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About The times. (Portland, Or.) 191?-19?? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1911)
THE TIME 8 the hills to the poorhouse.” What wonder, then, that the There are numberless reasons olil employes are conservative why workingmen should avoid whenever strike talk is bandied strikes as a means of adjusting about the shop? differences with employers. The certain loss of wages is never THE COST OF STRIKES. counterbalanced by any wage in crease. Bitterness anil ill-feeling, always engendered by a strike, Labor pays a heavier part of are sure to remain, especially if the cost of needless and fruitless the struggle be long-drawn out and hanl fought. And those who strikes than capital and is in no are urged to strike ought ever to position to recover it, because the remember that any strike is like capital upon which it depends for ly to be lost, and that there is a employment and for wages is in strong possibility that the defeat other hands. That must be used ed must accept whatever terms to afford work and wages to labor. the victors may impose. No matter which side wins, no Capital is in constant competition SAN FRANCISCO'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. strike ever settled anything. The with capital in different employ IIREE-CARD MONTE will receive the deuce. The Jack of Clubs men may be able, under favorabl« ments, and there is a certain es is out of sorts. The King of Diamonds no longer may flirt with WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.— A preliminary statement of the gen circumstances, to compel the em tablished rate of return from its the Queen of Hearts, and the dice no longer may rattle to the un eral results of the Thirteenth United States census of manufactures of ployer to grant the terms they de use necessary to keep it at w’ork doing o f man. Mayor Rushlight’s conscience has awakened, lie has the City of San Francisco was issued today by Census Director sire ; but, they may be sure that “ given it out cold” that games of chance are henceforth taboo. The Durand. employing and paying for labor. the employer, smarting under the “ Gentleman’s Club” will not be permitted to have “ <|uiet little There has been a considerable decrease in manufactures since sting of what he believes to be an Where it does not get that return games” in the new Multnomah Hotel, or anywhere else. So says the 1904, due to the earthquake anti fire which occurred shortly after the injustice, will bide his time; and it shrinks or slips away to find Mayor. He declares, also, that the card sharps will not be allowed census of the year mentioned. when he is well prepared and other use. In so far as it is di to ply their dubious trade anywhere in Portland. Good! THE The only increases were in capital invested, 31 per cen t; mis ready, he will recover all that he minished in amount or impared TIMES will stand by the Mayor in this matter, and hopes he can cellaneous expenses, 5 per cen t; number of salaried officials and has given up. The fight will then make good. All along we have contended that it is unfair to “ round in productiveness by strikes labor clerks, 18 per cent, and cost of materials used, less than 1 per cent. have to be fought over again, with u p” the Chinaman, playing fantan and running a little lottery, or There were 1795 establishments in 1909 and 2251 in 1904, a de the chances this time in favor of suffers loss. Workmen have less our colored brothers for “ shootin’ craps,” and let the white offender crease of 456, or 20 per cent. to do and get less pay. Where the employer. go unscathed. The capital invested, as reported in 1909, was ¡¡¡133,760,000 and capital has borne its temporary On the other hand, if an em The decent element in Portland will look with leniency upon $102,362,000 in 1904, an increase of $31,398,000, or 31 per cent. The ployer, knowing that the daily loss and the strikes have failed, any mistakes Mayor Rushlight has made if he will stamp out gam value of products was $132,929,000 in 1909 and $137,788,000 in 1904, bread of his men depends upon bling. It is a matter of common report that a certain high-toned a decrease of $4,859,000, or 4 per cent. The average per establish their daily wage, takes advantage it can get labor on easier terms club on Park street has its little games, but no one is ever molested merit was approximately $74,000 in 1909 and $61,000 in 1904. of his position and forces unjust than before and will make all there for participation. A prominent hotel on Sixth street, it is The cost of materials used was $76,175,000 in 1909, as against and unpalatable conditions upon haste to recoup its losses, while alleged, has been the rendezvous for many years of shrewd manipu $75,946,000 in 1904, an increase of $229,000, or less than 1 per cent. them, he may be sure that he is labor must struggle along worse lators of the pasteboards, but no one ever heard of police interfer In addition to the component materials which enter into the products only inviting trouble, for the time off than before, because it cannot ence there. Like the knotholes in the floor, supposed to be the por of the establishment for the census year to year included fuel, rent will come when his employes will shrink or slip away and find other tals of the rodents, it might be well to look into these places. If of power and heat and mill supplies. feel themselves strong enough to use*where capital is not in con Mayor Rushlight would win favor and not show any favoritism in The value added by manufacture was $56,754,000 in 1909 and take up the fight again. trol. It cannot recover what it gambling matters, he has a great chance. $61,842,000 in 1904, a decrease of $5,088,000, or 8 per cent. This item In these labor disputes public has lost and what it can get has formed 43 per cent of the total value of products in 1909 and 45 per opinion is always an important been lessened by its own behavior. THE NEGRO QUESTION. cent in 1904. The value added by manufacture represents the differ factor, and often the public is Another economic effect of ence between the cost of material used and the value of products forced to stand a large part of the strikes, where they are fre«pient, URING the Civil War, at the time four millions of blacks were after the manufacturing processes have been expended upon them. It inevitable loss. Every strike, extended or prolonged, is to in freed and given the elective franchise, a problem was forced is the best measure of relative importance of industries. whether gained or lost, strength crease the cost of production as The salaries and wages amounted to $30,452,000 in 1909 and ens the public in its feeling that well as to curtail its fruits, and upon the Republic, whose solution has not even yet arrived. Since that time the colored people have increased in numbers, until now $31,645,000 in 1904, a decrease of $1,193,000, or 4 per cent. it has been “ made the goat” ; and that has its effect upon the price The average number of wage-earners employed during the year there is little wonder that +he of the products of industry. Here there are about twelve millions in the United States. To the negro was held out great promises when he should have fitted himself for was 28,239 in 1909 and 38,428 in 1904. a decrease of 10,190, or 27 general public is as much opposed the cost is diffused among consum advanced conditions. Schools have been established and he has been per cent. to strikes and boycotts as to lock ers. Strikes must of necessity given the same education as that provided for whites. The negro, outs. It has little sympathy with cause loss and diminished produc in special instances, has shown up more than favorably in nearly men who plunge their fellows into tion. Nobody wholly escapes the MEDDLESOME UNIONISTS. every great city in the country. We find that lie has given an ex iT HAS COME to the knowledge of THE TIMES that two labor such struggles through a desire consequences, but they fall most cellent account of himself in the professions. We find instances 1 union representatives recently called upon Adolphe Wolfe, of Lip- to gratify personal spite or selfish heavily upon laboring men who depend upon wages. For these where the negro has proven a successful banker, merchant, manufac man. Wolfe & Co., to attempt to align the firm with the unions. Mr. ambition. consequences those who instigate turer. These are strong reasons against Wolfe is reported to have written a check of $1000 at the time to The white man, instead of giving him encouragement, has tended back his statement to this effect: That the contractor erecting the striking when there is a possibil or cause the strikes are responsi to frown upon his efforts. Despite all handicaps, the negro has ad firm’s new building had assured him that more than two-thirds of ity of settling grievances by any ble.—From the New York Journal vanced, and is entitled to great credit therefor. We have not the the men employed in constructing the building are union men. Mr. other means; but there is still an of Commerce. figures at hand, but the government census reveals the fact that the W olfe then said as to the affiliations of the remaining men at work, other reason that should deter old negro has acquired much wealth and is an element that must be that was none of the representatives’ business, aud they had better employes’ especially heads of fam ANENT THE KAMM MATTER. considered. make themselves scarce, unless they had $1000 to back up th«>ir talk. ilies, from being persuaded into Editor THE TIMES: My this time, through poverty and hardship, the negro has learnt Two unionists on a cur recently talkeil over matters that should strikes. The real tragedy of a In your issue of November 18th that no matter how hard lie may try to rise “ above the fortune of have been discussed in th«*ir hall and so loudly that the other pas strike centers not in the young his mean estate,” the white man cannot or will not treat him as a sengers overheard them. This is what they said: That it was cost and unmarried men, but in those you criticise Mr. Jacob Kamm for social equal. Hut he is entitled to his legal rights. ing the unions $4 a day to have the banner boycotting Lipman, who have grown old and grav- not permitting his property to be The other day a colored man, who by thrift and industry, has Wolfe & Co. carrieil; that the Federation would not back the ex haired in the service. Ordinarily, cut up into 200-foot blocks. gotten along in the world, voiced the sentiments of his people. He pense and that the unions would not, so it was called off. Has it ever occurred to you that a strike is brought about by the said: Just another word or two concerning the Lipman & W olfe mat young men. who can hang up their one of the greatest items of ex “ The white people have given us education. They have taught ter: The firm’s head house carpenter was expelled from his union hats anywhere and be at home. pense the property-owner in this us useful trades, but after we have equipped ourselves so as to earn on account of this mess, and his assistant was fined $25. The head The demand for young men is city has to contend with is the our way in a field of competitive endeavor, they forbid us to proceed. carpenter was reinstated with money furnished by the Lipman & arger than the supply and they number of street assessments he Because of our color (for which we are blameless) we are shoved Wolfe Co. The assistant carpenter saitl he knew when he had a are sure of work. It is easy for has to pay? into menial pursuits. I am learning to believe that too much educa good jo b ; that he was getting $5 a day and overtime; had no further the young man. with no responsi Would it not be far better if tion for the negro in general is a mistake, lie cannot usually profit use for the unions and proposed to nurse his good job. bilities and no family, to shout for our blocks were 400 feet long, by it. It seems to me that the negro is best qualified to become an Thus was written Chapter One of the prophecy recently made a strike. Nine times out of ten with an alley, and save nearly agriculturist. The negro has been too much a consumer and too by THE TIMES regarding “ Boycotts That Will Prove a Fizzle” . they are the ones who precipitate one-half the amount paid for little a producer. I believe that the negro would do better as a tiller strikes. And just as often it is streets? of the soil than in any other pusuit. I speak of the great majority of The city desires to erect an au true that those who shout the THE MAN FOR THE PLACE. negroes. To those who an* sufficiently gifted to make their mark as loudest are the first to shirk the ditorium suitable for our needs ’HE SECRETARY o f the Portland Ad Club lias been instructed responsibility and try to get their ten years hence, and must have doctors or lawyers, such should, of course, be allowed to develop to communicate with all other Ad Clubs of the Pacific Coast. He places back. The older men, the a larger block than 200x200 feet. themselves fully.” will try to secure their co-operation to procure the appointment of heads of families, who will be the If all property-owners permitted I). O. Lively as Livestock Commissioner at the Panama-Pacific Expo chief sufferers, forced out by what their property to be cut up into SCHOOL BOARD WAKES UP. sition. THE TIMES heartily endorses the idea. Air. Lively deserves they believe to be public opinion, small blocks, where wrould you his position. Ever since he has been identified with Portland’s erect an auditorium or any other T LENGTH the School Hoard has really begun to wake up. Scarce business interests, he has been a public-spirited and progressive man. are usually true blue union men, large public building? could the public believe the news that a new and more modern Early and late Mr. Lively has devoted his ablest efforts not only and believe themselves bound in If the city desires to put and sanitary system of plumbing has been ordered for the Irvington toward building up the livestock nidustry, but toward anything and honor to live up to their union streets through Mr. Kamm’s prop obligation. They will be the las school. We l«>arn. also, that improvements in tin1 matter of proper everything that should place Portland and Oregon on the map. There erty, and will pay for the land and sensible ventilation are not among tilt“ impossibilities. Well, is no Western man better equipped in knowledge, training and ex to try to get back at the expens- they take (as they did in the these would be a beginning, to say the least, but there is a great deal perience than he for the position named, and THE TIMES sincerely of their fellows. Morrison-street case), I have no Think of the eonseipienees to mort* overhauling necessary. lesiri's to see him appointed. tln'se old men. brought to the doubt he wouhl sell, but as I un These teachers' meetings on Saturdays, as conducted, according parting of the ways and torn by derstand the facts to be. some to report, arc a sheer waste of time of a most worthy body of work- Sometimes we see very bad examples among so-called educated the necessity of choosing between people desire the streets opened «“rs. Teachers lead a pretty strenuous life at best. To their care people. If education does not teach refinement, good manners and we commit the education of our children. They are entitle«! to a gentlemanly behavior, then there is much «“ffort and much money their union and their employers. and improved at Air. Kamm’s ex full day's rest on Saturday, except on special occasions. The whole «■xpended in vain. There was sufficient evidence in a certain promi They must face the problem of pense. If you owned such a tract would busiiK'ss is an evidence to any sensible minded p«'rson that '.here is nent hotel grill last Saturday night of the foregoing statement. In being unable to provide either themselves or those dependent up you consider that fair treatment? altogether too much “ system” and too little common sens«-. the event of a great football victory one can excuse the successful on them with the net'essaries of Air. Kamm’s wisdom in keeping Then then« are th«‘ tire drills. What sense is th«'r«> in making am for voicing their joy. That is perfectly natural; but when their life, since they have given up their his tract intact should, in my the chihlrcu waste valuable time in looking after their wraps and glee finds expression in tlrunkim sottishness and conduct unbecom books, when a few seconds saved might mean the preservation of ing gentlemen, it is time to condemn them, as we do. Their actions positions and. perhaps, are too ol I opinion, be commended. Yours respectfullv. previous human lives? Here is another overdone of “ system.” We wer«> entirely comparable with San Francisco or New York hoodlums to take up another line of work. AV.*R. AI. Many old employes, over-persuml hope every questionable and absurd practice in our present or the hooligan element in London. ed to join a strike, have never school system ma\ be crowded into the limelight. We trust The been able to get their places back IN RETROSPECT. Evening Telegram will keep everlastingly at the work of airing these There are ordinances forbidding boys to play pool or to drink mutters. Agitation in so worthy a cause is sure to produce results. in saloons. The law forbids the sale o f tobacco, cigars and cigarettes when the strike was called off. “ In fact, messieurs.” the pro- Another matter is the freqimnt changes in text books. People to hoys. Despite(these laws, anyone visiting pool rooms, saloons and Even an indulgent employer, who of moderate means cannot afford to have this burden constantly cigar stores in Portland knows full well that hoys do play pool, drink would have been loath to dis fessor, still addressing bis class, aildetl to. yet it is done. Why does not Portland adopt the satisfac and smoke. If a person has passed the age limit, he is supposed, if charge them when old and unable went on to say, “ history affords tory system in vogue in many eastern cities, where the books and he indulges at all in tin's«“ tilings, to «1«» so with judgment. That is to «1«> their work, respecting their the record of no fewer than two all school supplies are furnished the chililren? Such plan would aid his business. It is not the proprietors of these places who are en usefulness in the days when they migrations sufficient to have shift were able and willing, may now ed the weight of copulation from materially. tirely to blame, but the parents of the boys. THE TIMES desires feel that they have forfeited all one part of the world to another, to s«'«> that every Portland boy shall have th«‘ right to make a man claim upon him. The young, ac namely: CONCERNING SC A B S” of himself If the parents cannot look after the boys, the police had tive and energetic men will be “ First. The incursion of the better keep their eyes open. taken back; but the old employe, Scythian tribes of the fifth een- ’T'llE K E HAS b«>en considerable discussion of late lonccrning the too old to do the work he once (tury. whereby the Western Roman • use ol the word “ scab. I’here is a city ordinance prohibiting its Rushlight emerged from the twilight, stepped through the star use toward another, though Juilg«‘ Tazwell opines that if it is applied light. rushed into the limelight, flashed through the sunlight, swept did. will be set adrift upon a cold Empire was extinguished, and the in non offensive tones, it may be allowable. Webster thus detines it: into the moonlight absorbed into the no-light. Place won through and heartless world. Within a few modem nations of Europe hail years he might have been eligible their beginning. “ A nickname for a workman who engages for lower wages than are gall, loved not at all—not beyond recall. to a pension which would have “ Second. The invasion of the tixed by tlit» trades unions; also for one who tak«>s the place of a enabled him and his aged wife to Uniteil States of America in the workman on a strik«*.” There are two questions that then* is never any profit in de- live in comfort for the remainder twentieth century, by Russian In a communication to an evening paper, a eorr«>spondcnt says bating— religion and polities. When all is said and done, each of of their lives. After surrendering dancers.” — Puck. on the subject : the contending parties still retains his own original belief. Such his position and his right *o the "Uoncerning the use and abuse of the word ‘ scab.’ the writer discussions begin nowhere and end nowhere, They produce enmity. pension, what remains for him? Your business should be repre is no enemy of organiz«‘d labor within its lawful rights, neither is he oftentimes, and thus accomplish no good. There is nothing for him but to sented in T H E T I M E S . W e in an ailntirer of the rough house tactics in iiulustrial or political strife. live off the charity of his chil terest ninetv-two and one-half In tin' early 'si>s Terence V Powderly, then head of the Knights of If you have anything to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, try dren, or spend his declining years per cent. T f l E T I M E S will give Labor, defined a ‘ scab’ as one who voluntarily obligated himself to scatter a little sunshine among the sick and deserving; then they by oath or affirmation to a labor union and then became recreant to will have something to be thankful for. If you haven't, do some puttering about at odd jobs that you the best run for your money he may stave off the bitter day you ever had. Figure it out with his aaaociatea and his obligations, or words to that effect. It is true gooil anyway, and you'll feel much the better for it. when, perhaps, he must go “ over us. THE TIMES that many workmen are too independent to submit to the discipline of labor unions, but who are often found among the most enthusiastic und effective strikers, but should they elect, as other non-union men Published every Saturday by THE TIMES COMPANY, Incorporated frequently do, to stay with their jobs for any reason best known to at 21? Kirat Street, Portland. Oregon themselves, they are not ‘ scabs,’ nor can they be properly called THE T1ME8 is not responsible for any opinions expressed by correspondents strikebreakers. A professional strikebreaker may be another matter, appearing in its columns. but he is not a ‘ scab’ within the meaning of Powderly’s understand A FEARLESS EXPONENT OF INDUSTRIAL PEACE, THE “ OPEN SH O P’ ’ ing of the appellation, whatever else he may be. As to those men AND THE RIGHTS OF INDEPENDENT LABOR. who take the places of strikers by exercising what they call the right of contract or any other right o f an American citizen, in dealing SUBSCRIPTION BATES— $2.50 per year, in advance. with such men, some of the labor leaders in these latter days have ADVERTISING RATES made known upon application. yet to learn the admonition of Lincoln, that a drop of honey brings S A T U R D A Y . N O V IM B E R : S . 1*11 more results than a gallon of gall.” The above is a «dear and lucid explanation o f a decidedly unclean Each man should have the right to earn his way, And each should have for fair day’s work a fair d ay’s pay, and objectionable word. No man of gentlemanly instincts or good breeding wouhl ever befoul his tongue in applying such a term. Each man should governed be by Justice’s right The man who chooses to labor unentaugled with unions has the And gain his ends by peaceful means—not dynamite. unquestioned right to do so. He has the right to be let alone, and others who molest him deserve arrest and punishment. MAYOR FORBIDS GAMBLING. T D A THE FOLLY OF STRIKES.