Oklahoma State Labor News (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, July 20, 1906 Page: 4 of 4
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Speech of Hon. Charles A. Towne.
The house Ix'inK In committee < f the
whole house on the state of the union
and having undrr consideration the
bill iH. It. 1 l inaklnK ttppiopria-
tlonh for the service of the poatoffle®
department for the fiscal year ending
June HO, 1907, and for other purposes-
Mr. Towne Bald:
Mr. Chairman: The right of labor to
organize la nowhere now seriously
questioned. That, on the whole, the
exercise of that right has been greatly
iK'neflclal to the vast body of wage
earners, and, hence, of benefit to the
couutry, whose welfare iH so Intimately
dependent upon theirs, ih likewise Ren-
erally admitted To say this is not to
deny that here and there ambition and
self-interest have committed wrong*
in the name of labor and. using the
instruments of Its organization for pi I
vate purposes, have put In peril th«
credit of the cause Itself; It in not
even to denv that trades unions and
labor federations. In the clash of in
tcrests that has attended the phenom j
enal Industrial changes of recent linn's,
may occasionally have exceeded the
limit prescribed by a just subordina-
tion of class concern to the general
of society But It 1 fight to rsmenv
her that the organization of labor did
not precede, but followed, the organiza-
tion of capital; that its very origin
was In defense, not In aggression
But these considerations only en-
force the necessity of a clearer under
standing between organised labor on
one hand and the manifold Interests
of society on the other, to the end
Hint public sentiment shall both recog-
nize the Just claims of labor and insist
in turn that It shall respect necessary
and salutary limitations in its organ-
ised effort to secure them
Under our representative Institutions
it Is inevitable that citizens should
seek to influence the enactment and
enforcement of laws deemed by them
likely to Improve their social and In
dust rial conditions. Wage-earners can
not be expected to be oblivious of thin
privilege. Indeed. It has always been
one of the chief arguments of the
party In power In favor of its con-
tinued supremacy, that its policies
were largely shaped to achieve the we
fare of the laboring man. Accord-
ingly, it ih not surprising that these
policies should be subjected to close
scrutiny bv the men whom the coin-
petition of leadership has brought to
the front in labor council, men like
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor. John
Mitchell, president of the Coal Miners
Union. Andrew Kuruseth. president o!
the International Seamen's Union, and
many others of similar ability and In
fiuence.
One consequence of this scrutiny has
been the formulation by the exrcutlv
council of the American Federation ot
Labor of a petition for redress of griev-
ances, addressed, and on \\ edneid iv.
March 21, formerly, formally present-
ed to the president of the United
States, the president pro tempore of
(he senate, and the speaker of the
house of representatives.
This petition, sir. which Is quite the
most significant utterance of the sort
in recent economic history, contains a
recital of the principal complaint j
which organised labor conceives itsclt
to have uRnlnit the powers now and
for some time past responsible for the
legislative and administrative polickM
of the country. These complaints may
be thus conveniently summarized:
First. They complain that the eight
hour law Is grievously and frequently
violated; that since 1S91 they have
vainly sought to secure legislation
remedying the defects of that law ;iih.
extending its provisions to all work
done on behalf of the government
that recently, without a hearing to the
advocates of eight-hour legislation, a
law passed by congress and signed by
the president, as a rider on an appro-
priation bill, "nullifying the eight-
hour law and principle in Its appllo-
tlon to the greatest public work ever
undertaken bv our government—the
construction of the Panama canal.
Second. They complain that 110 heed
has Iwen paid' to labor's request for
legislation safeguarding It against the
competition of convicts.
Third They complain that no re-
sult has followed their demand for
relief against the evils of "Induced and
undesirable Immigration;" that th
Chinese-exclusion law Is being "fla-
grantly violated." and that it Is now
"seriously proposed to invalidate that
law" and reverse our policy.
Fourth. They complain that equal
rights are denied to seamen; that even
the partial relief afforded them by
the laws of 1SB6 and 1898 have been
threatened at each succeeding con-
gress; that petitions in behalf of the
seamen have been denied "and a dis-
position shown to extend to other
workmen the system of compulsory
labor." and that, "under the guise of a
bill to subsidize the shipping industry,
a provision Is Incorporated, and has
already passed the senate, providing
for a form of conscription which would
make compusory naval service a con-
dition precedent to employment on
privately owned vessels.
Fifth. They complain that under-
manning and unskilled manning of
vessels are largely responsible for dis-
asters like the burning of the Slocum
in New York harbor and the wreck
of the Rio de Janeiro at San Francisc
with their terrible and unnecessary
loss of human life, and that measures
presented by them more in the interest
of the public than of themselves, cal-
culated to prevent, such calamities,
have not been adopted
Sixth. They complain that they have
\alniy sought the passage of u law
preseriblug that barges towed at sea
shall be properly manned and equipped
so as to avoid the loss of life now
trsqonitly Involved la cutting 1 ik "i
loose during storms and leaving the
crews to perish.
Seventh. They complain that the
"antitrust and interstate commerce
laws enacted to protect the people
against monopoly in the products of
labor, and against discrimination in
the transportation thereof, have been
perverted, so far as the laborers are
concerned, so as to invade and violate
their personal liberty as guaranteed by
the constitution," and that their re-
peated efforts to obtain redress from
congress have been in vain.
Kighth. They complain of the
abuses of the "beneficent writ of in-
junction" in labor disputes, clulming
that it has been perverted from the
protection of property rights to the
destruction of personal freedom, and
that there is a threat of "statutory
authority for existing Judicial usupa-
tion."
Ninth. They complain that the com-
mittees of this house having Jurisdic-
tion of matters particularly of Interest
to labor have been constituted Inimi-
cal ly to It, and that requests to the
speaker to remedy this condition as
apparent In the last two congresses
have been followed In the present
congress by even an accentuation of
the condition.
Tenth. They complain that the con.
stltutional right of petition has been
invaded by the executive order recent
ly Issued "forbidding any and all gov-
ernment employees, upon pain of in
stunt dismissal from the government
service, to petition congress for any
redress of grievances or for any im-
provement in their condition."
In view of the interest and Import
ance of this document, Mr. Chairman
I ask consent to print It as a part of
my remarks.
The chairman. The request of the
gentleman from New York will be
granted, unless there be objection.
There was no objection.
Fair list of contractors employing
members of the Painters' and Decor-
ators' union:
1). E. Richards.
Matt son Paint and Decorating Co.
J it. Wilson.
J. I). Tray lor.
Joe E. Reemes.
S. E. Hanson.
Oklahoma Decorating Co.
Frank Stout.
N. A. Robinson.
W. A. Burdlck.
Chat lea E. Jones.
Roach llros.
E. Bascom.
John Keefe.
D. U. Tremble.
g&ftsv /Ti iCx./Ok.CV./TV /TV^CV /TVI/TV/TV/TV rx /Tv/7\ /7^ /Tv
UNION MUX
Printers effort for the eight hour
day has not been called off Because
why? There are a few shops not yet
in the fold.
WANTED- A good solicitor to take
subscriptions for the Oklahoma State
Labor News. Call at 21G West First
«*trnet. at Post building.
The 46th Star
OKLAHOMA
The o-ly souvenir
spoon of the new kta e
on the market. This
expresses exictly
| the sentiment ot" every
true citizen of' Okluho-
| nu. It is jn ideal gift
fur your friends in the
last. Read the de-
scription and judge for
yourself if it is not ex-
act y the spoon you
have been ooking tor.
Description
Sterling Silver of
very heavy weight.
Front of handle,
commencing at th*s
top: Uraml seal of
oklahoma, then Th©
Cowboy. next the
Prairie Cchooner, be-
low this is an t'ii>
«'f corn and a sheaf
of wheat. On back of
liundlo Ih an Indian
tepee, canoe, toma-
hawk canoe paddles,
pipe and war club.
The bowl of the
spoon has a raised
shield with thirteen
stripe-, alternate red
and while in hard
hacked enamel.
At the op of shield
is a blue field 0*
enamel with 15
stars in same,
above the shield
si one large star,
representing Ok-
lahoma. the larg-
est and brightest
of them all.
Above the star
i are the words,
"The 4tfth Star
I Oklahoma "
The spoon I"
8/ m«de both In gob*
' niitl silver bow\
and sells for $2 00.
We will engrave
any name or date
free and pay
postage to any
place In the
united Statee.
Address
rO\S-N BROS , Ihe Jcwe'ers
IS3 Main S;r.cl OK A 0MA CITY
Hnr\Toy Jlrothors
SOLICIT YOUR TRADE
THEY HANDLE ALL GOOD THINGS TO EAT
I nion Brands of Coffee.
Ball Bros, and Economy Fruit Jars.
I~ruit tuxl \'e$zit(ible& n Specialty
Former member Retail Clerks I'nion
Alexandra, Indiana.
£ Phone 177 200 North Broadwc
F. W. MILLER TRUNK CO., 130 W. Grand
MAKERS OF BAGGAGE
C.E.VanHosen
Formerly of th*
Oxford Cafe
131 West Grand
POPULAR PRICES
FURNISHED ROOMS
CALLS FOR ALL TRAINS
GRANTS' HOTEL
and RESTAURANT
Regular Meals and Short orders at
All Hours
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
Regular Meals 20 cents
PHONE 2210
I Eat at Grant's
Meal Tickets. 21 Meals. $3 00
1 Don't Eat There
CIGARS AND TOBACCOS
128 WEST FIRST ST.
Retailers of Trunks and
Bag and Suit Cases.
Leather Goods in all the
Newest and Finest
Leathers.
See us before you buy
Only Manufacturers
of
Traveling Goods
in
Oklahoma.
A. E3 V EEF*S
LAWYER -
117 1-2 West Grand
Phone 3061
Residence Phong 2699
F. W. MILLER TRUNK CO.. 130 W. Grand
Pryer - Wagnon - Hitt - Gardner Co.
PHONE 439
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
111 1-2 West Main Street
EE. J. GIDDINGS
attorney and counsellor
111 1-2
Main Street
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
When in need of musicians call on
Burt Grout, secretary of tne A. F. of
M. You will find the secretary at his
usual place, on Main street.
FAIR CONTRACTORS.
This is a correct list of fair con-
tractors.
Gross Construction Co., Walker and
14th streets.
Parker & VanMeter.
Robert Kruger, West 2nd street.
South Side Planing mill.
William Lawrence, 1014 West 4th
street.
James Mitchell, Capitol Hill.
Tom Tracy.
T. F. Donnell, East 3rd street.
Mechanics Planing Mill Co., 700 W
2nd street. Phone 379.
F. W. Klein, 41G West 7th street.
J. A. Norris, 117 Western avenue.
S. E. Davis, 1200 West Grand ave-
nue.
J. A. Gronquest, C25 West 7th
street, phone 1797.
Van Curon Bros., 200 West 4th Ft.
Phone 2859.
Knight & Stewart, phone 2882.
Love & Ranen, 27th and McKlnley,
415 Choctaw avenue.
E. C. Petri, 303 Frisco.
F. P. Bramer & Co., 330 West Reno.
Jayne & Godfrey,1141 West Second
Street.
J. Banard, 520 East 5th street.
(J. E. Thurmond, 310 W. 3rd street.
B. H. Thurber, 1010 East 8th St.
J. S. Bovd, 419 Pottawatomie.
Duties of an Organizer.
Little as some may think it. It
would he a big saving in money were
we to have a training school for or-
ganizers. The average organizer
seems to think his mission in life is
to get workingmen together and per-
suade them to send for a charter—and
then if he happens along about the
time the charter arrives and adminis-
ters the obligation, he thinks he has
done just a little more than perform
his full duty. No greater mistake
than this is ever made. The men are
nothing more than raw recruits. They
know they have organized to better
their conditions, know there Is some-
i thing they need, and gathering to-
gether think they are strong enough
to get anything they might ask for,
frame up a charter and send out
a committee to get it. Falling to get
the desired contract, the next thing
Is. strike, and then the next thing—
nine times out Af ten—is. the Union
goes to pieces. Thereaf ter every
mother's son of this organization will
tell his fellow workmen. "The Union
is no good; I have tried it and lost a
good job because of it." The organizer
who understands his work will not
conceive no matter how small thefrdl
conceive this to be his duty. Con-
scientious, and no matter how small
the number of men he organizes into
a Union, he will remain with them
until he has at least educated them
into the rudiments of Unionism,
taught them to be conservative, to go
about getting contracts in a conserva-
tive way, and not to be discouraged if
they fail in the first attempt.—Ex.
U. S. ZEKiLER
Phone No. 1791. 215 First St.
New State Shoeing Parlor
Horseshoeing Our Specialty
Blacksmithing. Wood Work and General Repairing.
All Work Strictly Guaranteed.
oklahoma hat and cleaning works
French Dry, Neohtha ana Steam Cleaning
Hats Cleaned. Blocked, Trimmed. Clothes Cleaned, Pressed, Repaired.
Work called for and delivered. Office No. 11 South Robinson Street
T. 0. Cash, Proprietor Phone 229!t Oklahoma City, OkLA.
Phone, Residence 190 All Delicacies In Seaion
RUEB'S CAFE
RUEB & CASSIDY. Prop.
Buelneie Phone 2955 No III North Broadway
SimS & Li YON
Dealers in
Saddles, Harness, Collars, Whips, Fly Nets, bap Dusters ete.
We Carry Union |VIade Goods Bearing the babel
125 W. GRAND AVE. REPAIRING A SPECIAbTY
Oklahoma Citv Party to Denver.
Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hevman and son
H. C. Nelson. Mrs. G. Dalton. \V. L.
Dennis. Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Mc-
Mechan. A. H. Tuttle and B. J. Ben
zel departed on Monday on a special
Pullman car over the Santa Fe for
Denver and other Colorado points. A
party will attend the Elks gathering
which assembles in the Colorado capi-
tal city tomorrow.
Your horse will always be correctly shod at
Dr. Garters' Shoeing Forge
If in need of a Veterinarian
202 West California Ave.
Phone 3034
STORE CARDS.
Knight. Helton & Beck.
Heyman, S. C.
Bart & Meyer.
. .Gerson Bros.
Block Bros.
Sturm Bros.
Herskowltz. Mose.
Becker, Kennedy Co.
Piersol Shoe Co.
Pope Shoe Co.
Corder, W. T.
Barron-Housel Shoe Co.
Houghton, H. B.
I^et each secretary of the different
locals instruct the delegates to the
trades assembly to he preseut at the
next meeting, on Thursday night A
full attendance Is desired. Come out,
brothers, and help in the cause of your
union. Get busy.
FAIR LIST OF UNION MADE
CIGARS.
List of union made cigars manufac-
tured in Oklahoma City, O. T.:
10 Cent Brands.
Florde Washburux, 3 sizes—(a) In-
vincibles; (b) Club House; (c) Per-
fect os.
Menton's Favorite.
White Seal.
Espanoli.
5 Cent Brands.
Clubettes.
Little Martha.
Washburnettes.
Live Spark.
Sweet Erin.
American Perfecto.
Oklahoma Leader.
Fine Line of
Domestic Cigars
Union Made Cigars. Chew-
ing and Smoking Tobaccos
a Specialty.
No. 9 North Broadway.
NOTICE! Union Men. "IF YOU HAVE THE HABIT" Trade at the
"HUDSON HAH"
Union Cigars and Union Beer. Headquarters for Union Men
ft. H. SCOBT, Prop. Tel. 3221. Cor. Grand «. & Hudson Sts. 0 R PARKS Mgr
SAY! Mr. Union Man
WHY don t you patronize a union teamster when you have baggage
or anything else to haul?
Everybody Drinks the
New State Beer
AT THE
"EAGLE BAR"
It is always fresh and pure.
A. D. Friederich. Prop,
204 W. Reno Ave. Phone 7 <3
AL GILBRECH
Stand N. E. Corner First and Harvey.
Member I. B. of T. Local 672.
Phone 2919.
Get vour Keys, Guus, Umbrellas,
(iosoliiip Stoves repaired at
Hill's Shop
224 West Grand
J. U. F. Jennings
wyer
Rooms 536*6-7 Lee Bkljr.
, Phone 165
Everybody Drinks Ice Tea
At our house—the old man included, and we buy it at
the most up-to-date retail store in the Southwest.
Also a full line of Teas, Coffees, Spices, Extracts and
Baking Powders.
An exclusive store, with men that understand the
business,
TELEPHONE 699 120 N. ROBINSON
She Western Pacific Sea X c. Incorporated. ;
GEO. MENGES, Manager.
It is the state of Oklahoma and we
want an eight hour clause in the cons-
titution.
Amnette Funk
Public Stenograph*''
111 1-2 W. Main St. Room 17
PhoneI6I2
WARNING
TO
UNION MEN
I want to call your attention to the fact that we sell
UNION BEER AND C/GARS
I want your trade
TWO JOHNS
I employ the only union bartender in the City
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Krogh, Nora I. Oklahoma State Labor News (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, July 20, 1906, newspaper, July 20, 1906; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc154726/m1/4/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.