The Butler County press. [volume], September 12, 1913, Image 1

About The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
.TW"
,.
1
TRADE
UNIONS
PRINCIPLE THAT SUCCEEDS.
HAV&N OF SAFETY
Labor Organization* Have Lifted the
Worker From a Mere Helpless Pawn
Into an Independent, Self Reliant
Man, With an Object In Life.
Tbe policies and methods of trade
unions often receive unexpected sanc
tiou from divers sources. At the re
cent meeting it) Philadelphia of repre
sentatives of those engaged in educa
tional work the discussion centered
about the problem of increasing the
practicability and the efficacy of the
schools and. as a means to that end.
securing more effective teaching serv
ice. To seoflre this second result
Professor Henry Snzzallo advocated a
plan which was virtually but the ap
plication of trade union principles and
methods to the needs of the teachers.
Many who hare been identified with
the educational system of our land
have long felt that no real improve
ment can be made unless the teachers
themselves are enabled to develop in
dividuality and Initiative and are ac
corded respect and adequate remuner
ation. The real Improvement and the
desire for improvement must come
from the bottom and extend upward
and demand acceptance and recogni
tion by those in control. Many a
teacher, trying to give the children
what they need and want, has been
thwarted by the system, has found
that if the educational prescriptions
did not fit the child it was always the
child that must adjust and has found
that the teacher's individuality and
methods must always conform to bu
reaucratic Ideals.
Professor Suzzallo's plan is based
upon the theory that If teaching as a
public service is to be increased in ef
fectiveness the mciMis to that end is
improvement in the status of teachers.
He advocates local guilds for teachers
with the territorial unit for each guild
small enough to insure attendance at
meetings The number of guilds in a
city should be in proportion to the
size of the city. All these local guilds
should be federated In a state associa
tion. and representatives from each
state should form a national council of
teachers' guilds.
The ubiquitous critics arose croak
ing, "Such an organization would be a
mere trade union, concerned solely
with advancing the class Interests of
teachers." What a world of ignorance
and misunderstanding in that expres
slop. "a mere trade union!" But the
same "mere trade union" has lifted the
worker from being a mere helpless
pawn, to be moved and shifted as the
employer desired, into an independent
self reliant workiugman who partici
pates in the determination of eoudi
tions affecting his work, who has rea
sonnble working hours, a decent and
safe place in which to work, a chance
to gain those things which make life
beaiable and worth while. All of these
results make the working people more
competent as workmen and more val
uable as citizens. This "mere trade
union" under any other name can ac
complish the same results for the
teachers. Underpaid teachers cannot
give the resourceful services that can
be obtained from those who have the
means with which to prepare them
selves. Teachers will not be given the
compensation and recognition which
they deserve until they themselves are
able to make their demands effective
Certainly no one need fear that ad
vaucing the Interest of the teachers
and securing Justice for them will be
a cause whose effects will be coutined
to any one "class." Quite the con
trary will be the result. The bene tits
will necessarily be transmitted to ail
whom tbe schools serve—that is, all
humanity.
Professor Suzzallo's plan was re
ferred to a committee which was in
etructed to report to the next meeting
of the National Educational assocla
tion. Local organizations have been
found very advantageous by many
teachers. A national organization would
bring proportionally greater benefits
The same need for organization among
teachers has been felt in other coun
tries. Quite recently, at a congress
held at Brussels. a national union of
teachers was established, affiliated
with tbe Belgian Labor party and Fed
©ration of Trade Unions.
The trade union Is always the haven
of safety and effective protection to
which all classes of workers are tend
lng. for the trade union principle is
one that succeeds.—American Federa
tlonlat
Women's Hours of Work.
The Minnesota state bureau of labor
is getting in readiness for the strict
enforcement of the hours of labor law
for women, passed by the last legisla
ture. and which has become effective.
The attorney general holds that the
ten hour day for restaurant employees
upplies to cashiers, waitresses, kitchen
•mployees and employees In cafes and
lunchrooms run in connection with
hotels. If the cafes are run for the
accommodation of the general public
Tbe nine hour limit for laundry work
era does not apply, according to the
attorney general, to employee# of hotel
a y y e s i u o n o I o u s i e
OFFER PROTECTION TO ALL CLASES WORKERS
work it i-. .-ikm r««• li tlull tin- 111111•
hour (•••strict.on for telephone operator*
applies to those who attend public
telephones in hotels and other places,
and not to those employed by hotels
or business houses that operate Interior
systems "hi iir" News
GRASS LINED BOOTS.
They
Are Worn by the Nomadic Lapps,
Who Never Get Cold Feet.
While civilized man sailers intensely
from cold feet every winter, tbe Lap
lander. living in the far uorth of Ku
rope, has no such trouble. A traveler
writes: "Their boots are made of rein
deer skin and are worn very large, and
Hie toes are puinted and curve upward
so as to be easily slipped into their skis.
The Lapp usually tills his boots half
full with a peculiar green grass, into
which he thrusts his naked feet. He
then packs the boots full with more
grass, tucks the ends of his trousers
inside and binds them tightly round
with uu ny turns of a brightly woven
braid. With these precautions they
never suffer from cold feet, and chil
b'ains, corns or such like civilized com
plaints are an unknown horror to
them."
Concerning other customs the same
writer says: "The Lapps are essen
tially a nomadic race and spend most
of their lives wandering fancy free
among the wild and glorious scenery
of their northern home. However, at
times no doubt the stillness of the
frozen mountains becomes too still,
and they turn their herds and start
toward their nearest meeting place.
Twice a year they hold these general
gatherings—at Easter and midsummer
when they congregate and hold a
general fair. It is on these occasions
that they celebrate their weddings and
funerals. The revelries last only about
ten days, but many marriages take
place between couples who perhaps
have never met previously.
"As soon as a Lapp can afford to buy
enough reindeer for himself he leaves
the parental tent, takes a wife and
roams away wherever his heart or
reindeer dictates. There are no social
distinctions in Lapland. Should a man
have no reindeer or possibly have lost
what he had he travels with a rich
man and helps him tend the herd, but
he lives and feeds with them in the
same tent and is quite on a social
equality until he can afford to start off
with his own herd."—Chicago News.
TURKISH VENGEANCE.
It's a Perilous Matter to Endaflger the
Life of a Sultan.
Within two weeks after the assas
sination of Mahtnud Shefkct Pasha,
the grand vizier of Turkey, thirty-two
men were put to death for taking part
in the conspiracy. According to Tur
kish custom handed down from tha
time of Mo hummed, there "is no limit
as to the number of lives that tony be
taken as a penalty for the murder of
oiMi man. Even those interested in
the remotest degree are li»'»ie to the
sultan's vengeance. It i~ not so much
the number the ruler of Turkey is au
thorized to put out of the way, but
rather where the line is to be drawn.
The Turks have a story of one of
the earlier successors of Mohammed
whose life was only endangered be
cause of a rock falling down a decliv
ity near which the sultan was riding
with his retinue. Half a dozen of
those in charge of the trip were put to
death as au ordinary matter of course,
then half a dozen more who might
have remotely known something about
the facilities afforded by the road for
killing the sultan. Finally all the mem
bers of a secret club or lodge were or
dered executed because it was ascer
tained that one of the responses to a
password was "Will you roll down the
stone?"
Despite the protestations of the club
members that the words had no slgnlfl
cance at all with respect to the sultan
or the sultan's trip along the road, they
were ordered to the scaffold. They
numbered 118 in all and died bravely
assuring their executioners to the verj
last that they were innocent Later a
eunuch who told how the falling of the
rock was merely an accident was also
put to death for daring to say so.—New
York Sun.
Killed by Light.
Those who have studied tbe strange
inhabitants of the Mammoth cave in
Kentucky say that the celebrated
blind flsh from that cavern when
placed in illuminated aquaria seek out
the darkest places, and It is believed
that light is directly fatal to them, for
they soon die If kept in a brightly
lighted tank. The avoidance of light
seems to be a general characteristic of
the sightless creatures dwelling in the
great cave.
Starting Something.
"While you are in asking papa for
my band in marriage, Philip. I'll bo
playing something lively on the piano,
said the sweet young thing.
"No, I wouldn't do that, Jessica," re
plied the young man. "You know
some people can't keep their feet still
when they hear lively music."—1'oa
kers Statesman.
VOL. XIII. NO. 23 HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1918.
THE MINIMUM WAGE.
Those who desire to foist upon
labor a minimum wage must
produce better and more sub
stantial arguments than those
based upon the idea that the
morals of our working women
are to be measured by the scale
of wages prevailing.
If these people are serious and
really bent upon doing some
thing that will be beneficial to
the working women rather than
advertise themselves let them
expend about one-half the en
ergy they are now wasting In
an endeavor to institute organi
zations among them. Organiza
tion will do far more for them
than a statute establishing a
minimum wage for women work
ers.
Above and beyond all otber
considerations. however. let
there be a stop put to the pres
eut disposition to slander the
womanhood of America by con
tinually asserting their morals
are a mere matter of dollars and
cents, of food aud clothing, of
convenience and comfort Away
with such rot! Tjibor Clarion.
A HARD ONE TO ANSWER.
Why
Are Not All Workers
Members ef
a Labor Union?
In the Citizen of recent issue a well
known labor leader reported his little
daughter as asking. "Papa, why do
uot all 'mens' join the union?" After
confessing bis owu perplexity and his
inability to find an answer satisfac
tory to himseif he requested one.
It is not au easy question to answer.
When it is asked why are not all
men angels or why do not the rich
meu give away their money it is easy
to answer, for it is well understood
that all men are selfish and very
human.
But when it is asked why do not men
take advantage of the best means to
get more wages, shorter hours and bet
ter conditions it Is a puzzle, sure
enough.
The selfish human heart cannot be
the answer, for that would prompt a
man to better his condition whenever
opportunity offered.
"The other men will do the work
and pay the dues, and I will come in on
it without its costing me anything in
time or money."
Can it be? It is hard to believe it
for the reputation of our kind.
That would not be a selfish human
heart. It would be the heart of a
swine, not of a man. which could de
liberately and unconsciously let others
put bread into his mouth by struggle
and sacrifice while he stands away
from it all.
No let us for the sake of our com
moD humanity find.some other reason
It Is better to accuse the head than
the heart.
Some people have not gray matter
enough to see beyond the end of their
noses. The penny they would be com
pelled to pay in dues crowds out of
sight the five dollar gold piece within
reach fit tbe hand.
The hour's time they would spend
bearing the common burden makes
them forget the many hours' time they
could gain by taking a man's place be
side their brothers.
Selfishness is one thing. It is a very
blind, stupid thing.
Self interest is another thing, or the
same thing grown to man's size.
Intelligent self Interest Is the ful
crum which moves the world.
When the brains aud hearts of the
workers are grown to full man's stat
ure all men will not only be in a great
worldwide, all embracing union, but
nil will vote in solid phalanx, and this
earth will at last belong to all the chil
dren of men.
Yours is a hard question, little one
But it is being answered by the hard
knocks which make men think.
When they think and act you and all
the wee ones like you will be saved
from much that now makes the path
before your feet a hard, rough path.
Speed the way!—Los Angeles Citizen
The Mulhall Revelations.
For years we have from time to time
mentioned the vituperative attacks
made upon organized labor by the Na
tional Association of Manufacturers
under the leadership of Parry. Post
Van Cleave and Kirby. Tbe vtndie
tlveness of these men would naturally
lead us to expect them to go to ex
tremes. but we were hardly prepared
for the revelations of Martin M. Mul
hall, who appears to have been em
ployed by the manufacturers to lobby
against labor legislation, to defeat con
gressmen and senators who favored
labor legislation and to elect candi
dates favorable to employing interests
and to spend money for bribery and
ither purposes in connection with the
same. These serious charges are de
nied by the Manufacturers' association
but they seem to be supported by doc
nmentary evidence and particularly by
correspondence which Mulhall is turn
lng over to the investigating commit
tee of the United States senate. Before
the investigation Is over there is prom
ise that «ome of the notable character*
of industry will become notorious.—
Shoe Workers' Journal.
Labor Unions of Norway.
Labor organizations of Norway anna
ber 60.378 members. The Increase
during the year 1912 was 7,203 There
was an increase among all the different
organizations, but the largest was
among the common laborers, being
1,680 Tbe railroad and meta! ^rganl
eatSou* am second with ats Ucr«t»a£
mstolNmlNtp 1,211 durimf the yee*
i 1
OPEN SHOP UNFAIR
ts Real Purpose to Wipe Out
Trade Unionism.
HE PHRASE MISLEADING.
Ostensibly It Means a Workshop
Where Organised and Unorganized
Toilers Work Together In Harmony.
A Fallacy Exposed.
In a recent Issue the Springfield (III.)
Daily Record pays its respects to tbe
much lauded open shop as follows:
As a phrase "the open shop" sounds
well.
But it is entirely misleading.
Ostensibly It means a shop where
union men and nonunion men work
side by side in perfect harmony and
for fair wages.
But there never* was such a shop
and never will be.
For union labor cannot work along
side nonunion labor (and under condi
tions which demand that the union
shall be ignored) without becoming
nonunion labor.
The union shop is a closed shop and
makes no pretense to the contrary, for
in a union shop tbe unions Insist that
none but union labor shall be employ
ed and make no concealment of the
fact
The open shop also is a closed shop,
for, even as tbe union shop is closed
to nonunion labor, so is the open or
nonunion shop closed to union labor.
Of course tbe advocates of tbe so
called open shop do not admit these
facts.
Instead tbey set up the fiction that
there is no good reason on earth why
a union man cannot work in an open
shop.
They ignore the mighty fact that tbe
union man can enter an open shop
only by ignoring his union and by re
pudiating his unionism.
The Record has uo use for pretense.
It does not believe any good purpose
ever was served by petty subterfuge
Hence it believes that the whole
community should be told the truth,
and the truth in the present instance
is that the fight for the so called "open
shop" is a fight against unions.
Just that and nothing more!
The purpose of the fight is to put the
unions out of business so far as the
crafts affected are concerned.
The Record tries to be equitable.
It realizes thnt if uniou labor has Its
right the employers nlso have theirs
It recognizes the fact that the union
labor leaders have made some serious
mistakes and that not all their de
mands have been based on a fair con
sideration of the conditions involved.
But. recognizing these things, the
Record also recognizes that there is no
good reason for and no real fairness
in the present determined attempt to
crush union labor by means of the
"'open shop" policy.
The claim is made that just as good
wages are paid in the ""pen shop" as
in tbe union shop.
Taken as a rule, the claim is without
merit.
it is true that high wages usually
are paid while the effort is being made
to establish the "open shop" and de
feat the unions.
But once these objects are accom
pllshed high wages usually drop to
low wages.
The Record Is for Springfield first
last and all the time—for Springfield
capital as well as for Springfield labor
And because it is for Springfield it
pledges itself to do everything within
its power to defeat the attempt to
crush the local unions.
For if that attempt succeeded it
would be found, in tbe final degree,
that the result would be disastrous to
the city as a whole.
It has been argued that the unions,
with their higher wages, check the
growth of a town.
It is not in evidence that they do
but even if they did, for one the Rec
ord sooner would see Springfield a
smaller city of fair paid, contented
men and women than see it a larger
city made up of underpaid, discontent
ed toilers.
There can be no lasting prosperity
for any community unless that pros
perity reaches down to the great
masses that work and who. after all
are the chief capital of any city.
I-H-M-1' I M' I I I
PROTECT WOMEN WORKERS.
Laws that will protect the
working women against starva
tion wages will protect honest
employers. And. what Is far
more important, such laws will
protect the coming generation
and the future of this country.
It will he said that men are
underpaid also, that disorganiz
ed labor suffers and that the
wives and children of the labor
er suffer in the competition of
low wages. That is true.
But one step at a time in man's
way of walking. And one step
at a time is the government's
way of lawmaking.
Protect tbe women and girls,
compel payment of decent
wages. Jail the man who hires a
girl or woman for less than It
costs her to live decently or who
works her so bard as to leave no
etierir.v In her body for the du
ties of motherhood and you will
bav® mad* good beginning-—
Arthur Krishnae
I i ill lilt'**1 I l«li li* til**
rLER COUNTY PRESS.
REFORMATION DEFERRED.
Georgia Legislature Refused to Rata*
Age Limit For Child Workers.
The Atlanta Journal declared that
tverybody in Georgia of even a little
Importance—and that, of course, in
eluded the owners of the cotton mills,
who are very Important Indeed—had
come to realize that the exploitation
sf child labor was not ouly a disgrace
to tbe state, but was highly detri
mental to its industrial and educa
tional interests. Therefore the Jour
nal talked confidently about tbe pros
pect* of speedily passing a child labor
law which had been favorably report
ed to both branches of tbe legislature
and was commended as a well devised
and not unreasonably rigorous measure
by all tbe people and organizations In
and out of Georgia who have given the
subject enlightened consideration.
To those who wanted to believe all
this It was a little mystifying that tbe
Journal added an earnest request for
all who could influence the legislature
to bring their power to bear upon it at
once, and a little disquieting, too, was
tbe fact that the natioual child labor
committee was continuing its appeals
for money with which to conduct its
campaign of propaganda and rescue
In a state where no more work of this
kind seemed to be necessary.
The mystery now disappears and the
disquietude Is justified, for the Georgia
legislature later decided that for tbe
present, at least, the cotton industry
would be imperiled if the working age
for children was raised to fourteen
years, and there is no concealmet
of the fact that the antagonism of tb
mill owners to the bill was too stron
to be Ignored. So the bill was fo
mally shelved, and the session will er
with nothing done about the estal
llshment of an age limit or any nev
restrictions on the hours of labor.
This seems a pity, for hardly an
thing is more nearly sure than thj
the profits of child labor, though larf
in dollars and cents, are obtained at
dreadful cost to every community thi
permits it. The southern cotton mam
facturers have. Indeed, been able
prove that there are places where tl"
children live In conditions, sanltar
and educational, worse in several r^
spects than those provided for them
in the mill towns. That is very far,
however, from proving that Indoor
work, prolonged and exacting, even if
not bard, is not a bad preparation vf
the rising generation for the various
activities, duties and responsibilities
of adult life. Even If the Atlanta
Journal Is a pretty poor prophet it is
entirely sound as to what constitutes
disgrace and suicidal folly for a state.
PRINTERS' FINE SHOWING.
Membership Increasing and Wages
Are Moving Upward.
The reports of the officers of the In
ternational Typographical union, re
cently in annual convention at Nash
ville, Tenn., speak volumes for th*
benefits of unionism. The progress
made by tbe organization so far as
average earnings are concerned show*
a steady aud strong trend upward
With an average paying membership
iu 1909 of 44,921, the average earning*
per member for that year were $897
In 1910 the paying membership amount
ed to 47,848. with average earnings
per member of $953. In 1911 the aver
age paying membership further in
creased to 51.S07, witb average earu
ings per member per year of $974.
In 1912 the average paying mem
bership reached r.'l.S07, witb average
earnings per member per year of
The year 191.'] showed a still further
increase in paying membership, it
reaching a total of 55,614. Average
earnings also in 1913 reached the new
high water mark of $1,023 per mem
ber.
Tbe total increase in wages from
June 1, 190S. to May 31. 1913, waa
$10.*50,74S. These figures are accvi
rate, as the International Typographi
cal union collects its old age pension
upon a percentage of earnings basts,
which gives to the international office
accurate data.
Industrial Abuses.
The principal abuses iu the modern
Industrial system are "sweatshop
masquerading as "home work," th«»
employment of children under sixteen
years of age, the employment of fe
males over eight hours per day In
manufacturing establishments, the cot
tract convict labor system, tbe employ
ment of minors In dangerous and un
healthy occupations, the Insanitary
workshops and factories and low
wages.
i I I I I i 1 1 1 1 1 1
I TRADE UNION GOSSIP.
•M
..l..M..l"M-H-M"l"H"l MM
Petitions for a universal eight he
statute have been filed in every cour
of tbe state of California under the u
Itiative law.
International labor organizations
North America number 14S. and nlr.-*
ly-nine of these have affiliated locals
Ihe Dominion of Canada.
Members of tbe Moiders" union re
fused to strike in sympathy with U-«
Metal Trades Workers at tbe Fee*
plants In Hyde Park. Mass.
Machinists and officials of the west
era railroads have settled their differ
snces The workers received an
it
nd
ranee In wages and other concessions
The San Francisco Building Tratft*
council has elected P. H. McCartb*
president for the eighteenth consent
tive term since the council was organ
ized.
The supreme court of Missouri has
•ostalned a law forbidding the employ
tnent n manufactures under ordinary
soadij|«rs esf beck ene* tyd
tiuua tea
k&ara
a dy.
A"-.
Nigh
Tkc
331 East 5th St.
STOVES & RANGES
Made In Hamilton
w v
teg- V t. Pat. Oftcr
Ask the man who builds them"
S O O Y
Geo. Bast
& Son
JJ2-6
St.
Dry Goods, Carpets, Cloaks, Q,ueensware
Millinery. House Furnishings
foss-Hol brock Stamps with
all Cash Purchase*.
eel him at
Cor. Front and Hisd Sts.
Merchants' Dinner Lunch
Served every Day
Lunch Counter Connected
JL ml
ii The H.HJanes Ssrvlci Olslnfsctors
Used by all the leading Cafes
and Business Houses in the city
No Bad Odors and Perfect San
itation at All Times
i i
i"«
Just Bear
The Ohio
Zunt-Heit,
Special
$1.0# FEE TSiLB
Grimmer
Se bon^
110 Mala SI.
brocK Bros.
Feliafek Dealers in
s
CINCINNATI, IHII
In
5eld by all Leading Cafe* In Hamilton
Ohio Union Brewing Co.
Cincinnati, Ohio
READ THE PRES5
,-wg
Mind
Union Bottled Beer
When yeu want g«od Beer, all whs have drank
It are delighted. Nethlng hut hope and Mali ef
Quality are used in making eur
Brew and Tannhauser