The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 12, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 26, 1911 Page: 1 of 8
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ALL DELEGATES WENT HOME FROM FEDERATION CONVENTION PLEASED WITH WORK ACCOMPLISHED
Endorsed by Sutc Federation of Labor
Centval Trade# and Labor Council
Endorsed by Building TriJea Council
and Allied Printing Tr. Jea Council
OR UNIT
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE FARMERS' UNION OF OKLAHOMA
V 4.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY. AlHJ 1ST 1911.
NO. 12
LABOR'S HOLIDAY TO BE
FITTINGLY CELEBRATED
In every age and every clime the peo-
ple nave erected monuments and obe-
lisks to its Illustrious dead or to com-
memorate (lie valorous deeds of its cit-
izenships. Within the ranks of labor
there are as honest and industrious
men as have graced the walks of any
age. They have asked 110 ecomiums
for fidelity to their fellow working-
men, nor have they asked any monu-
ments be erected to them for the aid
rendered in the industrial and moral
advancement of our country. They
are building a monument in the hearts
and minds of their fellowmen which
will last as long as time, and will be
handed down to posterity as the one
great ethical act of modern civiliza-
tion which makes brothers of us all.
It is but well and just that a day is
set apart once each year on which the
worklngmen and their friends can put
behind them the toil, worry and the
vexations of the moment and lend
themselves to the pleasures and the
joys this one day brings to them. It
is the laboring man's Fourth of .luly.
and truly he has a right to make mer
ry and be glad on this natal day ot the
emancipation of labor. The laboring
men have won as great a battle as
fought on any sanguinary field. Blood-
less it has been, but as peace hate her
victories of no less renown than war,
the wage-earner has a right to cele-
' laic n his eurrcess in the industrii.l
held. The war waged and partially
won by the men who labor has brought
110 tears to the widows' eyes; there are
no birds of carrion hanging low over
the field of battle, looking down in
the muck and mire where the vulture
seeks its prey—but rather does the
dove of peace wing its way toward the
siars, unimpeded by the smoke of bat-
tle or the smell of the dead. The la-
boring men have a right to celebrate
and make merry 011 this day that
means so much to them and to all the
friends of the men who labor with
their hands and brain.
From present indications the labor-
ing men of Oklahoma City will have
the grandest and greatest celebration
this year they have ever had. Fair
I'ark will be the scene of jollifications
never witnessed before. The imple-
ments of industry will be laid aside, the
pen along with the sword, the pick
with the typewriter, and all will enter
upon the events of the day with the
determination of getting the best there
is in it. A program has been devised
to furnish fun and amusement for all.
The music, the speaking, the races,
the athletic sports and contests, com-
bined with numerous other events, will
make the day a grand one for all who
attend. , „
The Retail Merchants Association
observes Labor Day, and the members
of that organization will close their
doors and give their employes an op-
portunity to celebrate with us. The
following call has been made by the
(leneral Labor Day Committee of the
Central Trades Council:
A SETTLEMENT TRIBUNAL
Sir Charles Macara, of London, Eng-
land, is promulgating a new scheme
for settling labor disputes by giving
publicity. The idea is to establish a
special department with an advisory
board consisting of men who hold the
most prominent positions in connection
with the great staple Industries of
the country, both on the side of labor
and capital—men who have to deal
with tlie dispates which occur from
time to time in these industries.
When a deadlock in negotiations is
reached, it is suggested that the case
be taken before a tribunal capable of
giving a judicial decision. Strangely
enough, and difficult to understand,
Sir Charles does not suggest that the
tribunal's decision must be accepted
by either party to the dispute. This
plan is laid in close proximity, at least
to compulsory arbitration. Labor men
are not enthusiastic over the plan.
Union Label Tobacco
| Labor Day Message to the Toilers
The concentration of capital and the
practical elimination of competition
have so altered the rules of the game
whereby we struggle and compete
with one another for existence that
the industrial conflict is far more de
Mtructive than actual warfare.
Against the spirit of greed and ava-
rice there is a genuine spirit of unrest
throughout the civilized world, H feel
ing that no longer is it to be under
expression of thanks to the labor press l'rHport>' ^hts are sacred
nnrt t„ th« rnnW n..H Hie of n..r Lreat <•> «■ ,lle PerW>n of ,lie l0ll,>rS 1,aS
(By John J. McNatuara.)
Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 18, 1911.—
in the past few days 1 have received
several communications from various
labor and progressive publications re-
questing that I contribute a few lines
that would be appropriate to Labor
day.
The first thought that presents it-
self Is that I owe sincere und hearty
no rights that cannot be invaded.
and to the rank and file of our great:
J,"™'' bJTC'suZoTothe0'sTm-1 1 "now of no better time to unfurl
pathizers who Spho^orgLued labor of man aga'nst mammon than
.1 its aims and amilrations ou Labor d">" " wo,ll<1 be a n,OHt fll
I know of To mom appropriate time' "/^celebration. VKrT'&h
to extend creatine to mv valiant started and sure of victory. Why not
friends and sympathizers than their !" ke °ur_^bof b_r?t,P_nf.
efforts in behalf of myself and my
brother are appreciated beyond
pression. Mere words fail to convey
our feelings and our friends will have
to catch in the thought the inward
feeling.
Labor day—the day set aside for the
toilers who produce all wealth and re-
tain none—this holiday is set aside for
the workers. The thought of the day
calls before our vision past celebra-
tions, parades, and renewed pledges
to work honestly and faithfully in the
interests of our common cause.
ings of protest against an industrial
and political system that compels mil-
lions to suffer and starve that a few
may swindle and squander.
RECALL FOR FEDERAL JUDGES
Right of Supreme Court to Question
the Constitutionality of Any
Congressional Law Denied
Washington, Aug. 19.—Senator Owen
of Oklahoma, made a speech in the
senate some days ago, which is enliv-
GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED
AT! FEDERATION MEETINC
A FAVORABLE INTERPRETATION
Fitch burg, Mass., Auk. 19.—Attorney
James M Swift has given his opinion
nn the 54-hour law just passed by the
Massachusetts legislature, and which
goes into effect the 1st of January next
year, lie avers that it is unlawful to
cause employes to work nearly eleven
hours the first five days of the week,
In order to give them the whole day
«>1T on Saturday. If such a schedule is
in effect anywhere when the law goes
into effect, the state police will put a
stop to it. The Attorney General pro-
poses, according to his opinion, to en-
force the statute to the letter.
WAGES OF FARM LABORERS
Higher wages wore paid to Ameri-
can farm laborers during 1910 than at
any time m the last forty-five years,
according to the latest government
statistics, which give $27.50 as the av-
erage monthly wage of farm laborers
CALL TO MERCHANTS
To the Merchants, Dusiness Men and
Friends of Organized Labor:
The laboring men of Oklahoma City
are making preparations for a grand
celebration on Labor Day, Monday,
Sept. 4, having secured Fair Park for
the place of holding such event. La-
bor Day is the working man's Fourth
of July, and it is on this one day he
and his family should properly cele-
brate, forgetting the cares, the wor-
ries and vexations that crowd upon
them during the rest of the year, and
lend themselves entirely to the pass-
ing pleasures that this day should
bring to them'.
We hereby call upon all our friends
to close their doors on this day, giving
their employes a chance to join with
us and help in our jollification. The
lietail Merchants' Association recog-
nize Labor Day and give those work-
ing for them this day to enjoy as they
may for rest and recreation and witli
our other friends closing their places
of business for this one day, we will
have a celebration unequalled ill the
history of Labor Day jollifications in
Oklahoma City. Delegations from
many outside towns will join with us
and Fair Park will see one of the larg-
est crowds assembled since the close
of the State Fair
The scientific wrestling match will
be a good exhibition of this manly art.
and ail lov.>*« of sport should not fall
lo be presenr
PROCLAMATION.
Mayor Whit M. (.rant issued a Labor
Day proclamation Saturday, asking
the people of Oklahoma City to refrain
from the usual business pursuits and
tlevole Monday, September 4, as
(Continued on Page ,3.)
The United States supreme court
recently handed down a decision in
the dissolution of the American To-
bacco Trust. How far the officers of
this gigantic corporation will carry
out the orders of this decision, re-
mains to be seen. If union men and
the general tobacco consuming public
had conisstently done their duty toward
humanity by refusing to purchase any
tobaccos, snuff, or cigarettes manu-
factured by this gigantic octopus
there would not have been any neces
sity of a decision of this character.
This corporation has been incorpo-
rated In New Jersey for four hundred
and seventy-five million of dollars, and
in the past year paid fifty per cent div-
idends on that enormous amount of
capital. Does, the tobacco consum-
ing public know under what condi-
tions those tobaccos are manufac-
tured? In the southern factories,
principally through the Carolinas,
Maryland and Virginia, they operate
some of the largest under their con-
trol. 01' those employed, about fifty
per cent are children working long
hours and for almost starvation
wages, including the men where the
maximum wage is about $fi.00 per
week Also during the* hot summer
months the windows are closed to
keep the tobacco from drying, not any
consideration for the poor unfortu-
nates who are compelled to be In
their employ.
This company will not under any
circumstances employ members of the
Tobacco Workers International Union
or members of any other organiation
is known to hold a union card. Who
is responsible for the conditions of
which I have quoted above? The
union man, or card man rather, who
will openly boast of his membership
as a union man and then purchast
non-union tobaccos, for every five-cent
package ot tobacco which does not
bear the label of the Tobacco Work
ers' International Union goes to in-
crease the profits of this gigantic cor
poration and the employment of more
children at starvation wageB.
Has the union man ever taken into
consideration that he himself is an
employer of labor through his pur-
chasing power? Believing that the
union mine, mill or factory is condu-
cive for the best interests of man
kind through organization and higher
wages and shorter hours for those,
employed, then why not try and help
their brother organizations by being
consistent and insisting on the label
on every article they purchase. Re-
member your obligation, "I shall never
knowingly wrong a member or see
one wronged if in my power to pre
vent it." Well, if you believe in your
obligation, remember that every ne-
csslty of life you purchase that does
not hear the union label, wrongs some
member of another organization. See
that your dealer handles union label- j
ed tobaccos; insist upon it and use |
no other, for you will then know that
you are not becoming a partner to
some institution that is deriving prof-
its through drudgery and degradation
of their unfortunate employes, and at
the risk of public help.
To organied labor and our friends,
we appeal to you if you want to help
the Tobacco Workers in their fight
against the gigantic monopoly, the To-
bacco Trust, look for the union label
on all tobaccos, snuff and cigarettes
you purchase, and remember the em
blem of labor is "Union Label Jus-
tice, Fraternity and Humanity."
Yours fraternally,
A. McANDREW.
At first blush it would appear that | ening and instructive and Indicates
one behind prison bars on the coming I that the present trend of opinion rela-
of labor's holiday, would be filled with tive to the judiciary. "The right of re-
bitterness, sorrow anil despair. There j call of judges is all the more import-
is no bitterness, no despair, because ant," asserted Senator Owen, "when we
they have not in the past neither in j recognize the fact that the big infer-
tile future will efforts to crush down ests of this country have taken infinite
labor be fruitful of any permanent le-ipMen to bring about the nominations
suits. land promotion as federal judges of
Sorrow there is, of course, but it is those whose opinions are known to be
because of the separation of relatives, favorable to their point of view . It
friends, and tried and true companions i lias always been a habit of kings and
the possession of which is greater than [ potentates to surround themselves
all else on earth. This sorrow is of i with pomp and ceremony to Impress
course temporary; fortified by a clear the mass of men with llieir sacred
conscience and secure in the belief j function. They have always claimed
that ultimately right and justice will! to receive their right to rule from God
Challeng the Church
prevail we need have no fear of the ar-
tificial terrors of our enemies.
A Labor day thought is that it should
be more than a mere celebration or a
backward glance at what has been
achieved or left undone. While we
profit by past errors we should also
look on Labor day as the starting point
for an improved civilization that will
eliminate industrial oppression and
wrongs.
The soldier of industry has long suf-
fered in silence. Since the American
revolution the loss of flesh and blood
and manhood upon the battlefields of
the nation and the attendant evils
sink into utter insignificance when
compared with similar sacrifices on the
industrial field.
In spite of the value to the nation
of the industrial soldiers their slaugh-
ter and oppression has continued year
after year; their honors are unsung;
no provision is made for their remain-
ing dependants.
himself and to rule by divine right.
The judge in ancient times wore n
huge horsehair wig, silken gown and
ermine. It impressed the people with
the enormous dignity of the individuals
so attired. It raised the presumption
of his infallibility; it excited the rev-
erence of men, and so those who have
found their shelter behind a judicial
oligarchy have impressed tremendous-
ly on the people of this country the
idea of judicial infallibility. We are
taught that we should reverence the
courts; that we should not question
their judgments, and when the su
preme court of the United States has
spoken, it should no more be ques-
tioned than we should question the
word of God. The supreme court has
sought, without constitutional war-
rant, to declare acts of congress un
constitutional. The constitution in
one of the delegated powers and it
does not delegate the right to declare
statutes unconstitutional."
BIG LABOR BAY
CELEBRATION
OKLAHOMA CITY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH
FAIR PARK
SPEAKERS
U. S. Senator Thos. P. Gore
State Senator Frank M. Colville
Mont R. Powell
All kinds of sporting events and amuse-
ments for all who attend.
(By the Rev. Charles Stelzle.)
"Religion today is vitally con-
cerned with the fundamental ques-
tions of social righteousness, indus-
trial equity, political and commercial
honesty and honor, and economic jus-
tice," said a magazine writer recently.
"(Jreat movements, essentially relig-
ious, for the establishment of these
things are sweeping over the land;
but the church, as an ecclesiastical
body, is out of touch with these move-
ments. She does not hitch the big
motives of her faith to big enough
jobs of service. Her charities are
munificent. Her institutional churches
often render a noble service; but the
criticism suggests itself that she deals
too exclusively with tho symptoms of
our social disease and unrest and does
not touch their cause. She is forever
mopping up the floor but does out try
to turn off tlie spigot. She sends out
her corps of Red Cross nurses to min-
ister to the wounded in our unequal
economic and industrial conflict, but
she does not address herself to the
cause of the strife. She pours oil and
wine into the wounds of the half dead
traveler on the Jerico Road but she
does not lend a hand to rid that road
of thieves and robbers; or, better
still, to reform the system which in-
evitably produces thieves and rob-
bers."
What a slam and how much truth
there is in it. Let us be perfectly frank
about it. How often the church has
missed the chance of doing a big job
in such a fashion as to challenge the
admiration of the whole world. The
church has not infrequently been
guilty of using a Corliss engine to run
mechanical toys. Hut let us be fair.
Most criticism against the church are
due to a misunderstanding of the func-
tions of t he church or to ignorance of
its real influence. The church is nat-
urally a conservative institution, as
has often been sneeringly said; but
I have noticed that the biggest and
best of the trades unions in this coun-
try are regarded as extremely "con-
cervative" by many impatient reform-
ers. 1 can recall when even the very
dignified Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers was charged with acts of
lawlessness which would have done
"credit" to the rawest trades union
affiliated with the American Federa-
tion of labor. As an organization in-
creases in influence and power, it al-
ways becomes more conservative. It
cannot readily swing its entire forces
into line quickly. Us great member-
ship cannot be easily swayed and its
time-honored methods of work cannot
be rapidly changed, for there are all
kinds of men to be considered. The
church, therefore, is not peculiar in
this respect and yet it is undoubtedly
true that while other organizations
are becoming more conservative, the
church is rapidly becoming more RAD-
ICAL, especially in its attitude toward
the labor problem. There probably
never was a time in the history of
the church when greater interest was
manifested in the labor question than
there is today.
ENFORCING THE LAW
Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 19.— The
State Factory Inspector asserts that
children under fourteen years of ;ige
will not be allowed to work in this
city. Nearly 200 have been stopped
from work within a short time. Inspec-
tions have not at yet been completed
and it is thought that before they are,
many more children now employed will
be set free.
More than 100 delegates represent-
ing nearly 200 local unions in the state
of Oklahoma attended the opening of
the 8th anual convention of the Okla-
homa State Federation of Labor in
Bartlesville last Monday. The session
began at 10 o'clock in the Oklah thea-
ter. Following a concert by the Bart-
lesville band, during which the dele-
gates were assembling, the convention
was called to order by (leo. McCouneil
chairman of the committee on ar-
rangements. Rev. F. B. Macy pastor
of the Christian church, pronounced
the invocation, after which Mayor C.
A. Lamm, in a brief speach, welcom-
ed the delegates to the city, assur-
ing them of the good feeling of the
officers and citizens.
State Senator A. F. Vandeventer
made an eloquent and instructive ad-
dress, in which he dealt with labor
problems in a practical manner and
in which he declared that the bene-
fits of organized labor were second
only to those of the public schools.
Said Senator Vandeventer; "The
right of labor to organize is not a
question of arbitration and 1 fully
agree with that great labor leader
I John Mitchell, who was not only right
I but splendidly right, when he said
that the injunction is but a,distorted
use of the judiciary."
Senator Vandeventer urged the use
of the ballot to correct abusos de-
claring it a mighty power for the shap-
ing of laws uud the protection of
labor interests. The speaker also
spoke of the necessity for an old age
pension act, declaring that the poor
house was a poor gratuity for aged
and disabled persons who had spent
the best years of their lives in toil
and the production of the wealth of
the country.
Senator Vandeventer also declare I
in favor of aji employer's liability act,
and urged that in the event Governor
Cruce should call a special session of
j the legislature that the question be
submitted at .that session. Senator
Vandeventer reviewed briefly the laws
that had been enacted in behalf of
| labor since the admission of Oklahoma
' into the union, pointing out that the
state had enacted mors laws of this
kind than any state in the union, or in
the history of the world. On behalf
of the citizens of the city Senator
Vandeventer again welcomed the dele-
gates and members of the Federation
to the city, assuring them of every
I courtesy while here. His address was
frequently interrupted with applause.
Chairman McConnell, on behalf of
I the local union and laboring men, in
; a brief speech also extended a wel
come, while on behalf of the delegates
and Federation members President
('. ('. Zeigler said that the kind words
that, had been spoken were heartily
appreciated. He also said that the
delegates would expect some atten-
tion and entertainment at the hands
of the local unions and citizens of
Hi.- city, i"i' as i"' doubted not that
such had been arranged for, had no
suggestions to offer along that line.
I'resident Zeigler asked that the dele
gates attending the convention con-
duct themselves in such a manner
during their visit that the evident
high regard in which the laboring
men were held would not have abated
when the visit was at an end.
| President Zeigler then took up the
appointment of the various commit
, tees as follows :
Committee of olficers reports: C.
; Tuilis, Trades Council, Shawnee; Alex
Morris, miners. Coalton; L. C. Wat
son, carpenters, shawnee; T. D.
Adams, carmen. Shawnee; J. L. Hul-
ett, carpenters, Tulsa; A. H. Thomas,
bookbinders, Oklahoma City; .1. A.
Denney, teamsters, Oklahoma City.
Resolutions committee: J. E. Phil
lips, lathers, Muskogee; J. F. Rogers.
Trades Council, Guthrie; John Thorp,
miners. Lehigh; Sam Stafford, paint
ers, Tulsa; Ceo. L. Taylor, typogra-
phical, Munkogee; H. F. Rugh, car-
penters, Lawton; Joe Johnson, miners,
Wilburton.
Committee on Grievances; W. M.
Woody carpenters. Nowata; 11. E.
Ward, plumbers, Oklahoma City; .1
M. Davis, carmen, McAlester; S. A.
I'reddy, carpenters, Muskogee; H. R.
Marshbanks, miners, Coalgate; O. S.
Wilson, typographical, Chandler; L.
M. Evans, Trades Council, Okmulgee
Label committee: 1*. J. Freeman,
carpenters, Oklahoma City; Jno. Mr-
Conville, miners, Wilburton; Ira Tuck
it, steam engineers, Oklahoma City:
W. ('. Armstrong, carpenters, Durant;
; Miss Julia Reed, garment workers
Oklahoma City.
Press committee: James E. Rees \
pressmen, Muskogee; Frank Brown.
| typographical, Shawnee; H. H. Bowl
'ding, carpenters, El Keno; Henn
Waldecker, miners, Lehigh; Paul Ru-
! dolph, barbers, Oklahoma City.
Laws committee: Charles Pound,
(Continued on Page ?"
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Casler, Howard M. The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 12, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 26, 1911, newspaper, August 26, 1911; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc107015/m1/1/: accessed March 28, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.