Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 9, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 15, 1914 Page: 2 of 4
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THE OKLAHOMA LA B O R UNIT
THE OKLAHOMA LABOR UNI I
LABOR UNIT PUBLISHING CO., Ownert.
"^au ronservaUve, ""ere"8
Published Every Saturday by
C. C. Zeigler, Managing Editor.
PRESIDENT fENTON'S
EIRSI ANNUAL REPORT
—
111 a ureat favor if they will promptly notify the Business
® Offls"ov!,ny l.llure °r IrregnUtrlty la th. deliver? ot their ft".-
sl |,ril itil'TION (Payable In Advance.)
One year ..
BU months
Thro "^^eoitract and flat ratei'f'or advertising on application.
...$1.00
.60
.25
"Were it not for the Labor Press the Labor Movement would not
be what it is toilav, and any man who tr.es to injure a labor paper is
* traitor to the cause."-President Samuel Gompers.
Labor paper as an advertising medium.
Printer's Ink, the recognized authority on advtrtising, after
iUto cllllKV't 53VS!
than an ordinary
newsnaner in comparison witn circuiauuu. ^ i"*Ptr> for example
having; 2,ooo subscribers, is of more value to the business man who
advertises in
thorough investigation on this subject says:
"A labor paper is a far better advertising medium thai
nouicnaner in Comparison will, circulation A labor paper,
subscribers, is ot more value to the busini
it, than an ordinary paper with 12,000 subscribers.
NOTICE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
The T ahor Unit is not behind any party, clique or candidates It
ha, opened'its columns to candidates who may wish to announce them-
selves through this medium. All such announcements appear as adver-
using.
tradeMlabelLcou^
Meet 11s at the convention.
Great election machinery that which takes ten days to decide
flio is nominated for Governor.
hamed to own that he has beeti'in
other words, that he is wiser ti
No man should ever be a>
the wrong, which is but saying
day than he was yesterday. -j
LABOR FOR PEACE
The organized workers have invAriably demanded and co-oper
■ited with every movement for international peace and anti-military
To the officers and members of the
Oklahoma State Federation of Labor,
eleventh annual convention a -
Mlllbtod
Greeting:
In accordance with the law and
custom of our organization, It Is my
pleasure to submit for your" consid-
eration, my first annual report, as
your President, covering the more
important events transpiring since
the adjournment of our last conven-
tion. together with some suggestions
for the future welfare and increased
efficiency of our organization.
Immediately after the adjournment
of our lupt convention, a vigorous
campaign was entered into with a
view of Increasing the membership
and strengthening the Ftederatlon, by
securing the affiliation of those lo-
cals, in the state that were unaffil-
iated with the Federation. Our ef-
forts, in this respect, taking into con-
sideration existing conditions, have
been very gratifying.
During the past year or more Okla-
well as other states has suf-
posal of the Federation through
which Information concerning our
movement may be transmitted to our
membership and the proper publicity
given to the attitude of organized
labor upon the many issues affecting
our interests, that arise from time
to time.
The absence of concerted action,
where it exists, can be attributed
largely to the lack of proper commun-
ication between our various affiliated
organizations. The labor press prop-
erly supported can do much to ad
vance the interests of the labor move-
ment.
Many organizations and even city
central bodies have found it neces
sary to establish their own publica-
tions, while others have taken steps
to secure the proper support for the
labor press in their respective states
or cities.
Many reasons might be assigned as
to why this convention should in-
(luire closely into this condition but
1 am sure that no argument is neces
sary to convince you that proper and
effective steps should be taken to in-
crease the scope and influence of the
labor press in this state.
1 commend this situation to the
careful consideration of this convex
tion.
Metal Miners
Early in February 1 visited the lead
cers, requesting their attitude on de-1 aI,d ambulance
-red legislation. While pledges se-1 -8. "have prepared a
cured In this manner have been vie1 Qwn ,ik,ng> t0 be present-
lated in the past, in some instances, I bill legislature.
It is an excellent method of placing ed to ,h ,nion that your legisla-
officlals on record for future refer-, com^ttei, sl,ould aUe,lipt at the
'"fter the adjournment of the Jointi next session of the
meeting in February, the Farmers have xthe neces y ^
Union and the State Land Lessees amendment, and/prob y ]f this
Union selected representatives to rep-1 self, submitted to P P • ^
resent those organizations on the attempt fall* we musl ' to
joint board. I «vent 11 wl" be °ece88ar>' to
Another matter that I desire to call: make a statewide campaign.
your attention to, is the proposition First, it will be necessary to make
of the slate which was sent out by | such a campaign, to secure the a op-
Mr. E. W. Vance a day or two before tion of the necessary constitutional
homa as
fered an industrial depression, which ^
has made itself felt In practically all 1 ^"'^nc" district In the vicinity of
lines. Several successive crop fa11lMiaml for the purpose of assisting
ures have contributed largely to mak-1 0rganJzer Cope 0f the Western Fed-
ing times especially hard in Okla- eration ot Miners in organizing the
and themseivcs iu v.vV — -
toward militarism. Though the movement may seem harmless ...
even 11 raise worthy in some respects, it brings into being tendencies
Ihat are pernicious and dangerous. « )rganized labor protestsainl
will make its protest felt against a military policy. Let the \01ce
of labor insist that we remain a peaceful, law-abid.ng country re-
Ivintr upon civil institutions for protection and justice. Vvo k<
have special cause to oppose all attempts to foist militarism upon
oui free country or to encourage military tendencies.—Gompers
HIRED UNION POLITICAL BOOSTERS.
There are not a few persons in the ranks of labor who are will-
ing to turn their affiliation into a monetary beneht for themselves.
In the late
homa. This has naturally had the
effect of decreasing the membership
of a great many unions and many
small locals, especially of the build-
ing and kindred trades, hare only
with difficulty maintained their or-
ganizations. About forty locals have
surrendered their charters since the
last convention.
This has made the work of organ-
izing, both in instituting new locals
and securing new affiliations, ex-
tremely difficult. Notwithstanding
this condition the Federation is in
an excellent conditions, both numer
ically and financially.
The Secretary-Treasurer's repart
shows for the past year, a gain of
fifty-two unions, while 17 have been
suspended, were disbanded or with-
drew. A majority of those with-
drawing, or those becoming suspend-
ed reported that they had no funds
with which to pay per capita tax.
This leaves a clear gain of 35 locals,
making the total number of affiliated
unions 188 as against 153 a year ago.
This is a very good gain, in view
primary election there were several candidates in < )kla
homa who had little or no claim upon *'"■ "
the votes of the working
king p.
people wluv sent out emissaries among the union men see
Strange as it seems most any kind of a politician
)me one who carries a union card who
aises of the man who pays him lor do-
litical support.
can retain the service of
will ijo out and sing the pra - - - , , _
ing so For the most part the candidate who has a poor labor rci
ord is better than the fellow he hires and 111 a great many cases
such men do a candidate more harm than good. When you see a
man in a labor union boosting a candidate who has merely done
enough favorable to labor to keep down an appearanc^ of open en-
mity set it down that that member of organized labor is a common
hired tool. Not that we object to a union man supporting any man
of bis choice if he is deserving, but we know men whodevotedtle
.neater part of their time boosting lor men who were paying them
when at the same time they knew their labor record was punk. \\ e
have precious little use for the urtion labor political huckstei and
just as little for a man who employs him. \\ hen a union labor man
sines the praises of a man you don't know make him show that
man has actually befriended labor when it meant a political sacn
lice for him to do so.
WAR—WHAT FOR?
■\ustria-Hungarv in her greed for territory, Russia, in her blim
and jealous cares for a roadway to southern sea ports, Germany
France and England fearful lest other powers shall surpass them
have embroiled Europe in what portends to be the worlds nios
gruesome warfare. . .
Persia, Greece, Carthage and Rome all went to their disaster. ^ ^
in world wide wars. What we may read in the history ot tlic past wlth the unskilled worker it is dif-
mav be a picture of the future. That the European monarchies. ferent There are, except in certain
are pending a downfall of their wornout and useless sells there can 8easons. generally many ot'them_un-
be no doubt. That the present war will be the last stand of these J employed that naturally drift from
monarchies is a matter for conjecture.
of the existing conditions and can in
a large measure be attributed to the
co-operation of the membership
throughout the state and the absence
of internal dlsseiftion in the Federa-
tion.
New Organizations
While a number ot locals of mis-
cellaneous crafts have been chartered
during the past year. 1 am of the
opinion that the organization of the
school teachers throughout the state
should also receive the attention and
co-operation of the Federation. While
there are very 'few occupations or
professions more important to so-
ciety than theirs, probably no other
trade or profession is underpaid, in
proportion to the value of the ser-
vices they render, as the teachers.
While there are several organizations
of teachers throughout the United
States, there is only one in this state
at present: The Teachers' Federa-
tion of Oklahoma City, which was
chartered several months ago, and
which is affiliated with this organi-
zation. A sentiment in favor of or-
ganization and affiliation with the
labor movement is growing among
the teachers in this state, and their
ultimate thorough organization can
be materially assisted by the co-op-
eration ef our membership.
Organization of Common Laborers.
The organization of skilled workers
is a comparatively easy matter, in
comparison with that of organizing
the common or unskilled laborers.
When skilled workers find them-
selves in a community where no or-
ganization of their craft exists, but
little trouble is generally experienced
iu organizing them, if there are a suf-
ficient number to form a local union
Metal Miners of that vicinity
A local union was instituted at Mi-
ami with the operators making a
stubborn fight against the organiza-
tion. Every means at their disposal
was used to inconvenience members
of the union.
Som«| were Idischp^ged outright
while in other cases the mines were
closed down. Where this was done,
they gave as their excuse that the
price of ore had gone down to such
an extent that continued operation of
the mines was unprofitable. Investi-
gation disclosed, however, that the
price of ore was higher at that time
than it had been in several months.
I took the matter of discharging
these men up with the State Depart-
ment of Labor, and after an investi-
gation, two cases were filed against
the Carson Mining Co.. alleging vio-
lations of the law which prohibits
employers from coering employes not
to join, or be members of a labor
union, as a condition of employment.
These cases have not yet come to
trial, having been postponed -to the
place to place in search of employ-
A majority of them are unor-
If the monarchs and their retinue were to march to the i ganized, and "are of necessity forced
of carnage; were they to have their flesh torn by cruel steel; were I acoept anything In the way of
they to have their limbs and vitals separated from their bodies ami wages an(j working conditions offered
them.
The Seattle convention, of the
American Federation of Labor, rec-
^ast to the four winds in order to maintain the dignity of their posi-
tions there would probably be a greater following in patriotism.
But when the working class of Austria will "follow the flag
into Servia, and murder Servian working men on the plea that agnizing
Serb assassinated an Austrian noble; when Russian workers will j ,he organlzation of the
march to the strains of martial music to the frontiers of t .ermanj | ungk,Ued and particularly the float-
and slaughter German workmen simply because Germany backs j jng iahorers. While the organizers
Austria, and Russia is behind Servia; when France and England j have at,empted to follow this sugges-
step in to plunge bayonets into the breasts of Austrians and Ger- j Hon their efforts so far have not been
mans for no better reason, then it's time to call a halt! 'entirely successful. I am convinced
That there i- more subtle reason, that reason being a question that the proper solution of tttoBrob-
of territory and commercial interests, there is no dispute. But this lem is^o^gje^ ^ ^ unions of
is not sufficient reason for Christian workmgmen and Christian na- l ^ carriers and Common Building
tions to rush into the toils of hell! . . . j Laborers and Federal Labor unions,
make these unions so strong. In
ery locality possible, as to control
situation locally. Several of these
France Roman Catholic Austria, all praying to the same Christ organizations have been chartered In
that they may succeed in murdering their fellow man! Could there this ITwomen workers and a workmen's
exist a greater mockery.' Could there exist a greater comnuntan • organize other3 in the fu. compensation act, modeled after the
upon our civilization, a greater travesty on the Christian religion. one now* jn effect in the state of
Gompers has stated. "War with its supposed pomp and hero-j La|,or press Washington. The joint meeting also
ism, is inaugurated by Austrian royalty to divert the people's at Qne the greatest aggets of the adopted as a preferential measure,
tention from their own ills and their honest intelligent course ti -,J
remedy these ills."
tions to rush into the toils of hell! ; tabor
Greek Catholic Russia prays to Christ for the success of then 1 m(
murderous weapons; I.utheran Germany prays to Christ for tin every
success of "our army;" English Catholic England, Protestant ,|je Bi
next term of court.
The lead and zinc field in the vicin-
ity of Miami is the south end of the
Joplin district. Should the Western
Federation of Miners gain a strong
foothold in the Miami field it means
the organization not only of practic-
ally all metal miners and smeltermen
in Oklahoma but in a short time the
entire Joplin district. This exPlal"s
the fight of the operators against the
organization.
It has heretofore been Impossible
for the W. F. M. to devote as much
work to this section as they other-
wise would have done had it not been
for the struggles they were forced to
engage in in Michigan and elsewhere.
It is my understanding that organ-
izers will be sent into this field in the
near future. They will of course re
ceive all possible assistance from the
officers of the Federation, and 1 ask
for the W. F. M., and 1 am sure they
will receive, the co-operation and as
sistance of organized labor of this
state, in this work.
Co-operation of the International Un
ions and the State Federation.
During the past year I have on sev
eral occasions secured the assistance
of several International Unions hav
ing unaffiliated locals in this state, in
inducing such locals to affiliate with
the Federation. While some results
have been accomplished in this man
ner, I believe that if this matter was
taken up through the proper chan
nels, much good would result, not
only to this bur other state federa
tions a^ well.
Several International Organizza-
tions require their locals to affiliate
with the central bodies and State
Federations in their respective local-
ities; others merely recommend such
affiliation, while some evidently take
no interest in this respect.
I therefore suggest that this con-
vention adopt a resolution, setting
forth the benefits to be derived by
local unions through affiliation with
central bodies and state federations,
the same to be submitted to all In-
ternational unions having unaffiliated ! the consUtut^^
locals, in this state, requesting that
they take some action toward affiliat-
ing such locals with the State Feder-|
ation of Labor.
Legislative Activities.
There liaving been no session of
the legislature since our last conven-j
tion there is but little to report up'b 1
tills subject.
In February, your Executive Board J
met with the representatives of the J
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin-j
eers. Brotherhood of Firemen and |
Enginemen, Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen and Order of Railway Con-
ductors, at which meeting a joint leg-
islative program was formulated. The
preferential measures coming from
our board and adopted by the joint
the primary election. This slate of
democratic candidates was sent out
by Mr. Vance without the knowledge
or consent of the Joint board. The
letter accompanying the slate was
written on joint board stationary and
signeif by Mr. Vance, who was gener-
ally known to be chairman. The im-
pression was naturally given that the
slate was a product of the joint
board, and in fact was equivalent to
an endorsement of the candidates ap
pearing on the slate, when in reality
no endorsement had been given.
Secretary Wilson and myself were
fortunate in discovering what had
been done, and immediately wired the
various trade union centers in the
state and issued a public statement
stating the position of the Federa-
tion.
In connection with this, I desire to
call the attention of the convention
to Section 4 of Article 7 of the .Con-
stitution, which requires that each
local union shall select a legislative
committee to act in conjunction with
the state legislative committee
legislative matters, and to request
that each delegate in reporting to his
local, bring this matter to their at
tention and that the officers of the
Federation be furnished with ..the
names and addresses of such com
mlttees.
State Capitol Building.
Work on the State Capitol Building
at Oklahoma City was commenced on
July 20th. After several conferences
between the officers of the Federa-
tion, the Oklahoma City Trades Coun-
cil and the State Capitol Commission,
an agrement was reached whereby
union labor will be employed on all
work coming under the jurisdiction
of the Commission. It is understood
that after the foundation is complet-
ed the remainder of the work will
be let to some construction company,
and indications are that union labor
will be employed throughout.
Workmen's Compensation.
Probably the most important legis-
lative proposition confronting our or-
ganization at this time is the status
of workmen's compensation in this
state.
Everywhere the people are begin-
ning to realize that the present meth-
od of compensating workmen who are
injured during the course of their
employment, or their dependents, is
inefficient, wasteful and incompatible
with modern industrial conditions.
This is evidenced by the fact that
since 1910, sixteen states have en-
acted workmen's compensation laws.
In some states these laws are work
ing successfully, and we find in each
instance, where this condition exists
that the law is a compulsory one and
administered by the state. Legisla
tion of this character is necessarily
of such a complex nature that the
average person fails to realize that
an elective compensation law, such
as is now in effect in some states, is
as bad, if not worse, than the present
common law system of compensating
injured workmen.
In cases where such laws hav
been enacted, labor has allowed it
self to meet the issue unprepared and
the result has been that legislation
written by damage suit lawyers and
agents of liability compares hav<
been placed upon the statute books
This is what will happen in Oklaho
ma unless this convention devises
ways and means to prptect the inter-
ests of those we represent in the ap-
proaching contest.
The situation briefly summed up is
this: The subject-of workmen's com-
pensation and the necessity of such
a law, has, through the efforts of or-
ganized labor and the State Depart-
ment of Labor, been brought so for-
cibly to the attention of the people of
this state, that it is extremely improb-
able that the next legislature will fail
to legislate upon this subject.
Before a just and equitable compen-
sation law can be enacted i( this
state, it will be necessary to amend
amendments, whether It Is referred
by the legislature or initiated.
Second, If the Fifth legislature fol-
lows the example of the Fourth, and
allows the corporations to dictate its
policy, we may expect that a bill det-
rimental to our interests will be en-
acted, and in that event we will be
forced to refer it to the people for re-
peal. It makes 110 difference as 'to
the disposition of the ueXt legisla-
ture, from all indications we will have
gone through a statewide campaign
at the convening of our next conven-
tion.
It requires several thousand dol-
lars to successfully prosecute a cam-
paign of this kind, and it is there-
fore up to this convention to devise
some means of raising this money.
We must either do this or idly fold
our hands and acknowledge our-
selves defeated.
In my opinion no proposition of
greater importance to Xhe Welfare of
all laboring men of this state and
those dependent upon them was ever
considered by any convention of this
Federation, an opportunity is afford-
ed us to perform a real service for
the workers of this state and we
should not fail to take advantage ot
it.
In view ot the fact that the meth-
od of raising the necessary finances
and conducting the Campaign must
be determined largely by conditions
which may arise in the future, I rec-
ommend that this convention refer
this matter to the Executive Board
for their action at the opportune time.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, I wish to state that
the relations existing between myself
and the other officers of the Federa-
tion have, at all times, been most
pleasant, and to express my appreci-
ation of the valuable assistance they
have rendered me, in performing the
many and varied duties devolving up-
on the President of such an organiza-
tion as this.
1 also desire to return my thanks
to the membership of the various lo-
cal organizations, for the many cour-
tesies received at their hands in car-
rying out my work over the state.
The work of the Federation during
the past year, has been largely of a
routine nature. There having been
10 session of the legislature, or, in
act, anything that would necessitate
a long and detailed report, nor do r
desire to take up the time of this
convention with such a report which
would contain for the most part, un-
important details. In view of the
fact that, my efforts, together with
the other officers, have been directed
toward increasing the membership
and in every possible manner
strengthening the Federation for the
struggle we will meet in the future,
I have deemed it unnecessary to sub-
mit a lengthy report but rather to
cover brieflly the more important
events transpiring since th% adjourn-
ment of our last convention, together
with the suggestions I have outlined,
for the future welfare of our organ-
ization.
I sincerely trust that the delibera-
tions of this convention will be har-
monious; that we may discharge the
duties devolving upon us as repre-
sentatives of the toilers of this state
in such a manner as will reflect credit
and make for the advancement of th&
labor movement of Oklahoma.
Fraternally submited,
EDGAR FENTON,
President, Oklahoma State Federa-
tion of Labor.
Realizing this condition the manu-
UNIONISTS GET RESULTS.
Philadelphia. Aug. 14.—The local
"labor forward" movement is grow-
ing in effectiveness, and when the A.
F. of L. convention is called to order
in this city, next November, the or-
ganized movemetrt will have been In-
creased by thousands. The commit-
tee in charge of this attempt to spread
the gospel of trade unionism says
their efforts are meeting with unex-
pected success.
Mr. Laboring Man:
We Will Sell You $100.00 Worth
Furniture—$10.00 Down
$10.00 a Month
of
When the workers wake up to this fact and refuse to fight the
battles of a degenerated royalty there will be less of war and pos-
sibly war will then be abolished.
1 ss "I
supported to such an extent as to cir-
culate freely among the membership.
It is absolutely necessary that there
Bhould be some medium at the dis-
Following the usual custom
joint legislative board submitted ques-
tions to the candidates, of all parties,
for legislative and various state ofti-
ftaoMRCE XEi tjousr; F u RNjSH CRS
11 18 ftUb jtr—t—Eaat Lm-HdcIiuu Hotel OkUhoma Cltj
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Zeigler, C. C. Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 7, No. 9, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 15, 1914, newspaper, August 15, 1914; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc157213/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.