The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 47, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 27, 1912 Page: 1 of 4
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VOTING IN THE SECOND ELECTION FOR STATE FEDERATION OFFICERS BEGINS MAY THE FIRST
OFFICIAL ORGAN
OKLAHOMA STATE FEDERATION
of LABOR
OFFICIAL. ORGAN
OKLAHOMA CITY TRADES AND
LABOR COUNCIL
DEVOltD To THfc INTERESTS OF oKu AN IZtD L A b o K AMD II1E FARMERS' UNION OF OKLAHOMA
VOL. 4.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1912.
No. 47
INTRODUCED IN
BOTH HOUSES
INJUNCTION LIMITATION BILL
CONTAINS WHAT LABOR HAS
BEEN FIGHTING FOR
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington. — During the entire ses-
sion of the present congress efforts have
been made to have reported, favor-
ably, from the judiciary committees of
both houses, labor's injunction limita-
tion bill, but without success. Recent-
ly, however, Senator Bacon of Georgia
introduced in the senate an injunction
limitation bill and Congressman Bart-
lett of Georgia introduced a similar bill
in the house. These bills, instead of
being referred to the judiciary commit-
tees of both houses, as has been the
custom, were referred to the commit
tee on education and labor of the sen-
ate and the labor committee of the
house. At a meeting held by the house
labor committee on Wednesday, April
17, it was unanimously decided to fav-
orably report the bill, and Chairman
Wilson of the labor committee, the
leader of the labor group in the house,
reported the bill to the house 011 Thurs-
day, April 10, and it was placed upon
the calendar. This bill contains the
provisions which labor has been fight-
ing for many years, and signalizes the
influence and power which the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor is wielding
among the national legislators.
TRADES COUNCIL NOTES
The Printing Pressmen's Assistants'
local sent credentials for the following
delegates: J. A. Samples, 8. A. Leiter,
L. I. Beade and Ed Langhenie.
President Von Elm was elected to fill
the vacancy in the office of organizer
caused by the resignation of Delegate
Cobb.
The council decided to send fraternal
delegates to the Building Trades coun
cil, and Delegates Ezelle, Adrain and
Gallion were appointed for that pur-
pose.
Te central body began to boost for a
Labor day celebration. President Von
Elm appointed a committee to get busy
and look over the prospects. Delegate^
Powell, Smith and Ezelle were the vic-
tims.
Since the storm blew over it seems
that a number of delegates have lost
interest. Why don't you get busy and
see that you are represented.
Quite a number of the unions have
paid in their 25-eent assessment, but
there is still a number of the larger
ones to come in yet. However, we are
slowly paying off the old indebtedness.
Metropolitan Theater hall, Thursday
\ night. That's the place and time.
Come.
Why not appoint yourself a commit-
tee of one to boost the union label and
shop card? A little missionary work
along that line helps a lot. Try it out.
RAILROADS ASK FOR TIME
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—Representatives of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
mot recently with the representatives
of the eastern railroads to discuss the
demands for increased wages. After a
conference it was decided to adjourn
until March 25, at the request of the
railroads. The question of increased
wages was not gone into to any extent,
the railroads announcing that they de-
sired further time to consider the mat-
ter before making a definite reply.
NEW IMMIGRATION BILL
Special to Tt^e Labor Unit
Washington.—The house immigration
committee has appointed a sub-com-
mittee to frame a measure that will
£Ove acceptable to the house. The
lief stumbling block in the proposed
legislation is over the regulations pro
posed to test the illiteracy of incoming
aliens. This will be the chief problem
to be considered by the sub committee.
CARPET MAKERS ON STRIKE
© THE GREAT CATASTROPHE © \
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington. — The members
of congress have been greatly
stirred by the terrible disaster
which overtook the Titanic, and
the air is surcharged with ex-
pression of opinions relative to
legislation on maritime affairs
that will preclude the repetition
of the fearful loss of life sus-
tained by the sinking of the
ocean liner. It is a well known
fact that the provisions made for
the safety of passengers on
large ocean vessels has been con-
spicuously inadequate. There is
no doubt but that congress will
pass drastic legislation in the
not distant future, with the view
of compelling greedy ship own-
ers to provide adequate safety
measures to protect the passen-
gers and crew on all vessels of
American register.
© ©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
ENGLAND'S COAL STRIKE OFFI-
CIALLY OFF
London.—The Miners' Federation, on
April 6, accepted the recommendation
of the executive committee that Hie coal
miners resume work, as a result of a ref
erendum ballot. The resolution accept-
ing the recommendation was carried by
a vote of 140 to 125.
EIGHT HOUR BILL TO BE
REPORTED
Washington. — The senate committee
on education and labor has reached an
agreement to report the eight hour bill,
similar to that already passed by the
house. It is expected that the report
will be submitted to the senate during
the coming week.
ORDER CHANGES
SOME ASPECTS
'GAG RULE" EFFECTING CIVIL
EMPLOYES, HAS BEEN
RECALLED
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—President Taft has is
sued an executive order which changes
in some material aspects, the "gag
rule," which has previously been in ef-
fect in reference to the activity of civil
service employes. While the order does
not entirely relieve the situation, it is
indicative that a change of attitude has
taken place. This change, no doubt,
has been occasioned by the attitude as-
sumed by the postoffiee committee in
the house, recommending an abolition
of the gag rule order, which prohibits
the civil service employes from reach-
ing congressmen by petition. The re-
cent order is as follows: "It is here-
by ordered that petitions or other coin
munications regarding public business
addressed to the congress or either
house or any committee or member
thereof by officers or employes in the
civil service of the United States shall
be transmitted through the heads of
their respective departments or offices,
who shall forward them without delay
with such comment as they may deem
requisite in the public interest. Offi-
cers and employes are strictly prohib-
ited, either directly or indirectly, from
attempting to secure legislation or to
influence pending legislation, except in
the manner above prescribed. This or
der supersedes the executive orders of
January 31, 1002, January 25, 1906, and
November 26, 1009, regarding the same
general matter."
4
JW\i
S"##1 to The Labor Unit
Tton. — Employes of the Roxbury
Carpet Co. have struck for a 10 per cent,
increase in wages, a large portion of
the strikers being women employed in
the weaving and drum departments of
the mill.
NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington.—Senator Works of Cali-
fornia has proposed an amendment to
the constitution providing suffrage for
women throughout the United States,
and the bill has been referred to the
senate judiciary committee. Senator
Works also has pending another con-
' stitutional amendment, providing for 1
I six-year term for the president of the
I United States and forbidding re-elee
tion.
PIONEER BOOSTS LANGSTON SLATE
TRIES TO MISLEAD UNION MEN
According To Promise The Unit Will
Give Real Facts When They Are
Misquoted By Disturbers.
© © © © © © © © © © © © © © © ©
© ©
I© CONTEMPLATE ERECTION ©
HEADQUARTERS
BUILDING
The Oklahoma Pioneer in its last is-
sue again attempts to dictate what the
affiliated unions of the Oklahoma State
Federation should do regarding the elec-
tion of officers, boosting the candidates
fathered by J. Luther Langston and
using as its tool one II. L. Spencer, sec-
retary of the building trades depart-
ment.
Why a pure and simple news article,
published in a paper that takes the
credit onto itself as being the only
bona fide friend of the working class,
should involve the secretary of the
building trades council, we are unable
to explain, unless it is the repudiation
the Pioneer and its editor has recently
received at the hands of organized labor
in this city, and it believes by resort-
ing to such methods it may be able to
fool its readers and pull the wool over
the eyes of a few unconscious union
men.
Knowing, as the Unit does, the tac-
tics practiced heretofore by the Pioneer
for the benefit of the selfish interests
of its editor and the socialist party to
the extreme detriment of organized
labor in Oklahoma City, and following
up our former statement that we ex-
pected to show up this paper's future
tactics at every opportunity, we are
still keeping an eagle eye upon the un-
scrupulous schemes connived at by this
editor and a few of his henchmen and
expect to expose them indiscriminately
to the labor forces of Oklahoma.
The article referred to in the Pioueer
which was signed by the secretary of
the building trades department—a non-
affiliated organized body—Spencer, the
secretary, being a member of the Ce-
ment Workers, also non-affiliated with
the Oklahoma State Federation of Lab-
or, gives the names of the candidates
who will be 011 the ballot in the second
federation election. It attacks C. C.
Zeigler, candidate for election as pres-
ident, and Oilie S. Wilson, candidate
for secretary-treasurer.
The article referred to does not give
the vote received by anv of the candi-
dates 011 the first ballot but says: "The
hottest fight will be between S. M.
Boydston and C. C. Zeigler for presi-
dent and A. W. Bennett and OUie S.
Wfilson for secretary-treasurer. They
failed to receive a majority on the first
ballot, and it is generally believed they
will fail of election."
The Pioneer would lead you to be-
lieve that Zeigler and Wilson are very
unpopular at home and their work as
officers unsatisfactory. For the bene
fit of all union men of this state a care-
Zeigler and Wilson to do their bidding!
We believe the figures iu the first
election of the federation bears out the
fact that these men have done their
duty as federation officials to the en-
tire satisfaction of the great majority
of the affiliated unions, and that the
membership will reward them with the
largest vote ever given Federation of-
ficers on the second ballot, notwith
standing the continued unfairness of
the Pioneer towards these two men.
It has alwitys been an unfathomable
mystery to the Labor Unit that the
Pioneer, a strictly partisan publica-
tion, should clothe itself with the sac-
red duty of safeguarding the interest
of organized labor to Its own satisfac-
tion. We feel sure that should the
democratic or republican press of this
state attempt the same stunts this man
Owen does that they would be con-
demned, censured and boycotted from
one end of the state to the other. And
we further believe organized labor
would be justified in such action.
We still wonder how iong the social
ists of this state will permit such tac-
tics to be pursued through their party-
owned journal. It must be that Owen
has his ear to the ground and hears the
Irumbling that spells disaster to his
small coterie in the ranks of the so-
cialist party; for the last tirade against
Zeigler and Wilson he has signed in-
stead of running it as coming from the
editor.
Did you, union men, ever see in the
Pioneer the endorsement of Zeigler and
Wilson by the Oklahoma City Trades
and Labor Council that it was requested
to print, with the seal of the organiza-
tion attached? You did not!
Did you ever see any reason offered
for not running the endorsement? You
did not!
Great! This workingman's party as
conducted by the Pioneer. We thought,
Mr. Owen, that the vote in the city
.ichool election would convince you that
the laboring people had enough of your
attempted control when your party vote
fell below the estimate of the most con-
servative.
Reports from the federation show
that the organization is in splendid con-
dition. All unions are paying up back
dues, one union that had not been prop
erly taken care of in the past, being un-
able to hear from its remittances, pay-
ing over $90 back per capita a few
days since. New affiliations are being
received almost daily thereby showing
confidence in the present officials.
We predict, Mr. Owen, that the Fed-
©
©
I © ©
© Special to The Labor Unit. ©
© Cincinnati, O. — Jere T. Sul- ©
I © livan, secretary of the Hotel and ©
Restaurant Employes' Interna- ©
tional Alliance and Bartenders' ©
© International League, is author- ©
© ity for the statement that the ©
© international union is consider- ©
© ing the advisability of erecting a ©
© building for its general head- ©
© quarters. Jere has offered four ©
© plans for raising sufficient funds ©
© within a period of two years, ©
© and these plans are being ser-
© iouslv considered by the general ©
© membership. ©
©
© © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © ©
EXPLOSION RESULT OF INCOM
PETENCY
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington. — The press dispatches
recently carried the news that the boil
er of a locomotive in the Southern Pa-
cific railroad yards at San Antonio,
Texas, had blown up and killed 25
workmen. This is one of the effects of
employing men who are unfamiliar with
railroad requirements and are incom-
petent. There is a strike on the rail-
road mentioned, and it has employed
men without regard to their qualifica-
tions to take the places of the strikers.
It is stated that many of these men are
totally ignorant of the workings of an
engine, and it is asserted that the en-
gine which blew up and caused the cat-
astrophe had not only not had proper
care, but that cold water had been in
jected into the boiler at a time when
the water in the flues was extremely
low, thus causing an explosion.
ful scrutiny of the tally sheet of the oration will do justice toward" C. C
first federation election just counted Zeigler for his efforts in behalf of or
and tabulated by the officers and tel-
lers of the federation the following is
shown:
That C. C. Zeigler received in Okla-
homa City (where the Pioneer would
have you believe he has caused so much
dissatisfaction) 292 votes to Boydston's
188, his closest opponent. In the state
NEW YORK'S
LABOR LAWS
ENACTMENTS CONSIDERED BENE
FICIAL TO FACTORY OPERATIVES
AND EMPLOYES GENERALLY
gani/ed labor and honesty within its
ranks in this state, for his honesty, for
his fearlessness, regardless of the fight
the Pioneer has ever made upon him.
We feel confident that the members
of the Federation recognize a competent
secretary treasurer when his work of
onl> a few months proves his ability
Zeigler received 1,496 to Boydston's' rind his willingness to perform the work
974. Wilson, whom the Pioneer would involving upon that office, and that
have vou to believe " there is a vigor- Ollie S. Wilson's peculiar qualifications
ous protest against," received in Okla-! and fitness for the position will be
lioma City 320 votes to Bennet's, next! recognized, regardless of yours or the
highest, 166, lacking twelve votes of; Pioneer's attitude toward his camli-
being two to one. In the state Wilson lac
received 1,284 to Bennet's 542, consider-1 The federation i* designed to grow,
ablv more than two to one. ' and become greater, better and bigger,
We ask you in all candor, trades un-1 and you, Mr. Owen, might as well butt
ionists, if it appears to you that there' your head against a stone wall as to
is a " vigorous protest" against Zeig- j interfere and attempt to discredit every
ler and Wilson in Oklahoma City and union man who has the welfare of un
the state of Oklahoma or does, in your, ionium at heart and tights to that end
judgment as in ours, the protest exist 1 regardless of any political party.
only in the minds of Geo. E. Owen,| Socialists in this state who are true
editor of the Pioneer, .T. Luther Lang-j Idue union men will not follow you, and
"ton and a few other desi^nm* poli-1 those that are honest union ...on have i ca, examination of minors ,|V
ticians in the socialist party who. by; no fight to make on C. C. Zeigler an>l . pjan f J t|jp (
dishonest tactics were unable to coerce1 Oili«* S. Wilson.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Musicians at Carbondale, Pa., after
(three days' strike, secured increase
| from $10 to $15 per week.
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington. — Congressman Sulzer
of New York, author df the bill pro-
viding for a department of labor, is
actively engaged in an effort to have tho
house pass the bill. He sav
bill will go far toward allaying jeal-jm'ss
ousy, establishing harmony, and pro-1
moting the general welfare." The l
house labor committee has unanimously 1
agreed to favorably report the bill, and j Printers at *
it will be presented to the house in a obtained an inc
few days and placed upon the calendar, strike.
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington. — The following laws,
recommended by the state factory
vestigation commission, of which Presi-
dent Gompers was a members, have been
passed by both houses of the New York
state legislature:
(1) An act to amend the labor law
in relation to fire prevention infactories,
providiM g for fireproof receptacles, en-
closed gas jets and prohibiting smok-
ing.
(2) An act to amend the labor law
in relanon to fire drills in factories in
which 1110 • than twenty-five persons are
regularly employed, above the ground
floor, at least once in every three
months.
(3) An act to amend the labor law
in relation to automatic sprinklers, re
quiring the installation of automatic
sprinklers in every factory building
over seven stories in height, in which
wooden floors or wooden trim is used,
and where more than 200 people are
regularly employed.
(4) An act to amend the labor law
so as to limit the occupancy of buildings
or factories according to the size and
number of exits.
(5) The New York city administra
tion sponsored a bill to amend the city
charter providing for fire drills in fac
tories where deemed necessary by fire
commission, and conferring adequate
powers on officials for the enforcement
thereof.
(6) An act providing for the regis
I tration of factories.
| (7) An act providing for the prohi-
bition of woman labor within four
| weeks after childbirth.
An act providing for the physi
cian of the board of health upon their
application for working papers. These
~~ j enactments are considered a substantial
This | achievement as the result of the con)
mission's efforts to protect the lives of
ry operatives and employes gee
erallv.
CARL LEGIEN
GETS OVATION
MET BY A LARGE NUMBER OF
TRADES UNIONISTS, ESCORT-
ING HIM TO HOTEL
hiingfield. Mas
Special to The Labor Unit.
Washington. — On the morning of the
arrival of Carl Legien, the emineut Ger-
man trade unionist, in New York, Or-
ganizer Hugh Frayne of the American
Federation of Labor, together with Sec-
retary Bohm of the Central Federated
Union of New York, met him at quar-
antine, they having secured permission
to board a revenue cutter destined to
meet the incoming ship. Upon the ves-
sel arriving at the pier in Hoboken Mr.
Legien was met by a large number of
representatives trade unionists, who es-
corted him to his hotel. President Gom-
pers arrived in New York in the even-
ing of the 16th to greet Mr. Legien and
later accompanied him to Boston and
C^uincy, Mass. Mr. Legien's first speech
in this country was delivered at Quincy
before the granite* cutters' convention,
President Gompers also addressing the
convention. President Gompers and
Mr. Legien then returned to Boston,
where the mayor of the city tendered
them a complimentary dinner. They also
met tho governor. A Inrge mass meet-
ing was held in the evening at Wells'
Memorial hall, where President Gom-
pers and Mr. Legien delivered addresses
to one of the largest audiences ever as-
sembled in Boston. At the conclusion
of the meeting both come direct to
Washington, arriving here on Thursday,
April 18, on schedule time, and they
were met by a large committee of
Washington trade unionists. In the
evening a banquet in honor of Mr. Leg-
ien was held at the Arlington hotei,
which was attended by a large num-
ber of representative union men and
congressmen. Arrangements are formu-
lating to have Mr. Legien, who is a
member of the German reichstag, ad-
dress the house of representatives. A
largely attended mass meeting was held
in this city on Friday evening, April
19, at which Congressman W. B. Wil-
son, chairman of the labor committee
of the house of representatives, presid-
ed. President Gompers and Mr. Leg-
ien delivered addresses. Mr. Legion's
first speaking date after leaving Wash-
ington is Buffalo, N. Y., where he is due
Sunday, April 21
HOLD ROUSING MEETING
Coalgate Miners Are Pleased over the
Outcome of the Referendum Vote
Concerning Purpose Contract
Special to The Labor Unit
Coalgate, Okla., April 24—Local un-
ion No. 1101, United Mine Workers of
America, of this city met last Friday
night and had a very rousing session,
particularly over the result of the elec-
tion concerning the purpose contract,
which carried by a largo majority.
There were several hard propositions
before the local union, but President
Kirk, in his plensant business-like way,
handled them very successfully.
There is a joint committee from all
the locals on the Atoka track, who
met in this city Sunday, April 21, with
one of the government rescue men ad
vising plans for a rescue station on this
track. The City Commercial club, oper-
ators and the miners met in a joint
meeting :.n d discussed the plans, all
showing interest. It is thought this
city will soon have a rescue station.
Secretary Ed Ryan is in McAlester
attending the segregated land meeting.
SEEKS CITIZENSHIP
Special to The Labor Unit
Washington—Santiago Inglesias. gen-
eral organizer of the American Federa-
tion of Labor in Porto Rico, and repre-
senting a large number of unions hav-
ing headquarters 011 the island, is in
Washington endeavoring to hasten the
passage of the bill giving citizenship
to the inhabitants of Porto Rico. The
measure has already passed the house
and is now under consideration by the
spnate committee on Pacific islands and
Porto Rico.
Carpenters at Meridian, Miss., have
secured the eight hour day, without
enters at Silver^prings, X. Y.,
jecured nine hour dav without
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Casler, Howard M. The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 47, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 27, 1912, newspaper, April 27, 1912; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc157096/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.