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About Portland labor press. (Portland, Oregon) 1900-1915 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1900)
PORTLAND LABOR PRESS 4 Portland Labor Press P u b lish e d e v e ry T h u rs d a y by th e P o r t la n d L a b o r P re s s P u b lish in g A ssociation. (In c o rp o ra te d A u g u st 18, 1900.) O F F IC E . R oom 53, M cK ay B uilding, 248% S ta r k s tre e t. P o rtla n d , O regon. S U B S C R IP T IO N R A T E S . U n io n s b elo n g in g to th is A sso c ia tio n a n d d e sirin g to su b sc rib e fo r th e ir e n tire m e m b ersh ip , th e su b sc rip tio n p rice is 31.00 a y e a r p e r copy. U n io n s w hich do n o t b e lo n g to th is A s so ciatio n , b u t d esire to su b sc rib e fo r th e ir e n tire m em b ersh ip , th e su b sc rip tio n price is $1.25 a y e a r p e r copy. S ingle su b sc rip tio n s $1.50 p e r y e a r. S ingle copies 5 c e n ts each. A lw a y s in ad v an ce. A D V E R T IS IN G R A T E S . R a te s w ill be m ad e k n o w n upon a p p li c atio n . P le a se a d d re ss a ll c o m m u n ic a tio n s to th e P o rtla n d L a b o r P re s s P u b lish in g A s so ciatio n , room 53 M cK ay B uilding, P o r t lan d , O regon. C h as. E . Y ork H . B. M etcalf M anager ...E d ito r BO A R D O F D IR E C T O R S . C has. E . Y o rk ........ M u sic ia n s’ A sso c ia tio n P re s id e n t a n d G e n e ra l M an a g e r. J. A. G o ld ra in e r...................B a rb e rs ' U nion V ic e -P re sid e n t. J A. B u s h m a n ..L u m b e rm ill W k r s ’ U nion S e c re ta ry -T re a s u re r. E . E d w a rd s ................. C ig a rm a k e rs U nion J o h n B eigl .............................B re w e rs ’ U nion F r e d W . M o rris........T y p o g ra p h ic a l U nion Geo. M. O rto n .................. P re s s m e n s U nion C. H . W e b e r ..............R e ta il C le rk s U nion W . H. R o b e rts o n __ L e tte r - C a r rie r s ’ A ss n Geo. L e c h m e ie r........ B eer D riv e rs U n on J. F . J o h n s o n ........ L e a th e rw o rk e rs U nion A r th u r B o o th ............T e a m D riv e rs U nion E n te re d a t th e P o s t Office a s second- c la ss m a tte r , S e p te m b e r 29th, 1900. THE A. F. OF. L. CONVENTION. It will be exceedingly unfortunate if the time during the session of the convention of the American Federa tion of Labor, which is in session at Louisville, Ky., is expended in quib bling over differences between unions of trades that are similar in character. For instance, the difference between the stationary engineers and firemen, the carpenters, woodworkers and box- makers, the painters, decorators and paper hangers, the plumbers and gas- fitters and steam and hot-water fitters, the printers and machinists, the gar ment workers and tailors, the brewers, and the miners and hoisting engineers. All these differences are comparatively minor matters, and should be settled without unnecessary loss of time. There are vital questions that ought to come up before the convention that affect the entire working population of the country. These differences be tween brothers should be smoothed over in a spirit of fraternity, and then all act together in the furtherance of the greater work that lies before the convention, the chief of which is the consideration of the re-enactment of the Chinese exclusion act. Don’t waste your ammunition, brethren, shooting at woodchucks when there is big game to be captured. Of course, one of the important things to be done will be the election of a president. There has been some talk of John Mitchell, of the miners’ union, but in all probability Samuel Gompers will be re-elected, as he has come as near giving perfect satisfac tion as any man could. A WHOLESOME REGULATION. The working people of Vancouver, B. C., are making an effort to have a law passed imposing a heavy tax on male domestic servants. This meas ure is proposed in the interest of working girls who are being crowded out by Japs and Chinese. It would seem that a law of this kind would be a wholesome regulation, and would go a great way toward eliminating this very undesirable element from the question of domestic service. It is bad enough for these vermin to rob our laboring men of employment by work ing for a mere pittance, but the sub ject assumes a more serious aspect when they seek to deprive our women and girls of the means of earning a living. If some of the societies that are striving to better the condition, morally, socially and industrially, of poor girls and women would exert their energy, much of which is wasted, in trying to prevent the evils that they are trying to cure, they would accom plish more. The imposition of a tax in Portland similar to that proposed in Vancouver would have a salutary effect in help ing to drive the Chinese out of the homes of our city. If the women’s clubs would make an effort to have a tax of this kind imposed on these Mon golian interlopers, they might do a great deal of good for the deserving ones of their own sex and effectually prevent much of the evil that they are trying to cure. EIGHT-HOUR LAW SUSTAINED. The recent decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Holden A Hardy, sheriff, upholding the eight-hour law, is another step for ward in the way of bettering the con dition of the working people. The court declares that the fact that both parties are competent to contract does not necessarily deprive the state of the power to interfere, where the con tracting parties do not stand upon an equality or where the public health de mands that one party to the contract shall be protected against himself. The opinion also states that employes are often induced by fear of discharge to conform to regulations, which their judgment, fairly exercised, would pro nounce detrimental to their health or strength, and that the legislature may properly interpose its authority. In short, it is the duty of the law to protect the weaker against the stronger, and, if necessary, against himself, for in his fear of losing his position and the means of support he may agree to do those things which if he were free to choose he would not do. In cases like this, the legislature may step in and do for the weaker party that which he cannot or dare not do for himself. The decision is a good one. and will go a long way toward dispelling the illusions that hang around the legal aphorism that the state has no right to pass laws impairing the validity of contracts. TRYING TO CORNER THE MEAT MARKET. It is announced that the price of meat is going up, the Chicago packers’ trust having given the word. But tnat doesn’t make any difference. Many working people don’t like meat, any how; it tends to brutalize, the vege tarians say. So if the Armours and Swifts want us to pay their campaign contributions, we’ll fool them. We hear that Rockefeller is also organizing a $25,000,000 cattle trust.—Cleveland Cit izen. The news of new trusts being formed is getting to be so common that the formation of a new trust is no newt This man Rockefeller seems to be in satiable in his insane desire to gain worldly pelf. He is laying his hand MUM on everything that comes within his A machine has been invented which, reach. Why don’t some phrenologist it is declared, will take the places of examine his head? He might find a boys now employed in shuttling molds new bump—a bump along the same line as acquisitiveness only in a mere in bottle factories. The Sans Pareil aggravated form—and thereby render factory in Hartford City., Tnd., will a service to humanity in using this be the first plant in the United States unparalleled specimen of the human to put the machine in operation. •e M at species for scientific purposes. He is We devote considerable space this now trying to corner the meat mar week to President Gompers’ excellent ket. It is a good gambling proposi tion to guess what will be the next report. In it he treats of all the sub necessity of life that he will try to jects of vital importance to the work control in his own selfish interest and ingman, and shows what Is being done for him by labor organizations. against the Interest of the people. There is some consolation in the IN SYMPATHY WITH LABOR. thought that it won’t be long till a voice that he must heed will say to Portland, Or., Dec. 8, 1900. him. “Thou fool, this night thy soul Editor Portland Labor Press—Dear shall be required of thee.” Sir: Through your kindness I have been receiving copies of the Press for MUM A GUARANTY OF BETTER THINGS. several months and I desire to express my appreciation of the favor. With Probably in no other industry with the object of the paper I am in full the possible exception of the cigar accord, and in agreement with much manufacturer, has the union label’s that It said as to methods for better benefit been so substantially demon ing the condition of laboring men. So strated as in the garment makers’ far as I have been able to judge, we all trade. It has proven itself to be a agree that the founder of the Chris great help toward abolishing the in tian religion was one whose teachings famous sweating system that has so solve the great problems of humanity. extensively prevailed in this trade. Its He was a carpenter, and the son of a continued use will doubtless result in carpenter. He chose most of his dis better sanitary conditions for those ciples from the working classes. In that toil, and a general amelioration two sentences which he declared, he of the lot of those who work at this covered the whole ground of man’s trade. It will prove a great preven duty to his fellow-man. “Whatsoever tive of disease through garments made ye would that men should do to you, in the filthy dens or sweatshops, by do ye even so to them,” and “Thou enforcing cleanliness among the work shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” ers. It will be a guaranty, just as the These two simple and all-comprehen blue label of the cigarmakers is, that sive rules would, if obeyed, bring in the article has been made amid health the day of peace. ful surroundings and that the con The difficulty is that the world is sumer runs no risk of contracting dis not living up to these precepts. Not ease by using it. even the church is doing it. Laboring The same rule applies to all union men are finding fault with the church, labels, but it is particularly applicable not with the founder of the church. to that of the garment makers. It is That there is cause for this sentiment, to be hoped that the adoption of the no tETnking man will deny, but it is label will become universal, and that not always remembered that there are there will be no demand for any prod manjf men in the churches who are uit that does not bear It. honestly striving to find and follow Every friend of organized labor, in the exact teachings of the Christ. They fact, everybody that wants to see an desire to reproduce In organized form improvement in the condition of the the very principles taught by him working people and at the same time whose name they bear. To do this they a guaranty that healthful conditions ask the co-operation of all men who surrounded the manufacture of any ar recognize the supreme authority of ;he ticle, should always see that tneir great teacher. The church ought to purchases bear this trademark of bet be the best friend of the workingman. ter things than sweatshops, Chinese- It wants to be nothing less than that. made cigars, etc. Don’t forget to de If It ha3 seemed to stand aloof from mand the union label! him, the cause is found In lack of ef mat at fective methods and not in earnest in Don’t forget the union label, the tentions. The doors of the church are union card and union hours. open wide to every workingman of the city. The services of pastors are at the call of the people who need them, the activities of the church are admin istered without regard to financial or social rank. The manhood of all is recognized by inviting all to have part in the whole work of the church. What more can we do? Sometimes I think the workingmen are standing aloof from their best friend when they so severely let the church alone. It is possible that the fault is all with the church; if so, we want to find it out. Show us our fault and we are ready, with your nelp, to correct it. On Sunday evening, December 16, the labor question will be discussed at the First Baptist church, corner Twelfth and Taylor streets (the White Temple), and a most cordial invitation is ex tended to every laboring man and his family to be present. The music and every part of the service will be made as pleasant as possible. Sincerely yours, ALEXANDER BLACKBURN. PROFESSIONAL TRADES UNIONS. There is no class of persons that has so little sympathy for trades unions of workingmen as the professional class, yet there is no class of persons that maintain such perfect trades union principles for themselves as this same professional class. Members of the legal profession have established an ideal trades union. This trades union has absolute control of the profession in every court of law and in nearly every civilized country. No man man plead a case as an at torney without having made applica tion and having been received in the lawyers’ trades union, known as the bar. The power of this lawyers’ trades union is so great that judges bow iu submission to its rules and regula tions. The Medical Association—the doc tors’ trade union—prohibits any per son, unless he be recognized ly such trade union, prescribing medicine for the relief of the afflicted. They have also established professional ethics that are binding on their craft, as are the ethics of labor unions. The medi cal profession denounces as “quack” doctors who ignore the rules of the medical trade union, just as labor unions denounce as “scab” workiug- men who ignore the ethics of labor unions, and a “working card”—a diplo ma—must be in the possession of the medical practitioner before he is al lowed to earn a dollar at his trade. The professional trades unions have been more successful in the protection of their craft than have the labor unions. While labor has been de nounced by many good people for at tempting to secure legislation bene ficial to labor, these professional gen tlemen have quietly secured laws that effectually prevent “scabbing” oy non union professional men. The lawyers, the doctors, the den tists, the druggists, have all secured law? which prevent incompetent per sons working at their respective trades. Yet, when a labor union attempts to secure these same results, these same professional gentlemen join in the cry of “Down with the tyrannical labor unions.”—American Musician. GET OUT AND HUSTLE. The union Is what the laboring men make it. If they join it just for the in crease in wages and less hours and then stay at home and let some one else do the work, it will not stand. Get out and hustle; talk to your friends on the subject; get them interested; never let an opportunity to talk union pass, and talk to some purpose. There is a principle at stake; fairness to the employer and employe should be con sidered. Never adopt a scale that the employer cannot concede to if he is so minded—live and let live should be our motto; but after such a scale is adopted stick to it—never say die. By standing by each other, union success is assured.—Leather Workers’ Journal.
