The labor argus. [volume], September 05, 1907, Image 1

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

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Vol. 2. No. 15. CHARLESTON. WEST VIRGINIA. SEP. 5. 1907
LV111NE. WUKK
ARES]
Throughout West Virg
Rapid Stridges in
News of
llistriet President Craigo and!
<nli-l tistriet President Cairns visit
oil Winifrede last week and settled |
a very important question concern- |
ing tho discharging of miners for
not driving. While some trouble was
anticipated, the matter was settled
satisfactorily to all parties concerned.
=t= * *
Secretary Morris, Board Member
I lavis and National Organizer Krallniaii
held a very successful meeting
on Morris Creek last Thursday evening.
The miners at the Carver
I trot hers Mines had abandoned the
Organization, owing to a misunderstand
in regard to the assessment.
This was all settled by the District
Secretary having them exonorated
and them assuring him that in the
future the per capita tax would be
paid on all the men that work at the
mines.
* =t= *
The Longacre Local Union which
:ilso has failed to settle all that was
due on National assessment, was visited
l>y Secretary Morris on last
Tuesday evening, and after a very
successful meeting agreed to have
them exonerated from the balance
owing oil assessment, and while there
has already been an increase in the
membership, this is expected to do
much toward paying per capita tax
on all the men that work at the
l.ongacrc Mine.
* * =t=
District President Craigo and L.
P. Dunham visited the Belmont Local
I 'nion Tuesday evening, and on
Wednesday evening were present at
Hie Oarbondnlc Local meeting?
held very -successful meetings and
report everything favorable at those
two places.
* * *
National Organizer Charles Kralliiuin
left on last Saturday morning
lor his home at Glen Carbon, Illinois,
where lie was billed to address
a large meeting on Labor Day. It is
not known at this time whether Mr.
Krallinan will return to this field or
not. Owing to his practical knowl
edge and great experience in mining.
his many friends ill his home
Mam are insisting that lie accept an
appointment as Deputy Mine Inspector.
While it is not known that
he will secure the appointment, owing
to his standing an examination
last year for mine foreman, and receiving
a large per cent and a first
class certificate, it is feared by the
friends that he has made in this
section, while they wish him every
success, that he will accept this position
and fail to return to this section
as National Organizer for the United
Mine Workers.
XXX
It is reported at the Mine Workers"
headquarters that President
lohn Mitchell will arrive ill this
city over the Iv. & M. ltailroad at
7:30 this evening. Mr. Mitchell is
coming here to confer with the District
and National officers - working
in this iiehl, and to further outline
policies for building np the Organization.
While Mr. Mitchell's stay
here will he vorv sliort mvinff to i
?J -J ? o *"
engagements at other places, it is
expected that lie will hold a conference
with a number of the coal operators
in this city before his departure.
XXX
To the Labor Argus:
1 deem it advisable at this time,
knowing fully the merits of your
paper as a medium in which quite
a majority of the miners of the
Kanawha Valley are looking for
some information relative to the
working of the Organization, that
would he advantageous to their hast
interest. To kindly call their attention
to some of the conditions
that confront them at present. I
am highly gratified to note the grad- j
ual increase in our membership for
the last three months, the men over
the entire valley are awakening to
the importance of a concentrated
move, whereby they will be united
to meet the opposition that await
$1.00 a Year in Advance
IT irTTITr" TI T ATMTT^rs /-? 1 ~
1-JtO
nil ACTIVE'
inia and Are Making
Organizing?Local !
Interest, ?
a
1
them at the expiration of the present
contract. The Organization on Paint _
Creek is making very rapid strides, ^
and before the expiration of tlie pres- '
ent month it is hoped that practi- 7
cally every man working in and
around tin. niiiuw tt?..lt?na.. -
membership will be paying dues to "i
the Organization. 1 desire especially J
to relate a circumstance at Local
Union No. 2358, at Greenbrier. The
Local Union appointed a committee
oC three, headed by the genial Ex- t
Hoard Member V. O. .Johnson, to
prevail on the men to pay up all
their back dues, their efforts were
crowned by success, tliev succeeded
in collecting $<>0.00 from the men,
practically putting every man working
in the mines in proper relative
standing with the Organization.
The committee ami officers and men g
are to be highly commended for their ^
success, and it is the hope that this ,|
sentiment will prevail, and gradually
extend to the non-organized parts
of this State, where our fellowman
are practically working in bondage, '
and are being oppressed, and ad- r
vantages taken of them in every eon- j.
ceivable way, placing them below the
slnndnwl i? M'l.O.l. if
for American citizens to go.
Tl.e reports from Ijongaere where ..
the organization increased from (Id
memhers to 125; from Sniitliers. t,
where it increased CO over the j.r.
vions month; at i'owellton, Boomer j .
No. 1 and 2, Oarhondalc, Plymouth, I '
Black Betsey, Baymond City, Oak- '
land, Cannelton, Gamoca, Eureka, '
Ward, Mammoth, Winifrede, o?d '
nil in her of other places are encouraging,
and such interest as is heingj'
manifest at present is what pevpotu- ;s
ates the principles of the Failed |"
Mine Workers of America.
The miners of the state'are tuliy |
awakening to the realization of the )
actual conditions that confronts}!
them, and are fully recognizing tha ;l
without a unit of action on their '
part, that their best interest will be b
jeopardized and will make impos- '
sihle better conditions, rightful pro- s
tection in their hazardous occupation
in the mines. ;
There appeared an editorial re- '
cently in a Fayette paper, entitled f
"Mine Organization," in which the "
editor professes to know practically 1
all about our Organization, and he 1
laid particular stress upon the condi- 1
tions existing in the non-organized c
field, taking the position that the v
men are well satislied with existinir s
conditions, and tlmt where organ- c
ization liad maintained a foot-hold
in West Virginia that it was of no i
special henetit to tlie miners, that r
it was heing kept up by the opera- t
tors of the otlier states, for their I
own mutual gain. Such statements s
arc absurd, and created a false iui- 1
pression before the public, but it s
is only carrying out the wills and I
dictates of their task masters. I
Kvcry intelligent miner knows
full well what the Organization has ;i
been to him, and he knows that or- a
ganized efforts on his part will bring a
increased mining rates, better con- 1
ditions in and around the mines, and 1
above all, the right to express his c
views, and to complain when his j
rights are being assailed. We know I c
that organization changes the sys- t
tern of paying for coal by the car, g
as are being done in the non-organ- t
ized field of this state today, where c
the operators pay 50 cents per car 1
lor picK mining, aim tins car nas a \
capacity of 3 tons, and 2240 pounds
to tlie ton, or l(i 2-3 cents per ton.
and their system of protection is so
perfect that if any one of the miners
complain lie is classed as a Unionist,
and summarily discharged,
where freedom of speech, and press
abound.
Every individual miner must recognize
that certain duties and responsibilities
devolve upon him, and
to change these undesirable conditions.
that he must put forth every
effort in his own behalf and in his
fellowman.
?B. S. Hastings.
Don't envy the man who owns an
automobile; envy the autocrat who
owns the repair shop.
UWrAlK" LIST IS
STILL PUBLISHED
a the American Federatiomst by
President Samuel Gompers of
the A. F. of L.
The usual "We don't patronize"
ist is published in the September
lumber of the American Federation
ist, dispite the lx'eent suit for
njunction instituted by the Nation 1
Association of Manufacturers,
n addition, the issue coutaius a
trenuous editorial by President
5oiui>ers of the American Feder,tion
of Labor, concerning tlvO alrged
determination of the orgnniation
to raise a fund of $>1,500,000
o tight the labor unions.
PRINTERS OLD AC
Adopted by the International T
at Hot Springs Last ]
on by Re
??
The following report of the comnittec
on the old age pension plan
ubmitteil uL the t'olonulo Springs
Convention of the International
typographical Union, was adopted
nil referred to a referendum vote:
Your Committee on Old Age l'enion
Plan, appointed pursuant to
esolutiou introduced at the Coloado
Springs Convention, reaper tully
submits the following:
Prom the expressed sentiment of
he membership at large, gathered
hrough correspondence anil through
I'he Journal, a pension for the old
numbers of the craft seems to meet
'ii general approval.
11 is therefore incumbent upon the
or national Ty pograpli ical Union
devise some method for caring
or our old and infirm members who,
hrough their steadfast loyalty and
naay sacifiees to tlie 1. T. U., have
nude our present organization posible?a.
plan that will insure tliein
gainst abject poverty and public
r private charity; a pension suitabe
to their needs.
Such a system is in keeping with
lie dignity and policy of the organisation,
and we confidently believe
bat the referendum will heartily
dpport a proposition that will ultiuately
bring about the desired reults.
The recent eight-hour struggle has
eft many old men who gave up the
nst position they would ever have
or the principle and honor involved,
ud for these benefits lasting and
lositive to the young men, the old
noil have sacrificed their all, thus
ilacing the International Union unler
a heavy mortgage to them, since,
vithout their aid, the eight-hour
truggle would not liavc been so sucessful.
Considered from a purely sentinental
standpoint, there is every
eason why the members who have
arricd the burdens and fought the
lattles of the I. T. U. in past years
hould be provided for in some manler
by the organization they have
npported and preserved, when their
ailing powers make it impossible
or them to earn a competence.
The membership must be cognizint
of the fact that there are many
iged and incapacitated members who
.re unable to avail themselves of the
lenelits of the Union J'rinters'
Tome at Colorado Springs, because
if family ties and long associations
n their respective localities. The
committee, mindful of this condiion,
believes that an Old Age l'encion
is a solution of the question
hat confronts the I. T. U. in discharging
its obligation to such mem>ers
as cannot take advantage of the
dome and its blessings.
Aside from the sentimental feanres
involved there a re at least two
>ther points in the Old Age 1'ension
dan that should appeal to every
nember:
First?As an organizing factor
ts value to the International would
>e inestimable. To the printer outide
the ranks it is sure to lie so atractive,
once it is established,, that,
nstead of remaining outside, a conitant
menace, he is sure to identify
timself with the Union.
Second?Because, as its basic fea:ure,
it has a provision for twenty
rears' continuous membership,
apses for any cause are sure to be
educed to a minimum. The fact
bat the International will reward
lie loyalty of its members by pro
The editorial says in part.
"This declaration of war shows
a lack of perception which would
lie amusing were it not saddening.
The employers in the Manufacturers'
association already seem to
be tolerably alive to their interests.
They have organized, and, instead
of frankly conceding that right to
the wage worker, they want to destray
his organization, so that
they, in organized force, may more
easily become masters of all they
survey.
"Organized laboa lias done
mucc for the working people to
protect them from the avaricious,
greedy and ignorant employer.
Organized labor has lieen so failto
the fair-minded and jnst employer,
it has brought such a degree
of sunshine to the homes and
lives of toilers, that it has come to
stay.
'rE PENSION FUND
ypographical Union Oonvention
Month?Will be Voted
ferendum.
viding for tlieir declining years will
cause many to consider well before
severing their connection with the
organization for any of the trivial
reasons which now influence them.
'l'lie committee has gathered data
from many sources, both in this
country and abroad, together with
propositions ami communications
from various members, and after
carefully considering the same, lias
evolved the following plan and the
necessary amendments and additions
to the laws to govern same.
It is uppureut to your committee
that an Old Age Pension, no matter
how carefully wrought, or puinstakinly
considered, is sure to he an experiment,
vet we submit this rilun
for your earnest consideration, confident
that experience will point the
way to needed changes, until it will
finally rest on a satisfactory working
basis.
To summarize, the plan embraces
the following:
Age of eligible applicants?(10
years.
Continuous membership in the 1.
T. IT.?20 years.
Nunil>er of eligible applicants in
the jurisdiction (estimated)?500.
Amount of weekly pension?$1.00.
Source of revenue for fund?'/ :
of 1 per cent weekly assessment on
earnings of membership (estimated)
?$108,000.00.
Amount disbursed yearly (estimated)?$10-1,000.00.
Balance for sinking fund, administering
and incidental expenses?
$04,000.00.
Qualifications of applicants are
based on twenty years' continuous
membership for members 00 years of
age, who earn less than $4.00 per
week, in any one week, and who have
no other income or means of support.
Any member of the International
Typographical Union who has reached
the age of 00 years and who has
been in continuous good standing
for a period of 20 years, and who
finds it impossible to secure sustain
ing employment and wlio lain no
other means of support, may receive
the sum of $4.00 ]>er week, subject
to the provisions hereinafter set
forth.
Applications for pensions shall be
made on blank forms prepared and
pumished from International headquarters.
Applicants shall set forth
all the facts and answer fully all
the questions contained in said form,
which shall be certified to by the
executive officers of the local union
of which applicant is a member.
Said application to be published in
the Typographical Journal for a
period of thirty days, and if no objection
is made to applicant he shall
then l>e placed on pension roll.
Should objection be raised, the case
shall be investigated by the Executive
Council.
Any member earning $4.00 or over
in any one week shall not be entitled
to pension for that week.
Secretaries of subordinate unions
shall forward weekly to the International
Secretary-Treasurer a true
anrl onrrwt liaf nf ?rvnli/.on+o
tied to pensions. On receipt of such
list the International SecretaryTreasurer
shall transmit the amount
due to the local secretary for distribution.
Any beneficiary who lias knowingly
testified falsely concerning his
or her qualifications as a worthy applicant
for said pension shall be debarred
from receiving pension for
JOHN MTTCT
DISCUSS
Between the Hon* Willi
Senator Beveridge
Non-Partis
John Mitchell, president of the
United Mine Workers, while here
attending the meeting of the executive
committee of the American
Federation of Labor, expressed much i
interest in the joint debate between
\\,'ijjiam J. ltrynn and Senator JJev;
cridge on "Labor," which appears
in the September number of the <
Header Magazine. Mr. Mitchell oe- i
eupies the position of a non-partisan
critic for he declares that, he
cannot see "that legislation to relieve
the wrongs and conserve the
rights of workingmen is dependent
on the success of any political par- i
ty." Said he:
"Of the subjects discussed by Mr. <
I try a 11 and Mr. Jtevcridge, none is
so vital as that of labor. Labor is I
the basis of all wealth and therefore
its treatment is paramount to all i
other issues. The tarilf, linances,
trusts, monopolies, the centralization
or decentralization of governmental
authority, sink into insignificance
when compared with labor
and the welfare of the laboring pen- i
pie. Labor, the producer of wealth,
is fundamental; upon it depends 1
the well-being and prosperity of gov- <
crnmcnts and society. The prol.l
-f r
iiii-iim ui uiriu, nuance ami the uiliiiiniHtration
of government, will
ehaiige as men's minds elinnge mid
as evolution and development continue.
In like manner there will he
changes in lives and conditions of
those who toil, lint the solution of
the labor problem will likely engage
the best clforts of the greatest minds
and the truest hearts among men for
generations to come.
"It gives new inspiration to those
who labor to find that men of such
prominence and ability us Mr. Bryan
and Mr. Beveridge have studied so
well and speak so sympathetically
upon the past and prospective improvement
of the working people.
These two recognized lenders of political
parties, these two inoldcrs of
policies, have it within their power
to render very great service to that
vast multitude of our men, women
and children who are least able to
protect themselves.
"In their joint discussion of the
labor question they do not indicate
any irreconcilable differences of
opinion. Each forcibly presents
I what he considers to lie the nnccauiirv
requirements of the working people,
and, of course, the inference naturally
is drawn that these necessary
reforms depend for their success upon
the supremacy of the political
party of which each is a recognized
spokesman. And while I cannot
hring myself to helieve that all the
virtues are vested in one political
organization more than in another,
and do not- agree that legislation to
such time as the Executive Council
may deem tit.
The Executive Council shall have
the power at all times ta review any
pension case, and if in their opinion
circumstances warrant it, the beneficiary
may be debarred from further
participation in the pension fund.
In order to meet exigencies that
may arise, the Executive Council
are authorized and emplowered to
make such changes in administering
the Old Age Pension Fund as they
may deem wise after said plan has
been established.
The collection of the assessment
for the Old Age Pension Fund shall
begin January 1, 1!)08; provided,
the present 2 per cent assessment for
Jl)P oitrlit-limir c+vil-n
u"'"v "ao "wn tuiMTJi
olT on or before that date. In no
event is this section to become operative
until the strike assessment is
discontinued. The disbursement of
said pension to begin five months
from date of levying first assessment
for Old Age Pension Fund.
For the purpose of securing necessary
data the International Secretary-Treasurer
shall furnish local
secretaries with blanks to be filled
out by each member setting forth his
or her record as a member of the
International Typographical Union.
Said blanks to be returned to International
Secretary-Treasurer for fuI
ture reference.
IELL
iES DEBATE
am Jennings Bryan and
on "Labor" as a
an Critic*
relievo the wrongs mid conserve I he
rio]|(s of tin" ltil>nrin? people is dependent
upon tlto success of nnv 110
V J
litical purtv, nevertheless the representations
made liy Mr. Bryan ami
Mr. Boveridge u]xin this ami other
ingestions of groat public interest
will justify workingmcn ami oilier
citizens in exporting some tangible
i-onereto results.
"It is not Hiitlicienl for men or for
parties to bask in the sunshine of
what has been accomplished, or to
lay claim to credit for reforms already
wrought, and, as Mr. Bryan
iiiul Mr. Beveridge so clearly imply,
the education and the higher development
of the working people warrant
the expectation that there shall
be such legislation as will meet their
reasonable requirements and necessities.
"In connection with this subject
it is both encouraging and surprising
to observe the great change that
has taken place in the minds and
feelings of the people. Time was,
and not long past, when workingmen
voted either as their fathers did
iv as their employers dictated. But,
due largely In organization, the
working classes have been investigating
political issues for themselves.
They are no longer willing lo vote
for ii party because of its name, ami
tlioy will not vote at the belies I of
their employers.
"In other words, there is now on
increasing large number of independent
voters, most of whom are
studious, patriotic citizens who seek
conscientiously the welfare of the
working classes and the betterment
of Bociety. And to my mind Ibis
growing spirit oT political independence
reflects the best hopes and
promises of honest government, pure
politics and fearless administration.
"By publishing the opinions of
Messrs. I try an and Ucveridge the
Header Magazine is doing a great
work in the dissemination of valuable
views, which will load eventually
to the crystalization of a sentiment
that shall gain such force and power
as to overtake and thrust aside those
who stand in the way of progress and
development."
Labor Day Celebration.
The Labor Day celebration at
Kanawha Slock Farm resulted in
n liiuiticiul loss to tlio Trades Assembly
owing to tlio attendance
falling far below expectations.
The weather conditions wereo very
unfavorable and the transportation
facilities were lacking which
coupled with the reports that
gained circulation through cninics
of organized labor that the celebration
had been called oil served
to keep the crowd in the city and
os a result the Trades Assembly
lost in the neighborhood of $800.00
on the affair
The speaking was declared off
early in the day, but all the races
were pulled oil' on schedule time
and were highly appreciated by
the few that were in attendance.
It 'is understood that the committee
will get up an entertainment
in the near future to make
up their loss and it is certainly to
be hoped that the union men will
patronize it more liberally than
they did the Lalxir Day celebration.
Street Car Strike Off.
At a special meeting of the
street ear man Saturday night a
majoriety of the members voted to
call the strike off. The strike
was about three weeks and during
that time the men conducted themselves
in such a manner as tore-'?tain
the sympathy of the public
throughout the entire contest. It is
not known whether the men will
return to work or not.
The Trades Assembly will meet
in regular session Monday evening
and will prove to l>e quite an important
session. All. delegates are
earnestly requested to be present.