The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-04-04
LESSON IN UNIONIsM


HaAr " Gather DnlouiatS Forgot Their
Friends when Fortune smiled-Hou
They Were Regenerated--A Bit ag
Union History.
In a recent issue Of the Bulletin Of
the clothing trades S. J. Stern, the
papers Chicago correspondent, related
bit Of union history that was written
in an Illinois town some eight years
ago. There are other unions, no doubt,
that viii not be injured BY reading
this little chapter; therefore it Is here
reproduced
"About eight years ago an organiza
tion fever struck the town. Almost ev-
cry craft was organized in very short
time Shortly after this some one sug-
gested that the clerks or statesmen
ought to be organized At this time the
stores opened at about a. m. and re-
mained open until Q and 10 at night,
sometimes even later On Sundays
they were open from a. N. to OF 2
p. m.
"The union men Of this certain city
formed trades council, and a commit
tee thereof succeeded In getting all the
male clerks into the union. 1t was then
decided to also take In the women and
90 to the employers or merchants and
ask them to open at 7:80 a. m. and to
close at 6 p. M every night except Sat
I urday, when they could remain open
until 10 D. M, and not to open on Sun
day. After considerable difficulty the
6 O'clock closing rule won out
about two years after this, at each
meeting Of the trades council, the
financial secretary Of the clerks union
4 would come to the meeting and report
4 that So-and-so. at such and such a
store, was three months behind, and
so-and-so would not pay dues any
} more. After each complaint com
mittee Of three from the trades council
/ would call on the delinquent and force
him or her to pay. BY and by even
( the financial secretary Of the clerks
union got tired of his work Of trying
to keep up the union, and meeting
after meeting and month after month
~ passed. and no delegate Of the clerks
* union was seen at the trades council.
it In the meantime other unions were
he progressing nicely in this city.
IN about this time d member Of the
.is printers union, who was a great ad
i vocate Of the union label, wanted to
buy a new suit Of clothes. He went
from store to store to get clerk witt
~ a card which was up to date, but none
could be found He also found tha
the clerks were pushing nonunioI
goods.
"At the next meeting Of the trade
e. council this printer, who had done
great deal Of work for the clerks, 60
up and made a motion that the trade
council request the merchants to kee
open until o'clock every night, ais
to keep open on Sunday mornings.
5. long debate followed this motion, bI
- Mr.. Printer carried the day He e.
= pIalned that the clerks were not el
- titled to any consideration from Il
trades council, as they were not pa,
ing and also that, inasmuch as the
had given up their union, they ougl
also TO give up the benefits the uniS
got for them.
"a committee was appointed to CO
hon the merchants. and the printer vi
on that committee. Every newspap
in the city published an article, sayil
that the stores would be open hereaft
until 0 p M, also Sunday mornings.
a day or two every store had signs
their windows with the same a
nouncement.
''This aroused the clerks, and it e
tainly must have been grand sig
to have seen the number Of peoI
present at the meeting which the ls
president Of the union called for I
following Sunday afternoon. The "
- the trades council, and particularly
. printer, were abused was a fright
Various resolutions were Introduce
and finally a committee Of five "
appointed TO go 10 the next meeting
the trades council. This commit
expected 10 tell the delegates to
# trades council few things, but wh
they got there, in place Of telling, th
. were told a few things, and they w'
{ back and told the other clerks j.
where the trouble was AS a result
e this the clerks again got together a
- formed bona tide union, every eli
paid up his back dues, and the tra'
= council committee again called on
= merchants and had the signs remov
y It then developed that the mercha
had no desire to keep open at night
on Sunday, but that the printer
- bis committee had simply got the n
chants to cooperate with them to fC
the clerks to become good union n
SO that It would not be necessary
the committee 10 call on this or
store every month 10 collect dues