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.