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About The times. (Portland, Or.) 191?-19?? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1912)
Vol. II. No 17. PORTLAND, OREGON, AUGUST 10,1912 STRIKERS' PICKETS AND ROUNDHOUSE MEN MEET IN FURIOUS FIST FIGHT E n g lis h A v i a t o r a n d B r id e , W h o H a d “A e r o p la n e W e d d in g ” For weeks the strikers’ pickets of the machinists named Simpson, and the roundhouse force at the who was one of the first of the Brooklyn carshops of the Southern strikers to go back to work after the walkout was declared nearly Pacific have been spoiling for a a year ago. Simpson has been in fight, and last evening they got several melees before, and it is their chance. About a dozen com said, had been shot at once or* batants mixed in the battle royal twice on his way home, but he was and for about 10 minutes the whole ready for the strikers when he Seventh Ward landscape looked and his fallow workmen emerged like a moving picture of a football from the gate. scrimmage. Nobody went to the The roundhouse bunch tiling hospital, although witch hazel, ar- down their dinner buckets and off nica and court plaster were served j went their hats and coats and the before dinner when the gladiators slap, bang scrap was on. Arms, got home. Conditions were ideal legs and fists flew around through for the fistic encounter, for not a | the gathering twilight like a policeman was anywhere in sight, Dutch windmill on a spree. The and every one of the men who took I scrappers stood up to the scratch part in the “ shindy” had been and blows were landed back and aching for an opportunity to get forth. Onto the ground the bat- in a few licks on the other fellows. tiers “ rolled and it became a kick Half a dozen pickets were wait ing, slugging, clawing and goug ing around the gate to the barri ing match, in which the innocent cade around the shops when the bystanders lost all sight of friend quitting whistle blew last night and foe, but they enjoyed the pug- They were, it is said, particularly fest immensely. anxious to pay their compliments Simpson was made the center to the roundhousemen. Leading of attack by the pickets, but took the strikers were two doughty good care of himself and when belligerents, a boilermaker named | the sky had cleared and peace "Wolford and a machinist named reigned the bystanders everred Moe. According to rumors around that the strikers had gotten the the yards, tliev had it in for one worst of the encounter. take it up or g«“t some one else to renew the franchise. Should Protect Investors. “ Honest investments in public utilities should be protected There should be clos«“ supervision Municipal Ownership of Public I over such investments, and some Utilities and Terminal Facil thing to insure their safety. Here tofore there has been too much ities Advocated by the Civic speculation in public utilities, ami Federation Head. tliis supervision should be such as Municipal ownership of all pub to offset this tendency. “ Terminal facilities should cer lic utilities, particularly and above all others, transportation tainly be municipally owned. Upon systems and terminals, is recom ; these terminals usually depends mended by Delos F. Wilcox, repre ! the actual growth and expansion senting the National Civic Federa I of the city, and they should cer tion committee on regulation of tainly be guarded and controlled public utilities, and chief of the that the city can use them t<^ its bureau of franchises of the public best advantage. It is fundamental service commission for the First | too, that transportation facilities district of New York, who is visit should be municipally owned. The experience of any American city ing in Portland. Mr. Wilcox came west to attend is getting extensions and accom the recent convention of the Na modations from privately owned tional Municipal league held at street railway corporations is* Los Angeles, and while on the enough to show that revision along coast he is putting some time to this line is imperative. The city good advantage in studying the should own its streets and every municipal questions of the far thing in them. “ American cities have been west cities. Some of these, Mr. Wilcox says, he finds particularly backward in the matter of muni interesting and unusual, as for in. cipal ownership. There is a grail- stance the problem offered in Cal ual awak«‘ning, however, and ifornia. where there are state laws though at present there is more as well as local municipal regula talk about it than anything else, tions governing public utilities. some r«“sults are being obtained, Mr. Wilcox also cites the proposi and a general advance of the tion recently encountered in Ore movement may be expected.” gon. wherein state legislation looking to municipal ownership measures met with favor, though in Portland an effort toward mu nicipal ownership was turned down. Only Solution of Problem. “ One thing I am firmly convinc WASHINGTON. — A govern ed of.” said Mr. Wilcox at the Portland hotel, “ is that the ulti ment investigation of the alleged mate solution of the local public higher-ups behind Cornelius II. utility problem is municipal own Hanford, former judge of the Un ership. American cities are so ited States court for the western deeply in debt, however, ns a rule, «listriot of Washington, in his al that looking at the matter from a , leged misconduct on the bench, is financial standpoint, public owner i til«“ plan of Attorney-General ship of utilities seems almost im Wickersham, according to an- possible. I believe that the really nouncement made this afternoon practical method of reaching the i by Congressman Victor Berger of desired end is to put into all fran< Milwaukee. chises. a provision that will virt Berger all along has insisted ually make the properties pay for that the investigation in Seattle themselves by the end of a given by the sub-committee of the house time, so that at that time the city judiciary committee showed there may take over the properties in were rich men behind Hanford view without assuming a great who should not go unpunished. Bcrgt'r was closeted for siiveral «leal of additional debt. “ I favor the indeterminate fran hours with Attorney General chise. made to carry the stipula Wii-kersham, and later announced tion that the city may take over that a federal grand jury would, the utilities at any time. Fn«ler probably convene in Seattle to ex this plan the eventual cost of the pose alleged higher-ups. It is predicted that if the inves utility to the city would be «le- creasing all the time. I do not tigation starts, prominent Seattle mean that I favor removing the lawyers, politicians, and business maximum time limit, but would men will be drawn into the govern- rather maintain the maximum ment‘s net through indictments. time limit with the provision that Berger flatly charges that Han if the franchise were not taken up ford was forced to resign to pro at the expiration of the maximum tect alleged higher-ups from dis limit, then the city would have to closure. CITY SHOULD OWN ITS STREETS, ALL THATISINTHEM P h o to c o p y rig h t. 1912, by A m e rlra n P re s s A sso ciatio n . H E re c e n t w e d d in g In L o n d o n o f C la u d e G ra tm m e -W h ite . th e E n g lish a v ia to r , a n d M iss D o ro th y T a y lo r o f N ew Y ork w a s p r e tty m u ch of a n a e ro p la n e a ffa ir. T h e b rid eg ro o m a e ro p la n e d to VVldford, n e a r C h e lm sfo rd , w h e re th e cerem o n y w a s p e rfo rm e d , a n d se v e ra l o f hla a v ia to r frle n u s . In c lu d in g T om S o p w lth , G u s ta v e H a m e l, R o b e rt L o ra ln e ad d o th e rs , flew fro m H en d o n . P ie rre V errle r c a r r ie d a w o m an p a s se n g e r, M iss C b rlstlc h . T h e h a p p y co u p le h ad p la n n e d a h o n ey m o o n tr ip by a e ro p la n e , b u t th e b rid e h ad a p re m o n itio n o f d a n g e r, so th e y c ru is e d th e s o u th c o a s t o f E n g la n d In a s te a m y a c h t a n d w ound up In P ra n c e , w h e n c e th e y flew horn* o v er th e c h a n n e l. T h e b rid e is a niece o f th e la te G o v e rn o r F lo w e r o f N ew York. T B a ttle s h ip N e w H a m p s h ir e ’s S te r n B a tte r e d b y C o llis io n W it h S te a m e r HIGHER-UPS IN SEATTLE MAY BE INVOLVED P h o to c o p y rig h t, 1912. b y A m e rica n P re ss A sso cia tion . O F F IC IA L S o f th e N ew York n av y y a rd , w h e re th e b a ttle e b lp N ew H a m p sh ire w a s p u t In d ry d o ck a f te r h e r r e c e n t colllaio n w ith th e Kail R iv er line s te a m e r C o m m o n w ea lth , e s tim a te t h a t th e re p a lra to th e b a ttle eb lp w ill re q u ire tw o m o u tb a an d w ill co a t u p w a rd o f $ 4 0 ,(JU 0 . T h e co llisio n o c c u rre d In N a rra g a n e e tt bay, an d th e N ew H a m p e b lre 'e e te rn p la te on th e s ta r b o a r d aid e w aa Jam m ed In a b o u t fo u r Inches, a n d th e p la te w as s p r u n g A c o u rt of In q u iry w ill re p o rt to W a s h in g to n on th e re sp o n s ib ility fo r th e a c c id e n t O fficers o f th e b a ttle s h ip c h a r g e t h a t i t w as d u e to th e high sp e ed o f th e r k a m i r th ro u g h th e fog th a t p re v a ile d a t th e tim e. W h ile th e N ew H a m p s h ire is o u t o f com m ission h er p la c e In th e fleet w ill be ta k e n by th e A la b a m a , w hich h a s been o ut of co m m issio n fo r th e p a s t tw o y e a r s an d w h ic h Is now in th e first reserve. Price 5 Centg CHIEF ARTICLES IN TEDDY ROOSEVELT S BULL MOOSE PARTY In his “ confession of faith” ! made in bis speech to the National Progressive convention today, Col- onel Roosevelt struck boldly into new ground advocating measures | lie said frankly would be denounc ed either as Socialism or anar chy. These are some of the things lie advocated Coherent action between those responsible for National affairs and those responsible for stat«“ af fairs. This he called the most im- ; portaut thing. Extending the recall of judicial I decisions to apply to Federal as | well ns state courts. Establishment of machinery to | make amendment of both National and state Constitutions easier. Government aid for workmen that they may become part own ers of the business in which they arc employed. , Alteration of the Government system so a public servant, when out the wishes of the people, shall at their desire leave his office. Control of trusts through re tention of th<‘ Sherman anti-trust law and establishment of an inler- stat«“ industrial commission to reg ulate industrial conditions govern ing monopoly prices to be controll ed where these concerns «leal with the necessaries of life. Adoption of a number of meas- uivs to secure “ social and indus trial justice to the wage workers.” Legislation to increase popular control of all Governmental agencies, ineluding a National law for Presidential primaries, election of United States Senators by di- rect vote, the short ballot, corrupt practices’ acts, applying to pri maries as well as elections, «|mili- fied adoption of the initiative, referendum and recall. Woman suffrage. Strengthening of the pure food law. Establishment of a National Health Department. Creation of a permanent Tariff Commission to study the effects of protection and the relations of the tariff to labor. The end of blanket revisions of the tariff, saving changes shouhl b«> mad«* schedule by schedule. Measures to relieve tin1 high cost- of living, among which are suggested elimination of the mid dle man. Fortification of the Panama Ca nal. Free passage through the Ca nal for coastwise traffic and equal tolls for all other ships, whatever Hag they fly. Navy to be built up steadily un til reduction of armaments is made possible by international agr«*«“ment. REAL WORKERS ARE IN DEMAND IN PORTLAND the inability to procure common labor, and farmers in some «lis- triets face heavy crop loss«“s for lack of harvesters. One employment agent tried to get twenty m<“ii to work right here in the city at $2.7 « for niii«1 hours, lie could not get one. It was not necessary for them to be away from home to do this work. Those incii whom In* approach«'«! wanted more money, and $2.75 is the max imum that contractors and employ ers arc willing to pay. That fig ure compares favorably with the rate prevailing in other citi«“s. No scarce is tin* labor supply that some Portlaml «‘inployment agents no longer arc collecting fees from the men for whom they seek employment. One agency re mained open until 12 o’clock Fri day night to get enough men to send south on tli«“ Southern Pacific to work at $2.75 a day. No fee was asked anil fri'«* transportation was offered. Then did not get enough to fill bis order. Ilis client, was a contracting firm of reputed integrity and fair dealing. V«'t mori“ than 100 idle men lin ed tli«' curbs ami pretended to be looking for work. Another KM) loafed in the parks. Still others stood in the streets anil listcneil to agitators bewail the bard lot of the “ poor man looking for work and unable to find it.” Additional reason for tli«' pres ent shortage of labor in this vi cinity is the unusual activity in ( aiiHilian railroad building. Mure than 100 miles of trai'k will be ciimpbdcil in wcsti-rn ('amnia this yi'ar. This work lias tnk«“ii sev eral thoiisarui tn«*n from the Pmt- lam I and Spokane markets. Some of tliciu will drift back lierc wlicn the cold weather of the approach ing wintiT causes a tiqnporary sus pension of activity. Laborers Willing to Labor Wanted in Portland. Clamor of Socialist Agitators Directly Refuted Wages and Conditions Good, but Help Hard to Get. T Laboring men who ar«“ willing to labor are wanted in Portland now and are want«“«! badly. There ar<‘ jobs for 5000 more men than are available, according to labor employment agents, and this while liundr«‘ds of I. V . W. agitators an«l Socialists are swarming on the street corners ami cursing the gov ernment. The labor market, is painfully short. Wages never were better, and conditions of employment nev er were mor«“ liberal. Yet, it is almost impossible to secure com potent, willing hands to do the work. City’s Greatest Need. Men to work in th«‘ railroad «‘ou st ruction camps, in the harvest fields, in the logging camps, in the iniiK's. mi the public improvements and on irrigation and power pro jects. arc lb«“ «“ity's greatest need. There is a healthy «leinaiid also for the semi-skilled trades, such is carpenters. blacksmiths and tin« bcrmcn. but the market, contains all the skillcil help, mechanics ami clerks that it requires. Prevailing wages for niii«“ hours’ work vary from $2.50 to $2.75. No «■mploycrs of large forces think i of offering less than $2.50 these ¡ «lavs. Few of tlii'in reipiire their i'mployres to work mor«‘ than nine hours. If they «l<> they pay them overt i in«*. Employment agencies, contract ors and regular employers aliko GRAFT AND GAMBLING. ar«- crying for help. Never was The story that the graft paid then1 a tiin«“ in Portland’s history when tlicr«“ was such a scarcity of to the police o f New York by workingmen who are not afraid gambling-houses and oilier illegal to work. resorts amoiintcil in tin* last year Harvesting Heavy Crops. to $2,4tM).(l(M) is startling, but not These conditions ar«1 likely to incredible. If gambling is car- continue until late in the fall or ricil on systematically and i-ontin until the heavy grain am) fruit tioiisly in any city, it is a e«*rtain- crops «if the Northwest an* har ty that, there is organized graft. vested. While employ«*rs ami If «liaonlerly houses run semi- agents of employers nrc unable to opi nly, and in known defiance of promis«! steady work through the law. it is also clear that there is entire winter, th«“y assiir«“ the men graft. If thieves and pickpockets whom they are hiring that tb«“ir of known record infest a town an<'| «“tnployincnt, will be steady enough ply tbi'ir traile without molesta ami lucrative enough that they tion, it may bo taken for granted will hav«“ abundant means, when that, they are operating under po tin* work ceases, to carry them lice protection. The gambler is a parasite and a through the rainy season. Here in Portland contractors on lawbreaker, but first of all he is a striMjt. improvement projects are «•oward. He will not open his begging for help. A similar scale games unless he is assured of po of wages prevails. In some «piar- lice favor, or knows that raiils are tern improvements actually are to be periodical and spurious. II«' (Continued on page 4.) seriously delayed on account of ( t