the
compulsory education law.
TRADES COUNCIL MEETING.
An enthusiastic and well-attended
meeting of the Trades Council was
held Thursday evening.
Mrs. Martha Anwine and Miss Julia
Heed were reated as delegates from
the Garment Workers, two of the
delegates from this organization hav-
ing resigned.
The policy of the Labor v'l'nit. tin-
der its new management, was unani-
mously endorsed and the council b>
vote recommended that all unions in
the city subscribe for the paper as a
body.
Reports were made from the vari-
ous committees having in charge the
■banquet and get-together to be held
as an open meeting on the next reg-
ular meeting night. November 4.
Tickets are being sold only to niem-
Jbers of organized labor at a price
sufficient to cover the expense of
thi banquet. About 100 tickets have
already been purchased.
The entertainment committee made
a partial report, selecting President
M. R. Powell as toastmaster, and an-
nounced that addresses would be d
by private or judicial sale,
otherwise, with any railroad
company, transportation com-
pany, or transmission company
organized under the laws of
any other state or of the Unit-
ed States.
who has been fortunate enough in
recent years to amass a goodly por-
tion of the worldly goods, left his
race horses and poker-chips and oth-
er business enterprises and made a
flying trip to Oklahoma. The fact
that he came and went perhaps was
not so well known, nor so well ad-
vertised. as is the desire to repeal a
certain section of a certain article
ni the constitution of this state. Vet
from his lips fell the magic words
that have echoed from boundary line
to boundary line, and awakened the
"interests" to feverish activity.
He stated that under present con-
ditions there could and would be no
railroad development nor would cap-
ital ill all its magnificent phases find
it worth «hile to operate in our state.
He inferred that "the grapes" were
too far above the reach of him and
■ his associates and that before Okla-
homa could consider herself worthy
of their valuable financial assistance
| the good people of the state must re-
I peal their constitution to conform
! with their desires or they would be
compelled, from a strictly business
i standpoint, to let these "grapes" re-
main unpicked.
L Now it is not the purpose nor de-
— ckjt* \a/nirHT or ILLINOIS sire °r organized labor to destroy the
PRESIDENT wRIGHT of ILLIN0IS il)ilUi(,s of future development of
FEDERATION URGES SEVEN •'— 'IN-
STATES' MEETING.
Would Impress the Parties—Calls
for Early Action on Part in Na-
tional Campaign—Convention
at Belleville. III.
this state, but we, representing the
rank and file of labor, on the other
hand, have no desire to destroy the
i road, comprehensive features of our
constitution which demand the re-
spect and praise of every fair-minded
citizen in America.
I Let us consider, for a moment, two
j questions: What could organized
labor hope to gain by destroying a
In his annual address at the twen- constitution in which they, to a cer-
,i iUp *iiii extent have been instrumental
ty-seventh annual convention of the tain .exl^. ^ ^ ^
Illinois State Federation of Labor at j
Belleville, 111.. ..Tuesday, President
Edwin R. Wright of Chicago urged a
joint meeting in 1911 of the state fed- j
erations of Indiana. Iowa, Missouri,
Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and 1111- !
nois. My object in making this sug-
gestion," he said, "is in view of the
national campaign immediately fol
mercial and industrial future of this
state? Surely the protection of the
commonwealth is as vital to the pe>o-
ple as to "the interests." A consti-
tution that gives special privileges to
none, in this day and age of the
world, is too sacred and valuable to
he crippled and deformed, to the end
that a few may profit at the expense
of the many. It the constitution is
actually involving an injustice upon
those who are responsible for it—the
vo'ers nf this state it Is only a ques-
tion of time until it Is discovered, and
when it is demonstrated to be imprac-
tical and creative of that which tends
to ruin rather than preserve the pub-
lic safety, organized labor will not be
the last to take up arms against it.
But until such proofs of incompe-
tency are absolutely and undeniably
established, we prefer to let well-
enough alone.
And again, why should organized
labor have even the remotest desire
to stand antagonistic to the develop-
ment of the wonderful resources of
this state. Are not the Interests of
labor and capital identical? Should
they not, to produce the best results,
be mutual? The one desire of every
loyal American is, the hope that
those dependent upon htm may have
the uest that ills ability and integrity
may command. His efforts of today,
shape the destiny of tomorrow, not
only for him but for his children, and
through the ever-ringing cry of injus-
tice and corruption breaks the song
rf duty—the duty to his family.
Let's build a greater Oklahoma.
Greater commercially, industrially, po-
litically and socially And above all
let's have happiness and contentment
among the classes—both rich and
poor. Hut let's not wreck our con-
stitution. Let's bury the hatchet.
HOLD SUCCESSflL MEET
+++++++++++++++++
* +
+ what the interests +
seek to amend 4
"Section 9. Neither shall any
railroad company, transporta-
tion company, or transmission
company, organized under the
Conference Adopts Strong
Resolutions—Vote to Up-
hold Constitution
The state conference of Bricklayers
and Masons' International Union has
company, organized under me *
laws in this statv, consolidate + Just closed a five days session at Me
by private or judicial sale, or +
otherwise, with any railroad +
company, transportation com- +
pany, or transmission company +
+ organized under the laws of +
+ any other state or of the Unit- +
+ ed States. ♦
♦ +
+++++++++++++++++
SETTLEMENT MADE AND ARBI-
TRATION CONTRACTS ARE
SIGNED.
AN ANSWER TO BROWN
[The following article written by
Mr^O'Rourke in answer to the article
"a of ion Francesco Ferrer by Marvin Brown
several thousand trade unionist dele- j iast week's issue, i3 published in
gates should have on shaping the Is- J ful] and wlthout comment. The Labor
sues of the campaign to our great welcomes frientlly discussions
"^He'suggested^that'^he^seven states' upon lab* topics by and between
joint meeting be held at some cen-1 members of organized labor, but will
trally located Illinois city. He suig- hereafter refuse to accept articles of
any character that bear upon topics,
relating to religion or sectarianism.
—Ed.]
"Professor Ferrer was shot to death
in Spain, a land of Catholicism and
idolatry," words from an article ap-
gested that the Illinois State Federa
tiou at its present meeting tix upon
the convention city for 1911 and pre-
pare to invite the federations of the
other states to attend.
The passage of a primary election
law by Illinois, carrying with it in- -----
itiative and referendum, was favored j peal ing in last week s issue of th
bv President Wright. He also spoke Labor Unit, coming from the pen of a
at length in advocacy of an employ- learned Oklahoman Socialist, Mr. Mar.
els' liability law by the Illinois Leg- vin Brown. ^
islature. He said: It is with contempt and pity that.
law should he drafted and pre- have to own that the writei of .Ills
' sented to each and every candidate I piece of nonsense is a brother unionist
for legislative honors. The incom- of the "art preservative." As much
ing executive officers and Executive to say the Catholic church was
Board should be intrusted with the [against all that was progressive ana
duty—that Of securing a connprehen- \ cultivating. Little does Mr. Brown, i-r
stive au('< adequate measure, irawn any other who takes him seriously,
by the most skillful attorneys of the j read the every-day news of life or
state Work should then be done to delve in history thirty years back. IF
bring albout the election of legisla- I he had. no such assertion tnat he
tors to enact the agreed measure." propounds would have ever appeared.
Owen Miller Supports Politics. In these days of diplomacy we
, , ,| -rile convention was convened at would say that the Spanish premier
nounced that addresses would be de-1 J 0.c,0pk vesiter. wa8 a „00r d,p,oniat to execute Per-
d^y —BPresident T. .1. Hitch. rer. I, is just a little too deep for
Luther^ Langston ' president and 1 ing* of the Belleville Trades' and La- Mr. Brown or many others, myself in-
sreretarv resnective'lv of the State 1,or Assembly. More than 400 dele- eluded, to see into those foreign games
secretary, respectively or i , present, representing over that afe pulled off on the. other side,
son^ were,i^rv-treasiirer M the ' S&0 union tabor men. Rev. Otto sometimes right here a, home,
graphical Union Musical numbers j F. Pessel of St. Paul's Church deliv- i„ ,he firs, place, as we see it, the
will be given by Mrs W. T. Ecks and | ered the invocation. Mayor Fred .1. Labor Unit is not a socialistic paper
son W II Moore business agent of I Kern was introduced by President 0r a partisan sheet nor Is It a secta
'the'Building Trades Department, and j Hitchings ami delivered an address ian weekly. It is just:a wee** *£
the Pebbworth family. Mrs. Laura i of welcome. State President Wright lica'ion devoted solely to the interests
W Conler will read a paper on the o' Chicago responded and took charge of organized workmen, regardless of
Women's LaJiel League. 'of the convention. color, denomination or social standing.
i Owen Miller, president of the Cen- Now, Brother Brown, don t mlsun
of the fence," if it was it would be
well to set on the top of Che fenc
and look around, not on one side, but
the other also.
You talk about. It being against ad-
vanced schooling, there again. Mr.
Brown, she is turning out some of the
most important people in the world.
Scholars so ignorant that thley ar#
the foremost ill all I'anks of life. You
ialk of idolatry and witch-2craft, and
a whole lot of other rot, and have a
string of martyrs to corroborate your
sarcasm against something you dare
not look into, for fear of finding
things that would hurt.
About socialism, I care not to argue
about that for it does not come home
to me, but when you use a labor pa-
per to cram rot down into the throats
of union men, it is time to call a halt.
If you want to use some space, why
don't you write au article about
unionism or its enemies, not try to
knock something you or I know very
little of.
Reniemlber you are not behind any
rebout that cannot be assailed, for
there is lots of things for all to learn
and it is a very good idea to keep
your place a secret, for If not the
enemy will see a weak spot in your
armour soon.
So now be good in the future and
remember that these columns should
be open to all union men to discuss
union affairs; not church, socialistic
or partisan, much less opposing any
measures, we as union men advocate.
Yours in unionism.
P. J. O'ROURKE,
Memiber of No. 283 I. T. U.
All of the W. L. Douglas Factories
Again Organized Under the
Union Stamp Arbitration
Agreement.
Differences existing between the
'amous W.'l Douglas Shoe Co.. aim
the Boot & Shoe Workers' Union that
have extended over a period of sev-
eral months, during which time the
Douglas shoe has not carried the la-
bel, have been adjusted and all the
factories will again ibegin operations
under the former agreement. The
following letter is self-explanatory:
Brockton, Mass., Oct. 23, 1909.
To the Editor:
Wf desire to announce to you the
adjustment of the controversy be-
tween 'he Bout & Shoe Wokers' ITn-
ion and the W. L. Douglas Shoe Com-
pany. The arbitration agreement was
signed today and all our factories will
begin operations under that agreement
immediately.
The following copy of telegram was
handed to our General Superintendent,
Mr. A. T. Drake, today, by Mr, Tobin,
and explains itself:
Oct. 23, 1909.
Mr. Samuel Gompers,
801 G Street, Northwest.
Washington. D. C.
Every detail of the Douglas contro-
versy adjusted. Settlement and arbi-
tration contracts signed today. All of
the company's factories will be organ-
ized immediately under the Union
Stamp Arbitration agreement.
JOHN F. TOBIN.
General President. Boot and Shoe
Workers' Union.
Knowing and appreciating your in-
terest in this matter, we are confi-
dent the above will be published at an
early date in your columns. Thanking
you in advance for the courtesy, we
remain, Yours truly,
W. L. DOUGLAS SHOE CO.
tral Trades and Labor body of St. derstand me. I am just giving you to
Louis extended greetings from the understand that all labor papers are
Missouri Federation of Labor and the supported by union men (no> religion).
S*. Louis Central body. He advocat- and it would be best for all to look
ed the injection of politics into the I before treading.
out labor movement, declaring that In this Look over the list of labor troubles
with a large membership. Frank Yea- ] way much good could be accomplished in this country and see if the Catholic
eer was elected president, and Franklin behair of organized labor. church Is against unionism. What do
Maschek, secretary. j VO" see? Her priests and other church
GOES TO COLORADO. official.-- have always come to the front
BAKERS TO ORGANIZE. Geo. D. Henderson, superintendent fight the battles of the oppressed.
A charter has been applied for by j 0f the Oklahoman composing room. I guess you were asleep or mayhap
the journeymen bakers of Oklahoma i |eft Wednesday for Colorado for a 'wo 1 you did not care to read th
City. The application for charter is j weeks' visit. Mr. Henderson Is inter-
signed by twenty-seven members, and | ested in a cattle ranch near Denver.
the union wil be instituted as soon i the management of which is looked
as the supplies arrive. I after by his brother, and pnrtner
NEW UNION ORGANIZED.
The Hoisting and Stationary Engi-
neers were organized by J. D. Tray-
lor at the Trades Assembly hall last
Saturday night. The nutttber of the
new union is 393 and they start out.
TWO CENTRAL BODIES REIN
STATED IN A. F. OF L.
The charter of the St. Louis. Mo.
Trades ami Labor Council, which aj
revoked last week, has been renewed
! The trouble arose o\er the Electri-
cal Workers' controversy.
The central body of Milwaukee
Wis., has complied with the demand
of the A. F. of L. to enforce the con-
stitution. and unseated the Electrical
Workers of the Reid faction.
papers
J during the hig anthracite strike, or
j the late Pittsburg trouble (non-union).
| Or is this the case, "I heard the
rumpus, but It was on the o'her side
WELL KNOWN PRINTER DEAD.
•lohn B. Addis, a well known print-
er here, for several years employed
on the old Times-Journal and later
on the Times under Its present man-
agement, died of tuberculosis at his
father's honie at Rusk, Texas, last
week.
Mr. Addis had many staunch friends
here among the printers.
+ *
* WAGE EARNER IS IN SAD-
+ DLE IN AUSTRALIAl
+ The woriiingman is much in
+ evidence "in the seats of the
+ mighty" in far away Australia
* A hodcarrier Is vice chair-
+ man of the National Council
* The ji/li is the same as the vice
+ presidency of the United
* States.
+ The man who sits at the
+ head of the table at the meet-
+ ings of the Australian national
+ council, the present premier, +
+ is a coal miner. +
+ A metal worker is secretary ♦
+ of foreign affairs; a carpenter +
+ holds the portfolio for national +
+ dufense, and the minister of +
+ trade formerly made hats for a +
+ living. *
<• The postmaster general is a +
4* miner; the minister of home +
+ affairs Is a newspaper writer. +
+ and the attorney general Is a +
+ lawyer well known for bis +
+ friendly attitude toward labor. +
+ +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
A Uster
„ The conference is comi osed of
twenty-four different locals. It is Site
of the strongest crafts in the south-
west and great good will result to the
various locals from this meeting.
Tin conference was addressed by
Hon. Chas. Dougherty, state labor
commissioner, and J. Luther Langston,
secretary of the State Federation.
The following resolution was unani-
mously adopted:
"McAlester, Okla., Oct. 25. 1909.
"Whereas, it has been the policy of
the Bricklayers and Masons organiza-
tion to stand aloof from any seeming
entanglement or alliance with the
State Federations of Labor, and
"Whereas, there is no section of
the constitution of the State Federa-
tion or Labor that any way interferes
with trade autonomy, and
"Whereas, the Oklahoma State Fed-
eration of Labor has been instrumen-
tal in securing many laws that are
particularly beneficial to the working
class, including the scaffolding la:w
ich' was compiled at the suggestion
of this State Conference by Its Legis-
lative Committee.
"Therefore !Be It Resolved, that we,
in annual session assembled, recom-
mend that all locals In this state af-
filiate with the_Oklah<>j].a State Fed-
eration of Labor and co-operate n
. very way possible In matters of gen-
eral importance to Organized Labor,
that may be inaugurated by the Ok-
lahoma Federation of Labor and
"Resolved Further, that there is no
reason why every local of the Brick-
layers and Masons' Union in this State
should not affiliate, as the dues are
very small in comparison with the
good that can be accomplished."
In addition to the above resolution,
.the bricklayers have limd up with
the Oklahoma State Federation of La-
bor and the State Farmer's Union in
opposing the attempted repeal of Sec-
tion 9 of Article 9 of the State Con-
stitution.
"McAlester, Okla., Oct. 26, 1909.
"Whereas, the Commercial interests
or Oklahoma are attempting through
the State Federation of Commercial
Clubs to amend Section 9, Article 9.
of the constitution, and
"Whereas, should this section be
amended we believe there will ibe an
attempt on the part of the same inter-
ests to repeal other sections of the
constitution which have for their pur-
pose the control of public service cor-
]>orations, and we believe that the at-
tempted repeal of Section 9, Article
9, is merely an entering wedge to the
repeal of other sections of the consti-
tution.
"Therefore Be it Resolved, that the
State Conference of Brick Masons, in
Annual Convention, assembled at Mc-
Alester, Okla., do hereby go on record
as opposing a rei>eal of any section of
the constitution at this time.
"Resolved Further, that we instruct
out delegates to return to their locals
and acquaint the members with the
con'ents of this resolution and do
'everything in their power when the
proposition is submitted to the ;ieo-
I pie for a vote to defeat same."
The orticers or the state conference
are President J. Gauham. McAlester;
first vice president, George Clark.
Lawton; second vice president, M. L.
| Brunnell, Chickasha; third vice presi-
dent, A. L. Cloe, Clinton: secretary.
O. M. Keller, Oklahoma City; treasur-
er. D. R. DeHaven, Tulsa.
DISTRICT ORGANIZER HERE.
A. T. Rebey, district organizer for
the American Federation of Labor,
was in the city on business this week.
Mr. Rebey was on his way to Anadar-
ko where he will organize several new
unions. His headquarters are at Law-
ton and he Is doing a good work
throughout Ills district.
LEAVE YOUR ADDRESS.
Printers who are out of work and
foremen who need men should leave
word with Ollle S. Wilson, Secretary-
Treasurer, at 43C-43S Bassett Building.
The oftices are open forn 8:30 a. ni.
to 5:30 p. ni.
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Casler, Howard M. & Wilson, Ollie S. The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 19, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 30, 1909, newspaper, October 30, 1909; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc106851/m1/1/: accessed May 7, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.