Oregon labor press., October 21, 1916, Image 1

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Formerly The Portland Labor Prete.
Volume XVI.
Number 26
Owned and Controlled by Organized Labor.
Portland» Oregon, Saturday, October 21, 1916
Secretary Of Labor
You’ll Have T o Hurry
Speaks For Wilson
Before a crowd that filled the'vania. His voice trembled with emo­
Baker Theatre * 1 from cellar to garret” tion as he said that he had vowed
Secretary of Labor W. B. Wilson de- ¡to himself, when burning the mid­
bvered a masterly address in support night oil, to fit himself for the battle
of President Wilson Thursday even­ of life, that if he ever had the oppor­
tunity he would deal a death blow to
ing-
Every available inch of space was the curse of child labor. He said that
occupied and hundreds were turned he was present when the president
signed the child labor bill and that it
away.
The meeting was under the auspi­ was one of the proudest moments of
ce, of the State Federation of Labor his life.
,nd was presided over by President
He reviewed some of the other la-
0 R. Hartwig, who introduced the j bor legislation enacted by the Wilson
I administration and expressed the
speaker.
Secretary Wilson, who is an active ‘opinion that the working people of
Member of the United Mine Workers’ this country, organized and unorgan­
Union, gave first-hand information as ized, W'ould show their approval of
to facts leading up to the adoption the President’s efforts by casting
of the Adamson eight-hour law and their votes for him November 7th.
,howed conclusively that President
His explanation of the injunction
kVilson met one of the gravest situa­ with reference to labor disputes was
tions ever faced by any President in one of the best ever heard in this
j manner that should command the city.
respect of every citizen of the United
Organized Labor may justly be
proud of the development of a man
States.
He spoke feelingly of the passage of his character and ability and also
of the child labor law and referred to of the fact that we had a President
his experiences as a boy of nine years who realized the necessity of placing
of age in the coal mines of Pennsyl- such a man in his cabinet.
Carpenters Hold
Big Open Meeting
I All the carpenters that co u ld pack termed his farewell at ’ress, he hav­
I into the large hall of the Labor ing teen directed by the Inter­
ITemple last Tuesday evening, national to go to other fields. Bro.
listened to the report of B. W. Johannsen reviewed the organization
Sleeman as delegate to the Inter­ campaign, which has been carried
national Convention of Carpenters, on by the carpenters and pointed
which was held recently in Fort to the increase in membership, and
the increased interest being shown
Worth, Texas.
■ It was an open meeting and mem­ by members in the affairs of the
bers from all the carpenters’ locals organization as indications of an
and the District Council of Carpen­ awakening in the minds of the
workers.
ters participated.
Delegate Sleeman made a most in­
O. E. Hibbs reported on the mat-
teresting and instructive report cov­ iter of the formation of a Card ind
ering actions of the convention and Label League, and the carpenters
recommendations for the further up­ pledged their support to the league.
building of what is already one of
Refreshments consisting of ban­
the most militant organizations in anas, apples and cigars were servedi
the country.
J. A. Johannsen, general organizer, 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
»ho has been in this locality for 4- V ote for W ilson and W illison . 4
several weeks past, gave what he 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,
■
[I
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THAT CARTOON
I I wish to beg for a little space in ' >e Labor Press this wfrek to
I ir.alyze a cartoon which appeared in the revered Oregonian on October
I *-■ 1 shall try, like Mr. Pecksniff, to conduct my analysis in a spirit of
llove. But I shall not feel obliged to conceal my conviction that the Ore-
Izor.ian in printing this cartoon has indulged a regrettable propensity to
I substitute fancy for fact. I shall give an example or two for this in a
Ininute.
Rut first let me remind the reader what the cartoon is about. It is
13 effort to exhibit the inner, or esoteric, significance of the Land and
I Loan bill, which the Portland Labor Council urges us all to vote for.
I Th
ne perpetrator of the bill is, in the cartoon, a fleeing figure who wears
1 mask to conceal as much as he can of his hideous countenance, but
Happily the mask has slipped partly off and it is not difficult to recognize
IIhe horrid aspect of Mr. U’Ren in this cr niir.a’ gitive. If we had any
Houht about it, all would be cleared vt> by at. ihuriinating label attached
10 his tall hat which serves as a ki
f anti-hair. An anti-halo, as the
ptader will understand, indicates d t i ’.ishness just s ' a genuine tinplate
halo indicates sainthood. The anti I a <> is really super 'nous since no sign
ls needed to tell us that Mr. U'Ren is the devil and . ids imps in the
tvtJ of the Oregonian.
The label attached to the fle.irg figure is "U’Renism a word which,
ginning as a term of scorn,
”ns likely to folio
tl e example of
lf,hndism, Benthamism, Christi, n il/ and many more originally despised
fpithets which have now lecoine symbols of victorious faith and proud
>chievement.
— ■
The fugitive in the cartoon has been caught by an indignant farmer
l *10 by lifting his wicked coa:-tails exposes the weapons which he iias
°Ped to conceal from a righteously wrathful public. The first concealed
iJn is labeled "Single Tax.” The other, for this depraved disciple of
|** Rreat Teddy carries two guns in his pants, is labeled “Confiscation.”
•’turally the bold farmer is as proud as he is mad to have been the
fssed agent of his exposure. In his right hand the fleeing criminal
I’Ties a hand bag which bears the damnatory label "Socialism.”
This brings me to the point where I can indicate the charming play of
lnt?y in the Oregonian’s cartoon. It represents the single tax as a
'ni>realed weapon. Now the single tax may be everything that is horrid
ut n°body has ever dreamed of denying that it is the very soul and spirit
J, 'Re I-and and Loan bill. I have heard Mr. U'Ren stand before the
»fiber of Commerce in all his horror and call the Land and Loan bill
bfgle tax measure. I have heard Mr. Eugene Smith time and again
<he same thing. In my own feeble arguments for the bill I have
*■‘>'5 called it a single tax measure. So when the Oregonian tells the
I h LI ic that the single tax part of it is a concealed weapon that altogether
!?tf,ly but somewhat imaginative daily becomes for the moment what
, e I’salmist said in his haste, all men were permanently. The single tax
*»>ure of the bill may be a weapon. Heaven grant that it may prove a
J‘>y weapon against tax dodgers and land hogs, but it certainly is not
Whole Number 871
Union Card And Label
Leaguels Organized
As a result of the coupon which this will be added the actual cost of
appeared in last weeks issue of The delivering them which will make the
Labor Press, about half of the car apples cost the consumer about 75
load of apples have been sold.
cents per box.
The Portland Union Card and
Secretary Stack and the office
By this plan the farmers will get Label League is now an established land by-laws, and to suggest the best
plan for developing the league.
force of The Labor Press have been more per box for the apples than
fact.
This committee met in the busi­
busy most of the week answering they would if they sold them through
Last Sunday the big hall in the n e ss office of the Labor Temple
phone calls and taking orders.
commission merchants, and the con­
The carpenters of Bend wrote to sumer will pay less than if he pur­ Lahor Temple was comfortably filled I ruesday and agreed upon a tenta­
inquire whether it would be possible chased them from tH dealer, who with men and women who are inter- tiv e draft of constitution and by­
for them to get in on the proposition has been compelled to purchase them ed in the object of directing the laws which will be submitted at the
purchasing power of organized labor next meeting of the league, and also
to the extent of SO boxes. On ac­ ¡from the commission man.
in Portland in the direction that will decided to recommend a plan of co­
count of the fact that this would
They are Winter Baldwins. Splen­
necessitate a reshipment from this did keepers and well worth the benefit organization. The amount operation with the different locals,
point, it is not thought it would be money asked, and if ; ou want to get of money spent by union labor in which will call for the appointment
any advantage to the boys over in on the proposition you will have this city runs into millions of of a committee of three from each
dollars each year and we are deter­ local for the purpose of assisting
there to buy the apples, but the to hurry, as they are going fast.
mined that the institutions that are
spirit of co-operation, which they
This is a splendid chance for opposed to the principles for which in building up the membership of
the league.
show, is duly appreciated.
organized labor in the city to co­ we stand shall not use our own
It is hoped to increase the mem­
If you didn’t happen to read about operate with organized labor in the
it last week, we’ll tell you again country and demonstrate the useless­ money to fight us with if we can bership to include every woman in
help it, and we believe we can.
the city, who is, or should be in­
that the secretary of the Farmers’ ness of the commission merchant.
Organization was effected by the
Union, at Junction City, has offered
Fill out the coupon today and send election of temporary officers as terested in the objects of the league,
j It is not intended that the league
to furnish a car load of apples, f. o. b. it in, or call up Main 2638 and you
follows: Henry Robinson, president; shall usurp the functions of any of
Portland, at 66 cents per box. To will help a good cause along.
Mrs. E. J. Stack, secretary; O. E. the locals, but that the efforts of
Hibbs, treasurer.
all shall be co-ordinated in order
R. A. Willison, G. D. Biggs, O. E. that they may become more effec­
P ortland, O rego n ,...................................
191C.
Hibbs, Mrs. H. G. Surles, Mrs. W. H. tive.
E. J. S TA C K ,
Cayo, Mrs. O. E. Hibbs, Mrs. E. H.
Secrotary Contra] L abo r Connell,
The next meeting of the league
Pickard, Mrs. E. J. Stack, Oscar will be held in the large hall of the
392 Oregonian Building.
Horne, Henry Harder, Otto Hartwig Labor Temple tomorrow, Sunday,
You m ay deliver to m e ............................................ b o x ., « f app| „ on
and E. J. Stack were named as a October 22, at 2 P. M.
the plan proposed by S ecretary Jenson, o f the Farmers* Union.
committee to draft a constitution
Make it a point to be there.
Addross .......................................................................
Phone
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O R E G O N IA N ’S C U R E FO R
UNEM PLOYM ENT.
M O R E P A Y ; LESS HO URS.
Electrical Workers
48 To Front Again
Electrical Workers’ Union, No. 48, was at once put on a footing, num­
Agreements have been entered into
In the Winter of 1913, when thous­ between the representatives of four was a few years ago, one of the erically, something like it used to be
ands of workingmen in Oregon were j of the largest mattress making firms most militant labor organizations in in the good old days.
The boys say they intend to profit
out of employment, and when the in Newark, N. J., and a committee the city, but the dissension in the
by the experiences that almost
Governor (Oswald West) and many ¡from Mattress Makers’ Union cover­
international organization led to bit­
ruined their local and that they will
other public officials and private ing one year that greatly improve
ter
factional fights and the perioJ make their influence felt for good
citizens were endeavoring to do working conditions. Under the terms
something to relieve the suffering of the agreements the mattres. of business depression of the past in the local labor movement.
All through their period of depres­
the Morning Oregonian offered the makers will benefit by an average two years put the local almost down
and out.
sion the organization kept up its
following suggestion editorially as increase of 25 per cent in pay and
a remedy for the unemployment a reduction in hours from 57 to 51 I However a few of the faithful kept affiliation with the Central Council,
'the local alive and with the advent
the Puilding Trades Section and the
situation :
a week.
of increased business activity the State Federation, and subscribed for
“WE S U G G E S T THAT THE
faithful few set about to effect a The Labor Press for its membership.
GOVERNOR TAKE THE STATE ¡ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 rejuvenation.
Fred L. Sourne, an old-timer and
MILITIA AND ROUND UP THE ¡4 Tonight at 8 o’clock at the 4
Recently a meeting was held to
UNEMPLOYED AND SET THEM ♦ Baker Theatre. Hon. Bain- 4 which non-union electrical workers a persistent and effective fighter is
TO W O R K SQUEEZING THE 4 bridge Colby, P r o g r e s s i v e 4 who were elig ble to membership president. Wm. H. Brust, recording
secretary: V. H. Haybarker, treas-
WATER OUT OF THE MUD.”
♦ leader, will speak on the issues 4 J were invited and the result was
Judging from its attitude toward 4 of the present Presidential 4 | entirely satisiactory from the stand­ urcr.
Here’s hoping that the spirit that
the Land and Loan law, the manage­ ♦ campaign, under the auspices of 4 point of the union men.
has
dominated their efforts in the
ment of the paper must be of the 4 the Democratic State Commit- 4
Speakers presented the cause of past will enable them to effect a 100
same opinion as when the above ;♦ tee.
organization with such telling effect per cent organization in this juris­
suggestion was made.
¡ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 that the membership of local No. 48 diction.
concealed and it needs no angry fanner detective nor any cartoonist
to reveal it.
1 he plain fact is that every 'armer is now a tenant of the state, paying
annual rent under the silly and deceptive name of "land tax” and liable to
lose everything he has on earth if the rent is defaulted. Not only does
he pay rent now. but he pays a great deal more rent than he would under
the land and loan measure, if it should be adopted. The only advantage
he now enjoys is that his rent, which often amounts to rack-rent, is called
by the soothing name of “tax.”
Mr. Spence, and also of course the Oregonian, questions the statement
that the new law would lower the farmers’ tax. They contend that the
money for public expenses must be raised in some way, and the only possible
way to do it is to increase rural valuations until the required rental is pro­
duced.
The gun labeled "Confiscation" is fanciful in an entirely different way.
There is single tax in the bill and nobody wants to deny it. But there is
no confiscation whatever. This weapon is not only concealed but it i . a
pure myth. The land and loan bill reduces the farmer’s tax to the rental
value of the raw land he tills. This, in the main, would reduce his tax by
a full half. At the same time it would exempt all his improvements from
taxation and sale for unpaid taxes. If that is confiscation the working
farmer may well pray for it to come speedily. Mr. Spence, the master of
the State Grange, joins in the parrot cry of confiscation against the Land
and Loan bill in a published address. Mr. Spence thinks it confiscates the
farmer’s land because it speaks of rental value instead of tax. Mr.
But that is not the way the law would work out. It is a fact of common
Spence appears to be innocent enough to believe that when you call a tax
knowledge that the big land values are not found in the rural districts but
rent you make it confiscatory. But when you call rent a tax, no matter
in the business quarters of the cities. And it is upon these quarters ’that
how extortionate it may be, you make everything safe and secure. It is
I the burden of taxation would fall under any scheme of single tax. The
odd that men will allow themselves to be so deluded bv were words.
farmers would be largely exempt. Their improvements would be wholly
exempt. The ground rent of business property in the cities would be ex­
propriated. or "confiscated.” by the state and in that way the expenses of
government would be met. Raw, unimproved land has but little, if any
(rental value in rural situations and yet it is the rental value of s^ch raw^
i unimproved land which fixes the limit of taxation for the farmers.
The word "confiscation” is ingeniously made to play a sinister part in
the opposition to the land and loan bill. It is flared in the faces of the
farmers to stampede them in the hope that they will forget the perfectly
obvious truth that every tax is a species of confiscation. The Land and Loan
bill confiscates property in a sense entirely different from any ordinary
tax. and this is a grave error. It docs nothing of the kind. So I say
again that the label "Confiscation” attached to the gun in the fleeing
figure’s right hip pocket is a piece of deception. Of course I do not say
that the deception was intended, for I am nothing if not charitable. But
this I do say, that no honest reasoner could call it confiscation to shift the
burden of taxation from the farmer’s land which pays little or no return
and lay it upon city property which pays heavy returns. And this is
precisely what the Land and Loan bill will do if it passes.
It should be reiterated patiently that the provision for taxing land up
to the full unimproved rental value is a limitation on taxes. It fixes a limit
¡beyond which the tax on farm land can not rise. And this limit is in the
main far below the present level of rural taxation.
I confine this analysis to rural values for the most part because it is for
the poor, suffering farmer that the Oregonian feels most solicitude. Of
course that philanthropic paper cares nothing for the welfare of rich city
landholders who are naturally able to look out for themselves. Its ,oul is
¡wrung for the farmer and for him only. In this connection I am tempted to
remind the farmer of an old piece of wisdom he used to lead in his college
days. It refers to the wiles of certain persons who sometimes conceal their
real purposes under a treacherous aspect of kindly generousity. ‘ Mistrust
the Greeks," says the old saw, "et dona ferentes.” Mistrust them, that is
♦o say, even when they con” bringing what seem to be gifts. The word
gift in German means poison.
CHARLES HIRAM CHAPMAN