The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 30, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 30, 1911 Page: 1 of 8
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LET'S ALL MAKE A GOOD RESOLUTION AND START THE NEW YEAR WITH A CLEAN SHEET
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DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE FARMERS' UNION OF OKLAHOMA
VOL. 4.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1911.
No. 30
T
8-HOUR BILL
PASSES HOUSE
REPRESENTATIVES UNANIMOUS
LY PASSED LABOR'S SHORTER
WORK DAY MEASURE
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—On Dec. 14 Chairman
Wilson (coal miner) of the Labor Com-
mittee called up on the floor of the
House H. R. 9061, the Hughes 8 hour
bill. After a short discussion and the
adding of a few minor amendments the
bill passed unanimously. The bill, as
passed, is as follows:
' 'Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Unit-
ed States of America in Congress as-
sembled, That every contract hereafter
made to which the United States, any
Territory, or the District of Columbia
is a party, and every hucIi contract
made for or on behalf of the United
States, or any Territory, or said Dis-
trict, which may require or involve the
employment of laborers or mechanics
shall contain a provision that no la-
borer or mechanic doing any part of
the work contemplated by the contract
in the employ of the contractor or any
sub-contractor contracting for any part
of said work contemplated, shall be re-
quired or permitted to work more than
eight hours in any one calendar day
upon such work; and every such con-
tract shall stipulate a penalty for each
violation of such provision in such con-
tract of five dollars for each laborer
or mechanic for every calendar day in
which he shall be required or permit-
ted to labor more than eight hours up-
on said work; and any officer or per-
son designated as inspector of the
work to be performed under any such
contract, or to aid in enforcing the ful-
fillment thereof, shall, upon observation
or investigation, forthwith report to
the proper officer of the United States,
or of any Territory, or of the District
of Columbia, all violations of the pro-
visions of this Act directed to be made
in every such contract, together with
the name of each laborer or mechanic
who has been required or permitted to
labor in violation of such stipulation
and the day of such violation, and the
amount of the penalties imposed ac-
cording to the stipulation in any such
contract shall be directed to be with-
held for the use and benefit of the
United States, the District of Colum-
bia, or the Territory contracting by
the officer or person whose duty it shall
be to approve the payment of the mon
evs due under such contract, whether
the violation of the provisions of such
contract is by the contractor or any
sub-contractor. Any contractor or sub-
contractor aggrieved by the withhold-
ing of any penalty as hereinbefore pro-
vided shall have the right within six
months thereafter to appeal to the head
of the department making the contract
on behalf of the United States or the
Territory and in the case of a contract
made by the District of Columbia to
the Commissioners thereof, who shall
have power to review the action im-
posing the penalty, and in all such ap-
peals from such final order whereby a
contractor or subcontractor may within
six months thereafter file a claim in the
court of claims, which shall have juris-
diction to hear and decide the matter in
like manner as in other cases before
said court."
"Sec. 2. That nothing in this Act
shall apply to contracts for transpor-
tation by land or water, or for the
transmission of intelligence, or for such
materials or articles as may usually be
bought in open market, except armor
and armor plate, whether made to con-
form to particular specifications or not,
or for the purchase of supplies by the
government, whether manufactured to
conform to particular specifications or
not: Provided, that all classes of work
which have been, are now, or may here-
after be performed by the government
shall, when done by contract for or on
behalf of the United States, any terri-
tory, or said District, by individuals,
firms, or corporations, be performed in
accordance with the terms and provis-
ions of this Act. The president, by ex-
ecutive order, may waive the provisions
and stipulations in this Act as to any
specific contract or contracts during
time of war or a time when war is
imminent. No penalties shall be im-
posed for any violation of such provis-
ion in such contract due to any emer-
gency caused bv fire, famine, or flood,
by danger to life or to property, or by
other extraordinary event or condition
on account of which the president shall
subsequently declare the violation to
have been justifiable. Nothing in this
Act shall be construed to repeal or mod-
ify the Act entitled, "An Act Relat-
ing to the Limitation of the Hours of
Daily Service of Laborers and Mechan-
ics Employed on the Public Works of
the United States and of the District of
Columbia, Being Chapter Three Hun-
dred and Fifty-two of the Laws of the
Fifty-second Congress, Approved Aug-
ust First, 1892, or to Apply to Work
Done Under Contracts Made Prior to
the Passage of This Act."
"I OBJECT!"
(By the Rev. Charles Stelzle)
Whenever a resolution is introduced,
he is sure to offer an objection. Some
times he kicks on the subject matter
itself. Then he protests against the
form in which the resolution has been
presented. Frequently he finds fault
with a word in the construction of a
sentence, and often he will offer an
amendment which puts the original
resolution out of business. He is primed
for every parliamentary dispute. He
seems to be familiar with every com-
munication that is read at the meet-
ing of the local. He knows the lead-
ers and their foibles. He is on the job
all the time, with both feet, both fists,
and with a tongue that is sharper than
a two-edged sword. He takes himself
seriously. Never does he crack a smile.
He has a mission, and everybody soon
comes to know it. Often have we wish-
ed him in Timbuctoo, where he could
spout to his heart's content on all the
"isms" that so glibly glide off the
end of his tongue.
But honestly, we'd miss him if he
should go. Miss him not because we
love him, perhaps, but because he is
one of the necessary factors in our de-
velopment. As matter of fact, without
him, we'd soon drift into a rut, because
most of us are too lazy to think of
an objection, to say nothing of an orig-
inal proposition. There's at least one
thing that we must say to his credit—
he always attends the meetings. Fur-
thermore, he must spend considerable
time in reading and in study to know
as much as he does about current
events and the theories which men are
discussing. He actually thinks. He
may not always be right, but he cer-
tainly is awake—and that's another
point to his credit. Also, he. keeps the
rest of us awake. And that isn't bad.
But he is more often right than not.
We object to him because he is like a
bee buzzing about our heads, but even
the bee is a useful creation.
Sometimes it's hard to be patient
with the kicker. But there are others
who are worse than he is—for instance,
the fellow who never shows up at the
meeting and then does his kicking out-
side where it does a whole lot more
harm. He's the chap that should be
jumped on, and not the man who is
sincerely, usually intelligently, though
not always wisely, registering an ob-
jection in the open meeting to pro-
posed actions which would often spell
disaster.
SHOWING MADE
IS MAGNIFICENT
STONE CUTTERS MAKING PRO
GRESS THAT IS GLOWING TRIB
UTE TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
Oklahoma State Federation of Labor
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—The .Journeymen Stone-
cutters association, during the past yeai
has made most remarkable progress
General Secretary-Treasurer James F.
McHugh, in speaking of the wonderful
advance made, has this to say of the
general membership: "They* brought
it about without the slightest friction
between themselves and their employ-
ers. Intelligent committees were ap-
pointed who discussed the proposition
with the bosses, man fashion, and gave
and took as the case deserved. They
did not demand the keys to the safe or
turning over the employer's business to
them, but went about it just like good,
square union men, making their wants
known, showing why they deserved
what they asked for. Their arguments
were sensible and just." There were 66
branches receiving an increase during
the past year, ranging from ten cents to
$1.00 per day. The total increase ag-
gregates in additional wages paid to
the men approximately $250,000 a year.
In addition to this there have been add-
ed to the association 24 new branches.
In nearly all of which an increase in
wages was secured as the result of or-
ganization. In nine cities the Satur-
day half holiday has been secured. In
fifteen cities where there have been
men outside of the union, as a result of
the activity of the general union and
the local unions, all men employed in
the trade have been induced to make
common cause with the union men, thus
making them solidly organized. The
dual organization which has been con-
testing the supremacy of the Journey-
men Stonecutters association is in a
sorry plight with a rapidly dwindling
number of adherents. The general ex
ecutive officers and the membership of
this organization as to be congratulat-
ed upon the splendid ability and spirit
which is made manifest by this great
advance during the past year.
The report of the auditing committee
of the State Federation of Labor, to
gether with a tabulated vote of the un
ions through the state on the recent
referendum vote as to whether the ex-
ecutive board should or should not be
sustained in removing J. Luther Lang
ston from office, is here given in full.
Over the signatures of the president
and acting secretary-treasurer is the
statement that the matter is settled as
to the removal of Mr. Langston. This
is in accordance with the law of the
State Federation of Labor as defined in
section 3, article 6, of the federation
law.
Following is the report and vote by
unions:
Oklahoma City, Okla., Dec. 19, 1911.
Report of the auditors and tellers in
the canvass of the vote on the proposi-
tion, "Shall the action of the Execu-
tive Board of the Oklahoma State Fed-
eration of Labor be sustained," where-
in J. Luther Langston was found guilty
of charges preferred against him and
suspended from office:
We, the auditors and tellers of the
Oklahoma State Federation of Labor,
have this day, December 18th, 1911,
carefully canvassed the vote on refer-
endum proposition, "Shall the decision
of the Executive Board of the Okla-
homa State Federation of Labor be sus-
tained," wherein J. Luther Langston
was found guilty of charges preferred
against him and suspended from office,
and we find the following results: Yes,
1,777 votes; No, 828 votes; showing a
majority for sustaining the action of
the executvie board of 949 votes.
The following instructions were giv-
en to the auditors and tellers who have
been governed by the same in the can-
vass of the ballots:
"To the Auditors and Tellers of the
Oklahoma State Federation of Labor,
Greeting:
"You are hereby directed by the ex-
ecutive board of the Oklahoma State
Federation of Labor, that in canvass-
ing the votes on the proposition, 'Shall
the decision of the Executive Board of
the Oklahoma State Federation of La-
bor be sustained,' wherein J. Luther
Langston was found guilty of charges
preferred against him and suspended
from office, that you will count only
the ballots of such unions that have
paid per capita tax to the Oklahoma
State Federation of Labor for all
months up to and including the month
of October, 1911, as shown by the rec-
ords of Acting Secretary-Treasurer Max-
well.
"Signed by Executive Board."
The following locals being in arrears
for the month of October as shown
by the records of Acting Secretary-
Treasurer Maxwell, their ballots were
not counted: Miners—2608, McAlester;
2084, Hughes; 1170, Chant; Barbers—
200, Oklahoma City; Railway Clerks—
10, Oklahoma City; Laundry Workers
—9.3, Oklahoma City; Musicians—152,
Chickasha; Plumbers—291, Oklahoma
City.
The vote of the following locals were
not counted on account of the ballots
not accompanying the return sheets:
Miners—2660, Bokoshe; Carpenters—
1415, Ada.
The vote by locals was as follows:
Miners
Yes
No
197
Henryetta
50
2882
Henryetta
I 10
7
1778
Pocahontas
9
2097
Hartshorne
14
2
1780
Krebs
11
1
1816
Alderson
61
1191
Coalgate
255
37
2590
Haileyville
51
10
L' 165
Carbon
41
1
2327
Krebs
45
1856
Pittsburg
45
12
1811s
Phillips ...
163
r,
1176
29
10
1864
8
47
1127
27
118
1819
Lehigh
171
3
Carpenters
Yes
No
1164
Oklahoma City —
15
986
McAlester
18
1659
Bartlesville
26
13
1178
Pawhuska .
9
1399
943
Tulsa
28
1
1052
Mi ama
12
1886
Guthrie
1
9
76.5
Enid
19
1
653
Chickasha
18
Yes
No
102>
24
4
1072
40
3
468
Oklahoma City —
70
1585
3
292
Shawnee ...
16
7
1431
El Reno
18
Typographical
Yes
No
283
Oklahoma City ...
66
63
633
Lawton
..... 8
571
Chickasha
6
2
499
Okmulgee
7
049
Ardmore
11
484
6
Painters
Yes
No
856
Muskogee
5
11
935
Tulsa
16
1
443
Okmulgee
9
1005
Chickasha
6
807
Oklahoma City
46
Barbers
Yes
No
403
10
410
Enid
18
383
Hobart
7
458
Chickasha
" 1
11
Teamsters
Yes
No
341
Oklahoma City
33
19
581
Ardmore
22
Garment Workers
Yes
No
222
62
10
83
61
Carmen
Yes
No
122
McAlester
15
288
Enid
9
29
Shawnee
173
Steam Engineers
393 Oklahoma City
Machinists
Yes
.. 1
Yes
155 Shawnee 12
Bricklayers Yes No
4 Guthrie 1 5
23 Clinton 8
Lathers Yes No
178 Muskogee 6
Musicians Yes No
422 Muskogee 20
Leatherworkers Yes No
67 Oklahoma City 25
Bookbinders Yes No
185 Oklahoma City 24
Pressmen Yes No
190 Ardmore 5
Federal Labor Union Yes No
12982 Oklahoma City 2 52
Fraternally submitted,
D*. N. FERGUSON,
Chairman.
A. W. BENNETT,
Auditors and Tellers.
This settles this matter, and Mr.
Langston stands permanently suspend-
ed from the office of secretary-treas-
urer of the federation, as the law on
this point is specific (see section 3,
article 6).
The Typographical Union of Okla-
homa City has been asked to select a
man to fill out the unexpired term, as
provided by section 3, article 2, ami as
soon as they do so and he has given
bond as required by th'e law of the
federation, the affairs of the office will
be turned over to him.
Yours for the upbuilding of the Fed-
ration,
C. C. ZEIGLER,
President.
W. T. MAXWELL.
Acting Sec.-Treas.
BRANDEIS ON TRUSTS
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—Louis D. Brnndeis, the
well known Boston lawyer, in testify-
ing before the senate committee on in-
terstate commerce, in dealing with the
trust question, gave expression to the
following: "The successful trusts have
created conditions absolutely inconsist-
ent with America's industrial and so-
cial needs. In our just indignation
over the crimes disclosed at Los An-
geles, should not statesmen seek the
cause of this widespread, deliberate out-
burst of violence! Was it not because
they, and men like them, believed that
the wage-earner, acting singly or col-
lectively, is not strong enough to se
cure substantial justice! Is there not
a casual connection between the devel-
opment of these huge and indomitable
rtusts and the horrible crimes now un-
der investigation! Are not these ir-
resistible trusts important contributing
factors of social unrest! Is it not
irony to speak of equality of opportun-
ity in a country cursed with their big-
ness!' '
BULLETIN TOPIC
OF DISCUSSION
MOTION TO NON CONCUR IN RE-
PORT OF COMMITTEE LOSES
BY THREE VOTES
PRISONS BREEDERS OF DISEASE
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—It has long been con-
tended that our prisons are fertile
breeders of tuberculosis. The inmates
infected during confinement spread the
germs when released, and even more im-
portant, the goods made in prisons are
infected with the bacilli of the disease
and act as carriers of the dread malady.
This fact is confirmed by Dr. J. A.
Hayne, secretary of the state board of
health of South Carolina, who in speak-
ing of the action of the board in refer-
ence to the hosiery mill at the peniten-
tiary, said: "We reiterated our posi-
tion that the hosiery mill at the peni-
tentiary was not a proper employment
for convicts, was deleterious to health
and should be abolished. The board at
a former meeting recommended that the
hosiery mill be abolished, and Governor
Blease took the same stand, it being al-
leged that it was a 'consumptive' mill,
to use the expression of the governor in
several speeches. It has been held that
the hosiery mill is a breeder of con-
sumption and, in addition to shortening
the lives of the convicts employed there,
when turned loose after serving their
sentences, endanger the lives of the peo-
ple of the state by spreading the con-
sumptive germs. The state board
strongly advises its abolition. This
matter will undoubtedly come before
the legislature at its coming session."
Printers of Norwich, N. Y., secured
an increase of $2 per week.
The plumbers of Kankakee, 111.."se-
cured a reduction from nine hours to
eight without decrease in pay and with-
out friction.
When the news that the McNamara
brothers had plead guilty to blowing
up the Los Angeles Times newspaper
plant and the Llewellyn iron works at
Los Angels was received, the first ques-
tion presented was what effect it would
have on union labor and on the socialist
party.
Union labor conscientiously believed
in the innocence of the McNamars, and
supported them financially in their de-
fense. Labor was not fanatical in the
matter, but was backing a principal.
There had been a fierce conflict in Los
Angeles with labor on one side and the
Manufacturers' association on the other.
Each charged the other with the crime
when it was committed. Labor never
has endorsed their acts. The large ma-
jority of laboring men are peaceable,
lawabiding citizens and would nol stand
for anything but what they believed to
be right. They are opposed to violence,
dynamiting and murder.
Since the plea of guilty of the Mc-
Xamaras the labor organizations have
almost unanimously demanded the inflic-
tion of the extreme penalty of the law.
No so with the socialists.
They were fanatical in their defense
of the McNamaras, and most of them
now say the McNamaras were bribed
to plead guilty to wholesale murder.
The socialists are making a mistake.
They should strive to win by peace and
persuasion. They cannot foist their
dreamy vagaries by force, dynamiting
and murder. The red rag reporter, one
Shoaf, of the Appeal to Reason, went to
Los Angeles to report this trial, but he
has been lost in the shuffle—nothing
has been heard from him. The socialists
are declaring that "capitalism" has
nabbed or bribed him. No political
party can amount to much in the United
States if it takes force and murder into
it as side partners. Don't ask a so-
cialist how much he contributed to the
McNamaras' defense. It might offend
him.
The socialists have been bragging
that they would carry Los Angeles. On
Tuesday the socialist candidate for may-
or was defeated by a majority of 30,000.
That is going some in a little election.—
Jesse L. Day in Wewoka Democrat.
LARGER OUTPUT
IS DEMANDED
TREATMENT ACCORDED INCAR
CERATED MEN A DISGRACE TO
20th CENTURY CIVILIZATION.
Special to The Labor Unit.
Hartford, Conn. — The merciless
speeding up of the convicts in the state
prison of Connecticut and in several of
the county jails has aroused a storm of
indignation and horror. The ti
tracting corporations whose demands
have forced the prison officials to re-
sort to physical punshment in order to
get the maximum output — the Ford
Johnson Co. and the Reliance Mfg. Co.,
manufacturing chairs and shirts, respec-
tively, have been severely at a meeting
of tiie Hartford Get-Together club a
few days ago. Said a prominent social
worker: "The physical punishment of
the convict by the contractor who has
leased him for industrial purposes, is a
disgrace to the community which tol-
erates its continuance, yet the citizens
of Connecticut stand meeklv by and let
a political boss remark: 'Well, what in
h—1 are you going to do about it.' The
contract system is discredited univer-
sally, but in no other state in the Union
has it sunk to as low an ebb as in Con-
necticut. Were it an advantage to the
citizens of the state as a whole or to
the taxpayers there might be justifica-
tion in the eyes of some, but even here
it falls short. The New Haven jail
sciks to get work out of its convicts,
not by giving them the incentive of a
wage, but by physical punishment. At
the state prison at Wethersficld the
men work on shirts and shoes; few are
trained to earn their livelihood when re-
leased. The institution is a heavy drain | jna ^deration of Lai
on the taxpayers under the contract' ^
system; it yields immense profits to
the giant '-orporation, the Reliance
Mfg. Co.. the well known prison labor
trust. Since the installation of the
contract system, the institution has
never gotten back to its original basis
of educational work for the prisoner
and self-support for itself." Warden
Ward C. Garner of the state prison was
invited by the club, which includes the
most prominent professional, business
and labor people among its members, to
state his side of the case, but he pailed
to shop up at the meeting.
Itor a majority of two votes, the
Oklahoma City Central Trades council
Thursday night, Dec. 21, kept alive its
organization committee—the committee
that recently published and circulated
in various parts of the country, the La-
bor Bulletin, which attacked Oklahoma
City business interests and urged work-
men to keep away from Oklahoma City.
The second edition of the Bulletin
was issued Friday, Dec. 22.
The first test of strength came two
weeks ago when the carpenters' un-
ion presented a resolution to the Cen-
tral Trades council, favoring the pub-
lication of a bulletin showing "true
conditions in Oklahoma City." A
motion to table the resolution lost, 44
to 32. The motion authorizing the or-
ganization committee to issue the first
Bulletin carried, 43 to 23.
The opposition to the Bulletin show-
ed that it had gained much strength,
and had three more votes been secured
by it the Bulletin would have been
killed, so far as the Central Trades
council is concerned.
The fight was precipitated when the
organization committee presented its
report. A motion was made and duly
seconded to non-concur in the report
of the committee and the committee be
discharged. After about two hours'
discussion on the question of whether
to receive the report or non-concur, a
motion was made to table the motion,
and on a roll call vote the motion was
tabled by a vote of 42 to 40. This
left the organization committee in ex-
istence and it immediately issued the
second Bulletin.
The Allied Printing Trades Council
had previously gone on record against
the Bulletin, and union shops in Okla-
homa City refused to print the second
Bulletin. It was printed in Guthrie.
It is certain that the local unions in
the city which originally went on rec-
ord against the Mulletin are refusing
to recede from that position and will
continue to fight the issuance of it. Sev-
eral unions not affiliated with the
Trades Council have gone on record
against the Bulletin.
The second issue of the Bulletin ar-
rived in Oklahoma City last week. It
dealt mostly with attacks on individ-
uals, rather than on the city. It also
made appeals to union men in the state
to aid the committee in the collection
of funds in order to start a free soup
house in the city.
WOMEN AGAINST BULLETIN
The Garment Workers' union, com-
posed of 90 women members, at a reg-
ular meeting last week unanimously
adopted resolutions denouncing the
Bulletin. That union held another
meeting Saturday at 1 o'clock to fur-
ther discuss the situation.
The resolution:
"Whereas, it has come to our no-
tice that a circular ar pamphlet styled
The Labor Bulletin, is being widely cir-
culated here and abroad, the contents
of which are an undeniable detriment
to our craft and our welfare, and a
gross injury to the best interests and
future success of Oklahoma City, there
fore be it,
"Resolved, that we, the United Gar-
ment Workers of America, local 83, in
body assembled, do bitterly condemn
the Labor Bulletin and severely deplore
its publication.
"Be it further resolved, that a copy
of this resolution be presented to the
Central Trades and Labor council and
published in all the papers of Okla-
homa City.
Signed:
"MRS. J. A. ERBACHER, Pre?.
"CLARA CROOKSHANK, Secy."
CONTINUANCE IN LANGSTON
CASE
The ease of J. Luther Langston,
charged by C. C. Ziegler with embez-
zlement, which was set for trial be-
fore Justice J. J. Beall Tuesday after-
noon, has been postponed until Wed-
nesday, Jan. 3, at 1:30.
Langston, secretary of the Oklaho-
>or, was deposed
the executive council ot that body.
The executive council based its ac-
tion on the charges preferred by Zieg-
ler. A referendum vote of the state
federation upheld Ziegler.
Ziegler carried his charges ^to the
court of Justice Beall, and swore out
a warrant for the arrest of Langston.
Tuesday's continuance was agreed
upon by both sides, important witness-
es being unable to be present.
At Rome, Ga., the plasterers have se-
cured a raise of 50 cents a day and the
eight-hour day.
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Casler, Howard M. The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 30, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 30, 1911, newspaper, December 30, 1911; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc107050/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.