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OFFICIAL PAPER
OF THE
( ENTRAI. LABOR COUNCIL OF
PORTLAND AND VICINITY
PORTLAND LABOR PRESS
•TRADE8 UNIONS ARE THE BULWARKS OF MODERN DEMO CRACIRS"—W
Volume IX. Number 46.
E
OFFICIAL PAPER
o r THE
OREGON STATE FEDERATION
OF LABOR
GLADSTONE
Whole Number 518
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1910
Olds, Wortman & King Offer Bait
|This Firm , U nfair to O rg an ized L abor, A sk U nion W o rk m e n to P u t a
F inish on U nfair W o r k —W a n t L a b o r to Sell Its B irth rig h t
The Olds, W ortman & King building, department
ktore, now nearing completion, is being constructed
¡under non-union and open-shop conditions.
Organzed labor of Portland declared the Trust
¡Company of Portland, the concern erecting this
¡building, as unfair to labor.
It is generally understood that these trustee com-
Ipanies, on unit and other plans, secure the people’s
[money to do their business.
This Trustee Company was doing this kind of
I work, getting money on pocket bank and other
I schemes.
The unfair notice evidently interfered with this
| game. So under a great flourish of business trumpets
the Trustee Company announced that its manager
and officers were given over to the Union Bank &
[Trust Company.
People who claim to know about such dodges said
I the Trustee Company of Portland was transformed
into the Union Bank & Trust Company to get away
from the unfair notice.
And this practice of dodging, of hedging, of hypoc-
racy, is the story of the building of the Olds, W ort
man & King building.
Olds, Wortman & King gained trade through pro
fessing love for philanthropy and reform.
However, when Olds, W ortman & King needed
larger quarters, these professions were forgotten. The
Trustee Company of Portland, under a different name
unfair to labor in Seattle, secured the building of the
new home of Olds, Wortman & King.
And O’-ds, W ortman & King, when interviewed
and remonstrated with by committees of organized
labor, declared they were innocent of any wrongdoing.
Mr. Olds claimed the Trustee Company was the bad
fellow.
W hat rot; what hypocrisy; what buncombe.
Olds, Wortman & King, under fire from the Build
ing Trades Council, now wants to make peace.
This firm fears that if their unfair acts to labor
are fully advertised to the union men and women of
Portland; that if the members of the granges are told
all about it—the erection of the new Olds, Wortman
& King building, by non-union and open-shop labor,
might prove very unprofitable. There might be the
new palatial department store. But there might be
no customers. So finesse is depended upon to turn
the trick.
Olds, Wortman & King, having to pay about half
a million dollars for their new home to the Trustee
Company—the labor-hating concern—now offer union
conditions to men to put up shelving, boxes, etc.
A member of the building trades exposed this
scheme by saying:
“Olds, Wortman & King are spending fort
ne
dollars on scab labor for their new home. No\ • ney
offer one dollar to union labor, so as to put on the
union finish and hide their rottenness."
But every indication points to the conclusion that
organized labor of Portland is neither ignorant nor
can it be bought.
In the past the boast of unfair employers of labor
v as that the representatives of labor had no brains.
They could easily be fooled or scared. It is also re
ported that our present mayor, when discussing union
labor, said: "I bought them in the past, I shall buy
them again when I need them.”
However, if the Labor Pres» is correctly informed,
and it believes it is, there will be no union finish on
the unfair building of Olds, W ortman & King. The
rank and file of organized labor will not sell its birth
right for a mess of pottage, though the bait is offered
by the smiling and plausible Mr. Olds.
The time has come for organized labor to make
an example of unfairness and hypocrisy.
Olds, W ortman & King, evidently backed by the
Employers’ Association, have seen fit to sow the wind.
Let them reap the whirlwind.
Organized labor is bound to succeed in this just
fight. Then there will be peace and prosperity for
the building trades.
But above all, there must be no acceptance of one
dollar baits to cover up forty-nine dollars’ unfair work.
OBJECT TO THE USE OF EASTERN BUILDING STONE
Building Council Executive Committee, After a Thorough and Exhaustive Investigation, in Open
Letter to County Commissioners, Gives Reasons for Using the Oregon Stone
The Building Trades Council is objecting to the 'the contract for stone and construction work on the [Judge Webster have secured no guarantee or agree
way Judge Webster and County Commissioners new court house. This report in substance is as ment of any kind from the eastern stone concern
that it will not raise the price of stone for the major
Barnes and Lightner are doing the county business. follows:
“First. That Commissioners Lightner and Barnes port of the building yet to be let at a subsequent date.
The council wants the stone contract to be given
“Sixth. That Commissioners Lightner and Barnes
and Judge Webster have not as yet let the proposed
to Oregon concerns, so all moneys spent will benefit contract.
'and Judge Webster prefer the eastern stone because
local business firms and mechanics.
“Second. That said Lightner, Barnes and Judge of its color only.
The Executive Board of the Council has issued Webster made the statement that they had given
“We believe this contract should go to an Oregon
an open letter on the subject. It reads:
their word to some contractor that they will grant concern, thus to develop our home industry to the
“An open letter to Judge Webster and County the same to him, and that they intend so to do.
benefit of our local workmen and business men.
Commissioners Lightner and Barnes.
“We believe Mr. Lightner. Mr. Barnes ^nd Judge
“Third. That the said proposed contract is for
“We, the Executive Committee of the Building an eastern stone which by actual test is inferior to Webster will make a great mistake if they let the
Trades Council, consisting of one member from each our Oregon stone.. Said contract is for but about proposed contract to an eastern concern for eastern
of the eighteen affiliated unons, has just received a one-third of the stone and work required.
stone for these reasons.
“Fourth. That the said Lightner, Barnes and
“We believe further that the present plan to let
report of our committee relative to the granting of
taxed and exempted, w hether pro
posed by the legislative assem bly
or by initiative petition; but the
people of th e several counties are
hereby empowered and authorized
to regulate taxation and exem p
tions within th eir several counties,
subject to any general law which
may ba h ereafter enacted."
The convention will deal with
the land values tax question, the
proposed asem biy" and the 1911
constitutional convention question.
It Is understood that several
m easures which will puncture tl.e
arm or of the corporation rep re
sentatlvea will also ba befor» the
convention. Many of the delegates
believe that labor must control tho
law-m aking bodies of o ur cities and
state, thus preventing them from
th a t he believed it wise for labor gran tin g special privileges to cor
to co n cen trate Its effo rts upon the porations. before labor can effect
securing of an em ployers liability
ively deal with the large Interests.
law. Several questions of g tea t
im portance will be before the con
W ith 60 cents a month the Mu
vention.
tual Benefit Association of M ult
The convention will th rash out nomah Typographical Union 1«
a plan whereby th e laboring forces m aintaining a sick benefit degree
of th e cities and stales can have [that has resulted in a well filled
rep resen tativ es in th e city and treasury a'nd paym ent of $12 a
s’ate law-making bodies in propor ■ week to the sick and Injured. In
tion to th eir voting strength. The | this conncclion the painter» re-
Portland delegation »HI present ported at the Centrnl Latior Coun-
this question clearly with th e view jcll th at for six re n ts a month they
of taking It tip a fter th e conven j had been able to give $.', a week
tlon in th e C entral l.ab u r Council ¡for five weeks to sick and Injured
so th e proposed m easure will go I Wv n |hers.
___ ________ ____ __
on the ballot by Initiative petition
at th e November election.
Tills will give labor r voice at
the next city election in June,
1911.
The tax com m ittee Is to recom
mend Ih’- indorsem ent of a con
stitutional am endm ent which will
require th at .he legislature •' ’- .alt
nil tax m easures to the people
b efo re they become law. The pro
posed amendm ent is designed to
r<Yengthen the proi>osed grsng'
am endm ents which arc now on the
hallot for th e 1911 election.
The
com m ittee's
am endm ent
reads as folio«»;
"ARTICLE IX.
•Section l v No hili regulating
taxation or exemption th-
th e sta te shall become a 1
approved by th e people ot te
at a r e n tie r general ele<'' ,i, none
of th restriction« of th e conslilu-
non Shall apply to no USUI Ce ap
proved by the people. d ic la ’ iiig
President Or»*ï(»n S tate Federation
what shall he su hpol to taxation
Of leiib» r.
ng gxeinptlon. and how it shall
PREPARING FOR THE
CONVENTION
NEW YEAR GREETING
TO OUR READERS
Central Labor Council of Portland
Will Act as Host to the Annual
Gathering of Oregon Union Labor
. W ith the New Year, many a man and woman,
baffled and battered in life’s battles .nd almost dis
couraged, determines to try again for the heights.
To tbe«-e William Ernest Henley’s paen of courage
is here presented as the guiding star:
All is in readiness for the Sev-
i h A nnual Convention of th e
' gon F< deration of Labor, w lil.l,
i convene a t 9 a in. next Mon-
.
at 20B 1-2 F irst street.
Lir-a aldent W ill Dalj and S ecre
tary T reasurer Cassidy have been
busy with their repot is and n-’ceu-
Hiry details ail th is last week.
Mr. Cassidy reports th a t the
convention will be from 80 to UH,
per cent larger th an the last cou-
'••ntlon. Already many m ore cte-
«U nttaln have been received than
the total for th e last convention.
1 Pions from Roseburg. Salem and
Astoria nro a i| sending th eir full
k '» of delegates.
The mem bo rehip ot tlm F edera
tion has been m uch Increased by
Un1 affiliation of a lurge num ber
el unions.
We have Just about completed
f-t.al arrangem ents for the conven
’ u." said P resident Daly to a
•ir,| P ress rep o rter yesterday.
1‘rcsldent J A. Madsen ot Un
" ra l l.abor Council of Port-
•I it> continued, ' will welcome
'tivenlion to the city. So fat
Live dimdei} to extend an 111-
'■ '"ion to W. 8. V'Ren to »iieak
ns iqion subjects pertaining to
tl't’-i i legislation; S late L ecturer
•’
Johnson of th e O regon Grang.
t'l ti the cducntlofiai an J o th er
* k done by the Ornnge; C. E.
F t\o,>d upon the proimscd state
r ">ad constitutional am endm ent.
In all probability th e convan-
" " n »111 extend an Invitation to
• 'h ’ rs to speak tipatn questions of
1 1 " 't i t to th e w elfare of our peo-
l ’-" snd state."
President Daly stated
further
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced ncr cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horroi of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
BENEFIT ENTERTAINMENT
Electrical Workers No. oi7 vJ’l give a smoker
and general good time to members »”d friends, at
the Auditorium, Third street near Taylor, Thursday
evening, January 27. This benefit is for sick and
disabled members. Admission 50 cents
B R IC K L A Y E R S
ELECT
B ricklayers International Union
No. 1 of Oregon, at lie regular
m eeting held T hursday evening,
December 3. elected the following
officers to serve tin1 ensuing term :
P resident. W- K. T hayer; vice prea
lder A. fitelnback; corresponding
secretary, .Toe d a r k ; financial sec
retary, William Burch; treasu rer,
Theodore Dunn; aergeant-at arma.
Jam es Dorney. Sr : board of direct
ors. George Blackley. H I,. Shahan.
Thom as Brawn. William Foxley, J.
H. Rogers; trustees, lien L. Casen,
George Rimer, J. Sherm an.
TO
E N T E R T A IN
the contract for one-third of the Work, thus requiring
the same stone for the balance, will give the eastern
concern the opportunity and will result in their raising
the prices.
“From investigation we are Convinced that Oregon
stone concerns, on the total contmct* can do better
than the eastern concern.
“We respectfully request th at they be given the
opportunity so t.o do, thus giving Oregon people and
concerns the preference and stopping almost certain
possibilities of graft.
1
“EXECUTIV E COM M ITTEE BUILDING
TRADES COUNCIL,
“W ILLIAM NO FFKE, Secretary.”
FREE TEXTBOOK LAW
PROPOSED
Report to Oregon State Federation
of Labor Recommends a Law to
Be Introduced at the Next Session
DELEGATES
The C entral Lnbot Council will
entertain the delegate« Io the O re
gon Federation of Labor.
Last Friday th e central body
appointed W. . Fitzgerald, L. E.
Got shall and Paul Musa to prepare
plans for th e entertainm ent of
the convention, with Instructions
to report at tho regular m eeting
tomorrow night.
T in at ro parttea, a banquet and
trolley rides will lie In the reconi
m endatlona, according to one of
I he com mil Ice.
Executive C om m ittee
Oregon th ese th e Officials of N ebraska,
Federation of L abor—Dear Sir» U tah ami
apd M ichigan
and Brother»;
We, your commit-
Aa to tho firs t queatiou. re la tiv»
loo appointed for the purpose o f 'to tho co»(, we have found tho
e a r n ’ng out th« Instruction» of co st much It reduoed to th e com-
»flpB a i the a eyatero w in
ihr sixth annual convention of the m u n ity
O regon F e d e r a tio n of l.aboi that adopted
This t in t oo»t was itself
the free text book ayatem ba In -[ greatly reduced as soon as the die.
vesllgated. le p u it th a t w > have tríete pcrfSotM | system for prop-
Inqulred and secured data from erly earing fo f the books and ftx-
numcrou« »tales aud school do- |ln g tliq retp b n slb illty fo / th s ir
trlcta
throughout
the
U nited care w ith curtain of the achool
States.
board, o ffic ili» or tçaohefe.
In the e tite of Nebraska, which
broad sub-
T his question is
J, Cl.
We have, therefore. aftc: hu" f ’lralshod tex t book« free »Inc»
the 1BM1
C,,,L
c o rd ltg to reports
Union painters in Forth W orth, satisfying ouraelves a« to
Texas, have captured the last un p rarili abllitv of the »laic, eonr.tv rectived, la set forth in a detailed
o, district furnishing text b,«.k» r*Po rt received from the d ep art
fair shop.
in ’.- of c ut to student» of meh «“ ° “ 1 uf PMbllc Instruction, which
«laic, co i y ot achool district |M concluded by the following brief
confined oinnelvcf largely »o tin statem ent, to-wlt.
following questions:
I
H -latlve to the difference In
F irst —I» the c o ., of book» t o '™ " uf
the
¡dents „1 a,.v p a r l e , la,
Puiw nt. Individually and by the
d l s t .l .t
reducod
by
co -o p ., a tl v t
M
w lH “ » th a '
buying and furnishing Ihem f i...
""»nial condition, t l * aver-
e tc cost per child It.e lu d in g chlld-
of coat to all utudents alike?
i n from the kindergarten to th e
Becond—Does the free text book
end of th e high school course) for
system
Increase school a tte n d
I hooks when purchased by the ludl-
ance“
! vidua, p aren t would n o t be less
T h ird - D o e s th ” ayatem assist I lhgn , w0 (1ollars pe!. yoar.
In the organization and aumlnle- ,
, t a eiirollm<, n t tn the
tra 'lo n of th e senonia?
achoois of the M ate (Of the past
F ourth—How do«» the
Rchord five years and the am ount ex
|l a s » of tho d istricts operating the pended for textbook» end pc,ilia'
free" text book •> stein compare ».ipplte« for the same tltue. an aw
w ith tho»e of Oregon?
Altogether we have
erage of slaty-four cents per ohlid
examined per year la the coat under the plea
th e reporta of o v er too Individual
»tate», coutil le» and achool dia
trlcta. and have had extended cor
respondence wtih many »tate »„
J. F. C A S S ID Y ,
Secretary T re a su re r Oregon Stai- perlntendenta of public In. tructton
and county aupcrlntcndenta . am ong
F ederation of L alm r.
of district purchase,
T he num ber o f qtatrlc cte (a the
»,»■-« la 6CCÿi the
u n ber of dia
lie a auab’
«otta ta
t, eta furnishing frye teatboo
feed
The 60o d istricts not new
«••ntiaaed ea r««s Twe)
Í