The labor advocate. [volume], September 23, 1916, Page 7, Image 7

About The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937

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THE 'LABOR ADVOCATE
I
II
SORRY STRIKE IS AVERTED
Washington. "It looks like they arc
sorry the strike was averted," said Con
gressman Adamson, author of the eight
hour law for railroad men, in discussing
the claims of opponents of this legisla
tion in the house of representatives, last
week.
"In the first place," he said, "it is not
true that the act fixes wages. That
statement is gratuitous and inconsider
ate. The law fixes an eight-hour day.
We had previously a 10-hour day and a
nine-hour day. We now have an eight
hour day. The only reference to wages
is in the language used to hold in statu
quo until the working of the eight-hour
law could be observed and all other fea
tures of the service adjusted to the
eight-hour law. The language means
and means only that there shall be no
changes in the relations of the parties
in any effort of the railroads to recoup
what they assert to be an increase of
wages.
"The present threat of some railroad
officials to resist the law and refuse to
put it into effect until forced to do so
by the courts is strangely inconsistent
with the known position of the railroad
officials, often stated by them and made
in their replies to the president, that
they have no objection to an increase of
wages if they are permitted to recoup
for that by increased charges on the
public. They would no doubt welcome
with avidity an increase of wages and
expenses and evidently favor it, because
they think that they could secure an in
crease of rate largely out of proportion
to the increased expense.
"Those gentlemen who see proper to
resist the law until compelled by the
courts will probably find the first ex
pression from the court in the shape of
a criminal warrant lor tauurc to comply
with the law.
"These gentlemen pretend that the
eight-hour law is unconstitutional. The
constitution charges congress with the
duty and invests it with the power to
regulate interstate commerce. Part of
that regulation should and does relate to
the safety of passengers and property.
This act, like the 10 and nine-hour laws,
are based on the idea of public safety.
If it is warranted by the constitution, it
is not unconstitutional. If it is a regu
lation of commerce it is constitutional.
No genuine lawyer will deny that pre
scribing hours of labor for persons op
erating trains, prescribed in the interest
of public safety, is a regulation of com
merce. If any alleged lawjer gives any
such erroneous advice and any railroad
official, acting on that advice, goes to
iail, he should have 'benefit of counsel'
far enough to insure the incarceration
with him of that unfaithful lawer, and
both of them would look well in stripes,
and probably will be thus adorned if
they persist in their announced course'
MEXICAN CONFERES ARK NOW
IN SESSION.
NEW YORK CAR MEN STRIKE
New York. Because of an attempt by
street railroad managers to destroy the
recently-organized Street Car Men's
union, the surface street car system in
this city has been completely tied up the
past week, while transportation on the
numerous elevated lines and on the net
work of subway railroads has been bad
ly crippled. The strike vote was taken
Wednesday, September G, and affected
the New York Railways company two
companies with the same officials. Later
the strike spread to other lines and
northward into Westchester county.
The direct cause of the strike was the
attempt of the Intcrborough, controlling
the elevated and subway lines, to foist
an individual contract on its employes
binding them not to strike for two years
or to take part in any movement having
for its purpose a betterment of condi
tions during this period. Officers of the
company have stated that any violation
of this agreement "would be subject to
discipline," and would also result in
a suit for damages, which would be
brought against the individual employe
by the company. The Street Car Men's
union demanded that the company return
these agreements and cease issuing bul
letins containing the information that
any employe who objected to the agree
ment would be discharged. The com
pany replied that the men could sue
in court as individuals, if thev helieved
thev were wronged.
When the strike started President
Shonts of the New York Railways and
Interborough companies announced that
it was "a fight to the finish." James L.
Quackenbush, general counsel for the
latte'r company, said : 'If there arc
enough bluccoats and brass buttons and
a few night sticks not revolvers where
they are needed, the strike won't last
long."
But the response by orcanized labor
surprised Shonts, who later assured the
public that his fight "was not against
unionism."
President Gompers has been in con
sultation with local trade unionists dur
ing the week discussing means that will
be helpful to the strikers.
During one of the hearings before the
public service commission General Man
ager Frank Hedley, of the Interborough,
admitted that the company had broken
its word 'with employes by refusing to
submit to arbitration Kany question that
might arise. For more than half an
hour the traction official endeavored to
avoida direct answer, to-the question.'
Step by step, however, .he was forced to
admit that he had given his word to his
employes that the basis of settlement of
the recent strike on the New York Rail
ways would be accepted by him and that
that strike settlement included arbitra
tion provisions.
DISCOVERS A TjAROR "SOLUTION."
AMUSEMENTS j ffl" Smt ' ' k
mb
lA'RIC.
Written in language that appeals to
cverv class of theatre-goer telling a
story that is familiar, yet most fascinat
ing in its recital; teaching a wonderful
lesson without being gloomy or preachy,
"Experience," George V. Hobart's mod
ern morality play, which was seen for
the first time in Cincinnati at the Lyric
Theatre on Sunday night, promises to
write a new and highly commendable
page in the theatrical history of the city.
One recognizes the wonderful human
ity of the play in the adventures of
"Youth," who, after taking leave of
"Love" and "Home" in the pure and
healthful surroundings of the country,
starts on his way into the great world
with "Ambition" as his companion.
Accompanied by "Experience," "Youth"
meets "Pleasure," "Intoxication," "Fash
ion," "Blue Blood," "Style," "Slander,"
"Deceit," "Wealth," "Frivolity," "Pas
sion" and other symbolized characters,
who gradually lead him on the down
ward path, until he finds himself at the
very edge of the great abyss, with
"Crimc" beckoning him and "Poverty"
threatening him.
At this stage the "miracle of a
mother's love" intervenes, brought on by
"Experience" accompanying him in the
vicinity of a church, where an invisible
singer is heard in the beautiful words
of "Lead Kindly Light." He turns from
his follies, hastens to the land of Clean
liness, is welcomed back by "Love" and
"Hope," and finds that "Ambition," with
whom he started on his journey, is not
dead, but merely has been slumbering.
There is nothing sordid nothing
monotonously preachy in the story. The
dialogue is bright, snappy and convinc
ing; the action is natural and fascinat
ing; the scenic environment graphic in
the extreme, and the work of the com
pany intelligent and interesting, bring
ing out the full strength and character
istics of the various elements pictured.
So great and immediate has been the
success of "Experience" that it has been
decided to continue the engagement for
a second week, starting Sunday next.
Robert Z.
Buchwalter
Republican Candidate
FOR
Common Pleas Judge
Election: November 7th, 1916
. ..............
- ---
-?
Vote for
Stanley E. Bow die
Democratic Candidate for
Congress
Second Ohio District
Election November 7.
-
New London, Conn. Determined to
solve differences between the United
States and MexFco, and substitute medi
ation for shot and shell, representatives
of the two countries arc holding ses
sions in this city.
The Mexican representatives have
emphasized the work of rehabilitating
their country, which has been done by
the Carranza administration and the
rapid progress that is being made in re
establishing order. Proposed reforms in
educational and agricultural lines have
been related in detail by the Mexicans,
who have pointed out that the recogni
tion of the Carranza government has
greatly assisted the constitutionalists in
their work.
ST. LOUIS DRIVERS ENJOINED.
St. Louis, Mo. Striking milk wagon
drivers have been enjoined by Circuit
Judge Anderson, who commands these
workers not to attempt to induce strike
breakers to quit their jobs.
The strikers are also ordered not to
use threats, intimidation, personal vio
lence or other means "intended to tcr
rorizcand alarm."
While the statutes make ample pro
vision for the trial and punishment of
any person who threatens, intimidates or
uses violence, an injunction has especial
value as a strikebreaking process.
When a workingman is charged with
violation of law, when no strike exists,
lie is assumed to be innocent until
proven guilty and is accorded a jury
trial. Under the injunction process, how
ever, it is only necessary for the em
ployer, or his attorney, to claim a striker
has intimidated or used violence. The
striker is then ordered to appear before
the judtre whoissued the iniunction and
prove that he is innocent. He is denied
a jury trial and is assumed to be guilty
until he proves thc contrary.
Because trade unionists are demand
ing equality before the law when they
are striking to improve working condi
tions, they are wrongfully charged with
demanding a license to destroy property
and with asking for special privileges.
Workers oppose injunctions because
these writs, issued in times of strike,
suspend trial by jury, reverse the ac
cepted rule that a man is innocent until
proven guilty and permit a judge, acting
as lawmaker, jurist and executioner, to
suspend every constitutional guarantee,
Montgomery, Ala. John H. Wallace,
Tr state game and fish commissioner,
has discovered a system whereby strikes
and lockouts will no longer distract this
nation. His plan is simple appoint an
arbitration board to adjust wages, make
k illegal to strike while the board is re
viewing the case and depend upon public
opinion to enforce the award.
Mr. Wallace averred in a Labor Day
speech :
'"The weight of public opinion would
undoubtedly sustain the board of arbi
tration, therefore strikes and lockouts
upon the adoption of the recommenda
tion I have sutrgpcted, would become a
thing of the past."
This ancient scheme of tving men to
their jobs was foisted on Colorado by
the last "legislature, but at the recent
convention of the tate federation of
labor was roundly denounced.
Despite this latest repudiation of com
pulsion, men still ignore the verdict of
history and present the system as some
new discovery.
STANDARD Olti PLANT STRUCK.
EMPRESS.
Philadelphia. Striking employes of
the Atlantic Refining company are stand
ing firm in their demand for living con
ditions despite police activity and nu
merous arrests of pickets who are
charged with "inciting to riot." This
company, it is claimed, has Standard Oil
connections, and working conditions at
the plant arc described by the News
Post: "If a book could be written of the ter
rible conditions at the plant it would
make interesting reading and point a tre
mendous moral for those citizens who
admire the bais of democracy in the
United States."
As a result of the strike the U. G. I.
Corporation increased wages to stop a
strike of its employes.
5,000 DEMAND WAGE
INCREASE.
Pittsfield, Mass. The plant of the
General Electric company at this place
is tied up because of a strike of 5,000
men and women who are asking for a 10
per cent wage increase and better work
ing conditions. The company has im
ported large numbers of New York city
detectives to "guard its property." As
a side line, these thugs are attempting to
terrorize the strikers, which is the real
purpose of the invasion.
For next week the Empress Theatre
offers a show that will be typically su
perior. It is filled to the very top with
genuine, honest cnjoyability, such as
lias placed this house where it belongs
among the most successful vaudeville
houses of America.
The program will be headed by six
spectacularly stunning sylphs, who call
themselves the Sextette Dc Luxe. They
sing sweetly, make merry with melody
on various instruments, dance dashingly
and are seen with a background of su
perb scenery in a varied and entertain
ing musical comedy. They are destined
to prove a sensation.
Another fine act on the bill will be
the Three Dixie Girls, a trio of sweet
voiced damsels, whose picturesque cos
tumes and varied array of gowns will
undoubtedly create a fashion sensation
among the women.
Minola Hurst and Prince Paulika, also
on the bill, are hcadlincrs in laugh
making. They are billed as "the big and
little laugh landers," and" it is predicted
that they will roll their audiences
around in their seats at the rate of sixty
laughs per minute.
The remainder of the bill is of equal
ly high calibre, Manager GcorgeF. Fish
having personally supervised their book
ing, in order to give Empress patrons
the very best there is to be had in the
way of good vaudeville. Draper and
Clayton, billed as "the korked kings of
komedv." bear that title by richt of con-
ouest. Still another comedy clement on
the bill is Jack Lamy, "the nut with an
overcoat." While Dix and Dixie are
jugglers who introduce brains and come
dy in their work.
And last, but not least, are the comedy
films which open and close the shows.
Vote for
LA. WINTER
Republican Candidate
for the Legislature
Election November 7, 1916
VOTE FOR
William A. Hopkins
Democratic Candidate
-FOR-
COUNTY TREASURER
While scr inp as County Treasurer he inaugurated
reforms to facilitate the public business, which had
neer been thought of by his predecessors, and must,
of necessity, go on foreer in this office. These ino
ations, such as anticipating the taxpaers' wants by
mailing their bills in advance of their requests, and
keepiiiK and safeguarding the public funds at the
many depositories, will not, and should not, be for
gotten by an appreciative public.
TO GREET ENGLISH UNIONISTS.
New York President Mahon of the
Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employes, and Prcsi
'dent Woll of the International Photo
Engravers' Union, sailed for England
last Saturday as fraternal delegates
from the American Federation of Labor
to the British Trades Union Congress,
which will convene in Birmingham, this
month.
Messrs. Mahon and Woll were elected
to attend the 1914 convention of the
British Trades Union Congress, but the
meeting was postponed on account of the
war. In 1015 circumstances again pre
vented the attendance of the American
delegates, who were re-elected to the
San Francisco convention of the A. F.
of L. to serve as fraternal delegates this
year and extend greetings which have
been continuous since 1804 when John
Burns and David Holmes represented
the English workers at the Denver con
vention. The first American delegates
to England were Samuel Gompers and
P. J. McGuire, deceased.
1JRADDOCK STRIKE SETTLED.
Braddock, Pa. Wire drawers cm
ployed by the American Steel and Wire
Company secured a wage increase of 5
cents an hour after a short strike. The
new scale is 40 cents an hour.
VOTE FOR
Fred Wesselman
Republican
Candidate
FOR
County Clerk
Election: Noveitber 7th, 1916
VOTE FOR
Sherman Applegate
Democratic Candidate
FOR
County Commissioner
A Known Friend to the Laboring Class