Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Okla.), Vol. 25, No. 344, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 17, 1918 Page: 3 of 8
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DAILY ARDMOREITE
PAGE THREB
"STATE FEDERATION
OF LABOR REPORTS
Annual Messages of President Secretary-Treasurer
and Legis-
lative Committee
THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE PRESIDENT SECRE-TARY-TREASURER
AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
CONVEY A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE ACTIV-
ITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION DURING PAST YEAR.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
Fallowing; is a synopsis of Presi-
dent Kenton's annual report:
Jjf( Since the adjournment of our last
convention the greater part of the
activities of our organization have
necessarily been directed toward
problems arising out of war condi-
tions. The entire nation has been
organized lor war purposes and the
many changes that have resulted
Loth in industrial and in govern-
mental affairs have presented new
opportunities to organizations of
labor to place in effect the con-
structive policies that have been ad-
vocated by organizied labor for
many .years. Recent events have
served to justify these policies and
to give to organizations of labor a
new influence and standing. The
entry f the United States into the
. war and the subsequent demands
made upon industry for its success-
ful presentation have served to fully
demonstrate the fact that the fun-
damental principles of organized
labor are constructive and not de-
structive. Oklahoma's record in war work is
a most enviable one and in the mak-
ing of this record the various affil-
iated unions have contributed ma-
terially. The various organizations
and individual members in the state
have responded loyally to all calls
made upon them and there has been
no disposition on their part to waver
in the performance of the duty that
we all owe to our country in this
great struggle for hmuan liberty.
Present conditions make imperative
greater activity and a close ad-
herence to fundamentals lest the
y standards that h-ve been established
through many years of effort be de-
stroyed. During the period cov-
ered by this report our efforts have
centered principally around these
problems.
Labor and Wages.
During the past year the federa-
tion has been called upon in many
cases to assist affiliated unions in
wage negotiations and we have re-
sponded to these requests whenever
it has been possible to do so. par-
ticularly where a representative of
the international was not available.
On account of the fact that some
of our critics eagerly seize upon ev-
ery opportunity to denounce or-
ganized labor and have made the
barges of profiteering in many in-
stances where attempts are made to
secure advances in wages I feel
:hat some reference should be made
lO the matter in this report.
Even before the war prices of
finileMiff. rlntliinp- and rents had
been increasing to the extent that
many organizations had been forced
to demand and some of them had
-ecurcd advances in wages. With
i he outbreak of the war millions of
men turned from their usual pro-
ductive occupations to engage as
active participants or in the manu-
facture of war materials. The nat-
ural result of the increased demand
for clothing foodstuffs and other
necessary commodities was an im-
mediate increase in the cost of these
necessities. This condition became
more serious with the entry of our
country into the war and it is doubt-
ful tliat without the legislation
passed by congress authorizing the
creation of the Food Administra-
tion if conditions necessary to the
thorough organization of industry
could have been brought about and
maintained. Adequate wages are
not only important at this tims as a
m.-itter of eciuitv to the wage earn
ers. OUt arc Iieccssaiv iu nimc '
roper operation of the various in-
.......!d tt'lmo firrwl tl r t inn W .PS-
cntiril for war nurnoses. The em-
plover who attempts to hold wages
down to the pre-war level as some
are doing and who charges labor
uith nrofiteerinir because of its at
tempts to secure necessary wage in-
creases contributes to a greater de-j
yrec to los ot prouuction ana lum-
pers the government more than
rven the industrial Worker of the
World and kindred organizations.
Organization.
During the year 76 new local
unions and two central bodies have
been organized in the state. A lew
of these new organizations are
merely re-organizations of suspend-
ed unions others were organized
by the members themselves and of-
ficers of the federation organized
or assisted in the organization of
thirty of this number as follows:
Trades councils 2; musicians 1;
meat cutters and butcher workmen
3; retail clerks 1; building labor-
re.s 2; federal labor unions 1;
cooks and w aiters 1 ; shoe repairers
1; railroad laborers and h Ipers 7;
lakers. 1; laundry workers 3; team-
sters 1; cereal mill employes 1;
refinery workers. 1; asphalt work-
ers 1 ; carpenters 1 ; elevator op-
erators 1; maintenance of way
employes. 1.
Railroad Laborers.
W When the railroads were taken
over by the government the shop
trades had pending demands cover-
ing wages ami working conditions
and misunderstandings arose as to
future negotiations. An order of
the director general under date of
Feb. 21 1918 provided that the
question of hours and wages should
be passed and reported to the di-
rector general by the railroad wage
commission re-created for that pur-
pose and that pending action upon
these matters by the dini'dor gen-
eral all requests of employes in-
volving revisions of schedules or
general changes in conditions af-
fecting wages and hours would be
held in abeyance by both managers
and employes and increases in wages
when determined were to be retro-
active to Jan. 1 1918.
Oil Well Workers.
The thorough organization of em-
ployes in oil fields and refineries
lias been very difficult on account
of the nature of their work and the
fact that until recently there was an
insufficient number of locals to
form an International union. Some
gains both in wages and conditions
have been made through the or-
ganization of local unions chartered
directly by the American Federa-
tion of Labor yet it has been im-
possible to thoroughly organize the
trade by this means. The greatest
obstacles to overcome has been the
difficulty of securing concerted and
uniform action oil the part of the
workers i ndifferent localities and
the fact that in the production and
refining of oil there are approxi-
mately thirty-eight different classes
of work which ordinarily would
come under the jurisdiction of dif-
ferent International unions. A con-
vention of delegates representing oil
field and refinery workers was held
in June at St. Paul Minn. prior to
the American Federation of Labor
convention and application was
made for a charter. A number of
protests were filed on questions of
jurisdiction which were later with-
drawn and the charter was issued
by the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor July
2. A temporary international or-
ganization has been completed and
a convention will be held in El
Paso Texas Nov. 1. to complete the
permanent organization. The plans
of the new international union will
no doubt include a thorough cam-
paign of organization in the oil fields
and in Oklahoma since this state
is pne of the largest oil producing
states.
Women Workers.
The number of women engaged in
industrial employments is greater
than ever before and there continued
a steady increase in the number of
women employed at work formerly
done by men. This is by no means
an altogether new problem since
oiganized labor has long recognized
it and has been able in a degree at
least to protect women in indus-
trial occupations by means of or-
ganization and protective legisla-
tion yet the problem has become
emphasized by reason of the increas-
ing numbers of women in industry.
Compulsory Labor Laws.
As a result of the campaign be-
gun soon after war was declared
that compulsory methods were nec-
essary to insure production during
the war compulsory labor laws have
been enacted in West Virginia
Maryland New Jersey New York
Rhode Island and North Dakota.
Similar legislation is also pending
in other states.. These laws affect
not only industries classed as essen-
tial war industries and those having
government contracts but are gen-
eral in their application. Those who
have in the past opposed organized
labor in its efforts for better condi-
tions will be found in every instance
to be advocates of this legislation.
Employers who consider member
ship in a labor organization sufti-
cient grounds for discharge also
support it on the ground that such
laws are necessary war measures.
There is no justification for such a
claim since there is no country in
the world in which industrial effi-
ciency is equal to that of the Unit-
ed States. Production per man has
been greater during the war in this
than in any other country. This
has been accomplished by voluntary
methods and there is no necessity of
questioning the loyalty of the Amer-
ican worers by adopting the com-
pulsory methods that have been
found necessary in those nations
with which we are at war.
Legislation of this character is not
only wrong in principle but is ex-
tremely dangerous in that it places
labor at a disadvantage in bargain-
ing with employers. Moreover it
gives not the government but the
employer control over labor by-
reason of which the employer can
refuse to negotiate on any pending
controversy regardless of its merits.
Labor in this state has cooperated
Chiefs of Labor Convention
mm
EDGAR FENTON
President State Federation of
Labor
in every movement looKing iow.uu
increased prouucuo.i ami u uoes
oppose but on the contrary sup-
ports that part ot the war program
designed to force all able bodied
persons to engage in some useful oc-
cupalion. Notw ithstanding these
tacts sucli legislation nas neen pro-
poseu in tins state ami u is uoi mi- miuw j.t meinners in sen ice many Resolution No "" ppropria-
probable that a bill of this kind will of whom are already in France. In (ion for tR '.establishment of the
be introduced at the coming session many cities ot the state local unions S(.itc Sclool of Mjncs at wilburton.
of the legislature. I wish to sug- have put on Thrift Stamp drives ' Reso!lltion x0. 32: Amendments
gest therefore that an expression with varying degrees of success. Q lm.chanics- alul Laborers' lien
be made by this convention as to its Particularly of note is the drive of the jaw
attitude upon this question. Oklahoma "City unions which netted esfmitjon Xo 34 1 aw requiring
Legislation. one day more than $48000. a sun. al ho to jC k t ; sanitary
The legislative committee has pre- Poetically double the amount se- l.omlition.
pared a report to be made to this curd b- u"; !her organization or KesoImion No. 3S: Amendment
convention and 1 shall therefore ""P n tlutt c"- lo law regulating scaffolding
make only a brief statement upon Finances and Affiliation. Resolution No. 41: Amendment
this subject in connection with that It is with pleasure that 1 report to Workmen's Compensation Act.
report. at the close of this fiscal year $6- Resolution No. 46: Law proliib-
The formulating of our legislative 106.58 in the treasury and invested iting maintenance of electric wires
program will be the most important in Liberty Ponds and War Savings for transmission of power on main
work of this convention. The in- Certificates the high-water mark in haulage ways in mines
terests of the workers of the entire the history of the federation. Re- Resolution No. 47: Weekly pay
state are involved and present con- ceipts from all sources for the year law.
ditions make it imperative that the as itemized in the appended finan- It is quite probable that other
greatest care be exercised in de- cial report are $10120.02. Disburse- resolutions looking toward changes
lermining the course lo be pursued ments also itemized in full for your in present laws and in favor of new
1 wish to remind you that when this consideration are $9068.11. These leglation will introduced at this
program has been outlined and the figures represent a gain in cash of convention. The foregoing legisla-
legislative committee has received almost $10(10 for the year in addi- lion for which we are now on rec-
ks instructions that a campaign tion to assets and supplies totaling ord including that which will pos-
locking toward the defeat of the several hundred dollars. The ex- sibly be introduced at this conven-
program outlined here must be met. pensc of organization work has also lion will be for the most part nieas-
Already that campaign is under way been heavier the past year occas- ures that if enacted in the form
and it appears that war conditions ioned by the president being away that those suggesting them intend
will be the slogan used to prevent from headquarters a greater por- they should be would no doubt be
the amendment of existing laws or tion of the time vet that is his- beneficial vet it is quite evident that
the pn.ir-trnrnl- nf needed legislation
I am confident that the existing con- will show more new organizations present conditions cannot be en-
ditions will receive the careful con- perfected in the state than in any acted into law at the coining ses-
sideration of this convention and previous year in the federation's sion of the legislature. If all of
that through your action necessary history. 1 trust that the delegates these mcaures are introduced the
legislation will be secured. to this convention will scrutinize efforts of your committee will be
While the activities of the federa- the financial report carefully and so divided that it if quite probable
tion during the fiscal year just satisfy themselves as to the manner that none of the necessary legfsla-
closcd have been greater than in in which the finances of the organ- lion desired will be passed. And
former years 1 have as in past con-iization are handled. again there are those members of
ventions reported briefly upon t he j Continuous efforts have been the legislature who w ill earnestly
more important matters our work i made the past year as in former support a minor measure thus
having been largely in connection I years to secure a larger list of of- claiming that they are fully support-
with the subjects covered in this re-1 filiated unions yet the gain is notjing th elabor program when in fact
port. ; what it should have been for thelthe real measures of general inter-
The coining year will no doubt j efforts put forth and the great mini- est to the membership are fought by
brinir problems of grave concern to
labor and to the state. e may
face these problems however with
confidence because of the new rec-
ognition that organized labor has
gained by its loyalty and through
the service it has rendered.
SECRETARY-TREASURER'S
REPORT.
Following is a synopsis of the re-
port of Secretary-Treasurer Wilson:
The past year has been one in
which the responsibilities of your
officers in tact the responsibilities
of each and every individual mem-
ber ot" the labor movement have
been greatly multiplied. However
the record will show that the prob-
lems which have daily confronted
the membership have been met with
zeal partiotic devotion and marked
ability and should command the
admiration and respect of all the
people of the state. We have been
building upon solid ground; we
have been achieving 'resuMts; we
have been looking forward. The
Oklahoma labor movement has
stood the acid test in the nation's
trials; we have gone "over the top"
each time we have been called upon
and we will continue to do so.
While we meet here to grasp the
oportunities that present themselves
and apply them to our interest we
shall ever bear in mind the duty
we owe to our government in the
present crisis and performing that
dutv in an intelligent and patriotic
way. We realize that in doing this j there has been introduced in con-: erous occasions to open up the nun-
we have made daily sacrifices and j gress and in various state legisla- ing law in an effort to re-write the
that we must continue to do so. but tines a great number of bills which ' mining code. We suggest that our
iliv will rheerfullv made not ! rpnnire rareful examination lest ex- rpnnrr rn the 1915 session of the
that the employing interests may isting laws affecting labor be amend- legislature under the head of "Min-
increase their profits for we insist i cd directlv or bv implication and the ; inir LeeMation" be seriously con-
that the employers' loyalty and
patriotism must measure up iu oui.
The labor movement will give its
all for world-wide democracy but it
must be combined with industrial
democracy. .
Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps.
It has been my aim to have a com-
plete report of all war subscriptions
and . donations for presentation to
this convention. Statistical blanks
were forwarded to all unions in the
state some time ago in an effort that
the information might be complied
but through either the laxity of lo-
cal union officers or their inability
to secure the data desired only a
very small portion of the organiza-
tions have complied with the re-
quest. That the labor movement is
doing its full part however the most
skeptical may be convinced by the
reports so far received. Only sjxty-i
C -A 2
' O. S. WILSON
Secretary-Treasurer State Federa-
tion of Labor.
. ;..me ...a.. a.... u i.....sC
ropori.iiR the total sum of i.i.U -
1K6.')8 shown to have been invest-
cd in Liberty Bonds 1 hnlt Stamps
and Red Cross donations by the or-
gnnizations and the individual mem-
uers. ...e nmons rcporung aisu
tlfied for the renson lli.it nnr records
ber of letters w ritten and visits
made. While the suspended list in
cludes a number of organizations
that have either disbanded or have
been colsolidated with other un
ions there are also those whose of -
ficers have been lax in making re-
mittances or the members have
voted to w ithdraw because of t be
expense ieiegaies to mis conven-
tion may materially assist the offi-
cers in affiliation work during the
coming year and I sincerely request
your cooperation in helping to make
the Federation 100 per cent before
another annual convention. Forty-
eight unions have become affiliated
and 33 have been disbanded or sus-
pended from membership. The af-
filiated list at this time covers a to-
tal or 252 organizations a gain of
15 over my previous annual report.
REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE.
To the Delegates to the Fifteenth
Annual Convention:
While there has been no session of
the legislature since our last report
your committee believes that the
formulating of a legislative pro-
gram and all conditions in connec-
tion therewith should receive the
careful consideration of this con-
vention and we desire therefore to
make some suggestions as to legis-
lation adopted by former conven-
Hons. Since the outbreak of the
war and 'more especiallv since the
United States became involved
normal and proper activities of labor
organizations be restricted under
tht guise of necessary war legisla
tion. In practically every state in
which the legislature has convened
since the declaration of a state of
war there have been powerful in-
terests that have sought to take ad-
vantage of war conditions to enact
anti-labor legislation. It cannot be
expected that we in Oklahoma will
be more fortunate than our fellow-
workers in other states in this re-
spect and that we will not have this
condition to contend with in this
state in the coming session of the
legislature.
We realize the fact that here is
much needed legislation yet there
are several existing laws some of
which affect all of our membership
and others that affect a greater por-
tion that are inadequate and ought
to be amended. In addition there
are a number of measures of pri-
mary importance that should re-
ceive the first consideration. What
the various delegates to this conven-
tion have in mind to present as
needed legislation we are totally un-
aware but it should be remembered
that at the last convention the leg-
islative committee was instructed to
draft and present to the next session
of the legislatute fifteen bills as
follows:
Proposes Legislation.
Resolution No. 2: Amendment
to nisiing laws requiring all shafts
over 100 feet in depth to be equipped
with hoistering machinery.'
Resolution No. 3: Amending
common school law with reference
t otitue of closing polling places in
school elections.
Restlution No." 14: Sanitary law
for bakeshops.
Resolution No. 15: Law requir-
ing the use of patent oven 'i bake-
shops. Resolution No. 16: Law requir-
ing the election jf district mine in-
spectors by the miners.
Resolution No. 18: Law requir-
ing hoisting engineers at coal mines
to hold certificates.
Resolution No. 19; ' Law requir-
inr (ireHe1 t ccrt iticatcs.
1.esi)lution Nl) 20 : Repeal of the
.....:. i ......... i ....
Kcsolution No. 2r:
j.w
Resolution No 27
P.oiler inspec-
Law prohibil-
. the in.irriaRC of linlit )trsoll
of them t-sncciallv under the I
them in everv conceivable w ay. 1 hey
are ottcntmu'S by this method aiue
lo mislead their constituents as to
their record on labor measures and
are therebv returned to the legisla-
turc.
Several of the resolutions favoring
I legislation as adopted by the last
! 'mi vent ion. w hile relerrimr to law s
witb which the labor forces are nat
urally sympathetic cannot be classed
as labor legislation and others refer
to matters already covered by ex-
isting laws. It is probably true
that such laws have not been prop-
erly enforced but such a condition
cannot be remedied by additional
legislation. Rather than new legis-
lation steps should be taken to bring
about proper enforcement of exist-
ing laws. We do not believe that
the efforts of this organization
should be directed under present
conditions toward securing legisla-
tion that does not affect labor in
the most direct way and we there-
fore suggest that the bills suggested
bv Resolutions Nos. 3 and 27 adopt-
ed by the last convention be not
included in the measures to be sub-
mited to the legislature by the Fed-
eration. Resolutions Nos. 2. 16 18 19 and
46 refer to mining legislation. The j
question of the advisability of open-
ing the mining legislation at this I
time is one to be seriously consid-j
ered. It is quite possible that there j
may be more to be lost than gained
bv'such action since the coal op-
1 erators have attempted upon mini-
sidered in taking any action on such
legislation by this convention
flie opposition to be met by the
legislative committee in securing
a sanitary law for bakeshops as pro-
vided by Resolution No. 14 is that
the present law requires such in-
spection and that the remedy lies in
enforcement ofthe law and not in
additional legisUation. As to Reso-
lution No. 15 requiring the use of
patent ovens in bakeshops it is sug-
gested that the bakery and confect-
ionary workers agree on this matter
before a bill is drafted and intro-
duced in the legislature as there
seems to be a diversity of opinion
among these workers as to the no
cessity for the law.
Most Important Measures.
Of the measures endorsed by the
last convention we believe those
most irnoortant and affecting the
mmwn
We will win this war
Nothing else really matters until we do!
The Flavor Lasts
greater number are: The bill amend-
ing the Workmen's Compensation
Act amendments to the mechanics'
and laborers' lien law amendments
to the scaffolding law and the boiler
inspection law. 1 hose opposing
amendments to the present Work
men's Compensation Act at the last
session of the legislature based their
opposition largely on the ground
that the present law had been af-
fective but a short time. This argu-
ment can be overcome at the coming
session and we believe that it the
efforts of the entire organization
are directed to the end of securing
this and other needed legislation
and not disorganized by our sup-
port of a great number of bills that
the present law can be amended
and other needed legislation se-
emed. Amendments To Lien Law.
As to the amendments to the mechanic-.'
and laborers' lien law. your
committee believes that on account
of the importance of this legislation
that it be re-endorsed and the legis-
lative committee instructed to con-
fer with representatives of the or-
ganizations affected regarding the
drafting and introduction of this
legislation. Heretofore as noted in
our reports the objection that the
legislative committee has been
forced to meet on this bill has been
to offset the impression that the
present laws are adequate to guar-
antee the payment of wages. '1 he
only effective method of bringing
out clearly the ineffectiveness of
the present law is to compile as
many cases as possible in which
mechanics and laborers have lost
wages due them on account of the
present law and we have attempted
to secure this information hereto-
fore without results. In our legis-
lative report to tb'e thirteenth an-
imal convention covering the 1915
session of the legislature will be
found the following in regard to
this measure :
Should this convention
desire to reintroduce ibis measure
at the next session it is suggested
that steps be taken to secure state-
ments of as many cases as possible
wherein mechanics and laborers have
failed to collect wages due them
bv reason of the ineffectiveness of
the pre.-ent law. Your committee
attempted to secure ibis information
prior to the last session but was un-
able to get a statement of a single
case that could be used as evidence
with members of the legislature in
an effort to amend the law. Ef-
forts to secure the enactment of the
law that is desired has already been
proven to be an extremely difficult
matter unless the legislative com-
mittee is furnished with this infor-
mation." .
We again desire to impress upon
those delegates who have asserted
heretofore that information may be
secured in numerous cases that it is
positively necessary that this infor-
mation must be furnished before
much headway may be gained in the
enactment of a new law that will be
satisfactory to them.
Your committee believes that
thee is no question as to' the need
of amendments to the scaffolding
'aw as well as a more vigorous en-
forcement of the present law. Vio-
lation of the present act is a misde-
meanor with a light penalty and the
county attorneys in the various
counties must be relied upon ior en-
forcement. The result has been
that the scaffolding law has not been
generally enforced since violations
of the act have bei-n overlooked
only in cases where injuries to
ikincn have resulted. In some
suites the enforcement of this law
is placed under the jurisdiction of
the state building inspector while
in other states city building inspec-
tors have charge of the enforce-
ment. We are inclined to doubt
that a heavier penalty would result
in better enforcement of the law
since it would still be necessary to
file information against the builder
and be could continue to use a scaf-
fold not constructed in compliance
with the law in many cases until the
building was completed. It would
appear that the enforcement of the
law should be placed in the hands
of some official who would have
authority to prohibit the use of any
scaffold not properly constructed
in addition to the penalty provided
by the present law.
More Factory Inspectors.
The State Labor Department will
probably i"iiu"-t the coming legis-
lature to provide ior u.iJi.io;:al fac-
tory inspectors since the number of
inspectors now provided for is en-
tirely inadequate to make the in-
spections required by the factory
laws. We believe that by taking the
matter up with the Labor Depart-
ment a law providing for the in-
spection of boilers br experienced
inspectors can be secured and it
is our opinion that this work should
come under the head of this de-
partment the same as factory inspec-
tion. The foregoing suggestions are
based upon a (ose examination of
existing conditions and on the ex-
perience gained during several ses-
sions of the legislature. These are
abnormal times and we are facing
'new conditions and on this account
new problems are to be found in
matters of legislation. We are con-
fident that you wilf appreciate the
situation and the importance of se-
curing needed legislation which we
believe justifies the recommenda-
tions herein made.
Shoes school boys' shoes men's
shoes not cheap shoes but good
shoes cheap at Dixon's next to post
office. 14-3
LIBERTY
BONDS
Highest price paid for
Liberty Bonds of the first
three issues.
LEVY'S LOAN OFFICE
7 N. Washington
Phone 1373
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Spaulding, H. G. Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Okla.), Vol. 25, No. 344, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 17, 1918, newspaper, September 17, 1918; Ardmore, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc156564/m1/3/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.