4.
A PROSPEROUS YEAR FOR
SPOKANE UNIONS
The past year has been one of
prepress to all Spokane unions.
The local unions and the working
people generally can look toward
the future with confidence. In |
Spokane this year has been a'
notable one for labor. The long
drawn out fight between unions de
sirous of affiliating in a central
body chartered by the American'
Federation of Labor and those op
posed to such a move has been
disposed of and there is only one
cen'ral body today in Spokane, all
past differences being forgotten. J
Another move intended for the
good of all the people that has been |
inaugurated by the members of
local unions is the organizing of
a rood strong referendum league,!
the members of which are pledged !
to support, irrespective of party.'
candidates who will agree to snp-j
port direct primary and initiative
and referendum legislation.
The Structural Trades Alliance'
has been fully organized with the
result that the building trades
were never so well able to secure
fair wages and conditions as at
present.
The printing trades have got to
gether in an Allied Printing Trades
council with the result that they
are advertising their label better
than ever before In this city and
that the crafts comprising the
council are working together in a
most harmonious manner.
The Iron molders are recovering
from tluir strike of several years
ago and have secured a substantial
increase in wages In every foundry
PATRIOTISM, LABOR, DUTY
By Chas. Wm. Bernhardt.
Vice President of the Federation
of Trades, Atlanta. Ga.
Cntil recently we have had un
limited confidence in our represent
atives, both state and national, but
experience, while sometimes rather
expensive, is at last the best teach
er, and we have found to our sor
row that their sympathies are not
always with us, with the result
that bills favorable to labor are
either lost in the committee room
or tabled, and we become sadder
but wiser men—a condition that
would not be possible if direct leg
islation through the initative and
referendum was in practice.
I do not believe that our public
officials are less capable of being
honest than other men in the va
rious walks of life but the mere
fact that they have had little or no
experience at earning their bread
by the sweat of their brow disquali
fies them to Judge how Important
are the measures advocated by la
bor in the last decade.
Organized labor in the past has
stood at the portals of our legisla
tive halls humbly beseeching for
favorable legislation. aLd in tome
casts when it asked for bread was
given a stone (viz. Alabama anti
boycott law, and others). It has
stood patently. it has borne the
burdens of our country in times of
war and peace, and the time has
com when, like some of our for
eign neighbors, we must place men
who are thoroughly acquainted
with the toil and privations of the
wage earner in our public places to
represent our interests.
Our assemblies should comprise
POLITICS IS IN THE
INTERESTS OF CLASS
By G. C. Collins,
President of the Trades and Labor
Assembly of St. Paul. Minn.
There are numerous reasons why
the wage earners, organized and
unorganized, should go into poli
tics. The activity of the National
Manufacturers' association and
citizens' alliances in their effort
to defeat legislation urged by the
organized workers is one, and this
alone should arouse the toilers to
the danger that threatens them, for
what affects the union man will
eventually affect the nonunion
man.
During the late session of con
gress not a measure advocated by
labor became law. Corporation in
terests had them killed, amended
or buried by antagonistic commit
tees.
It is said that legislation in be
half of the organized toilers would
be class legislation. But is not
politics in the Interest of class?
Are not nearly all laws for the
benefit of class? No interest that is
not represented in lawmaking
bodies, etate or national, can hope
to secure measures that will bene
fit it.
There is not a representative of
labor in congress today. Lawyers
there are by the score, bankers,
in the city with the exception of
the National Iron Works.
I The electrical workers have sus
tained the shock of the attack of
jthe Washington Water Power com
, pany without tlinching and are
stronger and better organized now
than ever.
| The culinary crafts, which in
clude the cooks and kitchen help
ers, waiters and waitresses, are
I employed in almost every restau
i rant and cafe in the city. These
j unions are keeping step with the
growth of the city and their mem
bership is increasing in a most
gratifying manner.
The cigarmakeis have not pro
gressed as rapidly as could be de
sired, and the union men and all
people who are interested in the
! growth (if the city have been urged
to aid in creating a demand for
I union made cigars. Ail cigars
made in Spokane are union. In
I purchasing union cigars you are
j keeping your money in this city.
■ The bartenders' union is strong
In membership and is having no
trouble.
The only serious strike in the
s-tate has been that of the shingle
weavers, which was lost after last
in? several months.
In Spokane the strike against the
Washington Water Power company
continues with everything favor
aide for a victory of the linemen.
With the demand for labor that
now exists through tho entire
country, and particularly the west,
there is every reason to feel that
labor will enjoy peaceful employ,
'ment and prosperity.
CHAS. W. BERNHARDT.
J every vocation in life, if we would
have a fair and impartial govern
ment. Lincoln rejoiced that strikes
were possible; it proclaimed the in
dependence and spirit of men. The
assertion that we would tear down
and destroy the work of years is
j not true.
! We are for the most part Anglo
j Saxon, and the tendency of the
, race has been upward and onward,
[ and the flag that has been made
sacred by the blood of our truest
and bravest sires will not be trail
ed in the dust by their sons.
Our country and its laws are as
dear to us as it could ever be to
any man who enjoys the pure air
of liberty be he master or servant,
and cur willing response to our
country's call in humanity's cause
should be sufficient evidence of
our good intentions in time of
peace.
professional politicians and per-'
haps a few farmers, hut those who
create legitimate wealth, the wage
earners, must depend on others to
legislate for them.
There are 2,000,000 trade union
voters in the United States. The
trouble has been to get them to
vote as a unit. If they can be
brought to do so there will not be
so many millionaires in the United
States senate, so many corporation
controlled members in the house of
representatives.
urn mv tmm nma sv mn mumi
It occurs to me that a realistic and instructive cartoon aprop is of Labor day would be a por
trayal of chaos, as represented by a vast crowd of human beings working without system, with no
definite object, each going his own way regardless of the interests or welfare of his fellow, and from
the center of this mass emerging. Phoenix-like, the figure of a typical, strong, conscious workman,
having in his hands some implements of industry. The figure should rise above the confused mass,
should be dignified, intelligent and kind in appearance.
This is my conception of the dignity of labor.
In connection with this suggestion, Carlyle's words might be apt: "This that they call organized
labour is the universal, vital problem of the world."
I Yours truly,
JOHN MITCHELL, President TJ. M. W., of A.
CANDIDATES ALREADY ARE
TOEING THE SCRATCH
By Patrick Wash,
President of tho Central Trades
and Labor Council of New
Orleans.
The action of the American Fed
eration of Labor in deciding to go
into politics as an organization,
and in issuing a proclamation to its
constituent bodies, advising them
to do likewise, is the best policy
that organization has ever adopted.
It has been my opinion for some
years that the labor organizations
of the country should enter poli
tics.
Speaking for the Central Trades
and Labor Council, I would say
that I believe its participation in
politics will not only rebound to
the good of the organized workers
of this city, but will also benefit
that vast class of workingmen out
side of the labor organization. Can
didates for political office must
hereafter conform their actions to
the demands of the working peo
ple as expressed through the labor
organizations.
Since the decision of the Central
Trades and Labor Council to obey
the mandate of the federation by
taking part in politics in this state,
several candidates have conde
scended to come before that body
SHOWS STRENGTH OF THE
POLITICAL SPIRIT
By Jas. F. Malley,
President United Trades and Labor
Council of Cleveland, O.
It is not only the part of wisdom
for organized labor to assert itself
in politics, but I feel that this ac
tion should have been taken years
ago. The United Trades and Labor
Council of Cleveland, having 18,000
members, has indorsed the position
of President Samuel Gompers on
this question. Labor organizations
should see to it that more union
men are given places on the tick
ets of both the old parties. They
have been lax in this regard for
years.
This Is the first time our organi
zation has taken political action.
We are now in a position where
SPOKANE PRfTSS, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3,1906
and explain away reports that
have been circulated about them In
regard to their attitude toward
labor, and to assure the council
that they will use every effort to
aid the working people if elected
to office.
If this action had been taken five
years ago the condition of the
working people the country over,
whether organized or unorganized,
would be Infinitely better than It
is today.
we may indorse any man on any
ticket that will best advance the
interests of organized labor. Ac
tion should be taken not only In
matters relating to congress but in
all state and municipal campaigns.
The steamfltters' union, of which
I am a member, had a clause in its
constitution prohibiting political
discussion at our meetings. When
the Gompers letter arrived, how
ever, a motion to strike that clause,
from the constitution was made
and it was carried by a unanimous
vote A committee was appointed
to draft a section for the constitu
tion authorizing political discus
sion under the head of good and
welfare. This indicates the spirit
that actuates union men geuerajlly
and I believe it is going to bring
about results very much to their
advantage.
IN A NUTSHELL
Forest fires in the vicinity of
Bellingham have destroyed more
than 11,000,000 worth of standing
timber.
The United Mineworkers and
operators In the district embracing
Montana and Wyoming reached a
peaceful agreement on wage scale
and are ready to sign up contracts.
The Hillyard News has installed
a new press and is giving its read
ers the benefit of a bright little
paper printed at home.
The regular meeting of the Spo
kane board of health will be held
tomorrow afternoon when It Is ex
pected a successor will be appoint
ed to succeed Frank Bunker, the
resigned sanitary inspector.
FUGITIVE ESCAPES
BECAUSE COPS
CAN E FLY
Somewhere in this great wide
wirld a little yellow canary bird is
a fugitive from the police. Evi
dently there was great excitement
at the Hosford household yester
day when Mrs. Hosford, giving her
address as room 27, Victor block,
called up police headquarters and
in a plaintive voice asked If the
department wouldn't "please catch
my canary." The cage had been
hanging outside the window and
some way or other the little bird
got out and is now enjoying the
first real freedom of his whole
life.
Policemen have been up against
hard hunts before, but that they
have been requested to search the
regions above is said by them to
be the very limit. Tho Spokane
department as yet has not been
put on such an up to date scheme
as to provide airships for the detec
tion of fugitives on wings, but Mrs.
Hosford has been promised that
just as soon as the department is
provided with flying apparatus ef
forts will be made to capture the
canary.
The Spokane Press delivered to
your house for 25c a month. Tele,
phone Main 378.
CANDIDATES MUST ALL
APPRECIATE LABOR
By D. D. Driscoll,
Secretary and Treasurer of the
Massachusetts State Federa
tion of Labor.
Every wage earner, of course,
ought to be a union man. In any
event, he ought to vote for his own
best interests. We believe that
the best candidates from our view
point of fitness ought to be sup
ported regardless of political affili
ation, race or creed.
Our sole test of fitness, apart
I from the possession of human in
telligence, is that a candidate for
■ elective office shall appreciate the
fact that labor's interests are in
t finitely more great than those of
•capital for the very simple reason
that in this country we have thou
sands of toilers to one capitalist.
We fully appreciate the rights of
capital; nor do we overlook its
duties. Our ambition is to estab
lish and maintain the exact equa
tion.
This fall we shall work hard to
elect men for every office —men
who will not legislate away the
rights of the people. Of course
we all hope and watch and pray
for the dawn of industrial peace,
but we are determined that it shall
be peace with honor.
Labor must take an active, vigor
ous part in politics, and the first
PULPIT AWAKES
TO PERILS OF
VICE
In n rigorous sermon at All
Saints' cathedral yesterday Dean
Lockwood took the Sloane patri
cide as the theme of a vigorous
scoring of the city administration
for lax enforcement of laws de
signed to safeguard the young.
Wealthy violators of the rules of
decency were not overlooked by
the dean, who announced as the
purpose of his pulpit a determina
tion to fight from now ou for bet
ter administration. Dean Lock
wood held up lax regulation of vice
and the city's indifference because
of revenue derived as the principal
reason for abnormal crimes such
as the Sloane murder, and while
he declared the boy should be pun
ished for the crime, argued against
the extreme penalty on the ground
that the city's tolerance of crime
breeding conditions must also bear
a share of responsibility. A plea
for leniency is also made on the
ground that young Sloane has
come to a full realization of the
enormity of his crime.
At Grace Baptist church yester
day Rev. Frank L. Norton also
dealt with the subjeot of homicide,
urging strongly that a murderer
may never hope to escape the con
sequences of his crime no matter
what treatment is accorded him by
society.
GREAT WORK
FINISHED
TJTICA, N. V., Sept. 3.—The
electrification of the west shore
road between this city and Syra
cuse is practically completed and
everything is in readiness for
starting the running of electrically
propelled trains on that line. The
rabies transmitting the power for
the road from Spier Falls, where
the powerhouse of the Hudson
River Electric Power company is
located, will be carried on steel
towers 55 feet high and the lino
now completed is about 150 miles
long. At Syracuse the Hudson
River company meets the Niagara
Falls Power company, which will
furnish the power for the next 160
miles.
Society
Regalia.
Celluloid
Buttons
We are now equipped with
machines for making all kinds
of social and lodge regalia,
Floto button novelties, celluloid
or fibroid pins and buttons, etc.
Spokane Stamp Works
518 First Avenue,
Opposite Hotel Spokane.
DENNIS D. DRISCOLL.
great step toward improving our
condition is to make labor's voice'
effective in all legislation. I be
lieve that this fall all over the
country there will be elected to
office, both humble and great, suf
ficient labor men, although not
necessarily union men, to drive the
entering wedge that shall split
asunder the bonds that now chain
the toller to the thraldom of gold.
HIS POCKETB PICKED.
H. Freit, who says he works in
camp No. 1 for the Lewis Lumber
company at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho,
reported to the police this morning
that last night while he slept in a
chair at tho Tennessee saloon his
pockets were picked of $7 and a
watch chain.
Grand Labor
Day Ball
At ElKs Temple
Tonight
Gents 50 c Ladies
Free
LABOR DAY
PICNIC
AND CELEBRATION AT BEAUTIFUL
MANITO PARK
DURKIN SAYS:
You would not throw away
money. Stretch it and get as
big value for it as you can—
This you do by buying
Anheuser-Busch
St. Louis Beer 5c Big Glass
PHONE MAIN 73 FREE DELIVERY
121 Howard St. and Durkln'a Corner and Sprague Aye.
Phone 731. Free Delivery.
LARRY LOOKING
FOR COIN
Jack Kearns, manager and
matchmaker for . the Twentieth
Century Athletic club, yesterday
received a letter from Larry Sulli
van, manager and backer for Joa
Gans. It seems, according to tho
letter, that Sullivan is out to get
all the money possible down on
the coon as he believes Gans will
beat Battling Nelson in a hurry.
The letter reads:
"GOLDFIELD, Nev„ Aug. 29.—
Friend Jack: Th 3 black boy is
certainly the money and I figure
on making a killing. I'm going
through strong on him and take a
tip from me and back him for at
much as you can stand. He looks
like a cinch. He Is cleverer than
the Dave and has the better
punch. Yours truly,
"L. SULLIVAN."
SCOTCHMEN WILL
MEET TONIGHT
St. Andrews' society of Spokane
meets at Fraternial hall at 8
o'clock this evening to begin pre
parations for a series of events Im
portant to Scotchmen the world
over, chief among them being the
celebration of St. Andrews' night
in November and commemoration
of Burns' birthday January 25.
Every brawny Scot is reminded of
his duty to the heather and High
lands in helping recall the days of
Aul Lang Syen and honoring the
name and fame of the land of
Bruce.
OUR CRIP CURE 29c
BTOWKLL DRUG CO.,
Corner Rlverslds and Stevens.
DON'T MISS THE GRAND
i
TAKE TRACTI ON CO.'S CARS.
DURKIN'B TWO BTORES
fIT