Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-23
Tn. Labor Fioh+ in 10. Ano.,.s.

The most stringent anti-picketing
ordinance in the United States is in
operation in Los Angeles. It is one of
capitals weapons in the war with the
labor unions In Los Angeles. General
Harrison Grey Otis. owner Of the Los
Angeles Times. is the directing head of
the capitalstic side OF this a and It
was against him that the explosion in
the plant Of the Los Angeles Times was
directed.
Frederick Palmer describes. the ordi-
nance in his article on the situation in
Los Angeles In the January Hamp-
tons Magazine.
THAT ordinance represented the gov
erning spirit Of Los Angeles as ex-
pressed by what was known as a pro-
gressive council whose members were
mostly not OF the generals political
choice but who had his teachings so
we'll instilled into their beings that they
played his part" says Mr.. Palmer.
The ordinance had no l%oopholes. !
quote some parts:
"1t shall be unlawful for any person,
IN or upon any public street. alley. or
public place In the city OF Los Angeles.
TO make any loud or unusual noise. or
to speak in a loud or unusual tone. or to
cry u or proclaim: for any per-
son, in or upon any public street. alley.
or other public place IN the city Of Los
Angeles. to loiter in front Of. or in the
vicinity Of, or to picket in front OF. or
IN the vicinity Of. or to carry. show, or
display n banner. transparency. or
sign IN front OF. or IN the vicinity Of.
any works. or factory. or any place OF
business or employment, for the pur-
pose OF attempting to induce or influ-
nee any person to refrain from enter
ing any such works or factory or place
OF business or employment
TN q word. here is police authority
for %arresting any loiterer who accost.
shop. Union labor loses It's militant
weapon The power OF government
says to the employer: Take your time
to All your ranks
"The ordinance supported by public
opinion generally. in a city 80 sensitive
to disorder. gave the strike It's res
death-blow. It gave the employers the
time and protection they wanted.
George Gunrey. h leader OF the
strikers, nlled the station houses with
cases, some two hundred in all. to test
the ordinance as a public appeal
against tyranny. Their fines were paid
out Of the strike funds. The court.
declared the ordinance constitutional.
San Francisco union lawyers came to
the. defense Of the serious cases OF as
sault or attempted assault"
Seeking the causes that lie behind
the the destruction Of the Times plant.
Mr.. Palmer declares that the impulse
of the Los Angeles Metal Trades strike.
that l~ast-ditch struggle which began
June 1, lasted four months and culmin-
ated in the explosion. came from San
Francisco. It was the ~unionists' last
effort to overcome the o~ligarchy OF cap
ital in Los Angeles, which Otis had
welded together in his war on labor
unions.
"san Francisco employers were
under an agreement with the
union which was to expire Oct. L." says
Mr.. Palmer. "They were paying on an
e,eht-hour day basis molders. "a: ma
chinists. $3.50; blacksmiths. "a: pat
ternmakers, IS. Los Angeles was pay
ing for a tenLhour day mclders. 1913;
m%achinists. $3.50; b~lacksmfths. "a to
So: pattern makers. $3.50.
go the wages received were about
the same. the pattern axe And
molders having the better OF 1t IN san
Francisco and the blacksmltns the pet'
ter Of Il IN Los Angeles. But there was
.he difference against San Francisco OF
two hours. or o~ne-fourth more
counting efficiency the same. which IN
Ia business where labor IL so large an
element Of cost q turn q soodiy proht
into Q loss. -,
".who Is competing against me-!
asked q Los Angeles founder. as they
tell the story, regarding a certain up
state contract.
"'oniy a San Francisco nr1n'' was the
".oh, that's easy said the Los An
Reles man.
."The san Francisco employers were
being beaten to he wall in out-of-town
custom. They had reached the limit.
They said. in effect. to the unions last
june: Either you unionize Los Angeles
or We must equalize conditions IN some