Newspaper Page Text
TWO
Organizing Activities Of
State Labor Federation
Organizers Placed in the Field With Purpose of Reviving In
terest Where Trade Union Sentiment Had Been Permitted
to Wane, and of Building Up Movement. Valdosta Keenly
Alive to Value of Organization. Rome to be Invaded.
Cultivating Friendly Relations Between Employers and
Employes.
Atlanta,- —(Special.)—L«bor Depart
ment, Aujuiti H«r«ld.—The Georgia
Federation of Labor ha* placed two
organizer* In the field In an effort to
(mild up the labor movement lri eltlo*
that have apparently lost Intcrcßt.
aim to organize new territory.
At the present time. O. A Cone la
located In Valdosta, and the reports
from him arc very encouraging, not
withstanding the fact that ho ha*
been there only a f<w days. There
are two union* In Valdosta, the Ma
chinist and Hallway Carmen, and on
the night of Organizer Cone’s arrival,
eighteen of the boys got together and
voluntarily subscribed $52 towards
defraying the expense of a business
sgetil *■' ln Ihe organizing work.
The prospects are bright for several
new organizations In thl* thriving
South (Jeorßia city within a very short
time.
The Federation hopes to place an
organizer In Rome at an early date,
a* It In though that something can be
accomplished there. Romo has been a
vsry good organized towh, but for
some reason the workers have per
mitted Interest to wane, and, as a re
sult, several of the unions have sent
their charter back and cloned up shop,
In fact gone out of the union busi
ness entirely.
Journeymen Horeeehoere Meet.
Last week the Journeymen llorne
shoern of Atlanta held an open meet
ing and Invited the Master Horse
nhoere to be present. Only a few of
them aroeptod thfc Invitation, hut
those that did, seemed to be Impress
ed and It will no doubt servo to es
tablish a more friendly relation be
tv ecn employer and employee. At
i '■ t there Is no til feeling of nny
I 1 i but It Is desired to show to the
o;i )> oyer that the Journeymen are ln
le.-c: ted In the husnteas also.
C R. Jackson presided over this
meeting nnd Introduced the president
of the Oeorgta Federation of Labor
and Jerome Jones.
Girls Win Victory In Short
And Well Conducted Strike
List of Grievances
and Strike Ultimatum Wed
nesday Evening and By
Thursday Morning Had All
Demands G. ntcd—What at
First Seemed Ludicrous and
Funny Soon Developed Into
Serious Proposition.
Thr first Rlrls' strike In the labor
movement of Augusta Roes on record
as one of the shortest, best conducted
and most successful strikes wit Red by
employee nnnliist employer* In this
section of the country.
The strike of the forty salesgirls of
the Silver 6 and 10 Cents Store to
secure better working conditions was
declared at the clostna hour Wednes
day evenlnti and by 8 o'clock Thum
day momlnß the striking Kiris had
their every Rr leva nee adjusted, ev
ery demand irranted, and won a de
cided and complete victory.
The Kiris' Krlovanees. ns submitted
to the mauaKement Wednestlay even
ing through a committee of three,
were lon* hours. Insufficient time for
dinner, extra work without extra pay.
The main grievance, the straw that
broke the camel's back, as one Kir I
pats it, was the nmnairement's recent
order to the Kiris to take their sta
tions behind the oountere prunsptly at
7.46 every momlnK Instead of 8
o'Klork, as had been the rule In the
establishment up to ten days rko. The
Matte betwneen the Kiris and their em
ployer next In Importance was the
Saturday ntKht closing at 10 JO and
It Instead of 10 o'clock ue previously
•creed upon. ,
Another recent change In the rule*
that provided the Kiris to protest and
led up to a strike was the new rule
of 44 minutes for dinner on Saturday
and Monday. There war© a number
of minor grievances that helped to
aggravate and accentuate the situa
tion.
The climax was reached Wednesday
evening when the feminine sales
force, with but a few exceptions, after
a spirited meeting In the cloak and
lunch room upstairs, at which a sort
of round robin was signed by the girls,
delivered their ultimatum to the tnan
agerpent, declaring unless their de
mands were granted they would leave
their Jobe and go out on a strike.
The committee, the girl# claim, wn*
unceremoniously turned down end
told to proceed with their strike. The
girls thereupon repeated their pledge
of solidarity and departed *or their
homes determined to remain firm In
their position.
It Is reported t>-M the management,
after the Klrle' departure, enjoyed a
hearty laugh at the ludlcroueneas of
the whole thing—at the very Idea of
girl* In Augusta striking and collect
ively making demands through a com-
IN THE WORLD OF LABOR
Tuesday evening the Plumbers and
Steam Fitters held an open meeting
and a large crowd was present. Every
Indication polnta to a complete re-or
ganlzatlon of this union In Atlanta.
About two years ago these trades
went on a strike for the eight-hour
work day, and although partially un
successful, and several of the mem
bers dropped out, they have been en
abled to maintain a very substantial
organization.
The speakers at this meeting were
the president of the Georgia Federa
tion of Labor, Lqule P. Marquardt, or
ganizer for the Georgia Federation, 8.
11. Itrady, president of the Atlanta
Federation of Trades, Tom Dukes, a
member of the Plumbers Union, and
Jerome Jones who presided at tho
Hind hIUT-
At the present time an effort Is be
ing made to have an ordinance pass
ed by the city council to require an
examination of all of thoae engaged,
at the trade. Several of the Master
Plumbers of the city are bitterly
fighting the proposition, while others
are heartily In accord with It. It Is
reported that the Maator Plumbers
Association have raised a large sum
of money to fight the ordinance, hut
the Indications are that tho ordinance
will become a law.
Metal Trades Section Will Bmoks
For tho purpose of stimulating a
greater Interest In the organizations
of the Metal Trades, a smoker will bo
given at the, Labor Temple In Atlanta
on the evening of March 31st and sev
eral speeches will be made by promi
nent labor officials. Those In charge
of the nffalr prodlct that It will ho re
sponsible for reviving a number of or
ganizations an<l will establish a more
harmonious co-operation amnns those
unions whoso members work In the
metal Industry. William Robinson,
of the Machinist, and William Van
ITouten, of the Molders, are visiting
the, different union* extending Invi
tations to the workers, and they are
very optimistic over the encourage
ment received.
mittee and an ultimatum.
It wan Incredible and most laugh
able Indeed, rather funny. Out the
management soon began to reflect
Maybe II wasn’t so very funny after
all. The girls seemed determined, tho
situation looked serious and the strike
appeared to be real.
After some reflection tbo manage
ment began telephonic communication
with what they considered the sen
sible ones In the bunch. "Are you one
of the leaders?" one girl was asked
by the manager. "I certainly ant."
came the answer. 'Tin you mean to
stay out?” another girl was ques
tioned. "1 shall stAy out as long as
the other girls stay out," was the re
ply. "Can't you get tho girls to eome
to work?" the strikers' spokesman
was asked, "We'll come at 8 o’clock. *
Thursday morning the strikers, forty
strong, took up a position on the broad
sidewalk In front of the store and
waited for development*. The doors
WOT# opened. Inside the store the
girls saw several of the delinquent
fellowworkers behind the countersand
the word "scab" was passed. Two
of the more high-strung among the
strikers rushed In and by a few en
dearing terms and taunts persuaded
two or three of the delinquents to
lenve their places and to Join the
strikers.
In the meantime the beaming faces
and unceasing chatter of the striking
girls on the sidewalk attracted and
were surrounded by a large number
of pedeatrinns. Women with union
affiliations pledged their sympathy
and support to the strikers, urging
them to stand firm and declaring that
unless the management yielded they
would withhold their patronage from
the firm
At a ffw minutes before 8 o'clock
a representative of the concern came
out and Invited the girls Inside, prom
ising at the same time that every
thing would be all right." Every
thing was soon all right—for the
strikers The protest was conceded
to be reasonable and the strikers' de
mand! were readily granted. A great
cheer went up from the feminine
throats: "We've won. we've won." was
sent rolling all the length of the
store, and the fight was at an end.
And now the girls are seriously dis
cussing organisation and the assu
rance Is held cut that before many
days the ranks of organised labor In
Augusta will be swelled by an ''Au
gusta Salesladies' Union."
Chicago.—A letter was made pub
lic today which was sent to Lieuten
ant Qoverner O'Hara by J, O. Bentall.
secretary of the Socialist part of this
state. Boutall wants to know why
the white slave probers don’t call the
owners of the 6 and 10 cent stores.
"Do you know," it asks, “that the
Rockefellers arc in close relation
relation with them? Why not call
John D., Jr., and let him sweat"
THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA.
Names of Delegates Elected
To Coming Labor Convention
At the office of the secretary of State
Federation of Labor, at Savannah # the
folFwinj? name** of delegates elected ro
far to the coming state laobr convention
In Augusta, April 16-18, have been re
ceived. It will be seen from the list
that the largest representation at the
convention of the state body will £e
that of the Carpenters and Joiners Local
No. 283, of Augusta, there being eight,
members in the delegation:
Albany, Machinists, No. 290—R. L.
Gray.
Atlanta, Stereotypers &
No. 42—Oeorgo A. Soarratt.
Musicians, No. 148—B. Lee Smith, Car 1
Karston.
Webb Pressmen, No. 16—Frank E.
Smith.
Railway Carmen, No, 46—G. C. Gogs.
Typographical Union No. 48—W. E.
Jones, Fred Norris, W. H. Kirkpatrick,
H. W. Stein, Jerome .Tonop.
Horse Sheers No. 60—J. R. Jackson.
Machinists Ufclon No. 43—R. L. Cor
ley.
Locomotive Firemen A Englnemeen
Np. 247—T. M. Doster. R. L. Hatfield.
Moving Picture Machine Operators
IK- JJL I? 3 r.ijl
Sheet Metal Workers No. 86—C. H.
Barnes.
RAilway Carmen No. 364.—R. E. Ham
ilton.
Machinists Union No. 1 John Thomp
son, J. F. Mosley, J .P. Osbourne.
Bartenders Union No. 192—George B.
Hill, Roth. H. Nelms.
Augusta, Federation of Trades—J. A.
Allen, S. L. Gay. *— Smith.
Electrical Workers No. 121—Robert H.
Young.
Carpenters and Joiners No. 283 —J. W.
Luqulre, J. W. Coldman, S. M. What
ley, I. B. Carter, W. H. Cole, E. L.
Pryor, Frank Wright, N. T. Barnes.
TyopgraphloaJ Union No. 41—J. R.
Bass.
Plumbers Union No. 160—A. F. Bush.
Paintens and Decorators—F. W. Bills.
Savannah, Trades and Labor As
Echoes From Jacksonville
Child Labor Convention
Editor Labor Department, Herald. —
On my return home from Jackson
ville, where I was in attendance Upon
the Child 1-obor convention, I had
my attention called to your article In
last Sunday's Issue summarizing the
proceedings of the convention and
giving a few of the- striking passages
of the discussions at the sessions and
tho masß mooting.
Having been present at all the aes
slons and at the great mass meeting
In the auditorium, I am in a position
to say that your summary is an au
thentic and very correct presentation
of the deliberations aa they occurred,
though of course far from conpleto
nnd necessarily abbreviated. With
your permission I will supplement
your report with somo Items from my
note book. In short hand I took down
tho speech of Senator Hudson, eome
of whose remarks were as follows:
"Child labor was being used as the
standard of pay that keeps the work
ers below the poverty line, while the
employers pile up millions and grow
greedy for more power.
“The employers have their strong
state and national associations, but
they fear to permit their workers to
organize, nnd see to it that tho con
stables escort out of towh the union
delegates who come to preach union
ism to the operatives. The feudal
lords of the cotton mills draw up pe
titions for the employes to sign, beg
ging to be delivered from working
less than slxty-flvo hours a week.
They literally force their workers to
protest against being restrained from
working their heart# and lungs out.
"While the employes have become
more helpless, their employers have
grown more powerful. The only free
nom yet retained by these helpless
operative# 1s the liberty of ctyuigtng
their feudal lord#, and there have
been such bitter complaints of the
mtgratory character of the cotton mill
workers that I look to see some bar
onial edict put forth that no family
will be employed at one mill that
moves from another without the cAi
ploycrs consent.
"This feudalism l* sometimes called
a benevolent feudalism, because It
sometime# builds, out of the surplus
made by the labor at low wages of
She workers, schools and hospitals
and libraries, and ao forth. But there
Is no benevolent feudalism. The ex
pression is « contradiction In terms.
The best benevolence would be to
Increase the pay roll,* so that the em
ployes might do some of these things
for themselves.
"Abolish child labor and the child
can go to school Then the wage
scale will raise to the point where a
man or woman can support the fam
ily, where educaten and intelligent
workers can make their own terms
as to hours nnd wages and the Con
dition* of labor. This Is not theory
but history."
Recently some one published a book,
the purport of which was to prove
that a mountaineer’s family In a mill
town was much better off. financially,
physically and morally, than In their
rude mountain shacks.
Following la the way this view was
combatted by a huaky. broad-shoul
dered, ruddy-cheeked young North
Carolinian, who was Introduced to the
audience ns a Mr. IV. H. Swift:
"i was born In a one-room moun-
! sembly—Robert Fechner, J. J. Kedne, G.
M. Oliver, J. W. Downs.
Machinists Union No. 23—C. E. Wil
liams, J. H. Brewer, B. W. Jarvis.
Blacksmith** Union No. 11—W. E.
Yokum.
Brewery Workers No. 211—ChaA
Toussant.
Tallapoosa, Class Bottle Blowers No.
91—Walter J. Walburn.
Waycross, Trades and Labor Assemb
ly—F. A. Morton, H. C. Morse, C. T.
Miller.
Blacksmiths Union No. 479—J. S. Da
vison.
Machinists Union No. 562—L. M. Cor
nell.
Carpenters and Joiners No. 779—R. L.
Singleton, T. C. Saute, O. I. James.
Oedartown, Railway Carmen No. 458
—W. P. Sules.
Machinists Union No. 645—J .A. Hun
ter.
Columbus, Railway Carmen No. 246
W. O. Kent.
Printing Pressmen No. 262—William
O. Skinner.
Typographical Union No. 220—0. E.
Petry.
Dcuglas—Machinists Union NVx 16—
Frank —Meredith. 1
Railway Carmen No. 503 —J. E. Causey
Fitzgerald. Railway Tranmen No. 767
—A. S„ Rogers.
Macon. Central Labor Unon —W. A.
McKenna, C. T. Williamson, G. S. 801-lon,
lon, Walter Hatton, Geo. Black.
Railway Carmen No. 226 —B. B.
Campbell.
Railway Trainmen No. 376—J. T?. Sul
livan.
Garment Workers No. 183—Mrs. C. H.
Wems, Miss Addle Holt.
Blacksmiths N0.13.—M. A. Michael.
Machinists Union No. B.—J. P. Ken
ealy, R. T. Chappel, J. B. McCarthy.
Newnan —Carpenterw and Joiners No.
1920—T. E. McCall-ough. #
Rome —Central Labor Union —B. P.
Anderson.
Iron Molders Union No. 234.—R. B.
Hampton, W. L. Nortoq.
tain cabin. I’ve lived the life. Tve
sat down to meals of nothing but
cc. n meal and milk. I was one of
ten children, and we lived on one of
those poor mountain farms. But we
are all alive and well today. Most of
us arc living fairly decent, too. Now,
If my father had put us Into a cotton
mill aa soon aa we got to 10 or 12,
would we be what we are now?
,“I have three boys of my own.
I'vo lived for six years next to the
best cotton mill In my state. In a
few years my boys will be old enough
to earn 76 cents a day by working
from 6:30 In the morning until 4:30
each night.
"But I want to tell you that before
I’ll put those boys of mine In that
mill I will take them back to the
mountains, build me a shaejf cabin
and plow a brlndle steer on the Ivy
bluffs and pick berrle* to help live.
And what I think Is good for my bqys
I'm going to fight for for the other
fellows' boys.
"If the community only knew the
worth of children and could only
place the proper estimate upon child
life," said Swift "children would
come Into their own at once. The
one thing which palls upon me Is the
absolute Indifference of our own mill
people to these problems. It looks all
right to them to see little girls hur
rying along at 6 In the morning to
npln all day long and never know the
pleasure of Jumping rope In the glad
sunshine. They even think tt Is a
good thing to be given an opportu
nity to place their 16-year-old daugh
ters at all-night work, forgetful of
the moral risk In subh busirfees.”
In my note book I find a few terse
sentence* delivered by a young,, fash
ionably dressed woman, who waa In
troduced as Miss Newell, from Co
lumbus, Go. What she didn’t know
about public speaking would make a
book; but she didn't care—not a rap.
She managed to convey her feelings
In the following manner:
"I am from Georgia and am proud
of It. I am connected with the or
ganised charities of my city where
the cotton mills are thick. I have
been trying to keep the little opera
tives in school. Georgia's educational
laws haven't helped me much.
'"Why, we Just can't stand It. Let
me tell you of one of my boys, 9 years
old. He had been missing his lessons.
And what do you think I found out?
Why, that little chap had been get
ting up at 6 In the morning, working
In a krilttlng mill until school time
and going back after school to work
until 10 at night. He got 1 cent for
every twenty-four stockings, and tne
most he ever earned in a week was
J 1.50. and at times he took Into the
mill as a helper hts little brother. 6
years of age.
“Now, we want to stop this sort of
thing. I don't know much about law
making or politics, but I’m going to
learn. I've never been before & legis
lature. but I'm going, and I'm going
to have some facts to relate."
Trusting you win fee fit to Insert
the above In your valuable columns,
l am, yours very respectfully,
DELOACH TILLMAN
Rights of Organized Labor
From Two Different Viewpoints
Presented In Parallel Form
Senator Samuel B. Montgom
ery in Speech Before House
of Delegates in West Virginia
Capitol. Eloquent Summary
of Position of Miners.
"I say to you tonight that the con
test, the issue being joined. Is not the
supremacy of any labor organization
Is not the supremacy of the United
Mine Workers of America, but the
question is: have the men on Paine
Creek the right of free speech, and
the right to meet and peaceably as
semble in a lawful manner to discuss
questions which vitally pertain to
their welfare, which pertain to their
happiness and living conditions?
“In order words, It is a quetsion
whether we have the right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
all of which I.understand as a layman,
Is guaranteed under the Constitution
of the state, and under the Constitu
tlon of the United States of America.
We are opposed to a system, and de
clare it an economic blunder, that
makes homes where the sunlight
never enters, where the merry laugh
ter of rosy cheeked children Is never
heard; where the morning glory never
raises Its amorous lips to kiss the
morning sun; and where the only
commotion ever heard Is that of the
breadline and the only cry that of
feverish Ups for Ice that never reaches
them.
“As an Individual, I believe that the
lips of thought should forever be free,
and that every individual has the
right to appeal to the public ear and
rest his case upon the patriotism and
morality of the people, coupled with
their faith In the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man.
"If we deny this, we are going back
ward toward the sinking sun and
barbarism, and not forward toward
the rising sun and civilization, and re
ligious liberty. The more liberty you
give away, the more you have for
yourself. Out on the intellectual sea
there Is room for every sail, and In
the Intellectual air, space for every
thing.’
"We believe In the republicanism of
the home, the democracy of the fire
side, and that the hut with Its calico
and cotton, and Its empty cupboard Is
entitled to the same protection, the
same splendid loyal homage, as the
palace with Its silks and satins and
Its empty cradle.”
LABOR NEWS FROM
CENTERS OF LABOR
Beattle, Wash. —A representative
of the International Retail Clerks Is
In this city for the purpose of assist
ing the local retail clerks In strength
ening their organization. A cam
paign of considerable length Is pro
posed, and will be under .the direc
tion of the representative of the In
ternatlonal union.
Chicago.—Police reserves In South
Chicago and In districts where there
are railroad yards were'ordered to
day to prepare for duty in anticipa
tion of a strike of 6,000 switchmen
in the yards of nineteen railroads en
tering Chicago.
San Francleco. —A conference has
been held between representatives of
the California Rochedale Co-operative
Company and the Boot and Shoe
Workers' Union with a view to start
ing a cooperative shoe factory in
this city.
It Is said by those who were pres
ent at the conference that the Indi
cations are that such an Institution
will be established in the near fu
ture.
Albany, .N. ,Y.—The report of the
state labor department on Its Inves
tigation of conditions among the Lit
tle Falls Teitlle Workers —brought
to public attention by the recent
strike, was made public today*
"Certainly It Is a matter of grave |
public concern,” the report says,'
"when a considerable body of wage-'
earners are found In such living con-!
ditlons as are revealed by this re-'
port There Is reason to suppose
that more or less similar conditions
are to be found elsewhere.”
Paterson, N. J. —Paterson silk mill
The silk mill owners of Paterson,
owners will open up their factories
this morning with large American
flags fylng on each roof as a sign that
their striking employes will be wel
comed back to work and wilt be as
sured "protection." The I. W. W.
leaders propose to offset this by dis
tributing thousands of small Ameri
can flags, each bearing a piece of lin
en with “Don't Scab t’nder This
Flag" on It.
John Golden, general organizer In
the textile trades of the A. F. of L.,
Is in Paterson now. He is seeking
to enroll the strikers Into his organ
latton.
Columbia, S. C.—Commissioner
Watson of the state department of
agriculture, acting undef- the labor
laws of the state, has now begun to
rigidly enforce the child labor law In
all factories employing children In
John Kirby, President National
Manufacturers Association,
in Address Before Students
Forum of the New York Uni
versity, in Judson Hall, Be
rating Closed Shop System.
"The open shop is a factory where
labor of all kinds Is performed by la
borers who work for hire, where there
are no restrictions Imposed upon the
workmen with respect to their mem
bership In any particular society, or,
in other words. It Is a place where
the employer exercises the right of
freedom and contract.
"The right of the unions to declare
who should be employed In a particu
lar position was an arbitrary use of
power.
"The closed shop denied the boys
the boys the right to learn trades. It
-militates agnlrmt the guaranteed
rights to liberty and the pursuit of
happiness as quoted in the Constitu
tion.
"A labor trust Is a most vicious
thing; It opens an avenue for Immense
graft among union officials; It finds
Justification In the creeds of Socialism
and anarchism; It encourages all
kinds of crimes, including" murder, ar
son, dynamiting and other crimes; it
destroys a proper regard for law! It is
economically unsound; It fortifies the
workers In jobs to which, judging
from their inefficiency they are not
entitled; It arbitrarily fixes a mini
mum wage; It places the skilled arid
the unskilled on one level; It destroys
Incentive. It Is a wicked institution,
and Is as intolerant as It Is intoler
able In any Christian community.
“As a whole, Increases In wages did
no good. Increases In the pay of the
workingman would result In cor
responding Increases in the cost of liv
ing. An Increase in the standard of
wages served to depreciate the pur
chasing power of money; and vice
versa, a lowering of the wage level
Increases Its buying power.
“The closed shop system has a de
generating effect upon the character
of the worker. It undermines his
manhood and it violates the funda
mental principle of God’s purpose In
the development of mankind."
any capacity whatever. During the
past year the main effor was to get
as complete enforcement as possible
In the chief child employing industry
of the state, the textile plants. The
law, however, applies to all factories
of all descriptions employing chil
dren.
Salt Lake City .—Among the meas
ures passed by the tenth session of ths
Utah Legislature that adjourned ear
ly today are a mothers' pension bill,
minimum wage bill, a “blue sky” law,
and an anti-bookmakers and poolsell
lng bill.
PERSONALS
At the last regular meeting of Lo
cal 121, Electrical Workers Union,
Mr. R. H. Young was'elected dele-
Ngate to the State Federation con
vention, which convenes In Augusta
next month.
Mr. Wm. H. Warshauer, of the Ci
garmakers Union, severed his con
nection with the Wolfe and Lombard
firm and has left for his former home
In the North. Mr. Warshauer has
been a strong factor for trade union
ism and the union label idea while
in Augusta.
In the person of Mr. Henry David
son, Division 323 of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers has a most
competent and painstaking secretary.
At his hands the smallest detail of
the affairs of Division 323 receives
closest attention, and the manner in
which the books of the lodge are kept
by him and all transactions recorded
has won for him repeated re-elec
tions.
MODEL GROCERY CO.
Ninth and Telfair St Phone 307
iUNDAY, MARCH 30 0
CORRESPONDENCE
Editor Labor Page, Herald.
Sir:—Labor has many grievances
and wrongs to protest against;
wrongs done It openly and brazenly
and offenses committed against it
covertly and surreptitiously.
To the latter class belongs the ad
verting card entitled "Friends of
Labor,” published by some glib and
slippery schemer and conspicuously
lacked up in many stores along
Broad street.
I vehemently protest against the
use of the name of labor for ques
tionable and unauthorized schemes
of this character. I protest against
the passiveness and unconcern of
labor that permits and makes pos
sible the publication and distribution
of a card that makes recommenda
tions and speaks for labor without
Its sanction and authority.
By what authority and with whose
permission did this irresponsible a n d
unknown exploiting advertising
schemer undertake to tell the pur
chasing public that the firms grouped
in this brazenly displayed card are
the particular friends of labor “just
ly entitled to the good will and co
operation” —ef —labor and —the- public?
Why did not the Federation of
Trades officially repudiate the action
of the out-of-town schemer or schem
ers and disclaim any responlibility
for the publication and distribution
of the card?
Are all the advertisers on the card
friends of "organized” labor?
Let me reproduce 'what the sleek *
sneak from out of town says editori
ally In the center of the card:
"In pursuance of the movement
which has for Its purpose the urg
ing of all working people to give
their combined support to repu
table concerns that have uniform
ly shown a friendly attitude to
wards the cause of labor, there
will be here found a directory of
enterprises that we feel can be
conscientiously endorsed from a
Labor standpoint and which are
therefore Justly entitled to our
good will and united co-operation.
"It does not necessarily follow
that concerns which may not be
represented here are ‘unfair;’
nevertheless, those listed on this
page have demonstrated athelr
friendliness in various ways amj,
other things being equal, they are
deserving of your support.”
Note the “we:" “we feel can be
conscientiously endorsed;” note the
“our:” “eniitled to our good will;"
hote the “your:” “they are deserving
of your support.” Who gave him the
authority to speak thus in our
name?
I can scarcely believe it, yet I
learn from unquestioned sources that
an official high in the counsels of
the federation accompanied the so
licitors on their visits to the mer
chants, thus giving sanction to the
acts of the advertising agents and
lending his official Influence to the
procuring of advertisements, for
which, I understand, the merchants
parted with about JB.OOO. If the mer
chants. who have the reputation for
being shrewd and proof against halt
ing, permitted themselves to be thus
exploited by glib and voluable Btrang
ers, It Is their business and I have
nothing to say about it. As an or
ganized workingman 1 protest against
organized labor allowing itself to be
betrayed in this manner.
I call on the Federation to investi
gate and to ascertain the Identity of
the official concerned. If It is found
that the questionable transaction was
accomplished with his sanction and
connivance he, obviously, Is not fit
to hold office In the Federation or
In any other labor organization.
Yours, In the cause of labor.
B N.
Little Rock, Ark. —The legislature
has passed an employers' liability law.
The laws In the Interest of labor In
this state are few, and the achieve
ment of securing the law mentioned
means much to the workmen of the
state, and Is Indicative that the Inter
ests of labor in the future are to re
ceive greater consideration than In the
past.
The Union Tailorinq Co.
J. GARY JOHNSON, Mgr.
We handle union made clothes.
Cleaning and pressing a special
ty. r ‘
554 Broad Street,
'Phone 3522 W.
It Would he Foolish
to cut yourself off from the comforts
of life when you can obtain them so
easily. There is no excuse for not
taking advantage of the good values
In Groceries offered at this store. We
carry nothing but goods of sterling
character. Distinctive and out of the
ordinary. Call tomorrow.
f *►».