Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 4, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 11, 1914 Page: 1 of 4
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OFFICIAL ORGAN
Oklahoma State
Federation of Labor
OKLAHOMA LABOR UNIT
OFFICIAL ORGAN
Oklahoma City Trades
and Labor Council
DEVOTED TO TH INTEREST5 OF OROANIZED L A *B O R AND THE FARMERS' UNION OP OKLAHOMA
VOL. 7.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1914.
No. 4
EXPLAINS REASONS
FDR OPPOSING BILL
SAMUELS BILL DID NOT AFFORD
RELIEF TO THE MAJORITY
OF FEMALE WORKERS
omen than any other one in- it
the laundries, and which is
>red the hardest work because
Jene M. Oorden, prominent member
of the Southern Child Labor Confer-
ence and a resident of the state of
Louisiana, makes a public statement
why she opposed the Samuels 54 hour
per week bill recently lost in the
House of Representatives.
New Orleans, July 2nd, 1914.
To tlie Public:—
As several letters have come to me
from different men and women
throughout the State asking my rea-
sons for opposing the Samuels 54
hours per week bill, which has just
been lost in the House. I take this
medium to explain my position. I
can readily understand that the peo-
ple at large are surprised to find me
opposing a law which on the face of
it purported to reduce the hours of
working women and girls, but after
careful study of the Bill I found that
for the few women who would bene-
fit under the law a greater proportion
would have longer hours.
I want first of all to make it clear-
ly understood that 1 am not at all in
sympathy with the views expressed
in the Times-Picayune that Louisiana
cannot reduce her hours for women
because it puts her at a disadvantage
with other states. This is the cry
that always goes up from the cotton
mill interests. Louisiana has only
two cotton weaving, one yarn and two
stocking mills in the entire State, em-
ploying altogether 947 women and
children as against 9464 employed in
all the other industries in the city of
New Orleans. Must these thousands
of women workers be kept on a ten
hour day, just because the cotton mill
interests claim they cannot compete
with other States? If it is true that
any industry would fail if its working
time was cut a few hours, then that
industry must be In a very sick con-
dition and the healthy grewth of an
entire State cannot be held back for
invalid industry. Society is begin
ning to recognize certain industries
as parasitic. That is, any industry
that claims it must have long hours
and the labor of little children to
make it profitable is recognized as a
parasite, because it is sucking the life
blood of the future citizen, and weak-
ening the greatest asset of any State
—the health of its working people.
Therefore, I repeat that if the few
cotton mills in this state cannot live
except upon long hours, then the
health and prosperity of the State
would be better without this parasitic
industry.
Following are some of my reasons
for opposing the Samuels Bill:
1st: The Bill did not apply to lit-
tle boys, only to females. Why little
boys should not be protected was
never explained. Certainly the health
of boys is just as important to the
gtate as the health of girls. Strong
fathers are as necessary as strong
mothers.
2nd: The industry which employs
t irkers stand all day in a h t, |
■ _ gas-ladened atmosphere, was j
permitted to work ten and half hours
a day. Under the present law the
launary workers do not work over 54
hours per week as tney do not start
work Monday morning until after
eleven, because the washers, who are
negro men, have not had time to get
the washing process through. They j
leave about noon Saturdays as the \
ironing must be finished in order that j
the packers can have the clothes to
pack. Therefore, the Samuels Bills
would have been a delight to the j
laundrymen in that they could have
had two and a half hours a week
longer than they now have. But the j
third reason is the most important of'
all.
3rd: In the event of any delay or
"emergency" in a laundry overtime is
permitted. If Mr. Samuels had been
at all familiar with factory inspection
he would have known that the minute
"exceptions" are made the law is
dead. We do not need woman and
child labor laws for the kind, humane
MOULIMT PUBLIC OPINION
(By Samuel Gompers.)
The Senate ludiciary Committee would not be true to the
traditions of an honorable past if it did not submit to a critical
examination the dark lantern compact between Mr. Gompers and
the administration embodied in the Clayton anti-trust bill. * * *
The secret desire of many Democratic leaders is doubtless to make
labor the beneficiary of the sort of class legislation which Congress
slipped into the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill, expressly forbid-
ding the prosecution of labor and agricultural organizations violat-
ing the Sherman law. If the President and his party want to set up
class distinction between lawbreakers, they have the power to do it.
But they should do it courageously and openly.
TO PUT NEW LAW INTO EFFECT.
Lexington, K>\, July 10.—A tenta-
tive organization of the commission
to administer the workmen's compen-
sation fund has been effected. No
funds will be available until the first
of the year, and ta the presfnt time
the Bureau of Labor and Statistics
will look afteh the preliminary work.
Notices will be sent out to employers
to ascertain how many will come in
under the act. In the meantime, the
inevitable lawsuit will be started to
test the constitutionality of the new
statute that has for its purpose the
protecting of Kentucky's working peo-
ple.
FRAUD IS
III USE OF NAMES
prietor is put in competition with the
slave driver type of proprietor, for
an "emergency" of some sort will ar-
rive every time the laundry Is behind
in its work. And for what reason
NDICTMFNTS AGAINST
F WORKFR OFFICIALS
IN W.VA. AREQUASHFO
FAIL TO PROVE THAT UNIONISTS
AND MINE" OPERATORS WERE
ACTING TOGETHER.
On the request of the federal dis-
trict attorney, of Charleston, W. Va.,
indictments against President White
and Vice President Hayes, of the
United Mine Workers, and seventeen
other national and district officers of
The above is a portion of a leading editorial by the New York
Tribune on the labor sections of the Clayton anti-trust bill. The at-
tacks on every one who disagrees with it, from the President down,
shows the desperate straits in which l!ig Business finds itself, when
it will slander public officials who insist in doing their own thinking.
The Tribune has fallen into lowly places since the days of Greely,
when the trumpet-toned challenge of that magnificent democrat was
heard throughout the land.
There is nothing to support the Tribunes contention that the
passage of the Clayton bill, the President, or his party, will 'set up
proprietor lot which there are many), (Hstincti()n betwee„ lawbreakers."
but we do need laws and they cannot . ,, , • , , . i
be worded too clearly, for the grasp-. This question, we have repeatedly shown, is labor and humanity
ing, unscrupulous proprietor (of which | versus dollars and products. Statutory enactments provided ample
I am sorry to say there are many).! remedy whenever labor violates the law.
and just as soon as the law allows Is labor a product amenable to the Sherman anti-trust law?
overtime in case of emergencies, just Tribune and its kind insists that it is. Labor's denial is sup-
that moment the honest, humane pro- ported by a remarkable decision bv the United States Supreme Court
in the case of the International Harvester Company vs. the State of
Missouri; the pre-election declaration of President Wilson; the plat-
form declaration of the dmoinant party; the practically unanimous
passage of the labor section of the Clayton bill by the House of Repre-
should special privileges"^ granted I sentatives, and the exemption by Congress on more than one occasion
(Continued on Page 3) ! of labor unions and farmers' organizations from trust prosecution
j with money appropriated in the Sundry Civil bill. These views we
reprint elsewhere.
Big Busines if;ignores this overwhelming evidence and blindly
shrieks "class legislation" in an effort to stem the rising tide that will
mark clear distinction between the men of labor and the products of
their toil.
The Tribune editor, skipping blithely o'er his thin intellectual ice,
is unconscious of these views. His method of attack, however, is in
accord with those who would stay progress and development. The
history of this force has been continuous and unreasoning opposition
to ideals for justice.
Our times are no exception to this rule, and the "arguments"
used by the Clayton bill opponents fairly illustrate a stupidity that be-
lieves logic and reason can be answered by silly assumption and lurid
claims.
A no time in labor's long struggle for relief from trust classifica-
tion has the prospects for success been brighter. The American people
are beginning to accept the workers' viewpoint that there a differ-
ence between them and their product.
While the House of Representatives has accepted this viewpoint
that organization were quashed. The by passing the Clayton bill, the light is not won. Kvety force at ihe
unionists were indicted last year un-j command of "Big Business is now centered on the Senate and its Ju-
diciary .Committee, which has the Clayton bill in charge.
The Tribune's editorial, referred to above, is a fair sample of
tiie methods used by labor's opponents. To offset this campaign of
untruth, bluster, cyclone and terror, every member of the trade unions,
railroad brotherhoods, farmers' organizations, and tWeir sympathizer,
should immediately communicate with thei Senators. Indicate to them
the need for permitting labor to exercise its normal activities without
PRINTERS MAY PICKETT.
Tacoma. July 10.—Judge Chapman
has denied an injunction to restrain
union printers from picketing non-
union plants. The strike was caused
by a refusal of the employers to grant
a slight increase of wages. The print-
ers claim it is opposition to union-
Ism in general more than the scale of
wages that is behind their employ-
ers' refusal.
CHEAP ARTIFICIAL LEG
WOULD BLOCK JUSTICE.
Springfield, Mass., July 10.—A jury
In the Superior court did not agree
with the Holyoke Street Railway com-
pany's views that damages for loss
of a leg were harly necessary, as ar-
tificial legs have been so perfected
that the loss is no longer a serious
handicap. The company admitted its
liability for the accident, which was
the result of a collison between trol-
ley cars. The jury returned a ver-
dict of $14,000 for the 10-year-old lad.
Show them that the spokesmen for greed do not represent the jus-
tice-loving sentiments of American citizenship.
Insist that the Senate pass the Clayton bill, as passed by the House,
at this session.
REPRESENTATIVE BUCHANAN WINS HIS
BATTLE TO PROTECT LIFE AND LIMB
To the Oklahoma Labor Unit,
Gentlemen:
Will you please allow me space tc
make n statement regarding some lit-
erature that is being sent out over
the State by certain candidates for
State Mine Inspector, using my name
and the name of my daughter, Mrs.
Oscar Adams.
I desire to state for the information
of the voters and the citizens of the
State that this has been fraudulently
used and for the purpose apparently
of trying to defeat Ed. Boyle for Chief
Mine Inspector and I desire it under-
stood that T myself and the Demo-
cratic voters generally of this place
are using all honorable means in our
power for the purpose of renominat-
ing Ed. Boyle for a second term.
Knowing, as we do, he has made an
honest and efficient state officer, and
I desire to state further that I have
just notified by letter Mr. Boyle's
opponents that my name must not be
used for this purpose, and should any
citizen receive any copy with my
name attached to it In future, I will
consider it a favor if they will for-
wards it to me at McCurtain, Okla-
homa.
(Signed) S. T. PHILLIPS.
ya McCurtain, Okla.
der the Sherman anti-trust law and
were charged with maintaining a
"conspiracy" with coal operators of
Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois to increase the cost of
coal mining in West Virgniia by un-
ionizing the mines. Officials gtate
that they could prove the mine work-, . , - . , i
ers were trying to unionize the mines, ' l>eing classed with a barrel of on, through interpretations by the courts,
but it would have been impossible to
prove any conspiracy.
The federal grand pury that pre-
sented this indictment, (which was
given wide publicity at the time, also
made public tnis view of conditions
in West Virginia, and which the grand
jury failed to see were causes for un-
ionization among the miners:
"The operators appear to have been
somewhat remiss in endeavoring to
secure and hold the good will of their
employes, and the grand jury deduced
from testimony that there existed
reasonable grounds for many of the
grievances complained of by the min-
ers. We believe that many of these
conditions are substantial and have
merit.
"The grand jury found that the
state laws have not been so enforced
as to give all persons concerned the
benefits which are derived therefrom.
Many camp marshals, whose appoint-
ments and salaries are controlled by
coal companies, have exercised a sys-
tem of espionage and have resorted to
arbitrary powers of police control, act-
ing in capacity of judge and jury and
passing sentence upon miners who
had incurred the enmity of the super-
intendent or pit boss for having com-
plained of real grievances or for other
causes.
The quashing of this indictment
marks another distinct advance by the
United Mine Workers in West Vir-
ginia, whose gains during the past
month have attracted general atten-
tion. These gains include the reversal
of Federal Judge Dayton's injunction
views by the Circuit Court of Appeals
at Richmond, Va., the settlement of
the strike at Collier's and the secur-
ing of the check-off system through
mediation.
FEDERAL JUDGE WOULD
MAKE IT UNLAWFUL
III TALK TO STRIKERS
COURT ORDERS THAT NO STRIK-
ER DARE SUGGEST WORKERS
LEAVE STRUCK PLANT.
The Roman tyrant who posted his
legal notices so high on one could
read them, and then punished vio-
laters of these laws, has a duplicate
in Federal Judge Humphrey, of Gran-1 toI)
ite. 111., who has issued a sweeping J s()jt
WOULD PROTECT TOTS
WHO TOIL AT LOOMS
DEMAND THAT CHILDREN UNDER
14 YEARS BE ELIMINATED
FROM COTTON MILLS.
The elimination of all children from
the mills under the age of fourteen is
one of the demands of striking em-
ployes at the Fulton Bag and Cotton
mills, located at Atlanta, Ga. These
workers have organized a union and
affiliated to the United Textile Work-
ers' union. This organization is re-
ceiving special assistance from the
American Federation of Labor in its
campaign to fetter conditions in this
industry.
Other demands of the Fulton strik-
ers are: The reinstatement of the men
and women discharged for joining the
union; fifty-four hours a week for
women and minors, and a 15 per cent
increase in wages.
It is charged that the company is
supported by the Southern Cotton
Manufacturers' association and the
National Association of Manufacturers
In an effort to break the strike and
end agitation for the abolishment of
child labor.
Exploitation to the limit is the fate
of these workers, who are forced to
dwelt in company shacks and deal at
company stores. It has been the rule
of the Fulton concern to hold back a
week's wage, and when the workers
struck against unbearable conditions
they had from a week to nine days'
pay due them. The money, the com-
pany declared, was forfeited on the
ground that the striker left without
notice. Credit was denied at the com-
pany store, and with eviction from
the company houses, the strikers pre-
sented a sorry picture until the or-
ganized workers came to their res-
cue. They are being supported by ti**
entire Georgia trade union movement,
the local movement, as well as the
United Textile Workers and the A.
P. of L., who are united in a protest
against the child labor system.
Organizer Miles, who is in charge
of the strike, voiced the workers'
views when he said:
"To put our little children in the
mills before they are much beyond the
cradle is only to keep them and the
generation that follows poor and ig-
norant. The low wages and feudalis-
ts system prevailing in Georgia cot-
mills has fastened upon us, in
of ourselves, the curse of child
injunction against striking employes | jubor What we want is decent liv-
of the American Steel Foundries, who jIlR wageB for the adults, so that our
are prohibited from even talking to i children can be kept in school and
Representative Bunchman, a mem-
ber of the Labor group, in Congress
and former president of the Internat-
ional Iron Workers' union, has won
his battle to amend the laws for
better protection to building crafts-
men in the District of Columbia.
This week the House of Represen-
tatives suspended the rules and pass-
ed the bill by an overwhelming vote.
The law is belived to be a modle for
future legislation that has for its
purpose the protection of life and
limb to workers in the erection of
buildings. All scaffolding and plat-
forms will be required to bear four
on every floor, and tines ranging from
$50 to $500 and imprisonment from
three months to two years, are penal-
ties for violations of this act.
Representative Buchanan lias at-
tracted attention the past few weeks
by his determination to unwind Con-
gressional red tape and secure the
passage of this bill. For several days
he conducted a filibuster and com-
pelled the House to spend much time
on roll calls by raising points of or-
der. On tine occasion the acting
speaker of the House called the trade
unionist to the chair, believing this
would silence him and permit the
strikebreakers
The judge imitates the style of the
Roman emperor when he orders that
100 'copies of his mandate be posted
by the company in and about its
plant, and that the affidavit of its
agent shall be proof of the posting of
the writ, which, tlie court commands,
applies to the defendants "and upon
all other persons from and after the
date of this decree."
The court assumes that the strik-
ers imagine his jurisdiction is world-
wide, instead of being confined to
Southern Illinois, for they are ordered
not to converse with the company's
employes or interfere with its busi-
I ness at (iranite City "or elsewhere."
The strikers "and all other per-
sons" are prohibited from committing
violence or destroying the company's
property—offenses that are punish
able under the criminal code, nut to
make sure the strikers will be dis j
couraged b> this fearsome and un ACTIVE HEAD OF HEN DEE MANU-
heard-of writ, the court orders that j FACTURING COMPANY DIS-
they cannot induce, persuade
have some chance to grow up healthy
and strong, and we want decent liv-
ing and working conditions, so that
the men and women won't be thrown
on the scrap heap before they have
passed middle age and have to give
their places to children.
"It is the little child that keeps
wages down by competing with its
own parents, and the mill owners
want children not only for their
cheapness, but because they are easy
to control, and don't complain of un-
just treatment."
times the maximum weight required,' House to pass the huge appropriation
and the inspector of buildings shall bn
immediately notified by workmen of
any defect or sign of weakness. This
information shall be treated as con-
fidential. Strict regulations are pro-
vided for the running of elevators
and hoisting machines, and It shall
be unlawful to use these unless the
holes or openings on each floor 5>>all
be closed to a height of at least six
feet. False floors are provided for
IOWA'S LIABILITY LAW UPHELD.
Then He Met a Juit Fate.
"Well!" he muttered, butting his
head on a landing as he fell down the
elevator shaft, "as Mr. Kipling would
say, 'This is another story.'"
Des Moines, Iowa, July 10.—Feder
— 1 al Judge McPherson has decided that
MILITIA RESIGN. the workmen's compensation act of
! this Statfe is constitutional, and says
Denver. July 10.—The resignations ! the statute is a vast improvement over
( of thirty-five officers and men of the | the old system.
State militia have been handed Gen- "Nearly all of the objections to this
eral Chase. These soldiers has con- j statute are argued from the stand-
demned the actions of their associates i point of morals, propriety and pol-
at Ludlow. ! icy," reads the court's opinion. "This
bill, then under consideration. But
the iron worker took advantage of his
new position to make history, and for
the first time in the annals of the
House of Representatives, a presid-
ing officer was heard to announce
there was no quorum present and an-
other roll call was ordered. A "gen-
tlemen's agreement," followed by a
suspension of the rules, resulted in
the bill's passage.
statute no doubt has many objection-
able features, but that it is a statute
with right tendencies 1 have no doubt.
"All such legislation is a matter of
growth and development, and in the
end when mature, as it ought to be
and quite likely will be, beneficial re-
sults will be obtained. At all events
this legislation cannot bring forth
worse results than we now have as
to these matters by court proced-
ure."
FIGHTS ONION LABDR
IS ASKED TO RESIGN
PLEASES STOCKHOLDERS.
suggest that the strike breakers cease
working at the struck plant. Fur-
thermore, they are warned against
"protecting, aiding or assisting any
person or persons in committing any
of said acts, and from assembling,
loitering or congregating about or In
proximity of the said plant
ami from picketing or maintaining at | business a year ag
It is reported in Massachusetts la-
bor circles that (Jeorge M. Hendee,
active head of the Hendee Manufact-
uring Company, builders of the In-
dian motorcycle, has been aBked by
the stockholders to resign his place.
The company was doing a prosperous
ago, then Hendee took
the premises of the com
plainant, or on the streets leading to
the premises of said complainant any
picket or pickets^ or from ordering,
directing, aiding, assisting, or in any
manner abetting any person commit-
ting any or either of the acts afore-
said.
Under the injunction it is impossi-
ble to conceive or a constitutional
right the strikers may enjoy without
coming under the ban of the court
and be jailed for contempt.
The rights of the strikers are not
only denied, but the court orders that
they pay the costs of the case.
Last November the foundry closed
down, throwing 1,600 men out of em-
ployment. This spring the plant
started under an announced nonunion
policy and a reduction of wages. A
committee from the central body
called on the management, but was
given the "nothing-to-arbltrate" an-
swer. The company would recognize
no one or any committee, except the
individual workers "who might have
a grievance." A strike resulted.
it into his head to dispense with the
union help. Since then the company
has been losing orders daily until
but a small force of men is now em-
ployed In the shop. Since the Indian
motorcycle was placed on the unfair
list the metal polishers' union has
made an acthe campaign against that
vehicle.
MUST HAVE A DAY OFF.
Washington, July 10.—Women can-
not work seven days a week in the
District of Columbia, even though the
j total number of lTours of work In a
week does not exceed forty-eight, ac-
cording to an interpretation of the
| MeweighHiourlawforwomenintheatF. .
il-pinecaoiqnint-n.to use eta etaoishr
j new eight-hour law for women in the
District, made by the Hoard of Com-
j missioners. Hotel men Insisted that
; women could work six and six-sev-
enths hours each day in the week
without violating the clause In ques-
tion, but the authorities ruled against
any seven-day division.
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Zeigler, C. C. Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 4, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 11, 1914, newspaper, July 11, 1914; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc157208/m1/1/: accessed March 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.