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About Portland labor press. (Portland, Oregon) 1900-1915 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1900)
o CONVENTION A. F. OF L. Louisville, Ky., Dec. 10.— Imme diately following the call to order this morning, the resolutions committee from the American Federation of La bor submitted its report. The first res olution recommended by the conven tion was one reaffirming its favorable position on the initiative and referen dum, which was adopted by the con vention by a vote of 82 to 56 after con siderable debate. Following in rapid succession were recommended and adopted resolutions requesting the sup port by congress of a bill for the higher education of the blind; in favor of an eight-hour bill for all postoffice em ployes, and in favor of municipal ownership of public utilities. The committee reported unfavorably upon the following political resolution: “Whereas, The right of direct leg islation is one of the leading political demands of the American Federation of Labor; and “Whereas, We can never hope to ac quire this right as long as we con tinue to divide our strength at the bal lot-box; therefore, be it “Resolved, That the American Fed eration of Labor, as an organization, take such steps as are necessary to go into the next national campaign with this single demand, upon which all lovers of freedom and justice can stand.” Special committees on the eight-hour work-day, compulsory arbitration and on Porto Rico, were appointed. Among the resolutions handed to the secre tary and referred just prior to adjourn ment was one providing for the es tablishment of a national labor press bureau at Washington. The labor press will hold its annual election of officers tomorrow. At the afternoon session the conven tion heard the report of the commit tee on organization, which favored a resolution providing for the appoint ment, as soon as possible after ad journment of the convention, of four permanent organizers for the ensuing year in the Southern, Northern, Inter- Mountain and Pacific coast states and territories. Other resolutions favor a national organization in the fishing in dustry and among the leather-workers, rubber-workers and wood, wire and metal lathers and upholsterers. The question of trade autonomy was raised by a resolution by the steam and hot- water fitters asking a constitutional charter on the part of the plumbers' union. The organization committee recommended that committees of three from each union be appointed to con fer with a like committee of the Amer ican Federation, which recommenda tion was concurred in. In its report, which followed, the committee on labels recommended that all school books used in public schools of the various states should bear the label of the Allied Printing Trades Council, and recommended the recog nition of the union labels of the boot and shoe-workers, tobacco workers, journeymen horseshoers and lumber trades. These recommendations were adopted by the convention. A partial report- of the committtee on boycotts contained recommendations for refer ence to the incoming executive council of a large number of resolutions for placing on the “unfair list” of speci fied firms and corporations on account of labor troubles with their employes. A resolution extending sympathy to the striking telegraphers on the Santa Fe system was adopted. Louisville, Dec. 11.—At the morn ing session of the American Federa tion of Labor convention a resolution was presented by the cigarmakers’ delegation, and under suspension of the rules was immediately adopted by the convention, denouncing the efforts of the Resistencia to keep members of the Cigarmakers’ International Union cut of the cigar factories in Tampa. The support of the Federation is pledged to the unions of Tampa in their efforts to secure and maintain their rights. PORTLAND LABOR PRESS Other resolutions adopted provided for demanding the card of the Retail Clerks’ International Protective Asso ciation when making purchases; for the organization of unions of shipping department workers and all other freight handlers; for organization of blacksmiths and placing of such or ganizations in the “front rank of trade unionism”; for the organization of trunk and baggage workers and for the organization of agriculturists. A resolution was adopted directing the secretary of the federation to In struct non-afflliated locals to affiliate with chartered local central bodies and to insist that local unions, char tered direct by the American Federa tion of Labor, shall affiliate with the chartered central bodies of the Amer ican Federation of Labor before affil iating with any other central body in name or pretensions. The docket of resolutions received by the secretary contained the follow ing, to be passed on by the proper committee and submitted to the con vention: A resolution introduced by John Mitchell, of the United Mine- workers, expressing sympathy with the iron moulders union in its strug gle with the National Founders’ As sociation against rules requiring mem bers of the former union to work with non-union moulders; a resolution for non - interference by international unions of woodworkers with ship wrights and joiners’ unions; one pro viding that no “local” affiliated with an international or national body char tered by the American Federation of Labor shall be permitted to join any central body that has affiliated with it any organization that has seceded from an international or national body of the American Federation of Labor; one urging the placing of orders for government army hats with union fac tories; one urging the free school book system where not in force; one for the reorganization of textile work ers in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, and one for the oragnization of telephone girls. A resolution for the establishment of the free school-book system where not already in force was adopted. A reso lution providing that no local affiliat ed with a national or international chartered body shall be permitted to join any centra body that has affiliated or become affiliated with any body that has seceded from a national or inter national chartered body was unfavora bly reported. A resolution to reinstate Typographical, No. 12, was referred to the incoming executive council. The convention offered its ai<J toward se curing for the people of Porto Rico “freedom of assembly, of speech and the press.” SKILLED WORKMEN. The Bootblacks’ League of the Greater New York, which was killed through politics, will be reorganized on strictly union lines. A preliminary meeting was held in a hall on Grand street, near East Broadway. Domin ico Cassano, one of its organizers, read two advertisements in a newspaper. One was for a bookkeeper, whose pay was to be $5 a week; the other was for a bootblack, whose wages would start at $6 a week. “Dat’s because we’re skilled work ers,” said Cassano. “Dem mugs as works at bookkeeping ain’t skilled workers. See? It takes skill ter give an oil shine. Tink of a bookkeepin’ guy givin’ an oil shine!” “Oil shina maka muscle,” said an Italian, feeling his biceps. “Shorty” McGinnis remarked that bootblacks had to be born, not made. A meeting for formal organization will be called shortly.—New York Times. The National Council of Women, held at Minneapolis, Minn., last week, adopted resolutions declaring that the national government should support enough institutions of learning to give every child a common-school educa tion. BENEFITS OF THE UNION LABEL. To workingmen the union label means more than the mere device may indicate, more than men outside of the unions may appreciate. It is well known that each union has a label, stamp or device to indicate the product of their work, and union men should see that in their purchases, goods bear their stamp. All strength comes from united action and loyalty to the prin ciples espoused by those banded in any enterprise, says the Freeman’s Labor Journal. Unless all unite for the com mon good, not alone by having tneir names on the rolls of membership, but in their dealings and every-day ac tions, the cause will not succeed. Every union man should ask for union-made goods, and when mer chants have a demand thus made, they grow anxious to please and retain a union man’s custom. He will pur chase union-label goods and place them upon his shelves. The next time the union man asks for union-label goods he has them. Thus you are aid ing your brethren in other lines, and if the same spirit of reciprocity were maintained by all union men, what a power for good their efforts would be! It is estimated that there are about 20,000,000 wage-earners in the United States. Of this great number at pres ent about 2,000,000 only are organ ized. As a result, employers can fix the price of wages at their own figure. Men must work for these figures or go idle. Alone they have no power, but banded together they can demand the wages justly due them, according to their work and ability. And this is the way to promote the use of the union label, and in so doing you are promoting the interests of those who toil. When you make a purchase and find thereon a union label you know that you are helping to support their families. You are also supporting the employer of labor because he is re ceiving his interest in the profits. If the remaining laborers were banded in the cause of unionism, better condi tions would obtain among all classes. The poor would be better able to buy better goods, the employers and mer chants would still make their profits. It is well known that the trusts have strong organizations and have ad vanced the cost of machinery, sup plies, tools, etc., and employers must pay more for these articles. In their desire for greater profit, whom do they cut—the wage-earner, of course. The trusts have their union, and maintain their prices accordingly. Should you not do likewise, as your labor is vour capital? A good union man is one who believes and has faith in human ity; one who considers his neighbor’s welfare as well as his own. When you are helping yourself by paying atten tion to the union label you are also helping all others in the great army of the toilers. CARROLL D. WRIGHT’S REPORT. Carroll D. Wright, commissioner of labor, has completed his 15th annual report. It embraces data relative to highest, lowest and average wages paid, and the hours of labor in 92 countries, provinces and colonies, ex clusive of 47 states and territories in this country. This compilation is taken from authentic official sources and Is not the result of original in quiry. The very nature of the work prevents any summary. It gives quo tations for each country as far back as any official statement was to be found and down to the present vear. These quotations are for 4,459 occupa tions and subdivisions of occupation. The facts are taken from nearly 1,500 different official reports and they cover 900 definite results. “I am proud to say,” said the finan cial magnate and captain of industry, “that I began at the foot of the lad der. But I did not stay there long.” “Neither did the ladder,” cheerfully interpolated another gentleman of the same class.—Indianapolis Press. LABORING MEN GET YOUR DRUGS • AND • MEDICINES OF ALBERT BERNI COR. SECOND A N D W A S H IN G T O N STS. H O L ID A Y i B O O K S AND N O V E L T IE S AT J o n e s B o o k S to r e 291 Alder Street, Bet. Fourth and Fifth BEATTIE & HOFMANN PHONE, SOUTH 371 P R IN T E R S 109 Fifth St., Portland, Ore. Deutschei Basthaus BREW ERS’ HOME M e t r o p o lis H o t e l P hilip S trhib , Proprietor Cor. First and Main Sts., Portland, Ore. Finest Table Board in the City Only White Help Employed. Meals 15c. Lodging 20c and 25c. Milk and Eggs fresh from our own ranch daily Established 1882 Open Day and Night Clams and Oysters Home Made Pies and Cakes E. HOUSE’S CAFE Cream and Milk from Our Own Ranch The Best Cup of Coffee or Cocoa in the City 128 Third St., Portland, Ore. C O U N T Y A N D B A N K S U P P L IE S GLASS & PRUDHOMME P R IN T E R S B L A N K BO O K M A K E R S L IT H O G R A P H E R S 1 2 3 -1 2 2 F IR S T S T . Bureau Trunks a Specialty PORTLAND, OREGON Trunks Made to Order T R U N K FACTO RY N o . SO T h i r d S t. Bet. Pine and Ash Ore. Phone, Clay 391 Old Trunks taken in part payment for New Ones. Trunks Repaired............. L . B . P H IL L IP S T R U N K CO., P o r tla n d , Or. Henry Doerr Ed. Helseth HELSETH & DOERR Certified Members of the N at’l Horseshoers’ Ass’n Local No. 36 Blacksmiths : and : Horseshoers Wagon and Woodwork of All Kinds Done on Short Notice. Phone, Hood 592 285 Couch St., Bet. 4th and 5th, Portland, Oregon WANTED An Experienced Newspaper Solicitor Call at Room 53 M cKay Bldg. JOHN DELLAR’S ADMIRATION. Great friendship is shown by John Dellar to all the union organizations, and he assists them In every way he can to attain their wishes. Having been a hard-working man all his life, Mr. Dellar appreciates the position of the working classes and always selects his friends and companions from among them at all times. He carries a stock of men’s and boys’ clothing, men’s, ladies’ and children’s shoes, almost entirely made by union Mr. Dellar does not believe In extrav agant expenses; that’s why he con ducts his business on the corner of First and Yamhill streets, where the rent is not one-third of what other stores pay. The profits are generally fixed by every merchant according to his expenses. We carry none but good qualities, which explains why our trade is so well satisfied. The Louisville (Ky.) Federal Labor Union instructed Its delegate to the A. F. of L. convention to submit a reso lution declaring for the collective own ership of the means of production.
