The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 22, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 4, 1911 Page: 1 of 8
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FOUR CITY COMMISSIONERS CAME OUT EMPHATICALLY AGAINST ORGANIZED LABOR LAST MONDAY
•nd Allied Pnntin® Tr. 1m Ciuwil
or m t
DE
VOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE FARMERS' UNION OF OKLAHOMA
V 4
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 11)11.
NO. 22
HAIRY HATS
CASE TRY OVERRIDE COURTS
Los Angeles, Cal., Nov. 3.—That the t had no prejudice against capital pun-
prosecution in the McNamara case is
driven to extremities is shown by the
tact that they are exerting every effort
to over ride the state courts and get
the affairs of Jolm J. McNamara into
the hands of federal officials. Ever
since the decision of the higher courts
of Indiana that the McNamara "ex-
hibts" and "evidence" should not be
permitted to leave the state, Prose-
cuting Attorney John B. Fredericks of
Los Angeles, has been casting about
for some way to get possession of the
"Burns' material" that is in Indian-
apolis.
It is believed Burns has come to the
rescue with the brilliant idea that the
United States courts is the proper
place to make his appeal to get the
evidence' into the possession of the
Los Angeles authorities.
This is looked on by the defense as
a confession of weakness of the pros-
ecution's case. Nearly every day new
"identifiers'' are brought into the court
room to get a look at J. B. McNamara.
In every instance Jim looks over his
Identifiers and tells Darrow, Harrlman
or the other attorneys whether he has
ishment. He said he was willing to
lay aBlde his opinion and try the case
thoroughly upon its merits and on law
and evidence.
To the deep disappointment of the
defense Judge Bordwell ruled that in-
asmuch as Coward had asked several
former miners regarding the action
of dynamite and discovered from their
replies that there were no develop-
ments in connection with the Times
disaster such as always follow the de-
tonation of dynamite or high explo-
sives he had made "an independent
investigation" and so was ineligible.
This decision hurt the prosecution
deeply as there had been, up to that
time, some hope or getting men who
admitted their belief in the gas the-
ory.
When Coward took the stand the
first question the district attorney
could scarcely await the man. in-
stantly he shouted:
"You are a socialist," and as the
drowsy court awoke he continued in
a high tone. "You don't deny you
are a socialist?"
Coward quietly said he was a so-
fcome.
of HOUK-
MA*
n
sw
EXECUTIVE BOARD SUSPENDS
J.LUTHER LANGSTON
ZE1GLER FLAYS UNION
ever seen the man/before. This week cialist; that he read socialist books
an attempt was made to get an "iden-iand literature; that he read the Ap-
tificatlon" from a San Francisco . peal to Reason and Los Angeles 1 lines.
launch owner who was supposed to
have transported high explosives for
James Brice. The attempt failed ut-
terly and the prosecution was much
chagrined.
The lack of progress made in secur-
ing a jury and the palpable prejudiced
of most of the venire men has made ah
impression upon the public mind that
has brought sympathy to the defense.
The (fuestions that are asked pros-
pective jurors indicate both the line
of prosecution and probably of the de-
fense.
The defense has every reason to be-
lieve that it can show that the Los
Angeles Times was not destroyed by
dynamite. If this is successful the
state's case will fall to the ground
as the district attorney is building his
entire fabric upon the theory that
dynamite was planted in the building
with malicious intent.
The fact that the families of eight
of the victims have sued the Times
company for large sums in damages
has made a deep impression upon the
public. In the suits it is alleged that
[he building was destroyed by lire and
that its occupants were caught in a
terrible death-trap, where no adequate
means of escape were at hand. It will
be shown, the attorneys say. that only
two persons who were in the ancient
"rookery at the time the fire broke out
escaped by natural exits and that
these were clerks who were on the
ground floor in the business depart-
ment. That any others escaped is
looked upon as a miracle. Attorneys
declare that both the civil suits and
the criminal action will establish the
fact that the Times was destroyed by
tire, which follqwed an accidental ex-
plosion brought about by the criminal
carelessness of the owners of the
building.
It is the strength of this claim and
the weakness of the prosecutors' case
has driven the district attorney to try
to get outside evidence with which
he hopes to establish a charge that
the McNamaras were guilty of dyna-
mite atrocity.
At the end of the third week an en-
tire venire of jurymen having been ex-
hausted and another one called with-
out having secured a single juryman
the prospects of an early beginning of
the actual work of the trial seemed
remote.
The greatest delay has been called
by the quibbling of the porsecutors
and the apparent determination that
any man with a fair and open mind,
who would be likely to give the de-
fendant any benefit of a doubt, shall
not be permited to serve on the jury.
Of the men now in the box it is cer-
tain that Bain, McKee, and Green will
be challenged—Bain by the prosecu-
tion, McKee by the defense and Green
probably by the state's attorney. This
will take three pre-emptory challenges
and still leaves twenty-seven. At tills
rate it will take, at the most conser-
vative estimate, one hundred days to
secure a jury. Manning, it is almost
certain, will break down in health and
be excused for that reason.
There has been much comment over
the action of Judge Bordwell in allow
ing a challenge for cause against Wal
ter Coward, who believed the Times
was destroyed by a gas explosion. h1b
case so closely paralleled that of Geo.
W. McKee, who was acepted after ex
pressing his bel(ef that the eontirb
uting cause was dynamite. The de-
fense believed that Coward would b<<
passed and that it would cost the
prosecution a pre-emptory challenge
to get rid of the mar.. Coward said
that he was a Socialist and that he
To questions he said he did not be-
lieve much he read in the Times—In
fact, doubted about all of it but wanted
to keep posted on wnat was being Bald.
He said he had subscribed for some
socialist papers and paid five years in
advance. He reads the California So-
cial-Democrat.
The fact the man was :• mcWut
caused the newspaper men to jump to
the instant conclusion lie would not
be allowed to serve. They were cor-
rect though many believed the district
attorney would try to preserve a sem-
blance of fairness and that there would
be no undue haste in dismissing the
man.
Judge Bordwell continues his inter-
ference with the arrangements of the
newspaper men. He has demanded
that one local newspaper remove one
of its reporters from the court room.
He succeeded in getting the reporter
taken away and his discharge is ex-
pected. The trouble was purely per-
sonal and Bordwell is believed to have
taken a dislike fty the man because
he had spoken a kind word for the
National Socialist Press correspondent
at the time the seats were allotted In
the court room.
This action on the part of the judge
has not tended to endear himself to
the newspaper men who have, in the
main, a dislike for him.
Cfl He Asks Carpenters Local Union
to Investigate the Matter Thoroughly
Before Taking Any Action Whatever.
SAYS EVERY PRIVILEGE OFFERED
J. Luther Langston, secretary-treas-
urer of the Oklahoma State Federation
of Labor, has been suspended for mal-
feasance in ottice by a unanimous
vote of the executive board hearing
the charges preferred against him. The
executive board is composed of Fred
Brice, Alex Mount, Samuel Atkins, W.
T. Maxwell and G. W. Lindsey. Pres
ident C. C. Zeigler and Secretary
Langston, ex-olticio members of the
board, did not participate.
Langston, according to the terms
of the constitution of the Federation,
has ten days to apopal from the find
ings of the board. 'I he apepal is made
d.rect to the locals a (filiated with the
State Federation of Labor. Up to this
time he has filed no appeal.
W. T. Maxwell, member of the Car-
penters' Union at Shawnee, has been
appointed temporary secretary-treas-
urer. In caBe Langston does not ap-
peal, or is finally ousted, the Oklahoma
City Typographical Union, of which
local Langston is a member, will elect
his successor.
Following is a true and correct state-
ment of the findings of the executive
board, and which has been mailed
to all affiliated local unions in the
state:
OKLAHOMA STATE FEDERATION
OF LABOR.
Oklahoma City, Oct. 28, 1911.
To the Members and Officers, Okla-| state Federation of Labor, and did
homa State Federation of Labor,, llMlrp the authority of the President
and to the Officers and Members [of ,|lP Oklahoma State Federation of
of Local Unions Affiliated With the ^nj,or when he signed the President's
Oklahoma 'State Federation of nam (0 a voucher payable to Ed. Cook
for $21.00 on October 2nd, 1911, and
BIG GATHERING
IN ATLANTA, CJ.
A. F. OF L., UNION LABEL, METAL
TRADES AND BUILDING
TRADES DEPTS. TO MEET
and expenses, after it had been prop-
erly made out and tiled on his desk.
Third: That he did neglect and fail
to perform his duty by neglecting to
pay to George McConnell and Jesse 1..
Day tnouey due them for services as
Legislative Committeemen after the
vouchers had been signed by the Pres-
ident, when there was money on hand
to pay such vouchers.
Fourth: That ho did neglect and
fail to perform his duty by neglecting
and falling to furnish to the President
and members of the Executive Board
of the Oklahoma State Federation of
Labor, a monthly report of the receipts
and disbursements of the funds of the
Oklahoma State Federation of Labor
for the latter part of August and the
month of September, 1911.
Fifth: That he is and has been
guilty of gross neglect of duty on
numerous days and dates by failing to
be at his office to transact business of
the Federation, when it was right to
bo exacted of him to be there, and
that 4 has neglected and failed to
keep proper records of the standing of
the alilliated locals of the Federation
In such manner and place to be acces-
sible to the President and other of-
ficers of the Federation, and has failed
to properly nle reports and communi-
cations received by him.
That he did exceed his authority as
Secretary-Treasurer of the Oklahoma
Labor, Greeting:
We, i he Executive Board of the Ok-
lahoma State Federation of Labor,
having met in Oklahoma City, pursu-
ant to call of Fred F. Price, First Vice
one to himself for $30 00 on October
7th. 1911.
That he did exceed his authority
Secretary-Treasurer of the Okla-
failed to perform his duty by neglect-
ing to deposit all the funds of the
Federation to Its credit in the bank,
designated as the depository for such
funds, during the time intervening be-
tween August 17th and October 14th,
1911.
Second: That he did neglect and
fail to perform his duty by not being
at his office during tlie proper office
hours on Monday anil Tuesday, Octo-
ber 16th and 17th, 1911, to receive and
Washington—The annual conven-
tions of the American Federation of
Labor and its auxiliary department
will be held this year in the south,
Atlanta, Ga„ having been selected. Ef-
forts have been put forth by the offi-
cers of the A. F. of L. to secure re-
duced transportation rates for the dele-
gates, but success has been attained
only with the Southeastern Passenger
association, whose jurisdiction in-
cludes all points In territory south of
the Ohio and Potomac and east of the
Mississippi rivers, and from Washing-
ton, D. C„ Cincinnati, O., Evansville,
Ind., and Cairo, 111., in which territory
round trip tickets will be sold
duction which amounts to about
and a fifth of the regular one
and the Trunk Line association,
territory is from Buffalo, Niagara
Falls, Suspension Bridge, Dunkirk and
Salamanca, N. Y., Erie and Pittsburg,
Pa., Bellaire, O., Wheeling, Parkers-
burg and Kenova, W. Va„ and points
C. C. Zeiglar, president of til# State ionlsm is not what 1 have believed it
Federation, in answer to a resolution |to be a" tlliB time-
by Oklahoma City Carpenters No. 4(18, |, "Hive your members taken the pains
uj ' t0 rea(j the report of the executive
equesting his resignat ion and chaig- j j)oar(j whtch contains the report of
ing him with unfairness iu preferring J the auditors, plainly showing a deficit
charges against former Secretary, of over $500? Do yoh expect your
. .. , llT i«n I officer to stand idly by and allow the
Langston, has addiesed o , funds of the organization to be squund-
the following communication: ered (funds you yourselves have help-
"There is no doubt that It is the>od to pay)? If you do then I have not
right of any organization to criticize the proper conception or what is ex
or condemn one of its officers, as sug-1 pected of a man in my position.
gested in the resolution passed by your, "You charge star chamber proceed-
organizatlou, but when such officer is ings in this trial. How do any of your
condemned and criticized without any members know how this trial was con-
effort whatever being made towards ducted? Were any of your members | " c_S5©ieler President of
ascertaining the truth, it is a horse of present? Have you ever called at the "' .• 'f two weeks' salary
another color. The resolutions are a headquarters to ascertain if any of the lne
tissue of lies from top to bottom and things you charge were facts? What I
were either slipped over by some per- j do you call your action but star cham
son or persons who had an ulterior ber proceedings in condemning a man
motive in view, or by some one who when you have not even taken the
was entirely ignorant of the facts In pains to ascertain the facts?
the case, and was listening to the j "you charge the executive board
false representations of some one who w{t h having rushed him to trial wlth-
expected to gain by the deception. j out notice and of having countenanced
"The executive board proceeded j the breaking open of his desk and tak-
strictly according to the law of the Ing his books and records, when the
federation in this case, although handl- facts are that he w as given time rrom
capped upon Beveral occasions during day to day to get ready, even allow
the days of the session, by the removal I ed to get his own bookkeeper to pest
of the books and records (which were his books and get them ready for the
removed by Langston himself) by a i auditors, and the facts are that in
court injunction, and other schemes | stead of the hoard breaking Into his
launched to cover up the real facts in desk it was Langston and a bunch of
the case. A complete record of each his friends who broke in and carried
and every act has been kept by the | off the books of the federation while
board, and while all unions have been , the members of the board were und< r
notified, the board is in a position tola restraining order from the court,
President of the Oklahoma State Fed- ]|„nla state Federation of I.abor and
oration of Labor, for the purpose of „surpcd the authority of the Executive
considering charges preferred against Hoard of the Oklahoma State Federa-
Brother J. Luther Langston, Secretary j t|0n 0f i,abor when he contracted with
Treasurer of the Oklahoma State Fed- Bomo unknown party to issue a Year
elation of Labor, by C. C. Zeigler,j Rook HK the official Year Book of the
President. Charges follow: | Oklahoma State Federation of Labor,
First: That he did neglect and w|thout the knowledge or sanction of
GREAT VICTORY
IS
AFTER A TWO YEARS' CONTEST
MARKS & HAAS HAVE SQUAR
ED UP FACTORY
the Executive Hoard of the Federation.
Charge No. 1.—We sustain Charge
No. 1 on the report of the Auditors and
Tellers—report as follows:
"Oklahoma City, Oct. 14, 1911.
To the Executive Hoard of the Okla-
homa State Federation of Labor, in
Executive Session AsHeinbled in Ok-
lahoma City, Greeting:
We, your Auditing Committee, beg
leave to report that we have thorough-
ly audited the books and accounts of
Secretary-Treasurer J. Luther Lang-
ston, of the Oklahoma State Federa-
tion of Labor, and have chec ked every
item of receipt and expenditure since
the 12th day of August, and found the
receipts from all sources since August
12th, 1911, to be $1,007.42, and expendi-
tures to be $1,494.88.
Summary:
Balance on hand Aug. 12, 1911.$1,02«.90
Received since Aug. 12, 1911,
to date 1,007.42
Total
Expenditure since
Aug. 12, 1911, to
date $1,494.88
Balance 535.44
3.15
12.05
$2,030.32
St. Louis—A settlement has been i We further find the following letters
reached with the linn of Marx & Haas, an(j statements from local unions as
luc UUOIU _ clothing manufacturers, and the local | follows:
show any organization that desires the | which was dismissed upon his own | unions of Garment Workers. Some two j From Dow, Okla. (no number)..$20.00
testimony. years ago a disagreement occurred be- From Savannah, U. M. W. A. No.
"You charge that he was refused an tween the firm mentioned and the, 1303 • •• •
open trial and was tried beh'nd lock United Garment Workers and a lock- prom Muskogee Painters Local
ed doors, which is an absolute false out and strike resulted. 1 he company I No. 8f>t • • • • • • • •
hood, as he was told that he could I announced its intention of conducting From Phillips U. M. W. A., Local
call as many of his friends as he de I a non-union establishment in the fu- j 1811
sired to hear the testimony, the board ture. This firm had built up a large ,
only refused to leave the headquarters business through the use of the label Total
of the federation to conduct the trial.' | of the United Garment Workers. The for which we found 110 receipt stubs
Garment Workers have been contest- j covering same.
, ing the position taken by the company
; is a well known fact from experience and as a result an agreement has been
i of the past that since the coming of j reached whereby the Marx & Haas
"The statement made by members of the Independent union shops the cost j Company are to re-employ their former
the Master Aumbers Association be-1 of plumbing has materially decreased. | employes and are to again use the
(ore the City Commissioners that the I "One Instance under the master | iabe| after the expiration
truth in the completest details.
"My position has been at all times
for the best interest of the union men
of the state and I have no apology to
make to any union man or any union,
for my action in this matter, and if I
am to be stigmatized for performing
my duty to the organization in pro-
tecting the funds and credit, then un-
STATEMENTS UNTRUE
11.00
, $40.20
territory fnre thp Citv Commissioner that the I "One Instance under the master labe, artCr the expiration of six
ILLINOIS UNJONS ACTIVE.
of the master plumbers as trying
] to pose as public benefactors."
GARMENT WORKERS GAINING
Plumbers Union
"It has been investigated, and from
a canvas made of both union and non
union shops lias brought out the fact j
__ that since the commission form of
east thereof, except New England. The I government has been adopted the In
Union Label Department convention ; spection on plumbing and gas fitting
opens 011 Thursday, Nov. H; the Metal | has been more rigidly enforced than in
Trades Department, on Friday, Nov.; the past.
10 On Monday Nov. 13, the conven-j "There is no doubt that tins has of
tion of the American Federation of | fended a certain class of incompetents
Labor convenes, the sessions usually engaged In the plumbing and gas fit
continuing for two weeks. The Build-! ting business.
ing Trades Department convention Willi "The statement also made that the Kverybody is working «lio applies and
convene on Monday, Nov. 27, and con- cost of plumbing would decrease if the prospects for a good winter s
tinue until the transaction of its busi-1 nonunion labor was employed, mils' n are bright
ness Is completed. he taken for somewhat of a joke, as it l being added every week.
The Carmen
! i heir last n>(
I night, October
members. TI
Workers Union at
eting, held Saturday
28, obligated 23 new
. union Is in a very
flourishing condition and much enthu-
sm is shown in the organization.
New members aro
At the recent convention of the llli
nols State Federation of Labor, held
In Springfield, much good work was McConnell
accomplished. The next convention charges to
will be held In Danville, the home of j austalned.
Joe Cannon, and it convenes just prior Charge N
to the election next year.
The convention pledged their sup-
port to the Illinois Central strikers.
Appropriations were made to the de-
fense of the McNamaras. in the sum
of $500, also one to the button workers
of Muscatine, la., of $300.
Edwin It. Wright, of Chicago, was
re-elected president of the Illinois
State Federation of Labor
Fraternally submitted,
D. M. FERGUSON,
Chairman.
A. W. BENNKTT,
ALEX 1IAYOR1S.''
(A statement from the bank on tills
one|,iato shows only $33.72, a deficit of
$501.72.) , , ,
Charge No. 2.—After careful inves-
tigation and hearing testimony of two
witnesses we sustain the charges.
Charge No. 3— Letters in evidence
submitted to Hoard from said t«
nd Jesse
be corre
L. Day
•t. nnd
liowed
charges
4,—That he, J. Luther
Langston, did rail to send a monthly
report as required by Article 5. Section
3 of the Constitution and Ily-Laws to
members of the Executive
therefore Charge No. 4 Ib sust
Charge No. -f>.—Inasmuch
signed the President's name
(Contnued on I'a;
Board,
s he
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Casler, Howard M. The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 22, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 4, 1911, newspaper, November 4, 1911; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc107034/m1/1/: accessed March 28, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.