The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-05-10
LESSON IN UNIONIsM
eAcKsLlDERs BROUGHT TO BOOK
BY A LABOR COUNCIL

Fair Weather Unionists Forget Theiz
Friends When Fortune smiIed-How
They Were Regenernted--A BIT az
Union History.
In a recent issue of the Bulletin Of
the clothing trades S. ]. Stern, the
papers Chicago correspondent, related
a bit Of union history that was written
in an Illinois town some eight years
ago. There are other unions, no doubt,
that will not be injured by reading
this little chapter; therefore 1t is here
reproduced:
About eight years ago an organiza-
tion fever struck the town. Almost ev-
cry craft was organized in a 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 Z a. m. and re-
NAMED open until 8 and 10 at night,
sometimes even later. On Sundays
they were open from 8 a. m. to or 2
Egm.
''The union men Of this certain city
formed a trades council, and commit
tee thereof succeeded in getting all the
male clerks into the union. 1t was then
decided to also take In the women and
60 to the employers or merchants and
ask them to open at 7:30 a. N. and to
close at p. m every night except Sat
urday, when they could remain open
until 10 p. m, and not to open on sun
day After considerable difficulty the
8 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
would come TO the meeting and report
that So-and-so. at such and such
store, was three months behind, and
So-and-so would not pay dues any
more. After each complaint a 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.
In the meantime other unions were
progressing nicely in this city.
About this time a member Of the
printers union, who was a great adj
vocate Of the union label, wanted to
buy a new suit OF clothes. He went
from store to store to get clerk with
a card which was up to date, but none
could be found He also found that
the clerks were pushing nonunIon
goods.
AT the next meeting OF the trades
council this printer, who had done a
great deal OF work for the clerks, got
up and made motion that the trades
council request the merchants to keep
open until 0 o'clock every night. also
to keep open on Sunday mornings. A
long debate followed this motion, but
Mr.. Printer carried the day. He ex-
planned that the clerks were not en-
titled to any consideration from the
trades council. as they were not pay.
ing and also that. inasmuch as they
had given up their union. they oughr
also to give up the benefits the union
got for them.
"a committee was appointed to call
on the merchants, and the printer was
on that couimittee. Every newspaper
in the city published an article, saying
that the suIfes would be open hereafter
until 8 p. M, also Sunday mornings. In
day or two every store had signs on
their windows with the same an.
nouncement
This aroused the clerks. and It GER
tainly must have been a grand sight
to have seen the number of people
present at the meeting which the last
president Of the union called for the
Following Sunday afternoon. Tie way
the trades council. and particularly The
printer were abused was a fright.
Various resolutions were introduced
and finally committee OF I've was
appointed to 81 % the nest meeting 81
the trades council This committee
expected to iell The delegates to The
trades council q few things but when
they got there in place Of telling. they
were told q few things. and the3 went
back and told the other clerk iust
whore the trouble was as q result oi
this the clerks again got together ani
formed "a hona hde Union, every clerl
paid up his back dues, and the trade.
council committee aglin called on tn,
merchants and bad the sgls removed
Il then developed that the merchants
had no deslie to keep opea at night o.
on sunday, but Tint the printer and
his committee had simply got the mer
chants 10 cooperate with them to fore,
the clerks TO become good union men
so that it would not be necessary fol
the committee to call on this or tha
store every month TO collect dues
noston labor Men Ia Politics.
The executive committee OF the Bos