The labor argus. [volume], May 09, 1907, Image 1

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

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Vol. 1. No. 50. . CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, HAY 9, 1907. suoo a Year in Advw,
THE CARPE
STM
By Their Demanc
Day and a
to Win t
ONLY ABOUT E
The carpenters strike is still 01
but the number of men out ha
dwindled down to about eighty
The men are standing iirm an<
show no disposition whatever h
weaken or recede from their de
mands. While they are willing a
any time to meet a committee fron
the contractors to discuss the situ
atiou the officials of the union an
not losing any sleep hunting fo
thein. The conduct of the striker
has been such as to win the,, con
lidence and sympathy of the geuer
al public.
'flie work of the Associatioi
Contractors is at a stand still a
they find it quite a difficult matte
to secure competent non-union men
They have succeeded in getting s
few men to come here, several o
whom after ascertaining the situ
ation, joined the carpenters unioi
and several returned to thei
homes.
The independent contractors an
at present employing more met
than usual and the ranks of tin
strikers are being reduced even
day by calls from them for extr:
help.
At their meeting on last Thurs
day evening the carpenters hat
their hall filled to its utmos
capacity. The meeting lasted foj
several hours ana a more aetermln
ed set of men never transactet
busines in Assembly Hall.
It is understood from a reliabli
, source that several of the contrac
tors are on the verge of withdraw
iiur from the Association and si on
ing up with their men.
The agreement which the car
pouters presented to the contrac
tors is short and to the point am
is a strictly business propositioi
and leaves no doubt as to its mean
ing. and is a very modest demam
when you take into consideratio
t lie scale of prices the other build
ing trades of the city are receiving
While on the other hand the pre
posal the contractors submitted t
the carpenters union smacks ver
strongly of the "open shop" an
"black list" policy which is bein
operated throughout the countr
by the Citizens Alliance. It :
unnecessary to make further con
nietit on it as the most dense pel
son, after a careful perusal of
cannot but fail to see the unlaii
ness and rediculousness of the
position.
The following are the two pn
posals:
Carpenters Proposition.
This contract or agreement, mar
and entered into by and betwer
the Building Contractors and Loci
I 11 iim lit' (Vartmntofo ?.wl
auu uumc
Ni>. 1207, all of Charleston, V
Va.
Wherein, it is agreed anil unde
stood that all competent Journe;
men Carpenters shall receive n
receive less thau $.'1.00 per day <
371 cents per hour. All incomp
tent men shall not receive less tin
than $2.40 per day or 30 cents p
hour. All foremen shall not r
ceive less than $3.50 per day >
431 cents per hour.
It is further agreed and unde
stood that 8,hours shall constitu
a day's work; said contract sh;
take effect on May 1st, 1907, ai
continue in force until April 30t
19(>3.
Contractors* Proposition.
This agreement, entered into tl
day of 1907. between Cs
petiters Local UnioiwXo. 1207, a
the various members thereof ini
Ividually and collectively, and t
Builders and Contractors Assoc:
tion of Charleston, W. Va., sh;
be in effect front May 1st, 1907
April 30th. 1908 inclusive, a
shall lie as hereinafter speeilied.
Light < 8 hours shall be a da;
work. The rate of wages shall
thirty-three and one-third cei
NTERS
lNDING FIR1V
- -
I for an Eight Houi
re Determined
he Contest[GHTY
MEN 0U1
a (33?) per hour for all first clas
s mechanics earning the same:
The Builders and Contractoi
1 Association of Charleston W
j shall employ as carpenters 11011
- but union men during the life o
t tlii- agreement; provided that Cat
1 penters Local Union Xo. 1207 shal
- furnish a sufficient number of me
e to perforin promptly, with dela;
r or inconvenience to the contractors
s all the men necessary to perforn
- the work secured by aforesaid con
- tractors; and the refusal or failur
upon the part of said Local Unioi
1 Xo. 1207 to supply such man wliei
s requested to do so by the aforesaii
r Contractors Association or an;
. member thereof, shall be construe)
lAas consent upon the part of Loca
f Union Xo. 1207 that such men ma;
- be secured in the open market, am
1 said Local Union Xo. 1207 liereb;
v agrees to waive all control ove
such men as are secured in tli
e open market during the life of thi
1 agreement.
b Walking delegates representiuj
;r said Local Union 1207 shall no
i during the hours of labor, cute
upon any job or contract except b;
- ! the request of the contractor o
1 jobber in charge.
t Carpenters Local Union Xc
1 OA7 ...?* : ? *-?
lj ?iiau nuii in iiu) way uiieinp
- j to coz^gTi building supplies no
i | dictate the place, or market
wherein such supplies shall, maj
L' or may not be obtained.
Carpenters Local Union Xc
- : 1207 and the various member
- | thereof individually and collec
tively, hereby agree to work lb
- ; 110 contractor or jobber in the cit;
of Charleston or vicinity, who i
I j not a member of, and belonging to
[i : the said builders and Contractor
i- ! Association of the City of Charles
i j ton, during the life of this agree
ii 1 nrent.
1 All men must be at their re
j speetive places of labor with al
>- \ necessary tools, ready to begii
o work, when the hour for ;worl
y ! arrives; and any carpenter em
d ployee beginning as a new em
g I ployee shall be required to hav
y his tools in a lirst class condition
is ; The violation of any of the pro
i- i visions of this agreement by tli
r- ! Builders and Contractors Associa
it j tion of Charleston, NV. Va., shal
r- act as a release to Carpenter
ir Local Union No. 1207 of their oh
ligation to me saiu iruuucrs am
a- ContnictoiM Association; and tli
| violation of any of the provision
; of this agreement by Carpenter
Local Union Xo. 1207 or any mem
'e ber thereof, shall release the Build
!IJ ! ers and Contractors Association c
a the city of Charleston, W. Va.
'j* from all obligation to Carpeutei
Local Union Xo. 1207 or any c
its members.
r" | The following contractors th
y~ \ members of the Association hav
refused to sign the proposal sul
[>r | mitted by the carpenters: Walke
" I anil ileuneman, \\ . i>. ^vnen.
111 | W. Giles, A. P. Hennenian. F. G
el Burdette, Conker Bros., Yeilo'
c" | Pine Lumber Company. Davidso
ar j Bros., A. F. With row and Con:
pany, David Dick, W. A. Fostei
'' j Charleston Lumber Company, Ore;
V? | ham and Boyd, A. G. lliggii
j | botham, Wallace Knight, A. (.
j Calilerwood and Leroy and Xew
' sum.
The contractoi-s are getting ui
easy and are tired of their vacatiu
u. and it will be only a question of
nd 'ew <'ays until, some of them :
jj least will sign up and resume wot
lle 011 the contracts they have on han
ja_ to be completed at a given time.
ajj The Carpenters F11 ion have tl
moral and if necessary the litianci
ud suPPort of all the trades unions :
the Kauawlia Valley.
p-'s LATER
be At a meeting of the Contractor
its Association held last night tin
3. Haywood
1 ~
I)
y William I
\TRIAL OF WM. D
; WILL C(
V
il
.1
I Is Confident of Acquitta
I a Square Deal?
Iss
t*
3
t
r
y. The long delayed trial of the ofi
ticials of the Western Federation
of Miners, charged with complicity
in the murder of former Governor
,t, Frank Stennenberg, will cornir
j menced today at Boise, Idalio.
I win;? IT > "
,,, J .. ?vu *1 111JOI1I i/. Iliiywumi, WU.
t be placed on trial.
Clarence Darrow, of counsel foi
>_ Messrs. Moyer, Haywood and Pettis
bone, lias issued a formal staternent
fn their behalf, which in part
r is as follows :
y "We have been * charged with
s killing former Governor Steuncn,
berg with a dynamite bomb. Our
s trial is to begin May 9. The de.
tails of the assassination have been
published broadcast, for more than
a year. The press of the country,
. especially of that section of Idaho
j where we will be placed on trial
, has bitterly denounced us and the
. Western Federation of Miners of
. which we belong.
. ' "We were not in Idaho for years
u before crime was committed. Under
the law we could not be extradited
' from Colorado. \Hut we were
? a rested oil n. m?rinr?fl Hwloi-it
CI ~ ?v,
. charging that we were in Idaho at
1 the time ot the commission of the
s crime and that we immediately
j. lied from the state and on this perl
jured affidavit tlie governors of
e Idaho and Colorado kidnaped us
s I in the night, refused us an iiiters
I view with family, friends or counsel
j or a chance of appeal to the courts
and brought us on a special train
a thousand miles from home and ini
to a iState and community systema^ tically
poisoned against us by
if newspapers and officials. We
have lieen conlineil in jail 14
months and denied bail while con!
stantly demanding a trial, livery
| effort has been made to teach the
r farmers, business men and work'
ingmeu of the community that we
are assassins and outlaws.
'! "Our case is about to be reached
1 : toil thp. nrptJblput nf ll?o l'nito/1
j States in no way interested, oflicially
or otherwise, sends two lettei'S
broadcast over the country chargi
ing us with guilt and crime. These
. are republished in every paper of
:
jconceded two points in favor of the
men. Aud will agree to grant the
' eiglit-honr day and omit the clause
demanding the men work only for
a meml>ers of the Association. They
, however, only want to pay 33j
cents per hour. The carpenters
have taken 110 official action on the
proposition as they meet in regular
ie session tonight and the matter
a! will l>e presented to the union.
There is little likelihood of its acceptance
as the carpenters contend
that they have made a reasonable
sr and just demand and expect to
;v stand by it to the last.
. HAYWOOD
)MMENCE TO-DAY.
1 if he Secures Justice and
-Formal Statement
;ued*
/
I the land, and especially every
, j paper of Idaho. The governor of
' i Colorado adds words of spite and
venom and says that we are not
|ouly guilty of tlio crime charged,
, | hut many others too.'
I While the president of the United
i States and the governor of Colorado
' j are sending out their statement to
<*/inj>uss our ueaui, Uie judge of
this county has brought a citizen lx>forc
him for contempt 011 the charge
that he tried to influence the mind
of a prospective juror by saying
that the state administration was
trying to railroad us. On the appearance
of this man in court the
j udge told the state's attorney that
hesliould have this obsecure farmer
indicted for felony because he tried
to influence the miirl of a prospective
juror. The president knows
how much greater weight will be
given to his words than those of an
obscure citizen.
"If we are altout to be tried
every law abiding citizen, however
great or humble, should lie everything
in his power to cool the passions
of man, rather than add fuel
to the flames. If we are to lie
thrown to the mob the oflicers
should at least open our prison
i doors and give us some chance to
1 defend ourselves."
; Barring the pallor inseparable
i mm confinement, Haywood, IWoyer
anil Pettibone show no mark of
long confinement nor apparent
trepidation at the outcome of the
trial, and are confident of acvittal
if they secure a fair and impartial
trial.
A Tough Proposition.
The soap clulis seems to be "all
powerful in our city legislatures.
Why T Because women are at the
bottom of the devilment. They
think they are getthing something
for nothing, and all hail couldn't
stop them.
What a lesson for union men !
Just get our women enlisted to our
work And ftnp nnomiiw will ?
fore us like as the hare scamperetli
from the big dog.
Is there a woman in Charleston
willing to become a pioneer in this
glorious movement.
Painters Win Strike.
After a one-day strike at Philadelphia,
1,500 painters resumed
work on the promise of the master
painters to sign a working agreement
giving the journeymen 41
cents, an hour with 44 hours work
per week and a closed shop. The
painters previously received 40
cents an hour. The chief point of
difference between the men and
their employers was the closed
;shop.
GRAND RAL
TO BE
At Wacomah and
day Afternogr
of the
VICE PRESIDENT
7
District Vice President J. M.
Oraigo, of Carbondale; was in tlie
city the first of tlio week in attendance
upon a conference of the officials
at the District office.
* *
National Executive Hoard MemIs-rs
Hon Davis and Hurry Houslicld
and Hub-District Secretary 15.
S. Hastings were down from Montgomery
Tuesday on official business
at the District office.
* * *
Vice President Lewis Here.
National Vice President Lewis
is here on official business connected
with the organization, sizing
up the situation and directing
the organizing campaign. Mr.
Lewis is an ever welcome visitor to
West Virginia and lias an army of
friends and admirers within its
! boundaries. The organization is
bound to come to the front in this
District under Ills direction and
leadership.
* * *
Successful Meeting.
National Organizer Qiiinucn, of ,
Michigan and District Secretary B.
F. Morris addressed a meeting of
the Wucoinah I .oral on last Friday
levelling. A large and attentive
, crowd was present and the men
(showed that they had regained 1'
I that old spirit characteristic of the
miners when they mean Business,
which insures the successful conduct
of the local union at that
place.
* * *
Mass Meeting at Powellton.
A big mass meeting is being advertised
at Powellton on next Sunj
day afternoon at 1 :.'$0 o'clock. A (
I record breaking crowd is expected ,
las the miners and mine laborers in
1 that vicinity have la-en cjnite j
active for some time past and are (
building up a fine local union at (
that place. The meeting will be ]
addressed by President John ,
Nugent and National Executive 1
Board member Harry Bousfield
and several others.
* * * * ;
Joint Meet at Wacomah 1
There will be a grand mass meet- 1
ing of the miners and mine laborers of
Banner, at Wacomah, Mitcklow :
and Standard Waeomali on Sun- J
day afternoon at I :.'!0 o'clock,
which will be addressed by sub- !
District President Titos Cairns, I
National Organizer Crollinan. of 11
7
Illinois, anil others. An enormous 1
crowd is anticipated if the weather 1
is favorable. All the miners in 1
that section are utged to turn out '
and assist in making it a success. 1
* :i: =1=
Official Gnference.
The officials of District No. 17 |
and Sub-District Xo. 1, together j,
with the National Executive Board ]
members and National Organizers I s
who are in this lieiil held a con
ference at the distr:ct office on
Tuesday which was presided over ,
by National Vice Ibesident T. h. |
l>ewis. The West Virginia situ- i
ation was thoroughly discussed i
sum a policy was outlined lor the i
thorough organization of the men >
of Hi is State ami for the strength \
enitig of those already organized. ]
It is not believed that there will be ;
much opposition from the oper- ?
ators in many of the sections, as j
they are beginning to realize that (
the union men are more desirable j
and better workmen than the riff- <
raff of foreigh countries which \
have been furnished them by the i
labor agencies of the East. Of <
course in some sections it will be g
impossible to do much for some
time to come, but the State is
bound to be organized in the not
far distant future. i
? * =& <
Hon. John Nugent, Commission- <
LIES
CONDUCTED
Powellton on Sunl-Other
News
Miners
/
' LEWIS HERE
er of Immigration of West Virginia,
will soon Ix'gin an active
campaign for tho ..<
ii good class of immigrants into the
stale, ami especially into the coal
Holds where thousands of practical
luiners are needed to assist in the
development of the largest industry
in the state.
It is the intention of the commissioner
to bring to -XVest Virginia
practical men, skilled in
their various 'avocations, and especially
is this true of the immigrants
he desires to bring to this
state as miners. As to the benetits
of this policy none can dispute,
the operators and miners practically
agreeing that a large number
of the mine explosions have been
due to inexperienced men and
many of them have not only signified
their desire or willingness to
have practical miners, but have
expressed themselves as anxious to
carry out this policy.?Charleston
News.
IS THISA
SQUARE DEAL?
x
The Typographical Journal Discusses
Roosevelt's Attitude,
Theodore Koosovelt is supposed
to bo a very great president, and
yet his most ardent admirer will
scarcely claim that he exhibited a
remarkable degree of proficiency in
this respect in the recent Harriman
controversy. The American people
expect a certain amount of dignity
from their president. They do not
like him to bandy epithets with
svery one who may differ in
opinion from him. Much less do
Lhcy exjM-ct one in his exalted
station to impress such an opinion
its he did in his letter to Congressman
Sherman, which was made
public {during the Ilarrinun epi iode.
The railway monopolist is
>1 noted as having boasted of his
ubility to "buy congress and the
judiciary." Perhaps lie was speaking
from experience. However,
the president was cxtremelv nettled
by the statement, and declared in
the letter to the New York congressman
that "it shows a cynicism
nid deep-seated corruption which
make the man uttering such sentiments,
and boasting, no matter
how falsely, of the power to reform
iuch crimes, at least as undersiralile
citizen as Debs, Nloyer and
I lay wood."
The Journal lias no sympathy
with the teachings of Eugene Debs,
but there is no record that he ever
committed an act that would justify
his lieing classed as an "undesirable
citizens," unless violatiuc
judgemade law were so held.
Neither are we discussing the guilt
jr innocence of the imprisioned
miners in the west. That is a
matter for the jury and the judge
to decide. But we would call attention
to the fact that Mr. ltooserelt
has talked a great deal about
the "square deal" and "fairplay."
Does'he consider it a square deal
ind fair play to declare the undesirability
of a man's citir.enship before
that man, who is accused of a
jrime, has a chance to prove his
nnoceneein a court of law? ^J3vilently
the -president agrees with
the Idaho officials, that workiugxien
charged with misdeeds by rich
.'onspirators are already proven
?uilty.
The Labor Argus, published in
the interest of the laboring people
)f "West Virginia, 81 per year, 50
tents for six months.