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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1917)
THE 3IORNIXO OREGONIAIf, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 191Y. OREGONIAN "SHOOTS" MEMBERS OF FEDERAL LABOR ADJUSTMENT BOARD AND OTHERS IN FORMAL SESSION AT STRIKE HEARING. LOYALTY IS URGED SESSION LARGELY SPENT IN WRANGLE PHOTOGRAPHER Governor Pleads for Support of Soldeirs. Little as Yet Accomplished in Efforts to End Ship yards Strike. 8 REAL PATRIOTISM NEEDED Slate Executive, Addressing Con Cress of Mothers and Parent Teacher Association, Ap peals to young. BOTH SIDES HOLDING OFF -federal Labor Adjustment Board Slopes to IIpose of Case Soon. Uvcly Interchanges Fea ture of Meeting Positive declarations that they had !n no way discriminated against union mm, as such, although maintaining "open" shop conditions . in their plants, were made to the members of the Fed eral I-abor Adjustment " Board yester day by various Portland employers, fcotri at the morning and afternoon nes- ionp. Refutation of allegations made by witnesses for organized labor on the previous day occupied practically all of the time. "When L. B. Todson. executive secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, was called to the atand to deny charges that that organization had threatened to make it impossible for the W. O. Mcl'herson Company to obtain supplies should its management sign up the iMetal Trades' Council agreement, one i of the features of the afternoon meet-j ing developed. The action of the Cham-J ber in supporting a movement to bring in outside men to man the sh ipyards, recently, and the general attitude of the body toward organized labor, brought out pointed remarks from both sides. This morning at 10 o'clock a continu ation of the employers' side of the lo cal strike situation will be had, and the Board also will hear today a com mittee of non-union men who wish to Jay some facts before the members. Steel Yard C'atte Completed. Wooden shipbuilding conditions will be the feature of today's sessions, the Hteet yards having completed their ease In the main yesterday, although they may la y before the members of the Uoard some data bearing upon a recent conversation by labor union officers with foundry managers, in which it was charged by employers yesterday that they were given the option, of ceasing certain Government work or suffering a strike of the men; they re fused to accept the ultimatum and the men struck, they testified. Union officers present denied that puch was the form of the order, and to clear this phase more testimony will be introduced before the hearing closes. When the board reached Portland Sunday night, Mr. Macy expressed the belief that the Portland situation could he disposed of in about three days, but it now seems doubtful if it will be con cluded before tomorrow night, at the earliest. In connection with the charge of in terference by mysterious forces, such as shutting off supplies to firms which might sign tip an agreement with the unions. Chairman Macy made it very clear that the Goernment will not stand for such action on the part of any man or any organization, saying: Xo Trifling Willi Uncle Sam. ""Where 'a plant has Government work, the Government will see to it that such concern gets its supplies for the work ahead of others not on Gov ernment work. I have known the Gov ernment to issue orders of that kind." Aside from the general denial of all employers appearing before the board yesterday as to discrimination against union men and passages-at-arms be tween them and union officers, the feature of the day was that which re la ted to the Chamber of Commerce and Its att itude toward labor in general and unions in particular. lAs it had been charged that the Mc T'herson firm had been threatened by the Chamber should its management ign the union agreement, Bert C. Bui president of the Willamette Iron, . hteel Works, who conducted the case lor the steel shipbuilders, called C. J. IcPherson, vice-president of the com pany, to the stand and asked him if Jie was ever threatened by the Chamber 9t Commerce or any one else. Mcpherson Never Threatened. "Not only did I receive no threats for indicating that I might sign an MCTcement," said Mr. McPherson. "but I never saw any agreement, never heard of it and have never signed any, as we run an "open shop.' although I have 40 Union men working for me." 'Do you wish to ask him any Ques tions?" queried Mr. Ball of the labor union men. "We have no desire to jeopardize his interests, replied Charles M. Bottom ley, of the metal trades' executive coni laii tee. "Mr. McPherson, do you think your interests are being jeopardized?" asked Mr. Ball. "Most certainly not." he replied. "No such act ion as threatening any employer for whatever he did has ever Wen talcn by the Chamber of Com merce." was the positive declaration of Mr. Dortson when cailed to the stand. "Nothing of the kind has ever occurred RUB YOUR STOPS Don't Drug Kidnej's! Rub the Pain Right Out With Old I "St. Jacobs Oil." Back hurts you? Can't straighten Up without feeling; sudden pains, sharp aches and twinges? Now listen! That's lumbago, sciatica, or maybe Irom a strain, and you 11 get blessed relief the moment you rub your back with soothinK. penetrating "St. Jacobs Oil." Nothing: else takes out sore Xiess. lameness and stiffness so quickly. You simply rub it on and out comers the pain. It is perfectly harmless and loesn't burn or discolor the skin. Limber up! Don't suffer! Get a email trial bottle from any drug store, and after using it Just once, youli forget that you ever had backache, lumbago or sciatica, because your back will never hurt or cause any more misery. It never disappoints and has bten recommended for 60 3'ears. Stop druInK kidneys! They don't cause backache, because they have no nerves, therefore cannot cause pain. Adv. Medicines That Aid Nature Most Effectual. As a (reneral rule the medicine that id Nature are most effectual. Cham berlain's t'outrh Remedy acts on this plan. It loosens the couch, relieves the limes, opens thn secretions and aids Nature in restoring the system to a healthy condition. When you have need of such a medicine plve it a trial, i'ou V ill uevtr resret it. Adv. BUCK LUMBAGO . . , t - - - - " ' i'KVW that I know of, and I do not believe that it did occur. Half a dozen labor leaders leaned forward to Ret recognition to "come back" at the Chamber' of Commerce, over Mr. Dodson's shoulders. It was evident there had been much pent-up feeling in organized - labor ranks re garding certain activities of the Cham ber, and the opportunity had come pub licly to denounce them. Chamber's Position Aaked. ' "I would like to ask you," said James J. Morrison, sitting as organized la bor's representative on the Hoard here during- steel ship hearings, "what the attitude of the Chamber of Commerce is toward labor?" It stands for a fair wage and equal rights to all. organized and unorgan ized,", was the reply. Does the -Chamber believe in the right of labor to organize?" asked Mr. Morrison. 'Absolutely.'; 'Or does it believe that a man who toils should be forced' to live on just as little as possible?" Mr. Morrison continued. "It believes," retorted Mr. Dodson, n any 'wage that does not make it impossible for Portland to compete with other cities in industrial lines. The Chamber has never declared against organized labor. Personally, I grant the right of organization to any one, but not always do I agree with the actions of the unions." "What is the purpose of the Cham ber?" inquired Louis A. Coolidge, a member of the Board. 'Generally speaking, to help in the development of the city's business; to make the city better and to obtain new industries and. believing in the legitimacy of the business of its mem bers, to assist them in whatever way it can," was the reply. Dodxon In Bombarded. Trom this time forth Mr. Dodson was bombarded by questions from union labor representatives, including Messrs. Bottomley, Bourne. Burns, and also at one time by Charles P. Howard, presi dent of the Portland Central Labor Council, and J. A. Taylor, international organizer for. the machinists, with headquarters at Seattle, and member of the Board while the members were there last week, representing the Metal Trades Council. Most of their questions centered upon the attitude of the Chamber toward union men, the most important one being as to what part . the Chamber played in a recent plan to attract through newspaper advertisements large numbers of working men to Port land. That the Chamber endeavored to get. in co-operition with the State Editorial Association. 25.OU0 men to come here and fill the shipyards, was the asser tion of the union men. Mr. Dodson declared that the Cham ber never supported a move to get more men here than it believed to be necessary to supplement those already available, based upon data furnished by employers, and that it had no other niotive in view than to arrange for speeding up the shipbuilding pro gramme for the sake of the country's welfare. You had no other? queriea iir. Coolidge. None at all. You say your organization is for the ourpose of assisting local business what is the attitude of the Chamber would it give the Nation or the city first preterence? Country's Welfare Is first. "Absolutely, the country's welfare comes first, always: our organization is as patriotic as any in this country Mr. Dodson replied, with considerable warmth. It was at this point that Mr. Howard, announcing that an important subject was apparently being overlooked, arose and asked Mr. Dodson if he recalled a certain meeting, at which Mr. Howard and other union labor officials sug gested to the Chamber of Commerce committee that it would be the best policy for that organization to leave it to the unions to arrange for suffi cient men to handle the local yards. Mr. Dodson said he did, and when pressed for a reason why the Cham ber did not accept the suggestion or even ask for the co-operation of or ganized labor, replied that, as the Chamber was composed of employers their statistics and ideas-were accepted as the basis for the call pert out. "Don't you think. Mr. Dodson. that the present situation reflects the re suits of that action and that It was i mistake to have handled the situation in that manner?" Mr. Dodson replied that he did nqt think so. "We were simply trying to help out by calling attention to those men who might be living in various statets of the West and Middle West, who might have certain skill that would be useful in ship work, and expected to get in not more than looy or zvou at tne most,' explained Mr. Dodson. "v e had antici Dated no very large number of out aiders to come, and believed all could have been cared for." Among the employers who submitted their wage scales and gave testimony were: John M. Clark, of the Columbia Steel Company: Fred Hesse, of the Hesse-Martin Company, and represen tatives of the Phoenix and Independent Foundry companies. Waves bnt Little Considered. At no time during either session yes terday was there much discussion as to wages, all of the testimony dealing directly with the "closed and "open shop situation. Mr. Taylor, who is here ready to go to San Francisco with the Board, is the first man to have suggested that both sides of the controversy use some sense" and 1'treat each other right.' He expressed the belief that the em ployers and the employes should get together and adjust their grievances as between man and man, instead of standing off at a distance fighting each other. Chances Are Denied. Practically all of the mornir.g ses gion was consumed by J. n, Bowles, president of the Northwest Steel Com pany, and Superintendent Bank, of the same concern, in refuting statements From Left to Right J nines J. Morrison. Temporary Member of Hoard, Sitting" on Hesrlnir Relating to Steel Ship Work I A. J. lterren. Member of the Hoards V. Everit Macy, Chairman of Board; Louis A. Coolldae. Member of Board. Resr Secretary Seaeer James II. Kerr. Temporary Member. Itepreaentlnic Both Steel and Wooden-Ship Builders for Kmployersl Bert C. Ball. President Willamette Iron A Steel Worlcsj J. B.. Bowles, (resident Northwest Steel Workai A. K. Smith, I'resldent Columbia River Shipbuilding; Corporation William Corafvot. President Alblnn Knglne 4t Machine WorUs. and charges made by union men on the previous day. Others who were wit nesses during the forenoon were A, F. Smith, president of the Columbia River .Shipbuilding' Corporation, and William Cornfoot, president of the Al-bina- Kngine & Machine Works. All three firms submitted their wage schedules, as per request of the Board at it first meeting. All three of the establishments, for which their presidents spoke yesterday morning, are conducted on the "open shop" plan and each of the officers de clared their belief that any other con dition for operating a plant Is unfair and violates the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees to all an equal opportunity for laboring when and where they please. When asked the direct question by Mr. Berres,. an to whether they would abide by the findings of the Board, Mr. Bowles at first said he would, "as to wages," and when pressed for an an swer as to whether he reserved other conditions, said he would read over the Adjustment Board plan of formation and reply in detail later. Two Agree to Board's Plan. Messns.' Smith and Cornfoot agreed unqualifiedly to obide by the Board's decision and Mr. Smith said he would accept the "closed" shop as a condition, should the Government reach the con clusion that this is the only means of turning out ships promptly, as re quired. Mr. Cornfoot seemed equally willing to accept such a situation, al though he said he regarded the "open" shop as the fair method to all con cerned. Other than submitting his wage scale, Mr. Bowles replied only to charges of unfairness of his company relative to the discharge of union men, denying it entirely, but making specific state ment only as to Thomas Gekas, who on Tuesday afternoon charged that he was dismissed by Superintendent McPhee SB "a German spy." Mr. Bowles showed the Board Gekas' application card at the time he asked for employment and t revealed that Gekas had given nis nativity as that of a German. ' Mr. Bowles said he decided eigrht years ago that an agreement, wim unions is unsatifiiactory ana since men had recognised none of them, but that he always has made it a. point to treat union man just the same as a non union one, efficiency only determining man's qualification for employment or continuance in the service. Knnerintendent Banks. wno nas charge of all the men, denied ever dis charging any man because ne Deiongea to a union and stuck Dy tne statement. although peppered from all sidea by the labor representatives present. Mr. Bowles Starts School. It was announced by Mr. Bowles that, owing to a shortage 01 sitmeu mechan ics, he is establishing a scuooi at tne Northwest plant, to teach men various trades. tr. Bowles said he has increased tne pay of hie men 5D per cent within the rear past, keeping pace with living costs, and that he believed portions of thn scale demanded Dy tne Jieiai Trades Council as unreasonable, being 79 per cent over the rates paid a year r . Mr. Smith, speamng ior me v.uium bia River Shipbuilding Corporation, de niori discriminating against union men. He admitted, when asKco now many oi his men went out on strike, that the entire number left. faome. ne saia were unwilling to strike, out were afraid to remain "in." He had talked to 50 men, he declared, who told him so. I nlon nejeets Agreement. Mr. Cornfoot laid before the Board his wage scale, also a copy of an agree ment submitted to the Metal Trades Council by him one week ago, conced ing practically everything that th unions had asked, except the "closed shon and remarked that, notwith standing it. it was rejected. "The men like your company better than some of the others and would nrefer to work for you. is that a fact Mr. Cornfoot?' asked c. M. Bottomiey. of the Metal Trades Council. "I do not know." replied Mr. corn- foot. "Mr plant is idle, while one or two others are running along right merril v." Mr. Cornfoot caid he went just as far as he could in the matter of wages proposed, his lirm taking chances on ever getting back from the Govern ment the difference between what he was uavine at time of contract and that proposed. Bert C. Ball, president of the Wil lamette Iron & Steel Works, asked per mission of the Board for a committee of three, representing the non-union men. to appear and state their case. It was granted and they will be present today, it was announced. MESSAGE IS MISINTERPRETED Shipping Board in Error In Report- in? Strike Settled. WASHINGTON, Oct. 17. As a result of misinterpretation of messages from the Federal Wage Adjustment Hoard, Chairman Hurley, of the Shipping Board, announced today that the ship yard strikes had been settled at Port land, as well as at Seattle, Wash. The Adjustment Board is now engaged In an effort to compose the differences between employers and workers at Portland and Mr. Hurley explained to night that a messatre from there re latinK to the settlement at Seattle led to his error. Many Conscripts Tuberculous. BALTIMORE. Md., Oct. 17. That per cent of the men between the ase of 21 to SO called for draft examina tion have been found active tuberculous cases was stated today by Dr. Louis f. Dublin, of New York, before the North Atlantic Tuberculosis conference. FLIER HARVEST IS HEAVY (Continued From Page 4.) the campaign for the sale of the second liberty bond issue was launched. Rev. E. H. Pence, of Portland, and J. H. Ackerman, president of the Monmouth Normal, besides local speakers, ex plained the necessity of supporting the Government by buying liberty bonds. The committee reported at the meet ing that 160,000 worth of the bonds had been sold. The largest subscriber for bonds is Ralph E. Williams, presi dent of the Dallas City and the Dallas National Banks, who took $10,000 worth of the Issue. A committee composed of Dr. B. H. McCallon, Mark Haytcr. H. H. Dunkel berger and J. A. McCann has been named to assist in disposing of the bonds. ACTO DEALERS' FCXD $14,100 Chairmen Mrnzies Expects Bond Committee to Raise $10,000. The members of eight automobile dealers' organizations yesterday sub scribed X8050 to. the liberty loan as the result of meetings held by C. M. Menzies, of the Northwest Auto Com pany, chairman of the dealers' liberty loan committee. This committee raised $t0."0 Tuesday. Mr. Menzies announced that four committees will work today in order to visit every automobile establishment before tomorrow noon. Yesterday s subscriptions were as follows: Covey Motor Car Company, $2600; C. L. Boss Automobile Company, I1S50: Roberts Motorcar Company, $15o0; Western Motor Sales Company, $650; Oregon Motorcar Company. t-lSO; A. C. I I 1 Price f. o. b. Toledo tubjeel lo change tvilhout notice m Motor 32 h. p. at 2000 r. p. m Wheelbase 106 inches. Rear Springs Cantilever OVERLAND I Broadway 3535 Stevens and Warren Motorcar Com pany. $350 each. Chairman Menzies expects his divi sion to raise $40,000. WOMEN" ASKED TO AID IX LOAN" Request Made That They Report at Liberty Loan Headquarters. The women of Portland are urged to assist in the liberty loan campaign by reporting to the liberty1 loan head quarters at Fifth and Stark streets. Every woman will receive something definite to do with detailed instruc tions upon how to do it. The work is not for any particular committee or club of women, but is for every patri otic woman in Portland. MORAL: BUY LIBERTY BOND Tony Obad, Derelict In Duty, Loses $18 to Highwayman. SALT LAKE CITY. Oct. 17. "Have you bought your liberty loan bond." asked, a robber who approached Tony Obad. Tony admitted that he had not. "Well, you ought to have money," said the robber as he searched him with one hand while the other hand held a revolver. Tony lost ?18. German Press Club Buys Bonds. CHICAGO, Oct. 17. Eleven million dollars' worth of liberty bonds were subscribed for today, it was announced tonight, and reports from other points In the Seventh Federal Reserve Dis trict were equally encouraging. The German Press Club, of Chicago, decided to invest all its surplus in bonds. Soldiers Killed in Collision. SPARTANSBURG. S. C, Oct. 17. Five New York National Guardsmen were killed and several others badly hurt early tonight in a head-on col lision between two cars on the Pied mont & Northern Klectric Railway be tween this city and Camp Wadsworth Model 90 Light Four '770 ' ,... r s A t:-r.i.v.sevs!st.-a'sr itt-m.f.fjari v Small price is a big consideration. It is true economy only when it includes service and comfort. The Overland Light Four will give you the service you ask for with alacrity powerful, snappy, rugged motor. And it will serve .you in comfort big roomy seats, plenty of leg room. Easy riding, too 106 inch wheelbase, big, four inch tires and cantilever rear springs. Where else such true economy ? Tires 31 4 inches Starting Lighting Auto-Lita Fuel Feed Vacuum System PACIFIC, INC Broadway and Davis Sts. EUGENE. Or.. Oct. 17. (Special.) Governor James Withycombe In- sn ad dress before the Oregon Congress of Mothers and. Parent-Teacher Associa tion, tonight made an appeal for the development of a real spirit of patriot Ism in the younger generation of Ore gonians. T want to insist that every boy and rirl who graduate from an Oregon school shall know 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and 'America' from the first A.ri t n 1im Wat. he said. Rnvwnnr Withvcombs said that he had visited some Oregon schools wrere th. rfnrt.t of children to sing m: Star-Spangled Banner ' na nrouBni him a feeling or distress, dui mm . had on other occasions witnesses minittatian of a real spirit of pa triot ism. anions: children, notably upon a visit to Ontario last summer, wncre 200 or 300 children playing in tne sircci k.rt. - n ...1 thoir nlav and stooa at at tention when the band struck up the first strains of "The Star-Spangled RannfP." "I am proud of Oregon, and tne part. she is taking in the war." tovernor Withycombe said. "Mie lias given v of her sons. It is the motners o. mo state who have Klven these oos. j u best we can do. as salaried men, as day laborers, is to back them up with our subscriptions to the liberty loan." Rev. A. M. Spangler, a member of the City Council, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Mayor. i-resiucm. i . . Campbell, of the University of Oregon and Superitnendent of Schools v . R. Rutherford delivered addresses of wel come on behalf of the state and city educational institutions. Mrs. . J. Kerr, of Corvallls. responded for the as sociation. Delegates are in attendance from all oarts of the state, with prospects for one of the most interesting sessions In the history of the association. The election, of officers will take place to morrow. Mrs. I. M. Walker, of Port land, one of the vice-presidents of the association, is a candidate for presi dent, to succeed Mrs. George W. Mc Math. of Portland. O. A. C- Registration 172 0. OREGON" AGRICULTURAL, COLLEGE, Corvallis, Oct. 17. (Special.) Regis tration at O. A. C. at the end of the eighth day this year is precisely what it was at the corresponding time last year, the enrollment being 1726. The school of home economics shows the largest Increase. The official report from the University of Washington shows a decrease of 18 per cent. II. C. Seymour Lectures at Heppner. OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Corvallis, Oct. 17. (Special.) Among the O. A. C. extension men in the field this week is H. C. Seymour, state lead er of club work, who Is lecturing at .the Morrow County Teachers' Institute at Heppner. L. J. Allen, state pig club agent. Is on a field trip in Umatilla and Wallowa counties. Ho doubt about It! The olggest enter tainment proposition ever offered in Portland. All ten numbers for fl. (Re served seats, loc per number extra.) Portland Lyceum Course. Tlcket3 at Sherman -CI ay's. Adv. V A net price advance Hiill be effective November 1st without further notice To American Business Men The United States Gov ernment is today purchas ing more supplies and ex pending: more money than any government or any business organization ever expended in the world's history. These expendi tures are fast running into the tens of billions of dol lars sums vaster than ever before gathered together. Practically every cent will be spent in the United States for the purchase of American goods, for the benefit of American manu facturers, producers and buEiness men. Every business man and B ....aw kiiai'naea nr(roni71l. El tion that invests money in Government bonds of the Second Liberty Loan of 1917 is helping finance these great expenditures and thus aiding the cause of. business prosperity dur ing the war. Every dollar you sub scribe to the War Loans of our Country is money in vested to aid our Govern ment, without whose pro tection business would be impossible. By purchasing Liberty Bonds you help to restore conditions when the orderly prosecution of legitimate business will no longer be subject to the burdens of militarism and the interruptions of war. This is a war to end war and make the world safe for democracy, for liberty, for life, and for business. Patriotism and good busi ness common sense alike urge you to invest your sur plus funds in Liberty Bonds. They are the best investment in the market today. Their safety is the solemn pledge of the United States Government. They bear 4 interest. They are free of the normal Federal income tax and local per sonal property taxes. Their conversion privilege assures their stability in value, wih reasonable probability of appreciation. They are readily marketable and available as collateral im mediately, anywhere. Go to your bank and subscribe XO-DA Yl Liberty Loan Committee 1 Twelfth Federal Reserve District Thla Space Contributed by Fleischner, Mayer & Co. Allen & Lewis Mason, Ehrman & Co. Closset & Devers Honeyman Hardware Co. Fortland Gas & Coke Co. , The Oregonian
