Arizona republican., 1913-09-22
Organized Labor and the Charter

Inasmuch as we understand quiet effort is being made here by socialist friends to align organized labor against the proposed charter, quote below article in the Typographical Journal. the the International Typographical Union, regarding the of organized labor in Dayton campaign where effort made by the socialists to soidify the unions against the charter. A similar effort was made Springfield. Ohio, couple of weeks later, but failed The writer of the following J. E. Duncan, is a union and member of No. 57, I. T. U.:
 The much heraIded and widely-advertised char election held this city per schedule August F. and adopted by overwhelming vote of 13317 for to 6022 against. The result showed 6S per cent favorable to the adoption of the charter and g per cent unfavorable The charter is what is known the commission manager plan five commissioners be elected, they to hire the who will be in entire charge of the city admin istration subject only to the orders of the comms- other respects, the charter is similar to the adopted in Cleveland, except Tn few instances notably the initiative referendum and recall and the eght-hour law. Considerable opposition developed to adoption the charter, the socialists being unanimous against it Efforts were made to have he unions line up against the charter, and toward the close of the campaign the United Trades Labor Council took decided stand against it, but it did have the desired effect, the action be- ing iIl-advised The union men were divided on the question majority voting for the charter. The principal opposition developed the initiative, referendum and recall clause, the contention being that the percentages were so high to be unwork able being 25 per cent The labor clause was also unsatisfactory, it did specifically provide for eight-hOur day However, the decisive vote showed that the people wanted change in the city government and the unions should make effort to elect some of their number the commission.
 One of the framers of the Dayton charter was q union man, member of No. 57.
 Organized labor have less objection to the Phoenix charter than had the Datyon charter Ours specifically prescrbes the eight-hour day city work and all contract for the city. also fixes a minimum wage $2 q day. The recall percentage, 25, is the that of the Dayton charter, but board of free holders could made it less if they had desired O since they restricted by Sec l. Art. VIII, the state constitution, which fixes the percentages for the recall the initiative and referendum.
 Beside the working day provision, several labor propositions submitted O Phoenix board of freehoIders by committee of organized labor. some of which were adopted in whole in part, while others One of the latter, relating to taxation, plainly would have rendered the char ter invalid. while others believed conflict with the state constitution.
 Altogether the charter favorable labor, to all other interests which d the up building he city. It the favorable 0 in that the operation it will multiply oppOr- tunties and increase employment for all, except politicians We think that organized labor in Phoenix we'll S follow the sug- gestion of MT. Duncan, Make effort elect of their number the commission"