The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-01-18
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etc. have been disappointed In not
being ablQ, TO send this stun out al
kai1y fh had contemplated, bui
VIII get out letter each week from
this date en-
We feel that we have the best con.
stitution In the world, and our legls.
lature Is all that labor could ask for,
We would like to have you use as
much OF this 3 possible. believing
that your readers will appreciate
your efforts in giving them notice OF
the enactment of some Of the best
laws ever written In the interest of
the common people
Please put MS on your exchange
list at address given below.
Yours fraternally,
j. HARVEY LYNCH.
Box No. lGs, Guthrie, Okla.
Special to this paper by J. Harvey
Lynch, Org. A. f. l..
Guthrie. Okla. Ian. IS. 1908. THE
Oklahoma Idea" is today attracting
the attention OF the economists and
statesmen Of this country more than
any question has for years. It has
been the custom in this country that
when people are not satisfied with
things TO assemble and resolve p
then go home and never do any
thing. In Oklahoma Il is quite diEer-
ent, the history OF this people IL that
they have had a faculty to kick when
things didn't suit them and when
ever possible. backed it up with ac-
ticn
Another thing that Is very notice.
able When Il comes to doing things
precedent that horrible nightmare,
which has led men and nations into
ruin. has very small stair in the
hearts and minds of Oklahoma's cit
izenship. they are people who think
for themselves and assume the re
sponsibility of their own welfare and
innoyate for themselves.
This spirit permeates the labor
movement as well as all other classes
in the state, as is evidenced by a re-
view of its part in the making Of the
state, which was in no degree a small
part
When the world reviews the pro-
gress made by Oklahoma in matters
of state il must not be forgotten that
the American Federation OF Labor
stands back of Il all Just three
years before Congress had passed the
hill authorizing Oklahoma and the In.
dian Territory to become one state,
two trade unionists were discussding
two trade unionists were discussing
OF legislation, constitutions. and the
then horrible situation In Colorado,
the matter of local conditions was
gone over and the opportunity of la.
Dor e. get together and have q hand
ir the writing of the Oklahoma con.
stiiit,lon was gone into In detail A
third ainlonist Ca barberl was taken
iio the discussion and a final re
= I've to organize a movement nmons
tho laborers and farmers was entered
INTO With the state constitution as the
objective point Thus Il was three
men stsrted out 70 CAPTURE state
constitutional convention. and with.
out dollar q Carpenter Barber
and Plasteres This was about the
middle Of August 1903 Correspon-
pence was opened up with all OF the
unions In the state with the result
that these same three men called 0
labor convention together 10 meel
I'm Dec. 2S. 29. 30, 1903, at which time
there was organized what was known
as the Twin Territorial Federation
OF Labor" embracing the dual jurls
dictioL of Oklahoma and Indian Ter
ritories and the fight was on in
earnest
AS the fight was progressing it
seemed that there was nothing bui
obsticles In the way which seemed
almost inaurmmntable the greatest
seemed to be. how would we reach
the farmer to tell him our troubles
and TO hear his in order that we
might help each other, but about thai
time the Lord seemed to be on oui
side and sent Newt Gresham who
founded the now Farmers Union
AS time passed we, farmer and
labor representatives, visited bacl
and forth 1t meetings Of various
kinds, discussing each our needs un
| I'll finally IN August 1906 we held ON
state conventions each on the same
| date in the city hall OF Shawnee
Oklahoma. At this convention the
Railroad organisations had represen
/ tatives wbs8h came in with us. anC
each state organization selected a
legislative committee, these com
mittees went next into join
legislative board
This board drafted sixteen demands
which the united interests wanted
into the constitution, and eight meas
ures which they wanted not to e
into the ccGsttution The first de
mand was the initiative and Iefcren
dunn. for state. county and munici
pality. No franchise shall egrant
ed any corporation or persons with
out FIRST being submitted TO q vot,
Of the people "A city may engage
in any business or enterprise which
any person or corporation under Z
franchise, compulsory education
child labor limit fixed az l5 years, IN,
habeas corpus shall never be sus
! pended under any condition, military
authority always subordinate OF the
civil, in short every thing IN the
platform OF the A. +, Of l.. Trial by
jury in contempt cases in labor dis
putes IS very important measure
and one OF which we feel justly proud
Of and tho section which sent dele
cations 20 Washington 20 file pro
tests is as follows. THE records,
Looks anl files Of all corporations
shall be at all times. liable and sub
ject to the fun inquisitcrial powers OF
the state. regardless Of irnmasties
and nriVflRqec In this hlll ~ RIGHTS b