Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-11-02
Say
Politics
Caused It
BANK OFFICIALS THINK LABOR
UNIONS NOTICE WAS GOTTEN
OUT TO NJURE DIR. SLEEVES
CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR OF
CITY.

A "Frlend of Labor has sent the
following letter to The Capital Jour
nal:
To the Editor; Since the publica-
tion Of the circular letter of the Salem
Trades and Labor Council, calculated
to instigate a boycott against certain
Salem business concerns, much feeling
has been aroused among the better
class Of people against such methods.
This feeling of resentment is espe-
| cially strong among the fair-minded
members Of the labor organizations.
1t was suspected from the beginning
that this was put out for political pur-
poses, as the name of Dr. Sleeves,
candidate for mayor, was adroitly
dragged into it, but now the evidence
is plain that its purpose is such, for
a letter to a prominent labor organi-
zation official is proof of the fact.
Here is the letter, written on the reg
ular printed letter heading of the
Trades and Labor Council Of Salem,
Oregon"
Salem Ore, Oct. 80, 1912. |
MI '''''.''''' i'''.'.''
Secy .......,.,. Local Union.
Dear Sir and Brother: Under sep
arate cover am mailing you some
circular letters regarding unfair
places and men. If you have no meet
ing this week, please mail one TO each
of your members
The above letter was signed by the
secretary and bore the official seal |
of the council. This is ample proof i
that the letter is directed in the inter-
est of some political manipulation, at |
least against DR.. Sleeves. 1t is emil
nently unjust, and savors of labor
bossism that will be tolerated by no
person Of good principles, whether he
believes in labor unions or not.
The Salem Bank & Trust company
last night issued the following state
ment
Owes Community Word.
Perhaps we should apologize for
appearing in print at this time, and,
under ordinary circumstances, we
would, but we feel that we owe the
community word, inasmuch as a
notice signed by the president and
secretary of the Trades and Labor
Council, which notice has appeared in
both of the daily papers, was placed
under our door when the families Of
our president and cashier were strick-
en- with grief by reason of the ter
rible accident that took the lives Of
two of their members.
"We desire to say at the outset
that we do not believe the sentiment
in that notice is shared by this COM
munity, nor by the better element in
the unions, because they know
union firm was offered the job Of
rebuilding the bank and declined be-
cause they did not have time to do IT,
A union firm did our plumbing, and
to our entire satisfaction, and we had
no contract with them. When they
presented their bill 1t was satisfac-
tory, as was their work, and it was
paid
"The parties doing our plastering
and brick work are union men, The
gentleman who is foreman on the job
Is a good mechanic, and one in whom
we have entire confidence. He has
had union as well as non-union men
on the works, and no man has been
hired because he was union nor re-
fused because he was not. The sole
question has been one of efficiency
no matter what his politics or religion :
might be. We have always held those
mere personal matters, and IL this
position Is unfair, then we must abide
the results.
Put on Fair List.
"As few weeks ago we learned that
our building was listed unfair be- !
cause the carpenters were working
over eight hours, and, at our request,
the foreman went to an eight-hour
day and we were then put on the fair
list and remained so until DR. Sleeves
was announced as candidate for
mayor. Then, and not until then
were we declared again unfair. This
Is well known to the Trades and
Labor Council
"As to Dr. Sleeves, he has had I
nothing whatever to do with the man
agement of the bank. It is true he
Is a director, and has been consulted
relative to matters of interest to the
bank. For this we have no excuse to '
offer. {
1--WE came here two years ago to |
make this our home, and live among
you, and have tried to live in such {
a manner that we would merit your t
confidence and win your respect. We I
have spent a large amount Of money
here, and have no regret for so doing, G
for we feel, SO long as we deal fairly, q