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THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, MONDAY" EVENING, ,? NOVEMBER" " 9 1908.
1
ABOUT THE AMERICAN
FEDERATiOH OF LABOR
What It lias Done and Is Doing, and What It Has Be
fore It in Its Annual Session That Opens Today
f The Labor Union and the Strike, in America.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
(Copyright, 1908, by Frederlo J. Haskln.)
Washington, Nov. .- The American
federation of labor opens its .annual
convention at Denver today. This Js
the twenty-eighth time this great or
ganizatlon has meet In annual conclave
to consider the many questions of para
mount Importance to the man Who lit
erally earns "his Bread In the sweat of
his face. Opinions differ Widely as to
the part labor actually played In the
recent presidential campaign, and even
more widely as to the expediency of
labor, as an organized body, taking part
in pouucs. wui mere can De no air
ference of opinion among thinking men
as to labor organizations being a boon
to the workingman, or as to the good
results accomplished by the American
lenorauon or laDor.
Whether It has been In advocacy.of a
law against cntia labor, or in cham
pioning the cause of factory sanitation,
the federation has always been Identi
fied with movements whose aims have
been for the general good. Sometimes It
may nave lent itseir to the promotion
of what seemed to be selfish objecte,
sometimes It , may have supported
causes more for the good of labor than
for that of the country, but on the
whole it has contributed largely to the
better understanding that exists be
tween capital and labor, and to the
more elevated position the worklngman
has" taken In the United States. -It
must be remembered that the day was
when all laborers were, slaves. Today
such men as John Mitchell are regarded
as the peers of the best of our states
men and citizens. ..... ..., . .
Growth ' of the Federation.
In the Washington headquarters Of
the American federation of labor there
Is a big chart posted In the vestibule.
It tells the story of the federation so
plainly and so succinctly tljat he who
runs may read. There is a series of
big red lines, the length of each line
showing the numerclal strength of the
organization each yeac, It starts' with
a line that is little more" than a big
square dot, representing a membership
of 60,000. That was in 1881, The line
cradually -Increases- each . year, - until
the one for 1893 is over five times as
long as "the one for 1881. Then there
Is a standstill until 1899, when the
gain for the year is about double the
mimher t the orlsrinal . membership.
From that time forward, the line for
each year has grown longer, the an
nual growth being greater than the en
tire growth during the first 18 years
of itn existence.
There Is another chart which appeals
to the eye with great force. It is a
big circle which represents the national
and international labor unions of the
United States. Considerably more than
three-fourths of that circle is black.
The other, little section is gray. The
black part represents the organizations
affiliated with the federation. The
gray portion represents the organlia
lions of labor not so affiliated.
What the Federation Stands Tot,
Tlfa federation has always been an
advocate of free schools, free text
books, and compulsory education. It
has fought for the nation-wide estab
lishment of the eight-hour day, and has
almost completely won that battle. It
has put forward labor's claim to the
one day of rest Jtt seven enjoined by
the scriptures. It has fought the
sweatshop system until it Is on Its last
legs. It has demanded and secured
employers' liabllty legislation, which
was once deenusd unfair to capital but
is now regarded as but Just to labor.
It has, in season and out, opposed child
labor, and advocated the betterment of
the condition of working women. It
has lent its support to the movements
for public baths In all cities, and for
the compulsoryxJncorporatlon of bath
ing facilities InVall houses or com-1
rartments used - for human habitation,
t has striven persistently for the se
curing of proper playgrounds for city
children.
With such things in its platform there
is little wonder that the federation has
enlisted ' practically four-fifths of the
organized labor' of America under its
banner, tits membership comprises more
than 2,000,000 wage earners. There are
approximately 120 national and inter
national labor unions! affiliated with It,
representing 27,000 local organizations.
The federation spends approximately a
quarter million dollars a year in keep
ing up its organization and promoting
the causes it advocates. Numerclally
and financially the American federation
of - labor-has become the strongest or
ganization of its , kind la tno wono.
. History ot Strlksa,"'4
It is only since the beginning of the
eighteenth century that labor has not
been In a condition of serfdom. After
that date' began the movement of self
emancipation, which has been going on
to this day. Yet, It is said that there
have been more strikes and lockouts
within the past SO years than in all
the Christian era before.-, The first re
corded Amerioan strike occurred among
the- bakers of New York in 171.- 'mere
was a series of strikes among the boot
and shoemakers of Philadelphia, begin
ning in-179, and again in 1798 there
was a "turnout, as a sinus was men
called, ordered by the Journeymenshoe
makers of that city. , Up to this time
all striKes were ror mcreasaa wages,
and were at least partially successful.
First areat Strike In America.
The sailor's strike has been" generally
considered the first important strike in
America. It, happened In New York, In
1803.,:It was unsuccessful, the con
stabulary having arrested the leaders
of the strike. The next important one
was ink 1809, . among the eordwalhers.
It was tn this labor battle that the vo
cabulary of strikes had its start. A
strike itself had been known as a gen
eral "turnout." The expression "scab"
was first applied to a" strike-breaker In
this fight In 1817 a Massachusetts
shipbuilder decided to abolish the grog
privilege at his establishment, it hav
ing, been customary in those days to
furnish workmen with rum at certain
hours. The strike was continued for
some time but the employer won. - This
is said to De tne only case in the his
tory of American labor where a strike
came about over the llauor ' Question.
This 'Shipyard was long known as tho
"6 to 6" Bay Onoe booked Good,
In 1885 there were a number of
strikes, most of them for shorter hours.
One was for a day "from e to 6," which
shows that progress has been made :n
the hours of wage earners. It wan
from-' "awn to. sun,r against which they
were striking. Taking the whole period
from 1741 to 1880, the Investigations
of Carroll D. Wright show that there
were 1,941 strikes and lockouts, of
which 1,089 related to wages. Only
318. won outright, while 164 were com-
'promised. 4
ine loss to employes ana employers
from strikes- and lockouts from 1880
to 1900 amounted to $600,000,000, to say
nothing of the vast economic losses sus
tained by the public. Labor lost more
than double as much as capital as a
result of these . struggles. There were
more than 23,000 strikes and lockouts,
and nearly 128,000 establishments were
Involved. Since 1900 there has been a
decreasing percentaga or strikes, but
some of those which have occurred have
been serious. . The great coal strike
of 1902 cost over $100,000,000. The loss
In the amount of- coal mined reached
$48,000,000, while the wage-earners lost
$25,000,000 in wages. The losses to
the railroads In freight receipts, as a
result of the strike, are estimated to
have been over $47,000,000.
Why Hewitt's Ken Didn't Strike.
A pretty story is told of Abram S.
Hewitt In his relation to labor, He
was at one time running his establish-
CLEARS THE COMPLEXION
OVERNIGHT
Pimples, Sash, Eruptions, Etc, Qulok
ly Era-dioatsd by xrew Skis emedy. .
Since Its discovery one year ago, poe
lam, the new skin remedy, has, in its
extraordinary accomplishments, exceed
ed the ' most sanguine expectations of
tho eminent specialist ; who- gave it to
the world. It has cured thousands of
cases of ecsema- and eradicated facial
and other disfigurements of years' stand
ing. The terrible itching attending eo
mmi is stopped with the first applica
tion, giving proof, of Its curative prop
erties at the very outset. '
In less serious skin affections, such as
gtmples, rash, herpes, blackheads, acne,
arber's itch,- etc., results show aftes an
overnight application, only a small quan
tity being required to effect a cure.
Those who use poslam for these minor
skin troubles can now avail themselves
of the special 60-cent package, recently
adopted to meet such needs. Both the
60-cent package and the regular $2 Jar
may now be obtained In Portland at
the Skldmore Drug Co., and other lead
ing 'drug stores. '.
Samples for experimental purposes
may be had free of charge by writing
direct to the Emergency Laboratories, 32
West Twenty-fifth street. New York
City.
ment at n lnn nnrl was forced to re
duce wages 10 per cent. His men went
to him and protested. He. replied: "Boys,
It is your right to come here and make
(his demand; not only that, but It Is
your right to know the facts and to
Know why we cannot meet them. There
fore, if you will send an accountant
around here he - shall have access to
all our books and we will abide by his
report." .
The laborers accepted the proposi
tion and sent their accountant to go
over the books. When tney received
his report they waited on Mr. Hewitt
again and not only withdrew their re
quest, but asked that a further reduc
tion of 10 per cent be made until such
time as the establishment got back to
a paying basis again. This was not
acceded to and Mr. Hewitt always de
clared that i$ would be impossible for
anyone to git, up a strike in that es
tablishment. Decline of Knights of Xitbor.
The recent activity of organized la
bor in politics Is but a case of history
reneatlnsr itself. The most Interesting
chapter of American labor history Is that
which deals with the meteoric rise of the
Knights of Labor. That organisation
grew from a little local union of seven
garment cutters In 1869 to a vast amal
gamation of more than 600,000 members
in 18SB. the year of the zenith of its
fame and influence In government It
was the most highly centralised of any
general labor organization that ever ex
isted. It discouraged strikes and boy
cotts, and sought to use the ballot as
Its weapon of offense and defense. It
wan Avirnmetv active, and took strong
partisan grounds on au issues of the
day. After passlne- its xenlth the de
cline was rapid, and today it Is only
small organization, its career was
temporary victory for the trade union
lilmi. nvnr the labor union Drinclple. Its
spirit was that of amalgatation and cen
tralization, wnne tne moving iwreo m
the American Federation of Labor is
federation and autonomy. ,
READY TO LAUNCH
DIG BATTLESHIP
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
Qulncy, Mass., Nov. 9. At the yards
o-f Ihn Kore River Hhlnbuildlng company
here arrangements are all completed
for the launching tomorrow or me
North Dakota, the first battleship of
tho Dreadnought type to be built for
the United States navy. Miss Mary
Benton of Fargo will christen the ves
sel. A distinguished delegation from
North Dakota, headed by Governor
John Burke, has arrived to attend the
ljjimrVilne The navv deoartment will
be represented bv Secretary Metcalf
and other high ornciais. ,
CHINK GAMBLERS
FITTI1IG UP DEIIS
aammmmtmmammmammammta '
Anticipating Court Decision
That Will Keep the Po
lice Out of Them.
(United Press Leaicd Wlre-V
San Francisco, Nov. 9. Anticipating
favorable action In the courts on their
application to prevent the police from
entering their places of business, sev
eral of the Chinese' "social" clubs, con
ducted as a mask for gambling Ama,
have let contracts for the refitting of
their rooms. ,
The action of the Chinese follows the
order of Judge Sturtevant citing Chief
of Police Biggy to .show causa" why the
members of the department should not
be restrained from entering the ap
parently respectable places of business
of Chinatown merchants.
The order of the court Is equivalent
to protection from police Interference,
according to the oriental mind, and
gleeful preparations are under way to
open rive new gamming nouses with
all the accessories.
These clubrooms are beiner fitted with
traps and devices for the secreting of
chips and other evidence, and "get
aways" and electrio bells. All the doors
are heavily Darrea.
OPENING OF OPERA
SEASON, NEW YORK
(Special DUpatch to The Journal.)
New York, Nov. 9 With a list of
high-priced song birds and a repertoire
well calculated to attract music lovers
though with fewer novelties than were
offered last year, the Manhattan Opera
house swings open its doors tonight
for the opening of its third season of
grand opera, "la Tosca" will tie tne
Introductory opera, and the occasion
will mark the American debut of Mme.
Labia, a young soprano who has made
her way as a singing actress in Ger
many. Mme. Labia will sing the title
role. Also In the cast will be the
French baritone Maurice Renaud and
Htgnor zenatello, wlio is to be Mr.
Hammerstein's principal tenor this sea
son. With the exceptions of Mme. Labia
and Mme. Melba, the latter being en
gaged for ten performances at mid
winter, the principal names on the
roster of the Manhattan this season
are virtually the name as those of last
year. Included in the list are Miss
Garden, Mme. Tetrazzini, Mr. Dalmores.
Htgnor Zenatello, Signm- coiombim and
m. uiiiocrt.
END OF A FAMOUS
STATE DEBT CASE
A HAIB'S BBEADTH BSOAPS.
Do you know that every time you
have a cough or cold and let it run on
thinking it will just cure itself you are
inviting pneumonia, consumption or
some other pulmonary trouble? Don't
risk It Put your lungs back In perfect
health and stop that cough with Bal
lard s Horehound syrup.
Price 25c, 50c and $1.00 per bottle.
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
Richmond, Va., Nov. 9. After drag
ging along for years the end of the
famous Virginia-West Virginia lebt
question Is now in sight. Eminent
counsels representing the two states
assembled here today for the- first for
mal hearing in the case, before Charles
E. Littlefield, of Maine, who has been
appointed master in the proceedings.
The Virginia-West Virginia debt dis
pute arose out of the creation of the
state of West Virginia out of the orig
inal domain of Virginia, and the proper
apportionment of the then bonded in
debtedness of the latter state. A suit
Is pending before the United States
supreme court, and upon the ultmate
report of the master. Mr. Littlefield.
I depends the adjudication of the matter.
just wnat amount is involved cannot
even be estimated. The original one
third which the Virginia contestants set
apart as the portion of West Virginia
was between $80,000 000 and $40,000,000.
The settlement of the amount of in
terest to be paid Is one of the most
important features of the suit.
SIXTH JAIL MEAK
IN TRINITY COUNTY
The life income P
icy
O fD
0 TT
J - - J.tf
THE POLICYHOLDERS' COMPANY
Furnishes an income for life for your
self, your wiie and daughter. '
(United Treas Loaned Wire.)
Red Bluff. Cel.. Nov. 9. Garfield
Rutb and John William sawed their
way out of a cell In the Trinity county
jail last evening. .The jail break Is the
sixth within a year in Trinity county
and It la intimated that a searching
investigation will rollow. Kuth was
awaiting trial on a charge of grand
larceny and William was charged with
burglary. They sawed the lock off
their cell door during the arternoon,
and after supper swung the door open
and escaped. Their departure was not
discovered until an hour afterward and
a posse was sent In pursuit.
Among the prisoners who could have
taken advantage of the break were
Deputy Game Wardens Bond and Car
penter, who are being held on charges
of murdeslng an Indian hunter.' This
is the third time these men have re
fused to avail themselves of a chance
to escape.
SUSPECTED OF BEING
THE GENTEEL THUGS
THE MOST PERFECT CONTRACT SOLD
By this or any other company. Every
dollar paid for premiums to Oregon Life
remains in-Oregon.
TO MOIlAftlS
Phone or write and we will send bur representative to
, explain this newest form of policy. .
Home Office, Corbett BIdsr., Cor, FJifth and Morrison, Portland, Ore.
'A. L. MILLS, President Li SAMUEL, Qrnerat nanager CLARENCE 5. SAflUEL, Assistant rianager
(I'nthx! Preaa Loaned Wire.)
San Francisco, Nov. 9. Suspected of
being the well dressod thugs who held
up Wllsey Edwards of Los Angeles sev
eral days ago In the shadow of the
Fairmont hotel, two men are held at
the city prison. The names of the two
suspects are not given because the
authorities hope to arrest two women
who are believed to De tneir confed
erates.
In addition, the nonce claim to have
uncovered the den where they secreted
the loot accumulated in their night raids.
In an apartment on Clay street the de
tectives found skeleton keys, a burg
lar's kit, an opium layout and many
articles of feminine wear.
OLD MAT SUCCUMBS
UNDER DESPONDENCY
United Preaa Lcau-d Wlra.)
San Jose, Cal., Nov. 9. Leaving no
one but an Insane sister to mourn his
ueath, Thomas F. Maloney, an enfeebled
Inmate of the Pratt Home for the Aged,
cut his throat and wrists with a razor
in his room at the institution last night.
He died early todav,
Maloney's act followed a fit of de
spondency resuItlngVrom a visit to his
sister, who Is an IsTnate of the Agnews
asylum for the Insane.
Little is known of Maloney 'here. He
came from San Francisco three years
ago and paid the required deposit for
his support. The sister, Mrs. Carroll,
was committed to Agnews from San
Francisco.
Want Inland Waterways.
(Special tl'natch to Tba Journal.)
Columbus, Ga., Nov. 9. The Gulf
Coast Inland Waterways' convention,
which assembled in this city today for
a two days' session, promises to be a
large, influential and highly interesting
gathering. The convention, as its name
Indicates, alms to promote the com
merce and industry of the southern
coast states by the Improvement of the
rivers emptying into the gulf and. the
construction of canals. The states
chiefly Interested in the movement,
each of which has contributed a good
sised delegation to the present conven
tion, are Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee,
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and
Florida.
men
Uld
rnncnen nv
IIUIIULIILU Ul
WHEELS QF CAR
Aged Woman Horribly 3Ian
gled and Conductor
Rushed, by 'Mob.
(Cnlttd Pr Laased Wire.!
San Francisco Nov. 9. Miss Maggie
Melln, an aged 'woman, was struck last
night by a Valencia street ct dragged
40 feet under the trucks anti literally
cut In half by the wheels. The sightj
UL mo !$liiyll&liv:u WUllittll lying iaici-vb
under the car while the wrecking crew
was on ltif" way to the scene, so angered
the crowd that gathered that the motor
man, J. II. Lance, was attacked and but
for prompt action by the police would
have been lynched. After a rope had
been secured a rush was made for
Lance, and he and two policemen were
knocked down' and trampled. At that
Instant the wrecking crew and two ad
ditional policemen arrived and Lance
was rescued.
The body of Miss Melln was mangled
beyond recognition, v All the Umbs were
broken, the Bkull fractured and the legs
severed away from the body. .) , ;
' ' Tfuth In Polities.
."Fellow- citizens,", shouted the candi
date, 'If l am elected for this district
I .shall -endeavor to . make vru gld
that you did not elect another,"
-That's rlghtr yelled the dryr-v.W
box philosopher. "I reckon on would
be a-plenty.'' luU
Metsger fits your eyes for It. . '
Silence
The instjnet of modesty oaturtl to every womia is often a
reat hindrance to the core of womanly diseases. Women
brink from the personal questions of tba-local physician
which seem indelicate. . The thought of examination is ab
horrent to Ihena, and to they endure io silence a condition
of ditease which surely progresses from bad to worse.
' it ba bm Or. Pierce' prlrtU&a to car a .
inmt ma ay worn a who barm touad a reage
for modestr ta ala'after ef FREE eoaalta
tloo by letter, nil eorfpamdtacu ta tela '
ma aaeredly confidential. 3ddrea Dr. It. V.
Pierce. Buffalo, A. r. 4 "
Dr, Pierce's Favorite Prescription restores and regulate
(he womanly functions, abolishes pain and builds up and
putt the finishinf touch of health oo every weak womas
who give it a fair trial.
it Makes Weak Women Strong,
. Sick Women Welt.
You can't afford to accept a tecrtt nostrum aa a substitute
for this non-alcoholic medicine or known composition. -
i"52S
Change in Potter's Schedule
Effective at once, "the ti. R. ft N.
steamer T. J. Potter will leave Portland
for Astoria every night except Satur
day at R o'clock.- The change is that
the steamer will leave Sunday night in-v
stead of Saturday night -
Spectacles $1 at Menier e.
. - " ' i -a- -
i
am Moan
ACigar
Rvffc Worth
More!
qbwaw ' . , , - ; 1 im. 4a '
it. H' 'J ' !!'.' t V r,, ! A i v ' t
v ' ; ( 1 ' -
!. ' - ' . 1 ; v ,t.'.i . w u , ' , -
' "
- Sf W"i ,s
f ' .LJa i? .
No Deals No Schemes No Prize Packages
Nothing But Quality
5c Each Five for 25c $2.50 Per Box of 50
ASK YOUR DEALER
Distributors, ALLEN & LEWIS
7A
HERE IS VOUR CHANCE TO. SAVE
A RBXOON
KM
We have two cargoes of coal now en route to Portland, and to
make room we must dispose of what we have on hand quickly, so
offer RICHMOND (AUSTRALIAN COAL) at
ER TQ'N
IB
DELIVER
Grasp this opportunity of laying in your winter's coal supply at '
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PACIFIC COAST- COAL. G
MAIN 229
249 WASHINGTON STREET