Image provided by: Northwest Labor Press; Portland, OR
About Oregon labor press. (Portland, Oregon) 1915-1986 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 1916)
to Your Home Lighted by P. R. L. & P. Co. Juice? The Company Is Unfair To Organized I^bor ABO T h e L a b o r Proas should appeal to ad v e rtis e rs as a m edium fo r g e ttin g business because it bears a d is tin c tio n n o t bad by o th e r papers» in th a t it is the jo u rn a l of a class in an org an ised c a p a c ity — the w a g e -e a rn e rs — w ith o u t whose ex p e n d itu res th e re w ould be a m a rk e d decrease in all b usi ness. M e rc h a n ts , w hen fix in g a p p ro p ria tio n s f o r s d v e r t i s i n g , should re m e m b e r th e L a b o r Press. Formerly The Portland Labor Prent Volume XVI. Number 36 N o th in g c o n trib u te s m o re to th e u p b u ild in g o l a prosperous co m m u n ity th an th e p a tro n a g e o f H o m e In d u s trie s and H o m e M e r chants. M o n e y sent to o u t-o f- to w n m a il-o rd e r bouses never comes back. , The Labor Press urges its readers to p a tro n is e hom e m e r chants, an d especially o u r a d v e r tisers. Owned and Controlled bg Organized Labor. Portland, Oiegon. Saturday, December 30, 1916 Whole Number 881 METAL TRADES UNIONS PREPARE TO STRIKE IF NECESSARY TO ENFORCE DEMANDS A specially called meeting of members of the Metal would tend to alienate the men from their union organ Trades Division of the Portland labor movement was izations and make them dependent entirely on the man for we have a notice in the shops asking ‘our eo-opera- held in Moose ha. ast Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, agement of the one company for their future existence. “ Co-operation is a big fine word, and I vote for it at and the hall was c* owued to capacity. When the matter is all simmered down to the last every election—but not for the kind of co-operation my The meeting was called in order that the officers analysis the thing that sticks in Mr. Ball’s craw is the employer wants. He wants me to contribute the skill muscle and a small stomach, and he will contribute a might go over the actions that had been taken recently matter of wages. And despite assertions to the contrary, ¡and supply ol dried apples and the water to go with it to fill that one question is back of the whole controversy. The ¡that stomach with reference to the steel ship building industry. until the two mix and I swell out like a shops involved, or that may be involved, are objecting to The meeting was presided over by President Burns of poisoned pup and am supposed to imagine because my the Metal Trades Council and in opening the meeting he a small increase in wages, which the men say it is only fair stomach is full I have all that is coming to me. But what is m justice coming to us is what is contained in the stated that it had been called in order that all might be they should receive. For instance in the Wi” amette the terms of the submitted agreements. so-called “ handy men” are paid 32 cents per hour while come familiar with the situation and that any who wished “ We must be true to ourselves—we must respect our the union demands that these men be paid 37y2 cents per might discuss the matter freely. selves and our trades—we must respect our brother hour. Incidentally this shop is working its men nine craftsmen by standing by them—we must above all come Joseph Reed, chairman of the executive board and rep hours per day despite the fact that similar industries all into a greater unity in order to win the respect and resentative of the Boiler Makers, was the first speaker. over the country are now on an eight-hour basis. Mr. recognition of our employers. Some of us are now get In a short, concise statement he outlined the situation up Ball, himself the paid representative of the organization ting what these agreements demand for the whole of us. to the present time and said that he was still hopeful that of capitalists who own the institution, refuses to have any A m i mv brother’s keeper? Yes. And you cannot rise the managers of the Willamette Iron and Steel Works dealing with the representatives whom his employes have or hope to stay risen if your brother is down in the mire. Eventually you will be dragged down in the mire with and the Northwest Steel Works would enter into negotia designated to transact their business for them. him if you fail to heed his call, and fail to help him. Just here it might be well to say that without a dis Some of you call yourselves Christians. I do not. It is a tions looking toward a settlement. He said, however, that arrangements were being made to enforce the demands of senting voice the men present adopted a resolution ex too much abused term. It is too much dragged in the the unions by striking if there seemed to be no other way pressing confidence in the ability and integrity of their mire. The carpenter of Nazareth whose birth we will celebrate, never would recognize his followers to do it. He made it perfectly clear that in the event of a representatives and endorsing the actions they had already tomorrow were he to come amongst his self-stvled own today. The taken. strike the stronger unions would stand by the weaker and (’hristians claim their one aim is to be true to God. So Louis Honstein, member of the Machinists’ Union, that any settlement would have to include all the organ do I. But I have a higher conception of what faith to made a talk in which he urged the men ro be loyal to them God is. The boek says God will right all wrongs. God izations involved. selves and to their fellow workers. “ You call yourselves In the course of the discussion which followed the fact Americans. I hope you are. I hope the revolutionary knows that we here suffer many. Let the Christian brothers and th j satisfied non-ehristians help right the was brought out that President Ball of the Willamette spirit that made America free is not dead in you,” he wrongs of the underpaid wage slaves and then you will Iron and Steel Works is very anxious that his employes said. have the right idea of God.” form a “ club,” as he called it, the membership to consist People who are really interested in the future develop at the foolish cackle of the employer who only of his employes and the officers to be the officers of says “ I the laugh unions are trying to run his business. What in ment of Portland’s ship building industry should remem the Willamette Iron and Steel Company. When asked if the name of common sense is the employers’ business? ber, if the strike should be called, that in all probability he would be willing to sign an agreement similar to the iTo get the most profit out of your labor by paying you the trouble could have been avoided if the employers had one presented to him by the unions if such an organiza the least you can exist on? By all the known processes used a little common horse sense and had entered into tion should be formed he said positively that he would of sane reasoning a man’s business is his own when he conference with the representatives of the unions. not. What Mr. Ball really wants is a sort of mutual calls in no outside assistance. It is only his own business Jos. F. Clark, representing the Painters’ Interna no one else created anything for him. When he admiration society of his employes such as is now in exist when alone lives by the toil of his own hands. When be calls tional, Thos. Vickers, representing the Electrical Workers ence among the street car men of the city. A soil of in other men with bands and brains and stomachs, his International, were present and addressed the meeting harmless organization, that is harmless to the boss, that ¡business becomes part of their business, as he well knows. briefly. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 4 4 4 ♦ 4 4 ♦ ♦ 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ BEN OSBORNE BACK AGAIN. j his international at Indianapolis, and 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 LOS ANGELES TIMES jas the labor-skinners who hire unor- HOME TELEPHONE UNFAIR. 4 -------- from there went on a combined sight ♦ ELECTRICIANS NO. 12S. 4 UP TO OLD TRICKS ionized workmen never bad a thought -------- 4 Ben Osborne, Northwest represen- seeing and business trip, which in- 4 _____ + _____ | Paying $4 a day. Should the time The Home Telephone Com- 4 iauve tative oi of me the Bridge de- nnoge and ana Structural structural eluded most all the principal cities ♦ The I he attention of the mem- 4 The Los A m zeles T im es is tr v in o ever x . come when , en unorganized, dc- pany is making a desperate ef- 4 Iron Workers is back from a four of the East. Evidences of unprece- + bership is called to the fact that 4 ,to induce unorganized laboring men ' i e S ’ a n T ’v’erTg'e" o f " ^ weTk'h fort to bolster up its decaying 4 months trip through the East, during dented prosperity were present e v -,4 there will be a special meeting 4 , o come to Los Angeles and recently be when trade unionists average business by giving free phone 4 : erywhere. especially was this notice- 4 of the union Monday evening, 4 published an article in which an at- mor,e ,han 530 a week, as unorganized service for a period of six 4 able in the building industry. 4 January 8. at the regular meet- 4 tempt was made to show that it w„ beH „ d 7 e 7 V h o ’h a ^ th e” !?»1 ’ months to the first thousand 4 i e attended the session of the ♦ ing hall in the Labor Temple. 4 not necessary for the workers to be the courage to organize and stand applicants for service. 4 , American Federation of Labor at 4 All members of the organiza- 4 members of labor organizations in I together. This company .is unfair to or- 4 , Baltimore as a delegate from the 4 tion are requested to be present ♦ order to receive good wages in Los' The ,?en w*>o for years have been ganized labor and that fact is 4 M responsible to a great extent for 4 ; the condition in which the in- 4 j stitutions finds itself today. 4 j The representatives of this 4 ■ labor movement of Oregon, and feels ; the heading, "Average Schedule of ' ne'Y.lnducemcnt—which never will 1 , ♦ company did some pioneering 4 . that we will get more assistance front [ regarded by , his burcau „ sufficient Wages,” in which an attempt is made rea*>zed. 4 for the “open shop” movement. 4 them in the future than we have in cause for revocation of license with to show that “non-organized work- ers” in “sixteen trades, including com NEW YORK BUILDERS BUSY. out further notice. 4 They refused to have any deal- 4 ¡the past. mon Irbor,” average FM a week. 4 ings with the representatives of 4 While he enjoyed every minute of Thr following figur s are pre- The following extract from the re WM. SEXTON. 4 organized labor, and after re- 4 I'is trip, he says he is glad to be back sent d : Per ♦ nested attempts to effect a set- 4 . . . .. , , . . , , 'in God’s conutry again, Per port of the New York Labor Com- which time he attended the annual: • ,,, . . x Day. Wreek messioner for the month of Novem Win. Sexton, general organizer for ♦ tlement the Electrical Workers 4 ... . . , He will be in the citv for some Painters ......................... $4.00 $24.00 ber is of interest to building trades convention of his own international . , ,. , . ,, . ... 4 Union No. 125, linemen, request- 4 . ., . „ . . .¡tim e Poking after the affairs of his the International Brotherhood of Carpenters ..................... 2400 and the American Federation of . . . , . ed the Central Labor Council to 4 ] a,)Or organization, and expects to be in Carpenters and Joiners, was stricken Bricklayers ................... . 5.00 .30 00 mechanics: 4 place them on the unfair list. 4 , (attendance at the Oregon State Fed- with apoplexy in Seattle last Sunday Hardwood-floor men .. . 4.00 24.00 "Returns from building depart Leaving here the latter part of eration >,f Labor. morning at lo o'clock and died Tues t ommon laborers ......... . 2.50 15.00 ments in the ten cities of ihc first ♦ This was done and an active 4 Teamsters ....................... . 2.75 16 50 August he visited several California j day morning at 10 o’clock. 4 boycott resulted in the loss by 4 Plumbers ......................... . 4.25 25.50 and second class in New York State cities and then went to his t'orne in 4 the company ol thousands of 4 Plasterers ......................... . 5.00 .30 00 show that the estimated cost ot EMPLOYMENT AGENTS *’or somc ‘lm<’ P” t he had I Sheet-metal men ........... . 4 00 24 00 building work (of which new build ♦ natrons within a short time. 4 McRae, Arkansas, where he spent : WARNED BY HOFF Pay>nK particular attention to Tilelayers ......................... . 4.50 27.00 ings Constituted nearly nine-tenth) ♦ It is understood that solicitors 4 about a month visiting his folks. He : Lathers ............................ 27.00 reports conditions in his home state ; ♦ for the company are represent- 4 Shinglers ......................... . 4.25 25.50 for which permits were issued in are splendid, the farmers enjoying ♦ ing that their difficulty with 4 Cement workers ............ . 5.00 30.00 October, 1916, was 46 per cent in ex Motor d rivers....... . 3.50 21.00 cess of the previous month, and 23 ♦ organized labor has been settled. 4 such a period of prosperity as was ( mployment bureaus sending men out -'fter the organization here. Roofers ............................ . 3.25 19.50 ¡per cent in excess of October, 1915. This is not true. The firm is 4 never known to them before. _ to work under misrepresentation of He was 48 years of age, and had Lumber handlers............ . 3.00 18 00 He visited friends in Dallas. Texas, [conditions and to tbat cnd ha, sent ¡lnadr hjs hoine Los Ange|e, for ♦ unfair and members of labor 4 The purpose of the Times is appar As compared with September, 1916, ♦ unions or their friends should 4 and speaks enthusiastically about the , he fo„owing Ietter to a„ , he private a number of vears past. ent to everybody. In its desire to six cities, including all boroughs of ♦ not patronize them. 4 labor movement in that City. They employment agencies in Portland : 1 The bodv passed through Portland n °°iJ L° S ,J>nKr.l<‘s W',h .unor*.a? i*cd Greater New York, reported in r. . . , . n . ,,, , , ' 1 , v. oikmen, the Times quotes, with but creases. Four cities — Binghamton, x Let the “open shop” institu- 4 have a splendid organization and are During the latter part of October. Wednesday en route to Los Angeles, Tew exceptions, the union wage scale, ♦ tion get its patronage from the 4 i alive to their opportunities. ¡1916, a conference as held in Ho- where interment will take place. P. which is based on the 8-hour work- Buffalo, Schenectady and Syracuse- ♦ i oen shoppers. 4 ' He was a delegate to the conven- qUiam. Washington, between repre- day. In every instance the wages paid reported decreases. As compared • . ' . ° F WC. or8an,zer. ac unorganized workmen is less than with October, 1915, all but three x We have heard of several 4 tion of the International Union of sentatives of the State labor bureaus that received by members of unions, cities — Albany, Binghamton a n d *■ fr:ends who have taken advan- 4 Bridge ami Structural Iron Workers. H Oregon and Washington, relative . ¡c°nipanied the remains. The to Pr.act,ce ° ’ sending workmen , Brother Sexton was a capable and and the length o f the workday is de- Utica—reported increases." met in New Orleans ♦ fa -e o f the offer and will discon- 4 which session was comparatively short, not d o ^ o ^ i u ^ ^ f e m S ^ m e it, t o ^ H organizer, and has a host ‘" ^ . ^ " ‘S n ' w a g e ' s'cTle' in T o s ‘inue the service at the end of 4 x the first six months. 4 a great deal of important business Gray* Harbor Commercial Company,'0* friends in this city who will join Angeles is entirely inadequate when COMPENSATION IN WYOMING. Cosmopolis. Washington. Shortly ¡his bereaved wife in mourning his fit is published as the rate received by ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 4 * * 4 4 4 4 4 coming before it. This organization will hold their conventions biennially I " " ” ! ? / (|fP»rture. There were no children. ' incompetent and irresponsible non- The first year and a half of the hereafter. in accordance with the ac- Portland that the practice must cease, j At the meeting of the local Metal able of Earning Hving wage’s" pubiiea- •»PICKLAYERS WANT MORE. Wyoming compensation law shows a Trades Council Thursday, the presi- tion of the statement that $4 is the surplus of over $300.000. The ex ’’ricklayers’ Union of Cincinnati tion taken at the San Francisco con-¡or their licenses would be revoked. May we have the cooperation o f l dent and secretary were instructed I average wage oaid non-unionists in h-ve voted to ask for a wage in vention. penses of enforcing the law was 1.44 After leaving New Orleans B«n ‘ „an’Z ^ n 't h e "ob servan ce o / <th e s r ° in !to draft a letter of condolence and I if0 * w '" ’ en<* crease of 5 cents an hour, to become , . . . ,!P»ny in the observance ot these in- . . . . . . e . here in large numbers, but the ' inke per cent, against 45 per cent cost to took a trip to the headquarters of I structions. as anv vio ation wi 11 be'forward it to Mrs. Sexton. 'will bf on , b h tb arrive private companies. ele c tiv e the forst of next May.
