Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 34, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 7, 1914 Page: 1 of 8
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1 r 7';-"" T" '' ' 1 ,
Union Men RGmGmbor—DEily Okl&hornciri and FarmGr-Stockman &re Unfair to tho PiGssmGn
OFFICIAL ORGAN
Oklahc.State
Federatic f Labor
OKLAHOMA LABOR ONIT
OFFICIAL ORGAN
Oklahoma City Trades
and Labor Council
DEVO ID TO THE INTER
t rj — ~
ESTS OF ORGANIZED LA BOR AND THE FARMERS' UNION OF OKLAHOMA
VOL. 6. - 2
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1914.
No. 34
L'luiSIONS
HI A. F, DF L
PRES. GOMPERS AND SEC. MORRI-
SON MAKE EXTENDED REPORT
Assessment of One Cent Levied For
Organization Work Among
the Woman Workers
Washington, Feb. 6.—A.t the last
meeting of the American Federation
of Labor Executive Council, Presi-
dent Gompers and Secretary Morri-
son made an extended report of work
done and work in hand on behalf of
the striking copper miners. These
officials were instructed to immedi-
ately issued another appeal to affil-
iated unions for further financial as-
sistance to the copper miners. Act-
ing on the power given it by the last
convention, the Council ordered that
a one cent assessment be levied for
organization purposes among the wo-
men wage workers. It was also de-
cided to give effect to resolutions
directing the Council to prepare a
series of bills to be presented to Con-
gress which will have for their pur-
pose the providing of work for unem-
ployed by the government along the
lines suggested by the Executive
Council in its report to the Seattle
convention. It was decided that the
officers of the Executive Council, who
are officers of their international un-
ions, write to their local unions re-
questing the officers to communicate
with their Senators and Representa-
tives urging the support and passage
of the Bartlett-Bacon bill. The resi-
dent members of the Council were
empowered to take such action as
they deem fit to amend the Sherman
anti-trust law. Numerous subjects
+++++++++++++++++
+ +
+ FINED FOR DELAY. +
+ +
++++++++++++♦++++
Indianapolis, Feb. 6.—By adding a
10 per cent penalty to the Judgment
rendered by a lower court, the state
supreme court has shown its disfavor
of the policy of railroads in resisting
the claims of injured workers. The
Chicago and Erie railroad appealed
from a decision which gave a verdict
for $14,000 in favor of a brakeman
who was injured in 1900. Eight years
later the case was returned to the
lower court, where the brake man se-
sured a judgment for $7,000 and the
company again appealed. In sustain-
ing this decision, the supreme court
now says: "Except that a verdict for
a larger amount might well have been
given, it is hardly conceivable that
unbiased minds could disagree over
the justness, under the law, of the
result reached by the jury. We feel
that the litigation has been unduly
prolonge, and, considering this, to-
gether with the fact that the amount
awarded is not fully compensatory,
the judgment is affirmed, with 10 per
cent damages."
PROFESSORS FAVOR A UNION.
A College Professors' union is one
of this year's probabilities as the re-
sult of a resolution introduced by
Prof. Robert C. Books, of Swarth-
more college, and adopted by the
American Political Science associa-
tion, which calls for the appointment
of a committee of three "to investi-
gate and report the status of Ameri-
can educational institutions as to lib-
erty of thought, freedom of speech,
and security of tenure for teachers of
political Bcience." Some of the pro-
fessors have pointed to the advan-
nll trU8ft lar,„ PU"ZZ CnmneVs tages of organization along trade
ere referred -it ■ • unjon ideas to protect them from ex-
pulsion in cases where they advocate ;
ideas that are objectionable to col- j
has gained force because of the al-
leged removal of Prof. Willard Fisher
from the faculty of Weslyan univer-
sity because that teacher took an ac-
tive part in securing the passage of
Connecticut workmen's compensation
MARINES READY TO LAND IN
MEXICO
I
Cx.
Secretary Morrison, subcommittees
the resident members, and the legis-
lative committee and numevous ques-
tions of interest to affiliated organi-
zations were taken up. The following
other proposals were among those
acted upon favorably: Aiding the es-
tablishment of a federation agreement
between all unions in a given Indus- ---y-^ppoB,tlon certain-powerful
try to the end that these organiza- • £**
tions may act Jointly in matters of- j mnuences.
fensive and defensive. To support
■every measure having for its purpose
the decreasing of preventable disease.
Rural credit system. Calling on
teachers to organize and urging state
bodies to extend use of free text-books
and improve their quality. The estab-
lishment of free legal advice bureaus
wherever possible. An eight-hour day
and one day rest in seven. Asking
the Industrial Relations Commission
to investigate strikes on the Illinois
Central and Harriman lines. To con-
tinue the appropriation to the Wo-
men's Trade Union League. Appro-
priate $500 to Canadian Trades and
Labor Congress for legislative work.
Notified Hatters that support in their
suits will be continued. Against the
extension of militarism in the United
States in any form. Against present
contract system in the handling of
mail and urging an increased number
of safety appliance inspectors. Re-
questing the Secretary of the Treas-
ury to prescribe necessary regulations
for the enforcement of the present
convict labor law. Extending func-
tions of parcel post to include work
now done by express companies. Fav-
oring uniform legislation regulating
advertisements for workers during
strikes. Debarring employment of
white women or girls in establish-
ments controlled by Chinese or Japan-
ese. Loaning postal savings deposits
to the people, preferably to wage earn-
ers and farmers trying to secure
homes. Favoring bill requiring rail-
roads to equip their roads with auto-
matic stop systems and the govern-
ment pay overtime for work over
eight hours. To secure an amend-
ment to existing law which will make
it obligatory to give railroad men
twenty-four consecutive hours' rest
during every period of 168 hours.
Saturday half-holidays for navy yard
employes. Old age pensions along
lines recommended to last convention
by Executive Council.
GIRLS RESIST WAGE CUT
Inspection of marines on board the United States battleship Michigan in
WORKMEH'S COMPENSATION
One of a seriea of articles especially prepared for The Oklahoma
Labor Unit, by W. G. Ashton.
No. 14. r
Under our present system of compensating injuries the employer
whatever expense is created by either carrying his own liability or in-
suring the risk in some liability company. I nder a workmen s compen-
sation law there is a general disposition to place the entire cost created
by the operation of the act upon the employer the same as exists at this
time. Practically all the state enactments follow this reasoning and of
the foreign acts Belgium, British Columbia, Denmark, l inland, 1' ranee,
Great Britain, Italy. Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Queensland.
Russia, South Australia, Spain, Sweden, \\ est Australia, force the em-
ployer to bear the entire burden of expense.
In order to determine whether or not it is good sound business jit'."-
• ..1 ' . il... I .1^.1 unAn (Itii omnlnt'i1-; nf
++++♦**++++++++++
♦
+ FAVORS SAFTY BILL.
+ ♦
+++++++++++++++++
Washington, Feb. 6.—Tho house
committee on labor has reported fa-
vorably a bill to create a bureau of
labor safety In the Department of
Labor. Congressman Bremmer, of
New Jersey, author of one of the bills
submitted, and who is now sick in
a Baltimore hospital, forwarded a
brief 011 the subject to the committee
from which the following figures on
industrial accidents and their cost is
taken: "Out of 34,000,000 people en-
gaged in gainful occupations, there
are yearly 38,000 deaths. There are
2,000,000 accidents, of which 500,000
are serious, entailing an annual loss
of $40,000,000 in earnings. There are
3,000,000 cases of preventable indus-
trial illness, entailing a cost of $200,-
000,000. There are 15,000 widowed
and 45,000 orphaned." To illustrate
the annual waste of normal earning
capacity, as a result of these th.ee
causes alone, Mr. Bremner places
the economic value of a worker at
$2,900. This makes the atinual loss
exceed $350,200,000.
THE CONTEMPT CASE.
The Oompers-Mitchell-Morrison con-
tempt case was up for argument be-
fore the United States Supreme Court
on Jan. 7th and 8th. Judge Parker
and Mr. Ralston ably arguing for the
defendants. It will be remembered
that the case came before the highest
court upon appeal from the decisions
of both Justice Wright and or the
Court of Appeals of the District of
Columbia. Sentences imposed in the
lower court were: Gompers, Mitchell
and Morrison, twelve, nine and six
months' imprisonment, respectively.
The Court of Appeals sustained the
general finding of the lower court,
but commanded the lower court to
modify the sentences of Gompers,
thirty days' imprisonment: Mitchell
and Morrison, fines of $500 each. It
is upon either the longer terms or the
modified imprisonment and fines
which the appeal has been taken. Af
ter the close of the argument the
United States Supreme Court took
the case under advisement, and will
proljably render a decision in about
four weeks.
PARCEL POST BOON TO MINERS.
♦ilKILL TURN LIEUT ON
STRIKE CONDITIONS
MICHIGAN AND COLORADO CONDI-
TION TO BE INVESTIGATED
PUN OF SEC. WILSON
The profit that the parcel post
makes in the cities compensates its
losses in the country. The Western
mining camps are among Uncle Sam's
beneficiaries. The postmaster-general
recently got a letter from an Idaho
mining camp in which the writer said
that the miners used to pay $2.50 to
get a single sack of flour into camp
over the trail. Now, by parcel post,
it costs only 5 cents. The miners
are naturally grateful.
METHOD TO GET SCABS
Philadelphia, Feb. 6.—An attempt
to reduce wages in the hosiery mills in order to determine wneiner/ur inn n ■> gum. J-'r
of William F. Taubel, at Kensington, ment to impose a portion of the burden upon tile employe^ . the i
was met in a vigorous manner by ferent industries, we must examine the condition surrounding llie opei-
1,000 girls, who are now on strike, and ation of such a law and see, if possible, what tbe object are for com-
who are holding mass meetings to pelling* the employes to contribute and what results might possibly acruc
arouse public interest in their cause. from sucll a regulation.
The original number of strikers has ar„ument advanced 1 \ those who favor imposing a small tax
since been trebled and it is reported (he employe jn or(|cr that the employer might not be compelled
nm the ?!n tedreTex°tne Wor£ to hear the entire burden, is that it would have a tendency to make the
Officers of the united lextile worK • • r i c ln ili *k to them-
ers, affiliated with the American Fed- workmen more cautious in the discharge of their dutits bolla.to the
eration of Labor, together with local i selves and fellow workmen I he theory being that it a man t com
unionists, are assisting the girls. pelled to give up a portion of his earnings in older to reictvc the Dei e
I fit of the act,'that in itself would be a constant reminder to him, by
reason of the fact that he would have it within his power to increase MIQ n [DD [CC WTI1TI (IN |C
or decrease the burden by preventing accidents. |y|| J||LI IILOLll I H I lllli lu
In imposing the entire burden upon the employer we are simply
standing upon the broad principle before mentioned in this article, that |
industry should bear the burden of the expense of industrial accidents J
There might be some foundation in the argument that if the employe |
I is compelled to contribute a small amount that it would be an incentive '
" to make him more cautious and perhaps prevent some fraudulent claims,
Washington, Feb. 6 —In response to ^ jt (]oes not seem reasonable that this argument in itself should justify
a request by Chairman Burnett for ^ atceptjn„ t]le niatter as a foregone conclusion and we must of
"Tor ^slaUc exclusion,'secretary necessity look further and see whether or not the employe is contributing
of Labor Wilson, of the Department of in some other way.
Labor, writes that the problem would As a matter of fact the best of compensation laws fail to compensate
be solved if congress raised the stan by anywhere from 35 to 50 per cent, of what a man is capable of earn
dard of admission so as to include in jng prior to an injury and this it seems is in itself a contribution and one
the list of excluded aliens those per > t]lat should be seriously considered in connection with the enactment
sons not able to pass the physical tests a compensation law.
required of recruits for the United ' ]f ^ ac( waR tQ compcnsate (l„llar for dollar then it might be I >-r.,„au„ ' "
mXuyTf th^praeot-day imml' reasonable .0 argue that the employe should contribute along will, tin p^ttrmer
grants must earn a livelihood, if at employer to obtain the desired protection. Even then the employe is I newspapei statements made by them
all, by performing manual labor." says contributing to a considerable extent by reason of the fact that lie 1- were absolutely faiRc
the secretary, "I see 110 reason why compelled to meet unforseen expense in the way of doctor fees, hospital "Rvery scheme possible was used
the standard should not be raised to fees and expenses of that kind. j by the operators during the lat
this point." The letter states that if Again, we must take into consideration the suffering and hardship 1 of November to get scabs into tli
we fail to legislate against the Asiat- t],nt |1(1 romnelled to tro throueh in the event of personal injury, so it stat... Hundreds of men were brought
Denver, Col. Feb. 6.—(Special.)—
"No better attest of the success of the
coal strike could be had than the op-
erator's own figures furnished the
slate coal mine inspector for Decem-
ber which show that the production
of coal In the strike zone was only
DO per cent of the tonnage taken from
these same mines in December, 1912,
according to John It. Lawson, Nation-
al Board member of District IT,
Probably the most surprising thing
A. F. of L. Officials Hold Conference
with Labor Group. Who Urged
Adoption of Resolution
Washington, Jan. 31.—By a vote of
151 to 15 the House of Representa-
tives has ordered Its Committee on
Mines and Mining to make a thorough
and complete investigation of condi-
tions in the Michigan copper fields
and tho Colorado coal fields. The
committee is given wide powers and
will have authority to subpoena wit-
nesses and to hold hearings wherever
it may find it necessary. Under the
resolution, the following questions
will bo given especial consideration:
Whether a system of peonage is or
has been maintained in those strike
zones; whether the postal service has
been interfered with; whether the
immigration laws have been violated;
investigate the charge that citizens of
the United States have been accorded
treatment that is in violation of the
Constitution; investigate tho charge
that combinations exist that have for
their purpose the controlling of the
product of those fields; and the
charge that firearms have been
shipped into those fleldB to further
this purpose; in the event any or
all of these conditions exist investi-
gate the causes leading up to said
conditions. Because of the agitation
that has been conducted under the
direction of the Aerican Federation
of Labor, little opposition to the reso-
lution was presented. One of the
best speeches made in favor of the
resolution's adoption was that deliv-
ered by Congressman Lewis, a mem-
bar of the labor group, who said:
"Shall the laws be so reformulated
as to provide a peaceful remedy for
these conflicts between labor and its
employers? And the essential ele-
ments of that subject involve both
state and federal institutions in the
most direct way. For example, I
think that all will agree that the feu-
dal system is fundamentally incon-
sistent with American institutions and
in conflict with our established civil-
ization. And yet, we say, that in
the mining Industry It is common for
an incorporated company to own the
land, own the mine, own the jobs,
own the store, and even Ihe transpor-
tation, the means of ingresB and
egress to its one industry, town, or
community. I11 that case I suggest
you have the feudal syBtem as com-
plete as it lias ever shown itself in
history." For the purpose of creating
sentiment in favor of the resolution,
the A. F. of L. Executive Council
held a conference with the Congres-
sional I*abor Group, and President
(lompers, Secretary Morrison, and
Legislative Committeeman Holder
conferred with Speaker ('lark and
Representative Underwood, leader of
the Democratic side in Congress.
The following other unionists were In
the city and gave aid In tills work:
Vice President Mahoney of the West-
ern Federation of Miners, John Wal-
ker of the A. F. of L. Mining Depart-
ment, President Malion of the Amal-
gamated Street Car Men, President
Taylor of the Michigan Federation of
Labor, and Organizer Fairley of the
United Mine Workers of America.
UPHOLDS ACCIDENT BOARD
Michigan's Industrial Acc I d e n t
Board has won Its first case before
the state supreme court. Charles
Jendrus was injured in the plant of
the Detroit Steel Products company
and died without regaining the power
of speech. Doctors suggested an op-
eration. but he shook his head. The
industrial board awarded the widow
$10 a week for 300 weeks. The steel
company and the Workmen s Com-
pensation Insurance company appeal-
ed on the ground that the proximate
cause of death was the refusal of
Jendrus to permit an operation. The
court sustained the board, citing a
long list of English decisions. The'
question of the constitutionality of the
act creating the board was not an is-
sue and was not referred to by the
court.
aim expenses of that kind. | by the operators during the latter part
Again, we must take into consideration the suffering and hardship]of
.. _ that he is compelled to go through in the event of personal injury, so it
ics, as Canada has done, in a far more seems under the compensation laws that have been enacted up to
drastic manner, we tacitly invite these lhj. (imc, jt wQU,d jn(lee(1 j)c verv unreasonable to call Upon the employe
peoples to our shores. Mr. Wilson t j, t jn ., financjal War for his own protection.
rsiTssisriKsrr .y >« ■* *r,m- t
where to gain admission to our coun- is without foundation by reason of the fact that the -late ran provide
.*<• 4 «..m nfpnnt iflammto morliitiprc tr tirpvpnt navinpnt IHkIcM* StK'll CirCUmstcMCCS.
H S ... prevention of accidents, it i-
safe to sav that the small amount the employe would contribute would
where to gain aunnssion 10 our couu- .,
try, which, if not checked, will affect adequate machinery to prevent payment
not only California, but other portions As to mutual co-operation, in the
«i, — .nnntw "aa riimfltir nnrt Indus- safe to sav that the small amount the employe w um 1 onu num.: wum
have verv little tendency to cause him and the employer to co-operate t
any greater than thev do at the present time.
3 .. r f . . • . _ r ... .: 1 ... : ...... 1. -
s a matter of fact, prevention of accidents i- not so much a que
tion of co-operation between enipl ver and employe as it i- iron cla<
, . ■ i'ii i
of the country, "as climatic and indus-
trial conditions in the southern states
and other sections of the Union offer
an extensive field for a people who can
come in practically unlimited num-
bers." Since 189S, exclusive of those
from the
tered th€
tary dec
be a question «« ...j a,,,, ... ...... W W. W
time before the United States immi- ouglilv accustomed to the work End realize
gration officials will be confronted |1nw acc;(i
with problems growing out of Increas-
Since 1899, exclusive of those eo-opc .mo,, .khucc.i v.. ,...... . ■ ' ■
e Philippines, 6,658 Hindus en- rules and regulations laid down by the state and vigorously entoreed.
ie United Stales, and the secre- Employes in any industrial institution as has been stated, arc doing
clares that "It would seem to their best to turn out a day 's work. The employer expect- that of them,
estion of probably only a short and rightly so. and in their haste and from the fact that they are thor
■fore the United States immi- ousrhlv accustomed to the work and realize no danger, it i- ea-\ to «e<
from the east on the promise that tliey
were to work In a mine near Denver
where there were no labor troubles.
"Another large bunch of men were
brought from Joplin, Mo., on the pre-
tense that they were buying 20 acres
of land in the San Luis vallej near
Alamosa and then taken under mili-
tary protection into the Delagua mine
several hundred miles away.
"With the aid of militia and hun-
dreds of murderous mine guards these
men were forced to work In the mines
against their protests. At Tercio the
guards took the men's shoes away as against - !,b
from them every night to prevent their 1912.
escape. ! "The operate
"The operators made repeated an-1 prove that whil
of the state and were forced to lease
a mine to Ihe state to produce Its own
coal, they made no effort to explain
the shortage.
"Those citizens who hnve had any
doubts about the success of the coal
strike can find excellent food for
thought in the figures for December
"The non-union mines of Las Anl
mas county produced 120,188 tons of
coal in December. 1913, as against
399.349 tons in the same month of
I 1912,
"Huerfano county's non union mine*
produced 69.046 tons last month as
against 173,474 tons in the same month
| of 1912.
i "Fremont county's non-union mines
1 produced 7,585 tons of coal In Decem-
ber, 1913. The production in Decem-
ber, 1912, was 81.471,
j "While the low production of the
! non-union mines is encouraging, the
operators' figures also prove the efii-
■ Honey of union labor. Five union
1 mines in El Paso county produced
126.319 tons of m il in December, 1913,
7 tons in December,
■s' figures therefore
non union men wer«
happen
worK an<i realize no uuii^ci, u i> .> .■. -y. noun.-'.nieiii.-. <
1 co-operation is not much to be desired 'hey had all ti
«- - | as well regulated institutions where everv pi -sible protection is offered.
ing immigration of Asiatici laborers There is another objection to compelling the emplove to contribute
°Cha.rmaan Burnett 1* a.coi„pensa,i..„ law and .batiOt would . ause end.es- confusion
also informed that, the Department of in the different Industrie- in apportioning the amount due from caeh in-
Labor was notified last spring that dividual employe snd would undoubtedly imnose con-iderable additional
6,000 or 7,000 from the Philippines j expense upon an emplovcr in collecting these funds. What we are
yvere ready to start for here at the | stri\ ing to do is to eliminate all complications and enact some sort
of a law that will operate speedily and as simply as possible.
first sign of the open door.
nouncements through I heir pre:
i men they need
s that i able to produc
■d and I normal tonnag.
lhat production would be normal for I mined 112 percent
the month of December. Throughout [ j,ut."
the month they repeated these sta'e- j
ments and said that po far as they
30 per cent of the
union coal miners
of the normal out-
concerned the strike was broken.
Yes." said the boss plumber, as hp
'a buzz wagon is sure
think how many more
"When, in the middle of December. | "'m
hey were unable to produce enougti i tjmea a , can g0 back for niy
'oal to supply the penal institutions)^ .,
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Zeigler, C. C. Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 34, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 7, 1914, newspaper, February 7, 1914; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc157186/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.