Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-04-15
oRoAnIzArIoN OF LABOR
Meeting Held Friday Night and a TEN
porafy Organization Effected.

Meeting Held Friday Night ano As
porary Organization Effected.
The meeting 10 Popular hall, FRI
day evening, % those interested 10
the proposed formation OF a local FED
Grafton u labor. was well attended,
considering the novelty Of the idea Of
anything 80 progressive as a labor or
gsnizatiOn, 10 allen.
A dozen trades were represented,
and IL was a noticeable fact that those
most earnest 10 the work Of organiza-
ton we're men who have had previous
experience Of the benefit to be derived
from cooperation on the part Of wage
earners.
A temporary organization was
effected, ~ prosecute the work until .
permanent organization shall Be
practicable, aud the following officers
Sere elected: Fred LABEL, president;
J. Z, Godfrey, secretary: ThOs. Nc
Donald, treasurer.
a committee on organization was
appointed by the chair, consisting Of
the following, the idea being to have
different trades represented:
Capt. O'Brien, chairman OF COM
mittee; G. VI. Parmenter, carpenter;
Bert Lynch, palnter;T hos. Mcdonald,
/ cigar-maker;G. Z. DunsfOrd, plumber;
John Chase. clerk; Ed Rlstine, barber;
Harry Prior, paperhanger.
A committee Oh ball, was also ap-
pointed consisting Of Peter Beckett,
/ u. Ashbaugh and John Veatch.
After the routine work had been
completed some general discussion
took place, aud much encouragement
was drawn from the situation. AS.
surance was given that the BARRIERS
union, though absorbed Ia other mat.
ters at present, will be Of materla
assistance later.
Capt O'Brien was called on anC
gave a short, informal talk, his idea.
being, 10 part, that the only way fOI
the laborer 70 get strength enough u
accomplish anything is 70 organize
that, 50 far, the skilled labOrers ar,
the only mes who seem 70 thoroughly
understand this, but farmers ant
others are beginning % see II mor'
clearly. All through tue hard times,
wages we're kept up wherever there
we're good labor unions. The early
closing movement 10 Salem is a gOOC
thing and this federation, II perfected
will nelp 70 make II permanent. PEG
pie are studying political COO u.
more than ever before and this la
grown out OF the labor unions.
IL will only be a little while befO.
the masses VI the people will be bet
Ter educated on. these questions thar
ever before. Education IS the great
ciYilizing aud equalizing agent o
today, as gunpowder was, when frs
used. Guupowder destroyed the old
system Of feudal slavery by destroy
ing the supremacy OF the male,
knight.
The Cap tain drew a lesson OF en-
enlargement from his experience dur
Ing the civil war. Ga many o'cdsiOn.
an easy victory could have been VOL
With little delay or loss. II The arm,
hai known just how badly ratified Oh,
enemy were. lie spoke OF the labe
system as one OF tie most effective
weapons IN the hands OF organized
labor.
A memDer OF the oigar-makers
union also enlarged upon this point
When the system vas introduced IL
Portland, there were but o orr cigar
makers working there. Within 4
year there we're 40 or so. lie though.
the labor question would never b
solved except by organization. II yoI
want 10 ind a town where labo.
is we'll paid, you must hnd a unior
town, aud vice versa. As the benefit,
are thoroughly understood here, there
will be no trouble Ia maintaining
union or federation. II POO or Isl
men could 6e enrolled 10 a federation
permanent benefit would be tealizeC
A vote of thanks was given 70 Thu
CAPITAL JOURNAL for courtesles ex
tended, aud the meeting adjourned
until next Friday evening.
The committee on Organization
then got together aud arranged L
hold a meeting 3 at p. M. on The l6tt
inst.