Vol. I. No. 19. CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER 27, 1906. jj.OO a Year in Advance
T ADAD>C T7Tr,XJT TC TTTCT nrm?TiT?
JLHX>v/IV D 11VJI11
Presedent Samuel Gompers Criticis
Congressma
A GREAT VICTORY IS SCO
The American Federation .of Labor
Congressmen to Its Finish?I:
* ' '.Funds for Warfare Ag;
"That battle in Maine, though
closed at this time in the Second
district, is not at an end. The contest
was merely incidental to the
task which labor has set itself to
accomplish," said President Gompers,
of the American Federation
of Labor, at Typographical Temple,
in Washington, 011 Tuesday, where
a reception was given in honor cf
the labor leaders who fought against
Representative Littlefield's re-election
in Maine.
"Xot only Mr. Littlefield, but
'Uncle Joe', dared to reiterate that
we stand for the licensing of criminal
and unlawful conduct. We
ask for equal rights before the law,
as any other citizens. I have it not
in mind to say a word in criticism
of the president other than this:
The right of petition is tho .right of
the American citizen, guaranteed
by the Constitution, and neither
the President nor Congress can take
that right away from him. Labor
is the only power in human society
that represents the masses.
"Why did we begin the light in
Littlefield's district? Because the
election was held there two months
earlier than in the other States. If
we had passed over this district
they would have said we were
afraid. We were not afraid. We
conducted a clean light and used
110 arguments or language that
might not have lieen repeated in
polite society. The laboring people
have outgrown the stooped back
and receding forehead of 'The Man
With the Hoe'. They now stand
erect. They aie waging a fight
against child labor and against the
white plague. By securing better
hours and higher wages they will
found better homes into which tuberculosis
cannot enter."
CLAIM A VICTORY IS MAINE.
The executive council adopted
the report of the labor representation
committee regarding its participation
in the political campaign,
and in that connection adopted the
following resolution:
"That the committee is authorized
and directed to continue the
campaign to its conclusion for the
attainment of the largest degree of
success in the interest and for the
protection and promotion of the
rights and liberty of the working
people and the people generally.
And to the attainment of tjie.se
laudable purposes the executive
council of the American federation
of Labor calls upon all reform forces
and public-spirited citizens who
sympathize with the effort to re
esiaimsn justice auu ngnc in tne
affairs of our country to co-operote
with our movement, our cause and
campaign."
The report of the committee refers
to the participation of tlie
committee in the campaign against
the re-election of Representative
Littlefield, of Maine, and says:
"It is true that Mr. Littlefield
has been re-elected, but by so small
a margin as compared with his previous
election that it has, indeed,
been a great moral victory and one
which will have a salutary influence
not only upon the coming
election, but also upon lal>or:s
standing before Congress in the
future. In a former election HI r.
Littlefield ran immensely ahead ol
the other representatives in Congress
in the State, and also far in
advance of the head of the State
ticket. Our l'ellow-workers in
Maine faithfully carried 011 the
campaign as outlined by the executive
counciL"
"When people say nice things
about you did yon ever notice how
few are present ?
The man who jumps at the golden
opportunity is never afraid to
take the step.
lO JUOl DEAJUJNJ
es the Language That Was Used by I
n Littlefield.
RED BY LABOR IN MAINE. I
Decides to Force the Fight Against (
ssue Text-Eook and Appeal for
rinst Opponents of Labor
? n i
RAPE) GROWTH J
c
Of the American Federation of Labor ?
Shown bv*the t
REPORT OF SECT'Y MORRISON. \
i i
Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight Char- ?
ters Issued This Year?Notes of t!
Executive Council Meeting. v
h
e
The regular quarterly meeting of e
the executive council of the American
Federation.of Labor was held p
in Washington last week. 0
The financial report for the 11 p
months of the Federation's liscal ].
year showed the receipts to be i,
?192,890, the balance on hand Oc- a
tober 1, 1905, 8114,265$ making a p
total of 8307,150. The expendit- ti
ures for the 11 months were 8200, |,
732, leaving a balance on hand a
Soptcinlier 1, of 8100,422. By asassessmcnt
851,738 has been raised c
and paid over to the International sj
Typographical Union to assist in p
its eight-hour light. a'
Secretary Morrison's report a
showed that in 1906 charters were w
issued to 6 international unions, 4 tl
' State branches, 49 central bodies p
and 229 federal labor unions and p
local trades-unions, an increase of jj
20 chartered liodies over 1905. ei
ltwas announced that the labor C1
presentation committee will re- tl
port later as to the Federation's tl
campaign program. Besides the ?
amounts contributed by unions in p
other ways, it was reported that
the 25 international unions contributed
8146,225 direct to the relief
of tlie San Francisco sufferers.
President Gompcrs reported on *
the questson of a universal label
for all the international organizations
or for the use of the seal of
the American Federation of Labor
as a universal design and part of
the various union labels issued by
the afliliated organizations. A
number of organizations were represented
as favorably disposed and
a large number opposed to the surrender
of their right to issue their
own label without any design. The
ivport will Vie submitted to the
Federation convention at Minneapolis
in November.
The complaint made by the
working people of Porto Rico
against the alleged _ treatment accorded
them was laid before the
Executive Council, and the reply
to the report submitted by Governor
"Winthrop to President RooseI
velt was ordered to be transmitted
I J i 1 '
10 uie i-resiuem. r
"" si
Lockout Anniversary. si
On Monday, September 3, 190G, ^
occurred, the anniversary of the
"lock-out" of the union printers J
from the establishment of the n
Crow ell Publishing Co., publishers Q
of Woman* s Home Companion, a
monthly magazine devoted to won.J
en, child slavery, open shop, im- ^
ported strike-breakers, injunctions
and most anything that will tend
to disrupt the typographical union. t.
In reviewing the work done during ^
the past year no doubt the Crowell
Company found that their subserip- v
tion list was in a deplorable condition,
their news-stand sales badly Q
demoralized, and, what is the most
severe blow of all, that they were ^
unable to deceive the public by
their attempt to foster the childslavery
movement and at the same
time try to crush organized labor, r
one of the most persistent foes of1 c
child labor in this country. See i
to it that your friends do not pur-1 e
chase the Woman's Home Compan- s.
i- ion. v
\ a
\When nature gives a man a gen- t
1 erous purse it also hands him out a o
I flasV heart. a
\
V
lUJtiN NUGENT
:rom the Commission Appointed b
Mining Laws
ns POSITION IN THE MA
'.ould Not Represent The People ar
By That Body, Who Desired ti
? "
uLining me i
2 !?.
President John Nugent, of the :
lino Workers, lias withdrawn <,
rom the commission appointed by I
Jovernor Iiawson to revise the i
lining laws of the State. In ex- i
ilaining his position in regard to I
lie matter Mr. Nugent says: ]
"Until I have information from ]
he governor as to the powers of i
lie commission, I have withdrawn. ]
''his action was taken on account '
f the stand of the commission on
uestions pertaining to the protecion
of life. My understanding
>*as that while every regard should .
? given to the protection of prop- ]
rty that the protection of life is
ssential.
"I was willing to concede every
oint necessary as to the protection
1' property, even agreeing to :i 1
enalty for miners who violate the I
iw either in or around the mine :
ut my idea is that the honest, law t
biding miner should have some ;
roteclion. If the parties are con- j
rolled by the interest sending them [
ere we have no commission ut j
11." 1
It appeals from what information t
in be obtained that the com mis- ]
on as a majority was utterly op- j
osed to any measure that wnnUl ;
ITord the miners or mine laborers <
ny protection of life or limb, but j
ere working entirely in behalf of '
le operators ami seeking to "ex- <
end several thousand, dollars more i
er annum on the department. Mr. f
ugent naturally, under the cir- ]
smstances, could not see his way i
ear to advocate such a measure in <
le next session of the legislature, >
lerefore he did the only thing he I
suld as a representative of the
eople.
The following editorial criticism
f Mr. Nugent's action by the "
Torning Xcics is, as is usual on
nion labor questions, -as far from
le truth of the matter as it is posble
to get:
"The sudden withdrawal of Mr. j
ohn Nugent from the commission J
) consider the mining laws, was i
11 exhibition of temper that he, 1
robably, will lie the first to re- 1
ret. If his contentions before the ]
smmission were as meritorious as i
e evidently believes thein to be, i
is real task will be in convincing ;
se public so, particularly on ac- 1
sunt of the fact that there were 1
one, not even the other mining ]
eprescntatives, to agree with him. ]
"Tin* Wire rim*
- .k" v?w>} ?ivc i/viiov iiiiat '
tic governor was justified in doing ]
j unusual^an act as the calling to- ;
ether of such a commission. But i
lis criticism cannot be made to
iliow the deliberations of the com- (
lission when once assembled and j
erforming its task.
"The purpose was, if we under- ]
tood it at all, to provide a set of
tatutes that would preserve to
oth employer and employes their \
ights and safety. To that end' the ,
am mission was composed of an
[pial number of operators and
liners. The findings of a majority
f the commission do not hind Mr.
iugent in pursuing his sworn duty
s a member of the legislature when ,
e comes to be such. They do not 1
ind any member of the legislature,
nd can "be considered for no more ;
lian their net worth as suggestions !
y parties in interest.
"The action of Mr. Xngent in
ithdrawiug from the commission 1
an only serve to lessen the weight
f his argument when liesliall make ;
; as a member of the House cf 1
ielegatcs, next winter."
The following is Mr. Siigent's ,
eply to the above article, and
learly defines his position:
Editor Xews:?In reply to your
ditorial in Sunday's Setcs, I de- ! ire
to say that you are mistaken ]
-hen yon state that my withdraw1
from the commission to consider
he mining laws was an exhibition
f temper. If the withdrawal of 1
ay person from an organized body 1
WITHDRAWS
y Governor Dawson To Revise the
of the State.
TTER CLEARLY DEFINED
id Endorse the Measures Presented
d Increase the Cost of Main)epartment.
.
rather than endorse and pledge to
;upport a measure that would cost
Lhe State several thousand dollars
more annually and afford the miners
10 better protection is an exhibition
of temper, then I plead guilty,
i seek nothing farther than to
[fface my position lieforo the public
and let my case rest in their
hands. ALL AVE ASK IS A
3QUAKE DEAL.
TO OBEY INJUNCTION >
Members of Chicago Unions Will Live
Up to the;Letter of the Law.
The Chicago Federation of Labor
has instructed members of that i
>ody to obey an injunction issued
igainst labor unions. The injunc.ion
was issued some time ago i
igainst the Bakers' Union No. 2, |
n favor of the lleusner Baking Co. ,
md denietl union men the right ol ,
nterfering in any way with the ,
Eleusner Baking Go's employes and
Icnyiug union men the right ol
oitering around the building occu- .
lied by the baking company, talk- <
ng to any employe of the concern
>r entering any place where bread
nade by the complainant was sold,
fhe Federation interpreted the or
ler us meaning that any union man
,vho entered any bakery, grocery i
itore or any other place where ;
Heusncr bread-was sold was liable i
.o arrest, and instructed the dele- 1
jates present to keep out of every t
store that handled that company(s
j read. i
IS NOT A JOKE 1
That "Everybody Works But Father", 1
Says Miss Mary McDowell. !
4
" 'Kveryl>ody works t?ut father' 1
s not a joke,'' said Miss Mary McDowell,
of the Chicago University 1
Settlement, in an address recently.
"Father cannot get work very often
jecause liLs position is being occupied
by a woman for reasons which
,vc should investigate. We Amer- 1
cans arc so overwhelmed with the
spirit of commercialism that we
have no consideration at all for 1
Lhe human individual. We
lack the ability to view in their
proper perspective conditions of
which we are a part, governing the
lives of 2,000,000 growing girls and
young women employed in factories
and shops. Itoth men and
women are clouded by personal
experiences and we need enlightenment.
Miss McDowell is attempt- I
mg 10 arouse interest in a bill now
before Congress providing for an
appropriation of 8300,000 for the
purpose of investigating the industrial,
social, moral and physical
conditions of women and children
workers in the United States.
Slang Proverbs.
Get yours, or the other guy']]
get you.
Love may make the world go
round, but it don't do the same
stunt with the hash.
Some mutts we know who are
looking for a soft thing ought to
Peel their heads.
Honesty is the best policy, but
you can't make the bunk artists believe
it.
The soft answer turneth away
wrath?so doth a kick in the slats. 1
When your friends want to borrow
money prepare for the rinkeyiink.
The wise half of the world is always
wondering how to do the other
half.
Some are wise because of what ,
they know; others because of what
they don't know.
NECESSITY OF
Self Preservation the Privilege of
and
THE CLOSED SHOP IS THI
The Labor Union Affords the Toil<
Defense Against the Rapacit
Employers and S
Dumb, indeed, is tho 'eftizor
who does not know that boliinc
all tho palaver alviut the heroism
tho IxKKSting of the so-called indc
pendent workinginau and the op
position of tho closed shop, is tin
desire to coin money out of th<
wage-earners. That is the mail
purpose of tho present antiunion
agitation; the charactei
of and the wages paid thoii
employes by its chief proinotert
amply prove this. Not only dc
their acts betray their main purpose,
but their organ?Americaz
ftuluslrieti?with great glee print.news
of reductions in wages ami
gloats yver the lower standard ol
living which such acts impose upon
the worker and his family. Sucli
reductions means that thousand*
of women and children will Ikj deprived
of the necessities of life.
These peoplo desire that men
shall be free from all protective
Agencies, so they may l>e the more
i-asily despoiled. In furtherance
i)f this sordid ideu, a great hue and
[ rv lliW nifsml
7 - - "H v'lC
injustice of unionists refusing to
work with non-unionists. Tho position
of our opponents has boon
stated times without liumlier; so it
is not out of place to reiterate the
unionist side of tho controversy.
Closed shops are not only subserving
the best interests of humanity,
but following the principles
L-mliodied in the axiom that selfpreservation
is the first law of nature.
There is 'need to recount
here now, if given permission to
uniploy non-unionists, ^employers
would begin an attack on wages,
Mid, in time, compel the more fairminded
and liberal of their fellows
to follow suit, for the laws of competition
are impcarative when
wages are involved. So the union
shop in any competitive trade, il
generally recognized, upholds the
standard of business by eliminating
sue incentive to cutthroat competition.
It simply makes it easiei
for the good employer to l>e fail
mid more difficult for the mean employer
to be unfair by enforcing u
minimum union wage. Kmploycrs
with hearts in the right place who
have a knowledge of the lalioi
ijuestion and regard for their own
interests, are aware of this and refuse
to join in the demand for that
L-loak for industrial tyranny and
unstable conditions?the so-called
open shop.
As to our attitude toward the
non-unionist, it is the fundamental
right of anyone, a dozen or a thousand
of us, to refuse to work with
an obnoxious peison. This much if
admitted by the ememy and is rfii
all sufficient answer to tho ilnmn.
gogic talk about the mythical l ight
to work, which the thousands ol
unemployed prove, in reality it
merely the right too look for work.
In dangerous callings, such as Iht
building trades, in iitat.es when
employers are not held legally responsible
for. accidents resulting
from the negligence of fellow-work
men, it is the duty of workingmcn
to pass upon the eligibility of theii
fellows. If they are uot vigilant
in this respect they or their heirr
may, in case of accident, be deprived
or defrauded of rightful
damages through the carelcssnesf
or cupidity of a fellow employe,
Where the majority of the work
ers are non-unionists, some nonunionists
may l?e relied .upon tc
play the despicable part of tool in
aiding the culpable employer tc
evade his just responsibility.
Under the co-employes' liability
idea all employes are partners when
an accident occurs, and it is unfair
for men to be compelled to enter
into the partnership relation with
a man of whom they are distrustful.
"It is unjust to penalize a man
by refusing to work with_him bebanse
he refuses to join an organization,"
is the oft-repeated remark
of onr enemies and critics. To this
we reply, it is the essence of justice
that a man should pay for the
TRADES UNIONS
Every Han and His Duty to Himself
Family.
TOILERS ONLY SALVATION
as' Sole Protection and Their Only
y and Greed ot the Heartless
oulless Monopolies.
i l>cuclits ho receives nnil co-operate
I with those who are KtrujtRling to
, improve tlie trade conditions of
himself and themselves.
Let us put the situation fairly.
> A non-unioulsfc huiHi>r?
11 viii llll
> unorganized district secures u job
i under union regulutions. Ilerc hu
- iiinLs tho working day shorter and
t wages higher than he has enjoyed
r heretofore. These conditions
i didn't just happen; they are the
> result of years of agitation and hard
work, of untold sacrifices of time
i and pleasure and of tho expendit;
ute of much money by the unionist
I of his trade. There can tie no def
bate as to this lieing a fair expoi
sition of the situation as it exists?
i the union is responsible for desiri
able working conditions. This
being so, 'and an honest man not
being willing to reap where he has
not sown, it is palpable that he will
s lose no time in joining the union,
> the fruit of whose planting and
! husbanding lie is desirous of enjoying.
There is no escape from
i the conclusion thai, if honest and
a loyal craftsman, he should become
a union man. If he is dishonest?willing
to accept some-,
thing for nothing?ho will shfrk
i this duty.
Why should we adopt a policy
that would put a premium on dis- .
honesty and meanness T
r Unions are, generally Speaking;liberal
in their treatment of the
. non-unionist. They do not ask
mm to lioar any of the burdens of
the battles of the past, thoc.gh they
invite him to partake of the sjioils
of the victory. On the payment of
a reasonable initiation feu ho is
taken into full comradeship, urged
to participate in the delil>cratious
of the organization, and in that
way serve ids self-interest in the
highest possible sense. In insisting
upon card men beingemplo>ed,
ilie unions arc merely following in
the footsteps of the profession. The
lawyer cannot practice without the
consent of the bar association, and
the luckless wight who 'essays to
, dispense medicine to Ins fellows
without a certificate from tire physicians'
union is not only boycotted
by reputable doctors, but hailed
into court as well. The professional
gentlemen call it unprofessional
conduct when.they wish to put a
name on the blacklist. Jiut the
purpose is the same as that of the
wage-earner. The principal differ!
cnce lies in the manner in which
1 the end is accomplished. The worker
is not so diplomatic as the other
fellow: he is plain-spoken about
> fi,? ?
wiv maiuci auu WJ1JS flLS pUl'pOSC 111
i the plainest kind of language. This
may be a fault, as it leaves him
. open to attack, but does not matef
rially affect the correctness of his
> position, the unassailable character
of which is proved by the fact that
i its loudest denunciators never fair!
lj- state the case when they bring
their guns to bear upon the much
; mis rep resen ted, but really beneii
ceut and necessary closed shop. .
i ...
Swedish Trade Unions.
The Swedish Trade Union Con.
gross was recently held at Stock |
holm, with 475 delegates present.
, The central bodies of the trade
unions of Finland, Denmark and
v> <%y ?ere uiso represented by
. fraternal delegates. At the i_.
. of the last congress, three years
i ago, the Swedish unions numbered
i 39,570 memliers, now the organizations
have grown to a ir.cml>er
ship of 108,000. The sum of 1,
i 110,060 kroner was expended for
strike benefits and aid to boycotted
union men during the last three
years.
"When some people put their best
foot forward somebody else very
likely treads on it.
Only a foolish wife is jealous of
her husband's old flame; it's the
new ones she wants to keep an eye
On,