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The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, July 05, 1906, Image 1

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*?uc ?abor a'7vVoL
1. .No. 7. ? "" CHARLESTON, WES* VIRGINIA, JULY 5, 1906. ~ :?~
: :? $1.00 a Year in Advance
THE AIM OF T
Elements of Fraternity, Qualities oi
Been Strengthened
CASTE AND CLASS DISTINC
Spirit of Industrial Unionism Broai
Advantages of Its Immediate M
and Prospects for the Futur
In comparison with olden times
tl\n rti-ooont n-n?<l.*ilu ? w
IL11V. I V nv lit II Ul IWlcl > 1.1 <4 I^UUI IVI
workday, but the shorter workday,
as it is now commonly understood
signifies the eight-hour workday,
says C. L. Baine, in the Boston
Glolie. It must be considered t lint
the shorter workday is not universally
enjoyed, rather only in those
trades favored with effectual organization
of the workers and in the
infrequent instances of liberalminded
employers. AVe must not
lose sight of this fact when viewing
the benefits and advantages resulting
from the shorter workday to
the favored few, for, whatever benefits
and advantages the shorter
workday has secured to favored
workers, those benefits and advantages
are to'some extent narrowed
by the very fact that the shorter
workday is not universal. Neither [
should we overlook the benefits ac- j
cruing to the many from the added
advantages enjoyed by the comparative
few. !
.Education, religion and good
k:i lllilfllL. 11 Li\ C lllUglXTSSl'a, LLIKl
to some extent each and all ox these
essentials toil higher civilized state
ale indebted to tlie benefits, advantages
and opportunities secured to
tJie workers by reducing the daily
hours of excessive toil.
Tlie shorter workday has made
the individual worker better and
more healthful, morally and physically.
It broadens his mental
scope and increases his mental capacity.
It leaves him in a pliysi- :
cal condition and state of mind
that bring about both mental and
moral development. It lias given
to the workers the opportunity to j
avail themselves of the advantages
of our modern facilities for gaining
a broader knowledge of the greater!
aiVaiis of life and more intelligent
association with the world in which
we live. By increasing his physical
and mental capacity it has increased
and extended his economic
efficiency and to a greater degree
protected liim against industrial
insecurity or premature disability.
He has become a better mechanic
and more civilized, and consequently
of more value to his employer.
He has become a better citizen, and
consequently of more value to his
community.
One of the great evils of our industrial
system is working the individual
at top speed. This reduces
his competitive efficiency from a
period covering 45" or 50 years,
which he must work if he does not
become wholly incapacitated, to a
period of thirty yeais or less and
makes no provision for the sacriliee
imposed. A workman cannot
healthfully perform more than a
certain amount iof work or work
nmi'o llx*?" ?- - * - '*
.??. v u.icxu ii Lillll HIIMIIH'!' Ol
horn's each <lav. When one, two,
or thine hours are added to his
daily task there is bound to come,
prematurely, a time when his muscles
and sinews fail to respond,
followed by a slowing down and
the inevitable replacement by a
younger and quicker-worker. At
a time when his family and social
liabilities are greatest his industrial
asset, labor, has l>een made either
of little or sadly reduced value.
He is industrially, if not physically,
bankrupt.
Reduce the daily hours of labor
of the workers from 11 and 10' to S.
and it gives them time and opportunity
for self-development along
higher and useful lines; it gives
them moments of recreation and
relieves them from the drudging,
enervating and stultifying nionotI
cny of performing one operation
I during every hour of the day that
athey are capable of healthfully exBtt.'pending
physical energy : it gives
HP them the opportunit y to exercise
gip right parental supervision over the
well-being of their children and
hkhomes. The home is happier and
at more healthful and the environmmcnt
of the children improved.
To the child and youthful work,1
ers and the young men and women
RADES-UNIONISM.
I
: Brotherhood and Mutual Help Have
[ By Labor Unions.
HON HAVE BEEN BROKEN.
i
dened Beyond Acquisition of a Few :
embership?Progress of the Past !
e Inspires Hope and Courage.
i
' denied the earlier advantages ol' 1
.education the opportunity is open
l'or sell'-cultivation, and to every
worker the opportunities to he self
; 1 1 ? ?
neipiui sum to promote honest amhilious
are inereaseil. '
There are today children It) years *
of age working, 10, 11 and 12 hours 1
daily. Reduce the workday to a !
munher of hours proportionate!!
with tlie number of years over 1
; which the economic efficiency of]'
the worker must extend, and those ': J
: children at the age of lit), and still
young men or women, will have i*
saved, to their own advantage, a
number of hours equal to the length 1
of time necessary for others more I:
favored to acquire any of the high- :
er or learned professions. If it '
were possible tomorrow to make!
the eight-hour workday universal
the benefits accruing to future gen- ]
orations would be simply incalculable.
I
The shorter workday is not a!
phantasm born of the growing
power of trades-unionism. It is the
inevitable and progressive tendency 1
of civilization, and civilization
itself has been and will continue to
be given an uplifting impetus by
the establiahinent of the progressive
shorter-hour workday. There I
is not, to my knowledge, a single I
employer who has given the short- I a
er workday a fair trial who desires (
to return to the longer workday, v
and those countries whose workpeople
are compelled to work the \
greatest number of bonis each day ; o
in order to sustiiiii life at the oeo- s
nuniic point ol' subsistence are at
the foot of civilization. iv
ORIGIN OF -SCAB/' /
<
: a
He is Likened Unto the Shyster <
and the Quack. t
S
Means Banishment or Exclusion From v
Social Intercourse or Favor?
; v
Term ol Peproucli. i
I i
1
"Ostracism is a stronger social I
force in maintaining a high standard
of personal conduct than mosj J
of us realize.'' says Frank .liilian f
Warne, "and it means banishment v
or exclusion from social intercourse t
or favor, and is usually employed i p
by a particular group against mem s
bers of ils own class or craft. Its
most effective weapon is some term v
of reproach, coined for the pur IV
pose. a
Law yers, for example, who do c
not come up to the standard set for w
that profession by its dominant
group are ostracised and termed n
,->ll > .sicis. .->(> it IS Willi nil' llll'ill- (I
fill profession. Physicians engaged 11
in questional tie practice which the t>
dominant group denounce or ostra- <1
cised by the more reputable pfac-1 o
titioners with the reproaelilid term e
"quack." o
"The same social force is at ji
work among the industrial classes," n
declares Dr. Warne. "I'nion men a
set a standard as to wages and e
conditions of employment in a particular
industry, and those work
ingnien who fall below that meas
ulenient. in offering tlicir labor for
a less price, are ostracised and de- B
nouneii 1 as -scabs.' 'Whether the
group be doctors, < r lawyers, or
workingmen. whatever it adopts as
the standard of measuring conduct s
along particular lines is- sooner or }
later taken up in the broader social p
grouping in the community and o
accepted as its standard of judg- h
inent along those lines. This is i a
just as true of a community closely tl
identified with an industry, the \
livelihood of its memliers. it may g
be. depends upon the industry's g
activities, in which a dominant tl
group ( Usually memliers of a trade n
union) creates the industrial stan- a
dard. This explains the attitude tl
\
of hostility an industrial community
exercises towards the "sraU."
It explains also, perhaps, how men
l'ar removed from the intiuenee of
the working classes ran look upon
the "scab" as a hero.
"The social force of ostracism
put into operation liv the working
of tin- trades-union is direcUsl. and
particularly so in strike times, not
alone directly against the 'scab'
himself, but along all those channels
of social relations affecting |
him and which might have intlui-nce
upon him in bringing alniut
iction conformable to the standard
jf the dominant group." The;
itrength of this weapon in the
strike of the anthracite mine em- j
ployes in 1!I(I2 is illustraterl from
incidents from strike times which
Dr. Warne secured from actual experience.
;
i
Warning to Labor Fighters,
The ollicial organ of the National ]
niv veuvrauon warns the capi;j
.alists of the stripe of Parry, I\ist, :
tc., that if they continued to attempt
to 1 ovale tip tliv labor or^an !
zations they will compel the labor- 8
ng men to go into polities, as they o
lit L in Australia some yea is ago, ii
ivlieii capital combined against la- si
>or and defeated it in a prolonged si
itrikc. lint it made labor wise, s!
I'licy struck at the ballot box, ami ;d
;hey adopted the eight hour day u
mti many other labor laws, and n
ire improving that country every k
lay. 11
LABOR'S HOLIDAY
n Charleston to be Greatest in its R
History.
trrangemcnts Being Rapidly Pushed T
Forward and Everything Points a
Grand and Glorious Success.
The general Labor Day commitee
met in Assembly Hall Sunday ci
,1'ternoon, and in the absence ol' <
'hairman lleizer, doe .1. Kmcrick p
vas called upon to preside. p
The varioussub committees inaile ei
fry encouraging reports and were ..
rdercd to proceed with thoir re ;l
peetive duties. p
A committee was appointed to
rait oil the ticket agents ol' the p
everal railroads in regard lose ;l|
uring special rates, consisting of 'p
\Y. Kagler, 10. 10. Caldwell, C. p
'. Bradley and ,loe .1. lOmerick and j,
lso to wait on the officers ol' the n,
'handier of Connnerce and secure mi
heir co-operation in that coniiec- ,,,
ion. w
The printing committee was in ; t|
traded to proceed with the ad ,tl
erlisiug and to thoroughly cover
he surrounding country. They
rere also instructed to issue an
nvitation to all the business men 0,
n the city and vicinity to partici- (|
rate in the mammoth industrial p
larade. ],,
The proposition of I'rol'. .1. C. p
tiller, the prominent artist, to St
Ornish a line painting as a prize, ,i,
.'us accepted with a rising vote of p;
hanks, and a committee was up pi
lointed to confer with the Proles- a,
or in regard to the same. p.
A committee was appointed to p
ait on the city council and ask jtl
jr llm privilege of the streets and pj
lleys for the big parade, and other ; ,H
oneessions in coniiection there 'ill*.
' r<
The committee is hard at work
ow arranging the amusement proram.
which promises to be the
lost entertaining one that has S1
ver licen arranged. It is pretty ;ll
eliiiitely settled tliat two speakers
1' National reputation will be se- p.
ured. After a lengthy discussion "
f tin- plans, the eoimnittee ad
nirned to nui't Monday evening D(
ext. at which time all membeis
re ill gently reijfiested to lie pros
nt.
CAPITAL AND LAtfOR. |
oi
oth Should Have Same Rights and ai
Privileges. ^
Capital has always claimed, and tl
till claims, the right to combine. j ce
lanufacturers meet and determine 1'
rices even in spite of the great law pi
1'supply and demand. Have the w
ilmrers the same right to consult te
nd combine? The rich meet in
lie bank, clubhouse or parlor, cc
forkiiigmen. when they combine, tli
at her in the street. Ail the or - ; ea
an i/.is 1 forces of society are against sa
hem. < 'apital has the army and : te
avy. tlu- legislature, the judicial
nd executive departments. When
lie rich combine it is' for the pur- I Tl
ioso ot' "exchangingideas."' When |
he poorcombiitcit is "conspiracy ? :
.1" they act in concert. if they real- :
y do something;, it is a "mob." i
f they defend themselves it is'
reason. How is it the rich tun |
onlrol the departments ofgovernnent?
In this country the political
power is equally divided among
aen. There are certainly more
mor than rich. Why should the
ich control 1 Why should not the
ill Hirers comliine for the purpose
f eontrolling the executive, the
legislative aiul judicial departments?
Will they ever (ind how
lowerful I hey are ? A cry comes
rom- the oppressetl, the hungry,
loin the downtrodden, from the
nforlunate, from the despised,
rom men who despair anil from
"omen who weep. There are times
hen mendicants become revoluionists?when
a rag liccomes a | ;
aimer, under which the noblest \,
nd the bravest battle for right. 1 ]
DRUNKEN GUARDS. !'<
j1
Tin* Bradley Mini", of the United ^
tales Coal Company was the scene
f a ldoody riot Sunday afternoon, J
i which one miner was killed and '
vend others wounded, as well as i'
veral guards. The trouble was i
i
tarted by the guards who were ,
runic. This is another instance!*
here the paid hirelings of the)'
line owners have succeeded in j
roping up trouble anions the men : !
y their bulldo/.ing tactics.
HOME INSURANCE 11
,s
lethods of the Sputhern States )
Mutual Life Insurance Co. |1
? !i
horoughly Explained to the Trades |
Assembly Committee by the 1
Board of Directors. (
i
Upon invitation from the South- ji
rn States Mutual bite Insurance : c
onipuny, the ollicers of the Uapi- 11
ll Uily Trades Assembly, iiccom- I \
anicd by the editor of .the Argus, ! 1
died upon the Hoard of Directors 1
I'that company Tuesday evening It
ml spent a v ery pleasant and ;
rolitable hour. |,
The object of the conference was j ^
i talk over the mutual benefits L
id advantages of home insurance, j |
he otliceis of the company ex- j
lained in detail theiraims amj ob- 1 s
...l.. i...: .1. ....
v..-.. mill llici lions <11 < IOII in I>US1- 1 |
ess, tlic inside workings, its lo'in j v
ul iiidiistriiil features. Tile *00111- rj
ittiv was very favorably impressI
and greatly interested and after
le eonferenee knew eonsiderably ! ^
ore about, tile liusiness than they I
or expected to learn. I .
Tlie Soul hern States Mutual Lil'oj^
lsuranee Company is founded up- | j
i somewhat the same principles of a
le trade union. Its olijeet being j ^
> better the conditions of its policy ! a
alders, for the advancement of the (1
iilustrial interests of tin- city and i s
.ate and give the people a sq flare ; j
'aland fair treatment. The com- i (|
my is run upon an economical
la n. their salaried olliceis drawing ,
Mounts not exceeding that paid;
v the Mine Workers to their I >is i j,
i<-t olliceis. It is a strictly home Lj
slit ution conducted by home peo- 1
ie with whom we are all acquaint- i
I, and who are known -to lie men '
line business qualifications audi
cognized ability.
The above facts warrant the j ^
iinniittce in rcccommen'diiig it to .
eryone who desire reliable in- j51
nance and who wish to patronize i11
id promote home industry.
TWT _? 11
irn LiULLAK rUKl'KAl'i". ?
! t
mated to Labor Day Committee by
Prof. J. C. Adler, the Artist. i ?,
Prof. J.C. Adler. the popular I
list, luis denated a qtftO.OO por- I
ait to the (ieneral I ail tor l)ay 11
ummittee. The portrait will lx?: v
Tered as a prize by the committee a
id will lie awarded oil Iailiorl>ay. a
his should prove to lie a great o
ature. as a life size ivortinit from p
u-brush of our famous artist is li
rtainly a valuable present. The p
rolessor has painteil a numlier of t!
irtiuits of our prominent men a
Inch have been pronounced, mas- o
rpieces by art critics. j a
Kvoryone should get into the ti
111test for this grand prize, and at d
e same time help a worthy ; p
.use along. Tickets will be on t(
le by all mcnilx'rs of the.commit- b
e and will lie 2.r> cents each. o
Now is the time to subscribe for : b
ie Labor Argus. [ si
SHORTENING OF
Is the Progressive Tendency of C
Industrial 1
INCREASES THE MENTAL
It Serves to Bring About Better Ser
a Greater Number of PeopI
Matter of Gre.
f ?
The aim of n labor union, its object
ami purpose, is to ameliorate
Lhe conditions of thcxvorkiiiR class.
L?y deerojisiuK the hours of labor,
thus silleviutiiu* the iinutm"
~ ? ?'
lu> worker. To prevent a roduo.ion
in wages, to secure an advance
wherever the industrial conditions
ivariunt; to secure employment for
members out of wore; to cultivate
i spirit of fraternity and bring all
irganizeil workers into closer touch
mil sympathy with each other; to
nstruet its membei-ship upon soeiilogieal,
{industrial and eeouomiej
subjects; to establish a minimum :
ivuge scale for labor, skilled and
inskilled, in all organized callings;;
o arrange shop rules and regit luions;
to demand decent treatment
sir its memliers; to prevent the]
iitroduction of additional impo- j
iitions and burdens.
The labor organizations have!
jecn the most potent factor in in
luence, in our social life. The ele
nents of fraternity, the qualities
if brotherhood and mutual help,
lave lieen strengthened by labori
mions. Caste and class distinction
tave been broken, modiiied and
liminishcd through the agency of;
inionism. The well paid mechanc
and highly skilled artisans have'
ome to fully realize that tlfeir in
crests and welfare are identical
vith that of the humblest worker.
Jnioii men have acquired a better '
knowledge and a clearer.conception ,
if their duties to their fellow men.
The new spirit of industrial
inionism lias broadened beyond
lie acquisition of a few advantages j
n in?i?injli.i<
~ ii iicuiuiA.: iiii'H 11 11). j
t is liwii to its interests, iiikI eare- j
ess to the interests of none. Inj
ul>s tan ee, it folds and charges
tself with the responsibility and!
rellare of the working people.;
'here is no distinction. It includes
.lid embraces all toilers of what
ver craft, class or caste. This is'
he altruistic feeling that is advoated
by industrial unionism and
lermeating the labor movement tolay.
'Lhis brings the movement
n the presanee of the social coalitions
and economic problems of;
lfe threat mass of the employed as
Listinguishcd from those of the
inployeis. People are reading,
tallying and thinking. The raisng
wave of thought and its dolands,
is the adoption of such a
olicy as will give to labor its
arnings. The people are looking
ml vociferating for a universal,
listing remedy for our economic
liseases.
Lai Kir organizations are no longer
oqucsteil to offer an excuse for
heir being. Their usefulness is
low apparent and recognized by
very thoughtful person. Could
he workers fully realize and fully
ppreciate the mission of the
mioiis, and the work that they
lerforin and the inlluence they
l ielil, the assistance and force they
lave rendered in improving their
onditions and in lifting civilization
oa hindier summit unr.li
ions would Is' recognized and apireeiated
at tlicir real value as
mong the world's saviors.
The progress made in the past,
he prospects /or the l'uture, are
oo propitious to excite anxiety or
rorry, but iatlior to inspire hope
ml courage for the excellent
ehievements and splendid evidence
f its success in its efforts in imiroving
the industrial, s<K-ial and
nancial conditions of the working
>eople. bringing our class to a <
horougli realization of their rights,
ml a more definite undei-standing
1" their duties to their fellow men. .
1 letter conception of responsibi'liies
resting upon them and the
utics they owe their union. Its 1
ill-pose is to harmonize all the in- i
? rests of the working people and
uild up character to the highest i
btainable standard. Industrial 1
nionism is beating through the i
ush of prejudice and uniting the
ms of toil. In this work it has J
THE WORKDAY
ivilization and the Vital Factor in
Advancement.
AND PHYSICAL CAPACITY.
vice and to Provide Employment for
e Which in These Days is a
it Importance.
! accomplished u great good, with
much further benefit held in promise.
This coining together in weekly
meetings, this interchange of
| ideas, has awakened many differj
ent phases of thought, enlarged the
field of fruitful effort, widens the
j scope of interest, quickened the
spirit of unity, established confidence,
aroused life, stirred activity,
renewed hope, strengthened and
fortified its position by sentiment
and emphasized the common necessity
of a more compact and effective
co operation of the working class.
STILL INCREASING.
State Federation of Labor Steadily
Growing in Membership.
Reports from Headquarters of
the State Federation of Labor are
to the effect that it is daily adding
new unions to its list and otherwise
making material advances.
Its alliens are untiring in their
efforts, and it is not surprising that
their work is being crowned with
success. They . expect to have a
large majority of the unions in the
Slab' affiliated before their annual
meeting which occurs in this city
in January next, and every union
man in the State should lend his
assistance in that connection. The
only way that the laboring classes
can expect to secure legislative
protection is by centralizing their "
forces and bring enough pless ure
to bear upon the men who are
oleeUxl to represent the people, to
do their duty. Hence the necessity
of the State organization. If there
is a union in the city or vicinity
that is not alii bated, now is the
time to {jet in tin? band wagon.
UNIONS AND SOCIETY.
Labor Organizations Tend to Abolish
Man's Inhumanity to Man.
Key. Appleton <1 munis, of Trinity
church, lioston, in a recent sermon
on tin- text "Thy will be done"
said it is a healthy sign that men
have come at hist to have some
idea of their responsibilities in the
mat ter of the treatment of lalior,
and so far as that conscientiousness
prevails, lie added, we shall have
the kingdom of < bid on earth.
lie declared that the great problems
before us in this country are
trusts and the relations of capital
to labor, lie considered that the
good accomplished by labor organizations
far overbalances the occasional
harm done in some specific
case by a union. He said that if
(iffy unions be administered wisely
no attention is paid to the fact, but
if one goes wrong it is considered a
r-cu?iLiuiiai aiiair and is widely exploited.
The speaker pronounced the
great mass of workingmen in tlie
labor organizations, intelligent,
honest and conscientious. He said
it is a distinct advantage to society
that the organizations continue to
exist, and they are certain to do so
in one form or another, since tlie
workingman realizes his helplessness
when standing alone.
He Got His.
Once upon a time there was a
man who sued a railroad company
because he was knocked down by a
car, ami after a long legal battle he
won his case and -*2,000 damages.
His lawyer was one of the stickyfinger
kind, and when the case was
finally settled he was in with a bill
for fees, costs, etc., which footed
up to airout $1,99."). He handed it
jver to the client with a solitary
?5 bill and tried to look real honest.
whereupon the client looked at
the "linuf" ami said: \Vhat\s the
matter with it, ain't it good?"
Moral?When you get it good,
take it cheerfully.

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