Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-08
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL OF
PORTLAND WARNS woRkMEN
TO KEEP OUT OF STATE.
MANY LuRED TO WEST
~ FALSE STATEMENTS
Mechanics Not Finding Jobs at High
Wages and Three Men Apply For
Every Position-centractors, Manu-.
f.eturer. and rSnd Agent. Blamed
For Present Industrial Conditions.
ecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
f Des Moines eb. s.-The central la
Dor council of Portland, Ore, the larg-
est city in the state, has sent an urgent
appeal to Governor Carroll to assist,
thru publicity, III relieving the western
state of the burden of OVERCOMING,
and issues a warning to workmen and
men without means OF support to stay
away. Three men for every job of
skilled labor, wages only ordinary. and
much restitution and distress among
deiuded people from the east, are re-
lated as among the conditions existing.
The appeal to the governor follows:
portland, Ore, Jan. 25.-To Your
Excellency: The central labor coun-
Gil Of Portland and vicinity herewith
submits for your consideration the
evils caused in the state of Oregon
thru false advertisements which have
brought to the state of Oregon many
thousands Of men, women and chill
dren from the eastern and middle
western states.
Large numbers of these people are
now destitute, after having spent their
savings in railroad fares and In Va1nly
seeking work. Their suffering at pres
emf il so intense that the city council
Of Portland was forced to appropriate
a. large sum of money to put some OF
these actually starving people to work
OH ,5arA am; street work at wages ne
low the prevailing rate for laborers.
Private charity has been and is sun
being taxed to its utmost.
"The fault Of this lamentable condf-
ton of affairs lies with unscrupulous
employers of labor and certain type
of real estate men. For years false
advertisements about land and labor
conditions in Oregon have been placed
in the eastern papers.
"These advertisements lured to Ore
gon home seekers, mechanics and Ia
borers, who on arrival here quickly
found that they had been duped.
"Oregon, comprising a territory OF
96. 600 square miles with population
OF about 10000 people. is in the main
a. great wilderness Of forests and
mountains. The forests are largely held
for speculation by the railroad inter-
ests and other great corporations. To
clear an acre Of this forest land, after
it has been logged off, costs from Soo
to 500 per acre. Hence there Is but
little chance for paying farms on such
lands, except for men with consider
able capital.
"Open country, suitable for farming,
has long ago been taken up and prices
for such farm land are very high.
Railroad transportation turnout the
state is very poor.
'The orchard lands are held for al
most fabulous prices, in the hope that
Fasteners can be fooled to buy them.
The same trick that was played TWEEN
tv wears ago in southern California,
when orange orchards sold for $1,000
an acre.
"rhe bottom Of these wildcat schemes
dropped out in California and the
Coyey army followed. The bottom of
Oregon's wildcat schemes is now drop
ping out; hence idleness, restitution
and a general reign of crime committed
by misled and desperate men.
"Of course the great majority of the
employers Of oregon deplore the prac-
.:ces which have brought about the
present chaotic industrial conditions In
this state. The great majority Of real
estate men are opposed to the bunco
tactics of the minority.
But up to date with no tangible re-
suits for bettern.ent. Therefore the
central labor council of Portland and
vicinity appeals to YOU to give this
matter publicity in your state and pre-
vent great Injustice and suffering TO
men, women and children Of your state
who otherwise might fall victims to
false advertisements sent from oregon.
Specially dealing with labor condi-
lions in oregon, we wish to state that
out Of the population of 100000 there
are POI. 900 in Portland-our principal
city. This readily shows that the re-
naming 100000 are scattered over 96.-
900 square miles. In the east when
work becomes scarce in one city or
state, mechanics and laborers can cas-
lily move to another city and state and
seek work. The great distance In our
state makes such moving great
hardship and very expensive.
'The almost criminal practice of
some employers OF labor in advertising
In eastern papers that wages of car
penters in Portland, Ore, are 81 per
day for eight hours, with steady en-
ployment guaranteed, can not be too
strongly condemned. The, facts are
that carpenters wages in Portland are
ls2.5O to "a per day, hours range from
eight to ten, and as rule there are
three men looking for each Job. The
same conditions prevail in many other
trades.
"In conclusion we wish to state that
we love our city and state. 1t pains us
to advertise to the entire country the
distress and disease among our people
caused by some money-mad employers
and real estate sharks. But we feel
that 1t is our duty as citizens OF Ore
gan and Of the United States to ex-
pose swindling that already has caused
| untold suffering.
1--WE welcome to our state men and
women who have true understand
| ing OF conditions in Oregon. There is