The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 8, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 29, 1911 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:
1 y, ^r- '• .
r1
s
"UNION MEN, ATTEND THE TRADES COUNCIL PICNIC, RIVERSIDE PARK, PATTERSON LINE, SUNDAY, AUG. 6
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE FARMERS' UNION OF OKLAHOMA
VOL. 4,
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA. SATURDAY. .I1LY 20. 1911.
NO. tt
ORGANIZED LABOR SHOULD BE
LIBERAL WITH CONTRIBUTIONS
An aoDeal from the headquarters of j faithless officials, the two McNamaras
the AmeHcan Federation of Labor for were rushed in feverish haste to the
funds to aid in the defense of the Me- scene of the alleged crime. The rights
... ... ..ii Pontrai r f ihoLo iwn ni«>n huvR been tram Died
Announcement
THE LABOR UNIT WILL ISSUE A
Labor Day Program
A.J. BEMIS. EORMER RAILWAY
MANAGER. VIOLATED LABOR LAW
Namaras has been sent to all Central
bodies in the United States and Cana
da. A statement was also mailed to
the leading labor papers of the coun-
try on July 22, together with an ap-
peal for assistance in the way of con-
tributions from memberB of unions and
also friends who desire to see the ac-
cused men given a fair and impartial
trial on October 11.
The Oklahoma Labor ti nit will from
this time on receive contributions to
of these two men have been trampled
upon, willfully flagrantly and wanton-
ly.
Every man, even the meanest, un-
der the constitutional guarantees of
our country, is entitled to a trial by a
Jury of his peers, and every man Is
presumed to be innocent until proven
guilty. Thus far the proceedings have
been outside the pate ot those guaran-
tees. The charge has been lodged
against organized labor, and two of
Washington, D. C., July
To All Workers;
this time on receive conuiuunuuo ., " .
this fund which will be forwarded : its members are now before the bar
weeklv to the headquarters in Wash- to answer to these charges. W hat is
ineton 1) C In another column will | the duty of the organized iabqr move-
befound a subscription blank, which , ment ? What shall be our bourse?
will he run until the time of trial. What efTorts shall we put ftirth to see
Any union, association, firm or indi-1 to it that justice shall finally obtain?
vidual who wishes to subscribe to this j The intellect, heart and soul of the
fund can do so by cutting out blank, \ men Qf laboi^ yield to no body or class
lllling in properly and mall, together o( c|tizens In their fidelity in obed-
with the amount of your subscription. | ience to the law, and their history
to The Oklahoma Labor Unit, 501 j is rell!ete with instances of sacrifice
State National Bank Building, Okla that humanity may be protected, if
homa City. A list of the names of the j within the ranks of labor there are
donors, together with tile amounts sub- j those who commit infractions of the
scribed or donated, will appear each ! )aw (hen they should be punished, but
week, and the money so collected will | there should not be instituted a double
be forwarded to Frank Morrison, sec-; standard of justice—one for the
retary McNamara case, Washington, weaithy malefactor and another for
D. C. the workman.
following is the appeal sent out from 1 The organized labor movement be-
the headquarters of the American Fed iieves that the McNamaras are in-
eration of Labor: j nocent. Upon that belief there de-
A STATEMENT i volves upon us another duty. The ac-
cused men are workmen, without
j means of their own to provide a pro-
, j defense. The assault is made
For right is rigbt, since C.od is .od,, agajnst organized labor equally with
And right the day must win, j tho McNamaras. If we are true to
To doubt would be disloyalty, the obligations we have assumed, if
, i . oi„ it is hoped to forever settle this sys-
To falter would be sin. b I t of malicious prosecution of the
Fr0™ H?* A f.f L, tlrr ble cato®-! men of labor, our duty is plain,
trophe had occurred' in that city- j Funds must be provided to insure
that the Los Angeles. Times building j a fair and impartial trial. Eminent
had been destroyed, with the loss of | counsel has been engaged. Arrange-
■i number of lives. The lirst word ments are proceeding that a proper
spoken, even before the (lames had defense may be made. The great
completed their destruction, by the need of the hour is money with wtfich
emissaries of the Times contained posi- to meet the heavy drains incident to
tive declarations that organized labor , (Continued on Page Eight.)
was responsible for the disaster. Quali-
fying statements were conspicuous by
their absence. Wide publicity was j
given warped and unsupported alle-
gations against the organized work j
inen of the entire country were fea-
tured, vast sums of money were dang
led in the faces of unscrupulous men
to fasten the crime upon some member
or members of the trade unions. The i
National Manufacturers' Association
flanked by the Erectors' Asociation,
As II has been the custom in years i pat ronage befot
past for the Official Paper of the Cen- <v -n'iAlt ..
tral Trades Council to issue a Labor the merchants and manufacturers of
Day Program, the Labor Unit will this the city shortly, and we feel confident
... i i ihjif thev will receive the smut* Kind
year undertake this ask. ttat they will re ^
The Labor Unit will publish the of- j ed
licial program of the Central Trades The Labor I'nit is making arrange
Council covering all events to take j ments with some of the I'oreiuosl labor
place on labor s national holiday. It j for^hl"pro^am.'win'be
will be our endeavor to make the l-ia-1 rea(j m)t onjy hy organized labor, but by
hor Day Program the most complete thousands of others who are Interested
of Its kind ever published in Oklahoma i in the movement or organized labor
City. Our facilities for making this I throughout the stale. We will also set
program a banner one are unlimited, forth the great strides Oklahoma it>
and we assure the patrons of the pro-1 Is making towards beromlnglhe great
gram that they will not be disappointed [ est city In the southwest. \\e will en
in the restuts obtained. deavor to get special articles from
The program will be placed in the some of Oklahoma i ity s best boost
hands of all of the working class In Ok- ers. The very proper movement now
lahoma City, and as the merchants ol j being pushed to patronize home nidus
Oklahoma depend to a large extent tries is deserving of the l>Poi'' of
upon the working man for their patron- every loyal citizen ot this citj and we
age, they will take advantage of this expect to lend our teeble assistance in
opportunity to place their claims fori every way possible.
A. J. Bemis, formerly general man-
lager of the Oklahoma Railway com-
the working men of j l>ally oklahoma City, was convicted
Kianoma i ny. ! in county court last Saturday, of vlo-
Our advertising solicitors will call 0,1 latiiiK the state labor law, by attempt-
mainif.i tiirera of jng io coerce employes. The jury did
not sentence Bemis to a jail sentence,
but administered a tine of $2tl0 and
costs, making the totul amount $400.
The verdict of the jury is a big vic-
tory for organized labor In Oklahoma
City and the state as a vindication for
the street railway strike of last Feb-
ruary.
The Jury which convicted the rail-
way officer was composed of the follow-
ing business men: Davis A. Duncan,
Interesting Meeting Trades Council
MUSKOGEE IS
IN THE RACE
The Oklahoma City Trades and La-
bor Council meeting in regular week-
ly session Thursday night, transacted
the general routine business, besides
important work connected with the pic-
nic to be held the first Sunday in Au-
gust, it being the tith day of August.
This picnic will be for organized la-
bor and their friends and will be a
grand old basket picnic, all the ladies
furnishing the well filled baskets,
which will be auctioned off to the
highest bidder for cash, and after all
baskets are sold a general spread will
follow, participated in by all present.
This is to be an all-day picnic, and it
is expected that a large crowd will at-
tend.
It was decided to award first and
second prizes to the owners of bas-
kets bringing the most money, so the
ladies will take notice of this fact and
see that their basket has plenly of
good things to eat in it. The two prizes
will probably be cash, but this part of
the program has been left up to the
committee in charge.
There will be several interesting en-
tertainment features on the ground
I that day, and the Trades Council will
have a cold drink stand for the accom-
I modatlon of the thirsty. Other stands
' will also be on the ground, among them
banker; Thad Smith, real estate; C
Lorensen, grocer; J. W. Higgs, retired;
Frederick W. Klein, carpenter contrac-
tor, and J. .1. Rackley, retired.
Bemis was arrested last February
upon complaint of union men, that he
was coercing employes of the railway
company. The strike of the carmen fol
lowed a few days afterward.
Bemis was sent to this city by east-
ern capitalists who own stock in the
railway company when rumblings of
a strike were first heard.
The cause of the trouble which led
up to the arrest of llemlB last Feb-
ruary happened one night after the
employes had come in off their runs
and was having a friendly meeting at
the car barns. Bemis butted 111 on this
and a good time in general for all who meeting and told the employes that
attend if they joined the union they would
This picnic will be lielvd at Riverside lose their jobs. The arrest followed
Park on the Patterson car line, Mr. shortly after this meeting
Valterson granting organized labor the County Attorney ^
privilege of the grounds free of cost. I'.. Giddlngs represented tlie state
A report from the (leneral Labor Day | in the case. Mr. ^dlngs was em-
committee was made, the celebration ,ployed by the union men The vie ory
this vcar to be held at Riverside Park is one of the best secuied by County
on the Patterson ear line. There will Attorney Hooker since he entered of-
be no parade, hut the celebration will, flee January 1 It was the first time
he as large if not larger than any pre- a case of this character has ever been
vlous celebration of tills kind. Corn- tried in the state consequently the
mittees are hard at work, and in an-[victory Is more meritorious
other week will J.e in shape to an- Bemis remained in the city for sey
nouncc more in detail about the pro- eral months afterthestrlke, but sev-
gram to be carried out on that day. eral weeks ago resigned to go else-
The secretary-treasurer was instruct- where. He w as pieseut at the tria
ed to notify all unaffiliated unions in last Saturday, but left the city short
the city to send four delegates to rep-ily after the verdict was rendered,
resent their respective unions on the
Labor Day committee, and it is to be |
hoped all unions will take advantage
of this invitation and take paft in the
grand celebration on that day.
Bids were opened for the awarding
of Die Labor Day program, the highest
and best bidder to receive the contract. I
The Labor Unit .Publishing Co., being j
the highest bidder, was awarded the
contract and as In former years this j
company will put out one of the best
Illllllveu UJ t-llC •-< I mil aiou UC uu I.MV B. V/W..-I -------
Citizens' alliances, detective agencies WANTS a place to get sandwiches by those who
and a hostile press, brought their CITY ON THE EAST SIDfc wan ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ groundg in tinle f(„.
1912 CONVENTION OF STATE
FEDERATION OF LABOR
anu <«■ uv_.oi.iiv i"
every influence to bear and appropriat-
ed every available circumstance to
bulwark and fix in the public mind a j
mental altitude that the charges made
proven1 Te—ureTf Well, it's Muskogee in 1912. This is
a doubt. 'he slogan, not only among the local
The authors of the charge, after! union tnen, but throughout the state
months of intrigue and searching in-1 who are in favor of holding the Okla-
vestigations, utterly failed to substan- homa State Federation Labor in this
tiate the flamboyant and positive ac- j oity in 1912. At the meeting of the
cusations that had been made. The | caI.penters union held Monday evening
pubic mind was slowly emerging from i the question of holding the 1912 meet-
the hypnotic spell in which it had j ing here, was informally discussed
been enveloped and mutterings of sus- ] an(j the sentiment was' all in its favor,
picion began to be heard against the | other local unions are taking the
originators of the indictments against j matter up and from present indica-
labor men. The position of the hostile | tions a large delegation comprising
employers' asociations became exceed from two to five delegates from the
ingly desperate. The Times manage-1 different locals will go to Bartlesville
ment. with its years of relentless war-1 to ,.ooti boost and yell for the 1912
fare against hujnanity, fearing that 1 meeting.
its Belshazzar feast of organized la- j The Lal)or Herald will publish a
bor's blood was about to be denied, sp(,(.jai edition for free distribution at
redoubled its efforts, and demanded ; i>artiesville setting forth the many
that a sacrifice must be furnished (advantages of Muskogee with illustra
that its unholy appetite might be ap- j tjons of (ts pubUc buildings, treets,
peased, specifying that some union ,
workman or workmen must be sup-; Fo[. the purpose 0f showing why
plied to assuage its unnatural an j Muskogee should be the place of the
abnormal hunger. next meeting:
The record of events is too well! Th(j ok)ahoma state Federation of
known to make it necessary to recoun Labor js no doubt the most impor-
them in detail. That the end jut 1 conventjon held in the state and
ties the means became the slogan, is ;my cjt iuciiy enough to secure this
patent. With all the forces of greed | conventjon derives a great many ben-
compactly joined, there began a cam- e(. the publicity of its proceedings
paign of vandalism the like of which j [iot QnjJT extends to the boundaries
has never before found lodgement ( f state but throughout the United
on the pages of our American Repub-1 atates
lie's history. A prominent member of
union labor was selected, .T. J. Mc-
fail to get to the grounds In time for
the big dinner.
It is the desire of the Trades Coun-
cil that this picnic will be well attend-
ed by organized labor, and thereby
make it a grand success.
Good speakers will be In attendance
L0CJ1 OPIION
WILE BE ASKED
programs ever gotten out in the city
This is the only program to be publish-
ed and will be the official program or
the Oklahoma City Trades and Labor
Council.
The several committees In charge of
the Labor Day celebration will make
their regular report again next Thurs-
day night
ANOTHER UNION "JUSTICE FOR
BUSEEHS ASS'N EHEMTMMARAS"
CAMPAIGN TO BE STARTED AT
ONCE—FULL TEXT
OF BILL
The work of securing the signatures
of approximately 65,000 petitioners for
a vote 011 the local option question
will be begun at once, the bill prepar-
ed by the Oklahoma Local Option as
designated as article one, section seven
of such constitution."
President Stearns, of the Local Op
tton association, wits here Tuesday
when final details In the arrangements
for the campaign were taken up. He
said that he feels confident the local
option bill will pass. Just whether a
special election will be asked for has
not been fuly determined.
ORGANIZING NEW UNIONS
Word received from C. C. Zelgler,
president of the State Federation of
Labor, is to the effect that he is doing
some valuable work 011 the east side of
the state In the interest of the Fed-
eration. Mr. Zelgler spent all of one
week In Tulsa, and met with several
organizations In that city, besides or-
ganizing new ones. For the past week
he has been in Muskogee, and among
other things, he says:
"Arrived in Muskogee from Tulsa
Sunday evening. Have been busy since
visiting the locals and getting ac-
quainted. Visited three locals Mon-
day night, four Tuesday night and one
Wednesday night. Also met with the
Labor Day committee Wednesday
night. Had an enthusiastic meeting and
they are making preparations to cele-
brate in grund style.
"Have a meeting called for the pur-
pose of organizing a Trades Council
for Thursday nlglit; looks good for a
live Trades Council; some six or eight
locals that will affiliate on the start,
and more will follow as soon as the
organization is perfected,
"Have had good meetings and re-
ceived courteous treatment from every-
one, and will be able to add several
locals to tho Federation, as well as to
renew some that have run behind."
President Zelgler says Geo. McCon-
nell is in Muskogee boosting for the
Bartlesville convention and the Car-
penters' Council, and assisting him in
ills work.
Mr. Zeigler will return to Oklahoma
City Sunday.
"PROSPERITY DAY"
A "Prosperity Day" club is to be or-
ganized in Oklahoma City soon. A
committee of ten Is to be appointed to
perfect the organization with a view
to the observance of a "Prosperity
Day" in the near future, It being 11 gen-
eral holiday and jollification of the ob-
taining of the Iten Cracker factory and
the M„ O. & O., and Fort Smith & Wes-
tern railways.
The addition of these two railroads
and the large cracker factory to Okla-
homa City means more prosperity for
the workers, as well as the merchants
of the city. Labor welcomes all new
enterprises which will employ their
members.
DUNCAN'S ITINERARY.
Delegate to International Secretariat
at Budapest Will Visit Many of
the Cities of Europe.
Washington—James Duncan, dele-
number ot citizens in various parts'gate from the American Federation
I social ion having been approved by of-
I Meers of that organization, as well as
of the state. The bill is short and
simple, and relates merely lo a repeal
I of the present prohibitory laws. It
|follows In full:
BIG CONCERN TO MANUFACTURE INSCRIPTION ON LARGE NUMBER; Subdivision A.
BREWERS' SUPPLIES JUST OF BUTTONS NOW BEING "That section seven of article one,
MANUFACTURED. Jnf the constitution of the state of Okla-
'rohibitlon and articl
of Labor to the International Secre-
tariat at Budapest, who sailed for
Liverpool on July 12, will visit the
following cities: After leaving Liver-
pool lie will go lo Manchester, Shef-
field. Leeds and New Castle, then to
Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Bir-
mingham, London via New Haven,
Dieppe, Paris, Brussells, Antwerp, The
rile American Federa
submitting th<
Septemb(
relates to the manufacture, sale, barter, t a 11 i
These buttons
I St&tes.
With Muskc
tended scope: portion of the circle. __
"At the United States Brewers' As- re to be distributed in all parts of the
soclatlon convention, held last June in c ountry, to be sold at live cents each.
Washington, D. C., certain labor union stamps about one-third larger than the
organizations made an attempt to have postage stamp are also being prepared,
the Brewers' Association declare It- these also to carry the photo of J. J.
self to purchase machinery and sup-; McNamara, with an appropriate in-
plies only from such manufacturers scriptlon. These stamps are designed
who employ union labor exclusively In 10 be used 011 the backs of envelopes, I
their factories. To discourage the em- the postal regulations prohibiting their'
ployers in considering such a proposi- use on the address side. They will be
Ition. the manufacturers present in s0ld for one cent each. In addition
11 nt hotel f- Washington at the time hastily organ ihere is to be distributed a very large
excellent notci K- |,pn tv.,, Manufacturers' Association of number of leaflets containing an ap-
DOLD RE-ELECTED.
giving away, transporting of or other-1
wise furnishing of intoxicating liquors]
within the state of Oklahoma, be, and,
the same is hereby repealed. Chicago—Charles Dold, for the past
c n thirteen vears president of the I lane.
Subdivision B l)rt;lin and Musical Instrument Work-
"The legislature at Us next session, ^ Tnfornat jon:il Union, hns been re-
shall enact laws permitting and ' *.lected to tho position for the ensuing
jating the sale and manufacture of in- f rfi convention of the or-
their factories. To discourage theem- the postal regulations ^prohibitlngtheir toxicalills iiquols in this state, and 1.11- ^^n' just held levied an assess-
til such time as tho legislature shall ll]pnt nf 25P I)Pr member in |Ud of tho
enact such laws In conformity to the - -
f„ (Washington at tne tune nasuiy organ- mere is to ne aiBinmueu a very large ltJ,m„o
union labor was selected, .1. .1. i "'T'V. i.i nth r izen the Manufacturers'Association of number of leaflets containing an ap- 1)y the legislature of the state of Okhi-
Namara, and one at whom the finger /'"Jt'e8 and win. 11.. outer means Brewers. Equipment and Supplies to j.eal for . jnds. Orders for buttons and lhoma, {orWddlng the manufacture, sah-
of suspicion had never before pointed,, entertainment we can weu anuiu 10 demonstrate t0 ,hem that manufac- --tamps will be filled Immediately upon haner ,vjni. aw.lV transporting of
whose life had been characterized by extend an invitation to ti:11s, cotraven , rers were practically a unit against application to headquarters, at Wasli-
m uprightness of purpose and loyalty tlon to come here, leeling assure.} tha ,,n actlon strength in numbers ngton, D. C.
to the cause of labor, and whose activ- the delegates as well as Muskogee w ill (hat a|tended ,hi8 meetlng made an
ities in everv walk had drawn to him "e amply repaid. impression which caused the labor
the commendation of his fellows. To! The commercial bodies, the city of- ] r0mmittee of the Brewers' Association
irive the stage the proper setting and ficials all members of the different, to pjgeonhole the demand of the unions
to involve other trades than the iron ; unions should unite and put forth their | an^ was n0f discussed before the London--A partial report of the
workers f B McNamara, the brother, best efforts to bring the 1912 Federa- Gpen meeting. The consensus of opin- strike ballot returns from the North-
was selected for the sacrifice. tion of Labor convention to Musko- ioI1 at the time was that the manufac- umberland miners already indicates a
Wifh intrimiP falsehood and an ut>, See- turers desired to operate open shops olid sentiment in favor of tendering
t.r disregard for alllorms of law ap- The Herald is on the job with both and it is the desire of this association | notice and asking the General Miners
piyinglndhfdual force c^anTving with I feet.-Muskogee Labor Herald. | to foster and promote this attitude." Federation to order a national strike.
foregoing, the laws heretofore enacted
NATIONAL STRIKE IMMINENT.
McNamara defense fund.
GOMPERS IN CALIFORNIA.
San Francisco—President Gompers
in accepting the invitation of the San
Francisco Labor Council to deliver v
number of speeches in California, ad-
vised the Labor Council lo prepare his
ii me iuigp'i h — itinerary. It has been decided thai
divisions A and It shall be adopted by |>r(.s|dent Gompers shall deliver an
the qualified electors of this state, then address In this eltv on Labor Day and
all of that which is contained in sub- then proceed to Los Angeles lo nd-
divislon II shall be and become a por- .irggg a meeting to lie called in his
tion of the constitution of the state of honor. Other speaking dates as yet
Oklahoma and shall be known and j have not been decided upon.
intoxicating liquors, shall remain in
full force and effect, but Immediately
thereafter shall stand repealed and be
of no efTect.
"If the foregoing contained in sub-
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.
Casler, Howard M. The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 8, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 29, 1911, newspaper, July 29, 1911; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc107007/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.