The labor argus. [volume], May 02, 1907, Image 1

About The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915

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?&e ??h?r Sirgttft.
Vol- * Wo' 49? CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, HAY 2, 1907. $1.00 a Year In Advance
THE PASSES
OFJ
The Absolute Nece:
Education i
Working
ITS GROWTH IN
Although in the past the em-1
pioymeut of radical measures in
attaining an object was an undispensible
feature of successful trade
unionism, the superiority of the
parliamentary and diplomatic
methods has been clearly demonstrated
and is now generally conceded.
Kecent years have shown
far more successful campaigns earned
out through these channels
tlran could ever be set down to the
credit of the strike, wiili all its
consequent horrors aed privations.
Tin* strike, whilst it did a great
deal towards the amelioration of
the woikingman's condition, was
at best only a necessary evil and
the sooner it becomes ancient history
the better, as its place can
immediately be liuea by a persist- I
em and determined agitation fori
the label, the button and the union
st. ire card. It served its time well
during all the years through which
the wage earner's groaned for lack
ot proper education, but the march
of civilization has now placed withili
tllft rt'il f?V? A!?A?n >v.n? a
woman an amount of knowledge
which is more than sufficient to
show them at their true position in
the business world and bring to
them a realization of the power
that < iod and nature lias endowed
them with.
The old sayingthata "a nation's
greatness depends upon the education
of its people" is applicabh
not only to the great monarchy 01
republic, but also to small bodies
such as trade unions. The maste:
mind which shapes the destiuy o
nations generally find a facsimil
p by a reduced scale perhaps) in th
labor organization where there i
also found ample scope for the in
pulses of the patriot, moralist an
philanthropist. They are simp'
reflections of the larger bodies, at
there is small doubt that in tl
future many a brilliant charact
who will eventually rise to t
very pinacle of fame will recei
his first lesson in statesmanship
the meeting room of the associati
of his craft. The man who v
stand manfully by the rudder
the bark of trades unionism d
ing the rude storm of trials ?
tabulations that assail it will
given recognition as one in wl
hands the fortunes of his coui
could safely be trusted should
capabilities and disposition p
him out as such. On the o
hand, the man who would, thrc
personal spite or malignity, r
lesslv thrust his'fellow-worker
to a strike where amicable s<
? - ? a. Al
ment is possiDie, aeseri iun
the hour of trouble, or fail to s
morally and financially those <
colleagues who were distresse<
needy, could never, even wit
brain of a Napoleon, or the
cutive ability of a Bacon;
come to be regarded as a
patriot.
Thus amongst the workers
world is a thorough educat
the greatest benefit and the
_ necessity. First to bring t<
mind a realization of the trn
of affairs and provide wa;
means whereby objectionab
ures can be remedied. Sec
IG
"HE STRIKE:
1
>sity of a Thorough!
Vmong the ;
Classes. i
:
RECENT YEARS. ';
the individual in distinguishing '
the true from the counterfeit, and '
reveal the existence of that worst 1
of all enemies?that disciple of '
Judas Iscariot?the traitor within 1
their own ranks. Of all classes of
criminals this last is undoubtedly 1
most abominable, and it is for the
7
benefit of the community at large '
to crush one of them wherever
possible, just as if he \vas a poisonous
reptile. No measure too strong
can be adopted in the eradication
from civilized ranks of this miserable
sect, and no pains should be
spared in the work of their ex:
termination. To accomplish this
a good practical education amongst
the rank and file is invaluable.
As the more we know, the broader
becomes our mind and the stronger
and keener our powers of discernment,
and the easier it becomes
for us to recognize the cowardly,
dastardly sneak in the cringing,
fawning sycophant who is, alas
to be found in round numbers
atall points of the compass.
... Waj- ths.Argugieut
hitherto, directly or indirectly,
been attended, is now almost universally
acknowledged to be a
remnant of barbarism. This being
so we must only consider the strike
I as a relic of the old world feudal
.1 v,. fmlxn Qcraillfil '
wars, wagt-u cry Uiic xitAKT*. ? ,
another, thereby settling their disputes
without any appeal to the
' central government. How vividly
r are these old-time events recalled
> j to us by the attitude of the modern
ri "chieftain" of finauce in asserting
^ the "Eight Divine" of capital to
e rule with the iron hand, and
e ignore, with refrigerated eye, tlu
IS demands of Eight and Justice
What a resemblance to the darl
ages of oppression that reigned fo
'y so long from the snow-clad stepp
of Siberia, across the dark, sorrow
tle ful battlelields of unfortunate Pc
er land to the blood red waters ?
Limrick, the illfated hill of Augl
ve rim and the beautiful wiudii
111 Uoyne water, where
on "Slow, and in soft murmur
"ill > Nature bade it flow,"
of1 beside the historic battlements
ur- Donore, where the sceptre w
ind torn with the last vestige of ho
l>e | trom the princely line of Stua
lose ; How like unto these are the in
'try j fortunes under which the A merit
his | workingman has groaned duri
oirit j recent years in his tight for '
ther i better working conditions an<
rngh i reasonable wage! Yes gentle re
uth- j er, and never did autocrat of
s in- j dark days above cited more ri
ittle- j lessly overturn laws to suit
11 in ; own convenience than did the
? - ?1 ??vir?lAvmf?n
assist lentless, tyramtai
if his the present day in his effort
i and crush the germ of Trade Union
,h the or nevzr did buccaneer of
exe- Spanish Main pursue his prey
sfield, more ferocity than has the p
good of our own time, in concert
his adjunct, the strike-bres
of the laid siege to the independem
ion of; the wage-earning Americau ci1
direst j no, nor never since the first
> every j of civilazation did any foul
e state ; the oppressor cry more lust
ys and j heaven for vengance than
le feat- j within our recollection, the t<
ond, to i the wife and the hungry w
:he child of the meu out on strike, i
But, as a canuy son of Argyle s
iuce remarked to the writer: t
;'Everything has an end and a s
pudding has tua," and the days
>f the tyrant and the oppressor of 1
ill descriptions have seen the be- i
jinning of their termination, un- 1
ess we expect those domestic ex- i
ictions which we are sometimes 1
pleased to designate as tyranny", ?.
md of which, alas! the working- i
nan has seen too little in the past. I
But the day is swiftly coming wheu t
.he majority will once more hold t
:he reins of government and elect t
;o office an executive that will serve ]
the neonle alone, whom no lirit? 1
will corrupt aud who will at all t
times work for the best interests of
ill the peopjey The day is not far 1
distant when the workingman will i
2ast out forever the chances of 1
revolution or civil war, the strike t
md the wateriug of stock stocks, j
and trample them all under foot '
by using the ballot box as a shield 1
against the destroyers of our i
national prosperity. Realization 1
of their power by the people will
in the near future precipitate
matters, and what will follow we
can safely prophecy as a revolution j
fi.. ? j--.- I
VJA WUC VJWiatllig COUUILIOUS, to ue
followed by a co-operative period
during which the workingiuau will
have a chance to enjoy the blessings
and perform the functions '
which nature intended should be
his, and a culmination in an era of
such glowing prosperity as was
even undreamt of by the men who
signed the Declaration of Independence.
HOTSHOT
FOR TEDDY.
ine uentrai federated union or
Manhattan Make a Few
Pertinent Remarks.
The Moyer-Hey wood-Pettibone
case has stirred the country up i
from one end to the other, and in |
respect thereto the recent restrictions
of the President have not
served to mollify the outraged feelings
of organized labor. The Central
Federated Union of Manhattan
feels strongly in the matter, and
has put itself on record in the fol
. lowing letter wmcn it iwcm.j
> sent to President Roosevelt:
! "Hon Theodore Roosevelt, Presi
i dent "United States, Washing
r ton, D. C.
s "Dear Sir?The Central Feder
- ated Union desires to inform yoi
)- that it was very much surprise
)f and indignant at your reference i
i- the Senator Sherman 'that Messrs
ig Moyer, Hey wood and Pettibor
were undesirable American cit
s, zens.'
"As respecters auil supporte
of of the law, we, as representativ
as of organized labor, believe in
pe square deal and are so fair
rt. judging our opponents that we
is. nnt ennelude their guilt unless
sail proven. AVe take it that the hif
ing est executive officer of the gove'
the ment should in the interests of 1
.1 a common wealth, leastVise refr
ad- from prejudging a case in pub
the no matter what his perso
itli- opinion might be.
his "It is by no means a certai
; re- that these defendants are guilt;
t of charged. They are, under
5 to American law, entitled to
ism, benefit of the doubt.
the "The facts in the case, so fa
with ; known are: That these def
irate i ants, Moyer, Heywood and F
with : bone, were kidnapped at ni
iker. deported from one state iuto
;e of other and jailed, without due
nzen; cess of law. This proct
days j would, in the mind of an av
act of fair and mentally balancec
ly to; dividual, arouse at least a
did, picion as to whether, under
?ars of circumstances the men ch
ail of with an atrceious crime were
CABIN CREE
FALLII
Local Unions Organ
Dry Branch-Or;
Throughot
"?w uuuii iv ;
ceived as to tho futilities.
The greatest prosperity and the
highest state of intellectual culture
exist where trades-union ism is
strongest.
PATHETIC
"Are iney J?UE?TI(P
Asked Haywood's Little
Daughter of a Visitor.
"Are they going to hang
Father t"?thus a friend of the
i Haywood family, when paying a
visit to them,, was qu?uvnuu u>
the little daughter of the imprisoned
man. The cheeks of the pool
girl were wetted by tears, whei
she asked the visitor her pathetii
questiou.
The great capitalistic dailie
don't have any space to spare fc
the purpose of informing the publi
in regard to the touching appea
" of Haywood's children, so firm]
convinced of their father's inn
" cenee. With knowing intent tl
u implorations of the orphaned fax
J ily were suppressed, in order
II preveut any feeling of sympatl
" from looming up?the hangmai
10 job that has been laid out, mig
l' suffer unwelcome delays and int
ruptions in consequence of sex
I-s mentalities.
,s Wage-worker, awake ! Pro!
,a against the incipient judi<
III murder and save for the cl>iid
and the wives of the prisoners,
so father and pi-bvider, for the la
? mAt-menf. three courazeous
r 11.1 7
Lhouest men ! Frustrate the at
he r"
cious plan of the fellow McP
j1."1 land, whose avidity and unsci
' ulosity have required for vie
nal ,. , ,
so many lives already.
The prisoners not only belon
;ls the labor class, but are ita
the credited representatives; it tl
the fore behooves labor firmly
unitedly to take up the cause
ir as ?artym and see that they gt
end-! an<* honest trial that the
! stitution of the United ?
ight | guarantees them, regardless i
an j new Czar and the pomptuou
pro j archists of the west.
dure;
erage! Capitol City Trades Ass
I in- meets in regular session M
, sus-1 night. It will be the most ii
such j ant meeting for some time a
arged delegates are requested to b
actu-' ent.
MANY MEETING:
An operation wtys performed on j <
President Jno. Mitchell at his:
home the first of the week and he
is now rapidly recovering and will i
be able to assume his duties in a
short time. Mr. Mitchell's illness
has delayed the organizing campaign
in West Virginia somewhat,
but tlie local organization J
has been quite active for sonic time j
past. It is expected that the
general movement will begin at un
early date.
* * *
Sub-District President Thomas
Cairns and Secretary 1$. S. Hastings
held u splendid mooting at
Iionda, on Cabin Creek last Monday
night. About fifty were present
and the old local was reorganized
with a good membership, and
the following officers were elected:
President, C. II. Brewer; Vice
President, .lames Coon; Financial
Secretary, William Mays; .Recording
Secretary, Guy Oliver; Treasurer,
Sam llensley. All those
joined or. Monday evemugbut
some lacked the amount required
to pay up. This makes the second
local started on Cabin Creek, and
more are expected to fall in line.
a. i\ .?? !? ilnin?
The boys at j-m y ui UIIV1I U>b V.W 0
splendid. Every fello v is putting
his shoulder to the wheel and doing
his utmost to make the local one ol
. the best in the sub-district. The 111011
, at Konda are determined to do as
B well as the boys at Dry Branch
and expect to have every man in
the local iii a short time. 'This if
f the spirit that builds up trade?
unions, and by keeping out al.'
I dissension and burying all pas
, dilTerences, these locals will forg
o right to the front and give a gooi
account of themselves in the futurt
tie
We expect to hear more from th
II boys
011 Cabin Creek and hope til
. good work will go on.
l's
,|lt National Executive Board Mer
er. ber Ben Davis and District Seer
,lj. tary Benj. F. Morris held a huh
1110 of meu at the upjier mine 1
Ifughes Creek on Monday nig
V j and organize<l a local union
fortv members. The miners
ren i
tjie i this place were suppose to belo
bor jto *'le ^u6',est.on local, but it '
and I so ^ar wa'k they have n
^ 1 lected to attend the meetings r
har ! ,>ai' 11P their dues. But now t!
! have thoroughly demonstra
turn's 1 their determination to make tl
j local a credit to tho organizal
j in the District, by each men
^ t? : paying a fee to secure the cha
ac" | and the necessary supplies
here- j j,ave a handsome amount le)
a"d | the treasury for running expei
Of its n OrifFath was ele
j viaici<v^ ? -
:t the presi,ient of the new local, w
co"' was a deserved complement i
states | ignition of his efforts in bail
the i ap the local.
s an- ; -j?. ><
District Board Member Lu'
: Lanham at the meeting of G
embly castle Local on Monday i
onday April 22 and says that ove
mport- hundred members were in a1
nd all ance. An incident occurre
e pres- that place which shows the
, en ce between the uneiganii
I
illy guilty. If the evidence was
o convincing for conviction in
.heir State why violate one law to
satisfy another 1
"Organized labor of the country
las unanimously voiced the sentinent
for a fair and impartial trial,
[t is to be supposed or do you
nake bold to assert that the milions
of union men believe in muriert
We do not dispute your
iglit to express an opiniou relative
o Mr. Harriman, who is not on
rial for his life, but we do most
emphatically and earnestly objeet
o your expressed prejudice and
partiality, when it affects men
vhose lives may be forfeited by
.he opinion you publicly express,
The Central Federated Uniou bcieve^
in fay- play aud justice and
s at all times willing to be guided
~..<w Vt*v>v>ivv wuuuvvu VV JJI U \ I"
;he#e defendants guilty. The exUted
jMisition you occupy by the
will of the people, should not be
used to satisfy personal spleen or
to prejudice public opinion against
these defendants."
Another Mine Explosion.
Another mine disaster is reported
from the New River district.
An explosion occurred at
the White Oak Fuel Co.'s Whipple
mine at 3:30 yesterday. No
ilfkfinitto infftrmatinn hou 1
:k is
sig in line
ized at Ronda and
?anizers Active
it Distict.
5 BEING HELD.
organized fields, eighteen trans- v .
portution men were brought in and
the union men assisted them in
securing I warding places and made
them welcome and at the meeting
took them into the union. If they
had I wen dumped in an unorganized
Held they would hnve been
escorted to work by "gaurds" and
allowed no chance to converse with
the other met at the place.
* * *
Since the adjustment of the
trouble at Mammoth the men have
l>eon working steady and the local
is in a very prosperous condition
and promises to remain so. The
Mammoth local is oue of the largest
in the District.
* * *
The local union at Hickory
Camp turned out eti masse last
week and were addressed by Board
HomUr T. e' T .
- AJUIIIIUIU. AI1IS
union is in lino condition, having
over lifty members in good standthe
largest in its jiiHinrv ^
/.alioii and paying duos and tho
most harmonious relations provail.
=X * ?
The organization has quite a
prosperous mouth on Paint Creek,
as every local union has materially
increased its membership and the
day is not far distant when there
will not be a non-union man 011
tho creek.
Mt * * *
National board Member Davis
1 and Bouslield had a quite a suc'
cessful meeting at Nuckolls on last
I Wednesday night with a large at1
tendance, much iuteresl being dis1
played by the men. Board in. m
J t?er L- F. Lauham was also preent!.
* * *
National Organizes B. M. Flaherty,
of Grafton, W. Va., was in
the city yesterday on business at
the District office. Mr. Flaherty
n- will assist in organizing in this
? ' 1 n ?- - i" " r> /I orotnnrl
v* ueiu lor nuuic uuiciuio uu.?v?UwVn?. .
it- sK #
D" National Organizer Chappell,
h' colored, of Indiana, has arrived in
this District, and will make an
at j earnest effort to organize all the
nK colored miners in this section. He
^ will also visit all the local anions
e?" which are composed, of colored men
tn<1 or have any colored membership.
ley Ue is one of the best organizers in
*e<* the business and it is expected will
ielr do much good during his stay.
^OI1 Hz * #
l^er J J. II. Shauks was in the city
from Dungriff the latter part 01
^ last week. He reports the organizations
on Briar Creek in good
condition and much activity on
the part of the men in building up
their locals.
n re*
* *
dxng
Hon. John Nugent, whose recent
appointment as commissioner
ke F. of immigration takes effect on the
reen- I first day of May, will open his
light,! office on the second floor of the
r one j state house building on the first
btend- ?f the montb- Hr. Nugent informs
^ the News that he takes the office
differ- idea of making it one of
led and (Continued on Page 4)