davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18
Reduction of Wages
Fundamentally
Unsound

In times of industrial depression
it has always been the tendency of
employers to reduce wages to meet
| the decreased demand for products or
decreased marketing price of same.
That system may relieve the pressure
for time as far as the individual en-
ployer is concerned but as an econ
omic proposition in it's relation to
business as a whole it is unsound and
unavailing. The great buyers of our
foodstuffs and of our manufactured
articles are the working people of the
nation. To reduce a mans earning
power reduces his buying power. We
are proverbially nation of spenders,
living up to our income. If a man
receives a margin over and above the
cost of actual necessities of life, he
puts it into better furniture, more and
better clothing, an occasional outing
for himself and family He buys
many things with that margin that he
must do without when his earning
capacity is lessened When the work
ing man curtails his purchasing of
legitimate products, every line of bust
ness feels it. More curtailment,
more retrenchment on the part of the
butcher, the baker, the candlestick
maker. Men laid off, unemployment,
ad libitum. It's hard to find the be-
ginning of such a process and hard to
foretell the ending.
The American labor movement
stands like a rock for maintenance of
existing wage schedules, and that con-
tention is fundamentally sound To
argue that the $1.5O day man is in
finitely better off at that wage than
were he absolutely without work may
be soothing to the conscience of the
employer who offers that amount, but
it doesn't alter the fact that it is part
of the general scheme whereby suffer-
ing is intensified rather than lessened.
There is something wrong with sys-
TEN that offers nothing better to a
man than the very minimum of COM
pensatiOn for his labor power whereby
he may maintain life in his body We
imagine one would have a hard time
convincing the $3.50 a day man of the
mobility of labor" however much that
phrase might appeal to the lover of
glittering generalities.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18
YAKIMA A CONVENTION
CONTENDER

If the 1916 convention OF the State
Federation of Labor don't convene in
North Yakima, it wont be for lack of
activity on the part of the unionists
of that thriving Eastern Washington
burg. Yakima has had convention as
pirations for some years and once
almost landed it. At the Spokane con-
vention the delegates with her goat
it-ness"-Qook that up, we had toD
At the Olympia convention the year
following Yakima was there with
bells, apples and much vocal oratory.
But the pick handle brigade from
Raymond stampeded the convention
and Yakima lost.
Word comes that Yakima is again
in the race and will be at Olympia
next month prepared to capture the
1916 convention or die in the attempt.
We confess to an admiration for va
xmas staying powers Yakima has
never had convention of the Fed
Grafton and is the only town in the
state that has been sighted in that re-
gard She is splendidly equipped in
the way of hotels, convention halls,
etc, to take care of the convention.
She has a labor movement that is
wide awake and aggressive, despite
1, g IL
of a community in which there are
few mechanical industries We have
enjoyed the hospitality of Yakima's s
trade unions on several occasions and
can testify that there is no finer brand
in the state
Under all the circumstances the
Journal confesses to a wish that va
kima pulls down the plum
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18

constantly drifting, industries starting
and closing, running half time, quarter
time, short-handed part of the season,
two and three shifts part season, the
wonder is that we keep as even a keel
industrially as we do. Machinery
that is almost human, intelligent ad-
vertising and marketing of products,
the resistless energy of modern busi-
ness, has kept us as nation from
going completely on the rocks indus
trially.
Is there nothing that can be done
to stop the economic waste due to
casual employment and lack of en-
ployment?
Ida Tarbell in a recent magazine
article says: Unemployment is no
more necessary than war.
1t is no more an untouched problem
than putting an end to war.
We must organize men and women
for labor as for war. Watch the per-
fection of the training and the move
ment of the masses that at this mo-
ment are meeting unspeakable, infer
nal slaughter in Europe. See how the
humblest is fitted to his task. With
what ease great bodies Wheel turn,
advance, retreat. Consider how, after
standing men in line that they may be
knocked to pieces, they promptly and
scientifically collect such as have es-
capped, both friend and foe, and (oh,
and heartbreaking human logicD un-
der the safe sign of the cross, tender
ly nurse them back to health. If this
can be done for war, should we do
less for peace?"
problem by establishing some system
of state employment offices and regu-
lation of private agencies. In one
particular Washington stands in the
very vanguard of all states. We have
wiped out the private employment
agency evil. Should we stop there
Something constructive should take
the place of the system we have legis
lated out of existence. We have in
some cities municipal free employ
ment agencies. Their work is good
but not good enough because there
is possible no coordination of effort
between municipal bureaus. Employ
ers may establish their own agencies
but they must of necessity be limited
in scope and run for pure business
reasons, lacking the broad sympathy
understanding and heart interest in
human welfare that must characterize
any real effort to deal with the EN-
ployment problem from the standpoint
of society's welfare. Employment
agencies operated by associations in
the name of charity" will not dc
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18

either. Nothing so beggars a man in
his self-respect as to feel that he is
the object of charity.
What then? Cooperation between
the city and State governments in
establishing closely-knit, we'll or
ganized system of labor exchanges
would be my answer. Oh, you say,
that's socialism," Call it anything
you like, its practicable and the only
way to my mind to meet the situation
How much of your crime is due to
continued unemployment, to men once
honest" as we term it, made desper-
ate, discouraged, degenerated through
spasmodic employment or no employ
ment at all? And crime is "expen-
sive" in more ways than one. We
eXpend a large sum annually for
charity, doled out to the poverty
stricken, a large amount to our aims
houses and other charitable institu-
tions. And it all comes out of society
in some form or other. Society in the
last analysis always pays the cost of
unemployment; we are paying every
day the cost of an idiotic industrial
policy in the distribution of labor.
Do you know what they are doing
in Germany? They are placing
through well organized system of
labor exchanges a million or more
men and women every year. Ger
many's workmen as a whole are stead
lily employed. This stoppage of waste
of labor power perhaps explains in
some measure why, when the great
test came, Germany has been able to
astonish the world with her wonder
full preparedness and resource. This
is no apology for militarism, but rath-
er let's little light into Germany's
ability to do what she has done.
The cooperative bureau of Milwau-
kee reports that for the year ending
October, 1913, out of 29,2S2 persons
who applied for positions, they had
been able to refer 2S,S63 to positions
That the confidence of employers has
been fully gained by the Milwaukee
bureau is evidenced by the fact that
in the same period SO,922 applications
for help were made by employers.
A wonderful opportunity exists in
this State to set the pace for the ma
tion. We have gone beyond all other
States in wiping out an acknowledged
evil. 1t would be criminal for us to
stop there. No asset on earth is worth
so much to a State as a steadily en-
ployed, contented work people. Labor
is the very life blood of our existence.
1t touches us on every hand. enters
into every phase of life's activities.
A migratory, shiftless class of labor
is a continual "old man of the sea"
ever rising to rebuke our indifference
and neglect along industrial lines.
realize that the call for appropriations
to meet our ever growing needs in
the carrying on of our State institu-
tions, is loud and insistent and
worthy. | know our people complain
about high taxes" | know also that
the conservation of men and women
is as imperative a need as conserva-
tion of timber, water and land. Our
legislature could do no worthier deed,
Continued on Page Four)
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18
By e. P. MARSH.

OF all the social and industrial prob
lens facing the people of the United
States, none is more vital than the
problem of employment under good
conditions of the productive power of
labor. And more and more, thought
full people in every grade of society
are coming to realize that this is so
and to study scientifically the cause
of unemployment and it's cure. Our
study of that problem has been spas
modic and in the main ineffective, but
dition and wants to do something, is
in itself encouraging.
Casual employment" is a phase of
the subject that calls for study as
we'll as unemployment" The man
with family who works but half time
is continually on the border line of
want, needing but slight run of i'll
ness or other misfortune to push him
over.
haps more than it's quota of the casu-
ally employed. This is due in part
to the seasonal nature of our leading
industries, and the lack of variety of
occupations to absorb the workmen
thrown out when our few basic indus
tries cease operation. The pernicious
practices in the past of private en-
ployment agencies were responsible in
a great degree for casual employment.
1t seems to have been prevalent Gus
| tom with some concerns to make the
| period of employment as brief as pos
sible. If one man was sent out six
times in one month there was just
that much more money in it for Mr.
Employment Agent and his cocoon
spirator in some camp or factory who
shared in the unholy profits. Aside
from these causes was the lamentable
lack of exact information upon the
part of anyone as to the extent OF
unemployment, the adaptability oi
many workmen for various forms OF
labor, the real needs and wants in ar
industrial way of each section of the
State. The mere rumor that mer
were wanted in certain part of the
State would bring men flocking tt
that locality, in excess of the number
wanted, and many of them hopelessly
misfits for the kind of work to be per
formed. The result was and is indus
trial chaos. The economic waste o
labor in this country is something
enormous. If a business firm had tn,
lack of system In its offices that pre-
walls in our labor market, that firm
would soon be in bankruptcy Witt
our hundreds of thousands of mer
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18
SETTLE LONG STRIKE

MURPHYSBORO, Ill, Dec. 1.-THE
Murphysboro Paving Brick company
has signed a union shop agreement
with its workers and this twelve
years strike is at an end.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18

Bartenders' Ball New Years Eve
Thursday evening, December 81, 1914,
Masonic Hall, cor. Wall and Colby.
Grand Serpentine and Snow Ball Bat
lie at y o'clock Admission soc.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18
SIGN AN AGREEMENT

ST JOSEPH, Mo-, Dec. 1.-THE
Powell Manufacturing company has
signed an agreement with the Gar
ment Workers union and will start
operating about the middle of the
month. A local of meat cutters has
been organized, and application for
charter made.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-12-18
State System Of Employment
Agencies Should Be Established

WASHINGTON LEADS THE WAY IN ABoLIsHING PRIVATE
AGENCY ABUSES CONSTRUCTIVE LEGISLATION TO
SYSTEMATIZE EMPLOYMENT AN IMPERATIVE NEED
NINETEEN STATES HAVE TACKLED PROBLEM WILL
WASHINGTON LAG BEHIND?
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07
From Princeton

Monday, May 4.-The telephone man
was here during the past week, taking
dots and trying to find location for his
line, with good prospects of having it
built in the near future.
Mr.. Archie Watson, now of Spring
Hill, spent yesterday with his parents.
Miss Aline VanArsdel and brother,
Rex, are spending the weekend in Min
den with friends.
Mrs. Sam Marlborough land little sony
of Shreveport spent Monday in Bellevue
with her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. L. C.
Biggs.
Our little depot was taxed to its
utmost capacity the past week by the
crowd of travellers who come and go
every day.
The school children are anticipating a
good time at the end of the school ses-
sion. They have been promised picnic
and lawn party.
Mr., H. D. Southers and family lave
moved here from the Bodcau Bridge
community. Mr.. Southers is an expert
blacksmith. He has built his shop near
the saw mill and is ready to fill any
order in his line of business.
Mr.. w. H. Taylor and family visited
Mr.. and Mrs. F. E. Burrage yesterday.
They were on their way to Kansas City
from Mercedes, Texas. They lived too
close to the border not to feel uneasy
about our troublous times with Mexico,
and concluded that beautiful home
and bountiful crops were nothing CON-
pared with the safety of ones family.
News of the death Of Mr.. Augustus
Boone was received here with sorrow
He was relative (by marriage) of the
McDade family, and was a frequent
visitor here. His last son preceded him
to the grave only a year ago. Two
| daughters are left. They are Mrs
Leona White and Mrs. C. H. Elston
who have the sympathy of the entire
community.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07


WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 10.
|. Song-Nell and Jack Evans.
2. Sunflower Drill-Primary boys.
8. Duet-Henry McLeish and Matte
Sentell.
4. Graduates Drill-Primary girls.
5. Prayer-Primary grades.
6. Duet-Mattie Self and Velmer Win
I. Poppy Second and third grade
girls.
8. Uncle Rastus' Minstrel-Fou and
fifth grade boys.
9. Dolly's Party-Second and third
grade girls.
10. Dispelling Big sJim-Fourth and
fifth grade boys.
ii. Play: Doctor Devine-Sixth and
+ seventh grade girls.
IL. Japanese Drill-High school girls.
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY IA.
/. Flower drill-Fourth and fifth grade
girls.
2. Zu Zus-Second and third grade
boys.
8. Pantomime-H High school boys and
girls.
4. Hayseed Drill Sixth and seventh
grade boys and girls.
5. High school girls.
6. Chinese Tea Party-Sixth and sew
enth grade boys and girls.
Z. Melodrama: The Last Loaf-High
school grades.
FRIDAY EVENING, MAY Is.
/. Invocation Rev. G. g. Woodbridge
2. Glass Song" Lang Syne."
3. Glass History-Carrie Boggs.
4. Glass Poem oattie Nice lenaghan
5. Glass Prophecy Matte Gardner.
6. Vocal solo.
Z. Glass Will-Bessie Carstarphen.
g. Valedictory Ruth Nuckolls.
g.. Address-Rev. T. J. Embree.
10. Piano solo.
II. Essay immigration in the South
Matte Gardner.
IL. Award of Medal-H. H. Mont
gomery.
10. Presenting Diplomas-Superinten
dent w. A. Fortson.
ia. Glass observation-disclosures, My God
/ To Thee.
Is. Benediction-Rev. F. L. Banks.
i Admission fees of 10 and Is cents vii
be charged on Wednesday and Thursda,
evenings, for benefit Of the library fund
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07
Here at Home
You and Your Nei9hbors In Print

Miss Pauline Dawson spent two days
of last week in Shreveport with friends.
Mr.. R. E. Wyche expects to leave TO-
morrow for St. Louis for short stay on
business.
Mrs. Elizabeth Dawson reports new
Irish potatoes on the table-the first of
the season, so far as the writer is in
formed.
Row Brown, Texas youth, but whose
parents now reside at Dixie Cross Roads,
left one day last week for Hosston to &C
cept position. For some time past be
has had employment with Mr.. A. M.
league and has also been student in
our school.
We regret the crowded condition of
the Banners columns. Again this
week, as last week, several communica-
lions and number of local paragraphs
written in this Office are omitted from
print. Beginning with next weeks
issue there will be plenty of room, so
send in your communications as hereto
fore.
The stage of Red River at Shreye-
port Yesterday was 2O.3 feet, indicating
rise during twenty-four hours of 1.3
feet. The forecast read: "Stages of
about or above 80 feet are indicated at
Fulton within about five days and at
S Springbank within about nine days, and
the rise will continue at Shreveport for
an indefinite PERIOD"
The Shreveport Times of Monday
makes mention of the marriage of Miss
Eloise Spilker, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. c. Spilker of that city, to Mr..
Newman Larkin, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
j. A. Larkin of Benton. The ceremony
was said by Rev. Jasper K. Smith in the
First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport.
The couple has the we'll wishes of many
of the groom's friends residing in this
parish.
Mr.. Augustus Boone, aged 65 years,
died in Shreveport Saturday night as a
result OF taking dose of strychnine in
mistake for quinine. For years Mr.,
Boone resided at Doyline and was well
known throughout this parish. He was
{ Confederate veteran, a worthy man
and a loving parent. His death is
greatly deplored. The remains were
inferred in Fillmore Cemetery. His two
surviving children are Mrs. Elston OIL
Dubberly and Mrs. White of Shreve-
port.
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Robertson, ar
estimable and we'll beloved woman, dice
at her home in Haughton last Thursday
at an advanced age, death being due
directly to paralysis and following {
lingering illness. The deceased was
born Lay, was sister of Mrs. Addit
Neeson, who formerly resided in THU
place, and was member of a prominen
and pioneer family of this parish
Among the surviving relatives are fiv,
grandchildren A. H. Moore o
Shreveport and Misses Alma and Sun
shine, Joe and Jack McMath OF Haugh
ton. The remains were laid to rest las
Friday in the Linton cemetery.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07
Henderson. Johnson. Logan.
Expresses His Gratitude.

To the voters of Bossier Parish wish
to give in print some expression OF my
appreciation over the exceptionally COM
plimentary vote polled in the interest OF
my candidacy in Tuesdays election. |
became candidate for the Office not
alone with desire to serve the public
and those who urged me to enter the
race, but to better my financial standing
so that might better provide for those
dear ones dependent upon me. Fully
cognizant of this fact, you also have
their lasting thanks for this nomination
at your hands. l shall enter upon the
discharge of the duties of the Office
which you have entrusted to me with a
full knowledge of it's responsibilities,
and shall ever strive to serve you faith
fully and keep its sundry tasks well up
TO their present and past high standard
4 OF excellence. JAS. M. HENDERSON.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07
Succession Notice.

Succession of R. o. johnson, deceased. No 603d.
in the Second District Court, Rossier Parish,
State of Louisiana.
NOTICE Is hereby given that H. H. Mont
~ gomery, administrator, has this day filed
tabIeau of debts in said succession, and unless
objection be made thereto within the time specf-
fed BY law, the same will be duly homologated
as prayed for.
Witness the Hon. j. N. Sandlin, Judge Of said
Court this the 10th day of April, "A. d. 1914.
s. e. MeCORQUODA Clerk
49, and ex-officio Recorder and Notary Public.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07
MIR. Henderson Nominated.

The results of Tuesdays primary cleo
ton show that Mr.. J. M. Henderson of
Plain Dealing has been nominated to
succeed to the unexpired term Of the
Office of Clerk of Court for Bossier Par
ish, his majority over his two opponents
being 1875 votes. The total vote through
out the parish by precincts was as
follows:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07

II you have something on your farm
you would like to convert into money
advertise it in the Banner.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07

asSe A baseball and bat will be given
free with each pair of boys shoes pur-
chased at the Boston Shoe Store of
Shreveport.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07
Notice.

THE Bossier Parish School Board
i hereby offers reward of $40 for
each and every arrest and conviction OF
culprits entering and defacing school
property in Bossier Parish.
Defacing public property of any kind
is punishable by fine not to exceed
$500, or imprisonment, or both.
w. A. FoRTsoN, Superintendent.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-05-07

DR.. v. Irwin Miller, Dentist,
Has moved his Office to rooms 405-6-7,
Hutchinson Building, Shreveport, La.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-26
Quaint Old ENGLISH Ceremony.

On the last day of each October the
city solicitor of London. with an as
sistant. attends upon the royal remem--
brancer. when by proclamation the
tenants and occupiers of piece OF
waste ground called the moorS, in the
county of Salop." are commanded TO
come forth and do your service upon
pain and peril that shall fall thereon"
The solicitor chops in halves two flag
OTIS. one with a Ratchet and the other
with bill hook. Afterward comes the
summons to the tenants. etc. of IA
certain tenement with Il forge" in the
Strand and the payment of six horse
shoes with sixty-one shoe nails. by the
solicitor This forge has long ceased
to be. and TIL, same shoes and nails
are used year after year. the shoes be-
ing at least 80 centuries old.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-26
Returned With Thanks.

At recent banquet David Belasco
was being congratulated on the sue
cess of one OF his plays, to which he
responded:
Writing plays is risky business.
Past triumphs don't count He who
has written twenty superb pieces Is
just as likely to be damned on his
twenty first piece as any tyro- For tn-
stance:
"A playwright of my acquaintance
sat In the trout row on first night OF
a new piece of his own. The play was
complete failure: AS my friend sat.
pale and sad. amid the Kisses. wo-
man sitting behind him leaned forward
and said;
Excuse me, sir: but. knowing you
to be the author of this play, | took the
liberty, ut the beginning Of the per-
Torrance of shipping off lock of your
hair. Allow me to return it TO YOU =
Everybody's.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-26
READS TWO WAYS.
Punctuate This Letter and Get Widely
Different Meanings.

A letter. so constructed without
punctuation that it can be read in
number of different ways, giving di-
rectiy opposite meanings. was printed
in an Indiana newspaper in 1855. The
letter follows:
''Hc is an old experienced man in
vice and wickedness he is never found
opposing the works of iniquity he takes
delight in the downfall of the neigh
borhood he never rejoices in the pros
perity of any of his fellow creatures
he is always ready to assist in destroy
ING the peace of society he takes no
Measure in serving the Lord he is I'M
commonly diligent in sowing discord
among his friends and acquaintances
he takes no pride in laboring to pro-
mote the cause of Christianity he has
not been negligent in endeavoring to
sticmatize all public teachers he makes
no eyertions to subdue his evil pas
sions he tries hard to build up Satan's
kingdom he lends no aid to the support
of the gospel among the heather he
contributes largely to the evil adrer-
sary he pays no attention to good ad
vice he gives great heed to the devil he
will never 90 to heaven he must &C
whore he will receive his just recon-
pepse of reward indianapolis News