davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world., 1914-02-14

working people. These attainments or
attributes are not possessions of the
individual, they are the individual
and cannot be separated from per-
sonality. Cultivation Of powers and
ability increases and enriches. the re-
sourcefuness and efficiency of the in
dividual: but these things are subjec-
tive and immaterial and are not in
themselves wealth. The individual
may be able and powerful, and there
fore fortunate, but it does not neces-
sarily follow therefrom that he is
wealthy. The wealth which he may
produce is separate and distinct from.
himself. 1t follows then that to ap-
ply to voluntary associations OF work
Ing people Commonly called labor or
ganizatton), which are concerned
with individuals and their powers, the
same regulations that are applied to
organizations manipulating the pro-
ducts Of labor, would lead to mis-
chtevous results and perversion OF
Justice
4 Fallacy Exposed.
But, let us return to MITCHELL Ha
takes up the argument of Professor
Laughlin. who alleged that higher
wages are responsible for the in
| creases in the cost of living This is
a charge often hurled at labor, and
1t is pleasing to see. one explode this
opposition. First, let us quote Pro.
fessor Iauehlin in his own language
There is no question whatever il,
The labor world., 1914-02-14

my mind that the rise of prices Of
almost all articles of general con-
sumption during the last decade or
two has been due, as much as to any
thing else, to the rise in money wages
paid for the same, or even less, labor
effort
Relation of Wages to Money.
This" replies MITCHELL is strange
and unusual contradiction Of what is
almost uniformly asserted by leading
economists, nearly all Of whom hold
that the worldwide movement Of
increased prices is due primarily and
principally to the increase In the
quantity Of money which has followed
the extraordinary production Of gold
during the past sixteen Years. No
doubt the increase is the cost Of food
products in the United States is addl-
/ tionaly accounted for by the fact
that the growth of city population,
; both in the aggregate and in proper
tion. has been much greater than the
growth of agricultural popu lation. l.
Is not denied that increased wages
may and often do add to the cost Of
production, but that the world wide
movement Of increased prices and
higher cost Of living is chargeable in
any considerable degree to higher
wages and less labor effort is un-
| thinkable and unbelievable
! Prices and Wages.
| Mitchell continues his argument AS
F., follows
The labor world., 1914-02-14
QGQN|NE||lsAIRR0W
ESCAPE FROM DEATH
Former President of international
Association of Machinists on
Ill.Fated Steamer.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-James
O'Connell. vice president Of the
American Federation of Labor and
member Of the Federal Industrial Re-
lations Commission. narrowly es-
capped death by drowning in a collision
between two steamboats, in a heavy
fog off the Virginia coast.
He was a passenger from Norfolk
to New York on the Old Dominion
liner Monroe, which was rammed III
the early morning by the Nantucket
of the Merchants and Miners COM
pany. The Monroe sank to the bot
tom in few minutes. Mr.. O'Connell.
together with 40 other passengers
and members of the crew were saved,
and 81 were lost.
The rescued rushed from their
berths in their night clothes and Were
picked up in this condition from the
icy waters. The trade unionist's res
cue was thrilling. As the Monroe
careened for the last time he was
thrown high in the air, over the yes
sells side, and landed astride the
captains neck in the last lifeboat that
left the ship.
Secretary of Commerce Redfield is
investigating the collision.
The labor world., 1914-02-14

This is a story about bartenders
and saloon licenses. 1t Is not neces-
sarily a protest. although it may
read like one; it Is an analysis. Its
reasoning prompts the question:
"Whither Are We Drifting
Commissioner Hicken has succeed
ed admirably In holding down the lid :;
but he does not feel secure. When
he has said that there was not suffi-
cient law to enable him to compel all
saloon men to keep closed after II
o'clock at night and on Sundays, the
people stood behind him and gave
him moro law. He now seeks still
more law; he proposes to have bar
tenders licensed and tagged, 80 that
If they violate the law not only sa-
loon owners who employ them will
lose their licenses, but bartenders
will lose their jobs.
No Defense of Liquor Traffic.
1t has come to time in our city
life when one refuses to go the limit
with Hicken's program OF law en-.
forcement." 1t Is taken as an act OF
friendship for the liquor traffic. This
Is why a goodly number Of men with
democratic ideals remain silent while
Commissioner Hicken runs his course
In batting down the "outposts of In.
erty.' Who Is 1t wants it said Of him
that he is a defender Of the saloon?
'Hicken is right and the saloons are
are Wrong,' no matter what Hicken
may do or what he may want done.
However. The Labor World, has Il
notion or two that Hicken Is not in .
fallible. He Is right in most things,
this is admitted. He has coura &c
no one disputes it. He will stand for
no monkeying, and he is consistent.
Whether you agree with him or not
he Is entitled to credit for his telling
virtues. Hicken is master of his job,
and this is more than can be said of
two or three OF. his colleagues.
Too Much Law Now.
Now with all the laws there are up
on our statute books, and with a
goodly number of strong city ordi-
nances at his back. one would think
that the commissioner of public safe
ty had about all the law he needs tu
| compel dealers In liquor Ito he good"
But Hicken says that he needs more
'~'' civ iC "oIIS du OEOlHdNC0 pass
ed recurring bartenders to be licens-
ed. just as We tax and tag teams
automobiles and dogs.
Possibly Hicken is right. We do
not know his stdes Of the game as
we'll as he does. but We do know tina,
tosiicense baft tenders, changes fhS III
feet entirely OF the license busines,,
, with relation to the sale OF intoxicat.
ing liquors. Tax the distiller and the
man who drinks whiskey, whether he
drinks 'is at a bar. at his home or a,
the club, pays the tax. Tax the brew.
er and the beer drinker pays it in tn,
size of the glass he is given; tax tn,
retailer and his customers pay il
rack to him, but levy tax or
the bartender, the wage Garner |:
the retail end Of the business
and ne must pay it out Of hi,
wages. He can not charge it up tt
the traffic as is done BY the distillers
wholesalers, brewers and saloon keep
The labor world., 1914-02-14
FINALLY GET TRUTH
IN COPPER COUNTRY
Copper Miners Had Grievances by
the score-Men Underpaid
and Cruelty Robbed.
COLORADO IN THROES
OF MONEY MAD BARONS
Power of Government Turned
Over to Mine Owners-Militia
Acts Under Their Orders.

The truth about conditions in the
strike regions Of Michigan and Col.
orado is at last coming to the sur.
face. but 1t required an investigation
from committees of congress to die
it up. The Associated Press, at a
time when it would have been more
uesful, failed to act as the great
fair and uncolored news agency i,
pretends to be.
In the copper country it had been
asserted and maintained throughout
by enemies of the strikers that the
miners were we'll paid and we'll treat.
ed. The evidence being disclosed be-
fore the investigating committee
shows that men working on contracts
have been paid as low as 81 cents a
month for their labor. after deduct
ing all expenses.
One man swore that when he was
cheated out of his money there was
no way for him obtaining redress. a
number Of others testified that they
went on strike as there was nothing
left for them to do. They could sc,
| redress in no other way.
Press reports from Colorado give
the testimony in detail. They indi'
cate that there has been veritable
| reign of terror in that money baron.
ridden state. Armed battles have
taken place between the strikers and
mine guards. and machine guns have
been frequently used.
The militia seems to have been used
| under orders from the mine owners
n, r
life has been shown throughout. State
officials have lent themselves to the
corporations, and the power of the
government has been turned over te
| the Colorado coal barons.
The labor world., 1914-02-14

TIME news reached Duluth Wednes-
day that John Mitchell, who re-
Gently retired from the vice.
presidency Of the American Fedora
lion of Labor, may be appointed
commissioner of immigration by
PRESIDENT Wilson. About the same
time, the February number Of The
Atlantic Monthly reached here. In
this magazine John Mitchell has an
enhshtening, thougnt-provoking art
lcle which he gives the caption, 1.-The
Economic Necessity of Trade Union
'srn," An article which should be read
carefully by every member Of labor
organizations. It would be difficult to
md clearer, more succtnct state
ment of the ideals and aspirat1ons OF
the American Labor movement, of It's
reasons for existence, Of it's inherent
humanitarianism, of it's defense OF
the toilers.
In his introduction Mitchell says
mat trade unions were formed for
e definite purpose; they have we'll
uefined policies and methods of pro-
ccdure; they are great, democratic in
stltutions administered by practical
men who are earnestly and success
1ulIy striving for the amelioration of
the conditions of the poor"
The Basis of Unionisnl.
Continuing, Mitchell says:
I'm its fundamental principle, trade
un1onism is a recognition of the fact
The labor world., 1914-02-14
HOW TRADE UNIONISM
PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13.-With
one hundred per cent membership,
the local union of Asbestos Workers
has secured a fine agreement with
employers which carries an increase
of so cents day over the former
rate Of $3.50.
The eight-hour day is recognized.
with double time for five legal holi-
days. Work on Labor Day is made
prohibitive, as the employers agree
to pay triple time for labor on this
day.
A scale for helpers is also agreed
to. They shall receive 81 a day for
the first year; $3.50 for the second.
and So for the third. The contract
involves nearly 400 men, employed
in nine shops, all of which recognize
the union.
The labor world., 1914-02-14
CITY LIGHT PLANT
PROFIT $4,000
Jacksonville (Fla.) Municipal
Electric Plant Makes Money for
People-Rates Are Low.
HAS NETTED 81, 800, 900
DURING LIFE OF PLANT
Used $1,000, 900 for Extensions
and Turned $600,00o Into City .
Treasury-Duluth Is Next.

The electric light plant belonging
the present year, will pay to these
same people a profit of 0,00O-or
about $40 for each family in the city:
The average price OF electricity for
all purposes will be cents a kilo-
watt hour.
And the housewife will get her
electricity for 2 cents a. kilowatt
hour
In these statements of William e.
Bostwick, head of the bond trustees
who have charge OF the municipal
plant are found the answer to the
question Of whether municipal own
ership works.
The price Of electricity back in
1898 was between Is and 20 cents a
kiloVatt hour. In that year bond
issue Of $1,000,000 was voted for the
purpose OF buying the private plant
and making some needed extensions.
Since that time the plant has
earned $1,S00,0O0 for its owners, the
people, Of which $1,20o,000 has been
spent in making extensions and i'm
provements, and 100000 turned into
the city treasury to pay for other
municipal activities that otherwise
would have reached into the people g
pockets for more taxes.
The plant is managed by a nom
partisan board. This year third
Of all city taxes will be paid by the
plant.
This plant is responsible for the
growth o! Jacksonville says Bost-
wick, who brought in the era Of eff
cheney. I'VE attract factories by our
low rates. Our people get the bene-
fits in their homes. The cost Of
manufacturing electricity here. is III
cents a kilowatt hour
The labor world., 1914-02-14
BARTENDERS LICENSE WOULD BE
CRIMINAL TAX NOT UNSUITABLE

ers. Its exaction by the city means
the sacrifice Of some clothing or some
food on the part OF the bartender or
his family. This is the whole thing
in a nut shell. and 1t Is this fact that
will make a. license tax on bartenders
a criminal tax.
Bartenders and Others.
Yes, We know, the tax Is to be
but $500 a year, but it is a great deal
moro in proportion to what the bar
tender earns than is paid on their in
comes by Chester A. Congdon, Watson
S. Moore. Thos. F. Cole. G. G. Hartley
and others. OF course 1t is easy to
tax bartender, for who sympathizes
with him or his business? But laying
all prejudices aside we have an old
fashioned notion that Justice Is Just
ice. whether 1t is applied to a bar
tender or a preacher. I'VE are speak
ing Of men now,. not of vocations.
1t is not the bartender's fault that
the liquor business isflegalized by H.
ccnse. Some men have been bartend-
ers all their lives. They don't know
anything else. Put them out OF busi-
ness and they would be on the ocean
OF life. like a ship without a rudder.
In this respect they are no different
than doctors. lawyers merchants or
preachers. In another respect they
are different. for they would not even
make good insurance agents, like so
many OF our bankrupt doctors. lawy-
ers. merchants and preachers.
Bartender Is a Wage Farmer.
\ bartender is a tradesman, Just
like cook. a baker or q barber. 1t
Is a serious matter when "a working
man must depend upon the good will
Of city police officials to work at his
trade. Such a thing may be warrant
ed in the interest OF public health, or
safety TO life and limb. and even then
not under police supervision but by
board OF competent examiners such
as doctors and BARRIERS have now.
But Mr.. Hicken can not claim a
7 place for his ordinance as q public
health or safety to life measure. He
either wants it for public revenue
purposes or for police power over the
;; bartender. In the first instance 1t
would be a crime and an awful indict-
! ment against the efficiency Of the
| commission form of government. In
the latter it is neither necessary nor
justifiable.
Too Make Bartendef the Goat?
Tho city commission has now full
and complete authority over saloons
and all persons conneelAd with them
Accord dsns e e. the j. saloon
ff0wss1s ats rss ii y u s10l the a1ts 81
lther bartenders. Il y barte nder sell.
to 1 minor, the owner IS Liable. II he
kesip open after hours the owner mus,
suffer. The proposed license ordi.
nance would not alter the situation ir
any respect unless Mr.. Hicken con,
templates changing his policy OF re,
voking saloon licenses for violation.
Of law by the bartender-such as wa.
done in the Buchanan case-to Z
mere revocation Of the bartender's Ii.
cense In other words is the bartend
er to be made tho goat" for the sa
loon keeper in certain favored cases
1t is either this or 1t is proposed to re-
woke both the saloon license and thu
The labor world., 1914-02-14
artender's license.
Blue Cont Tyranny Worst.

DartenderS license.
Blue Cont Tyranny Worst.
The saloon keeper who loses his
license can take his capital-that is II
he has any left when the commission
gets through with him. to any line Of
business and 1t will be welcome.
There Is not caste in mopey. But the
bartender who loses his license. what
Will he do? He is social outcast. His
work Is against him. Hicken, or a re-
vengeful police officer on the beat has
omnipotent power over him. Police
officers have been known to use this
power wrongfully and with vengeance.
1t is nothing uncommon. 1t is easy
10 arrest a bartender
OF course there are bad bartenders,
just as there are dishonest bankers,
who ought to be put out OF business,
and who can always be reached. We
are not speaking Of them, we are
thinking Of the average man in the
business. A policeman can always
find an excuse for lodging a COM
plant against him. You know there is
to be no jury trial for violating Hick-
en- ordinance. The judge of the mu-
nicipal court will be the sole arbiter
Of the facts, and sometimes judges
are ta!lible. Some OF them may be
fanatics, too; In any event It Is the
policeman's word against the bar
tenders, and the courts usually be-
lieve the police, for they have no
way Of knowing what Is back of po-
lice motives
When He Is Out Of a Job.
So there We are. the bartender is
out Of a job, never to get one again
unless he can bring influence to bear
on the city commissioners. In the
meantime he and his family go
hungry, but then a bartender ought
| not to have a family, we didn't think
OF that before.
But what is the use OF writing
about such A matter in connection
with the saloon business? We are
helpless. The commissioners will pa y
40 attention to our appeals for fair
play, not yet at least: but they will
some day. AS that day is not at hand
they will pass the ordinance, for it is
safe thing to do. Bartenders do not
cut much political figure nowadays,
! and there Is no one to voice a protest
iV' ticul, save Inc LABOR "OrlO, and
We do not like to do it, for it takes
too long to explain. 1t looks all the
world like veiled attempt to de.
fend the saloon business, which Is no;
the issue in this story.
This Is the Real Issue. 81
And SIT Ito. aaiIl, th,esre il ! qlles.
tlon OF human rights involved. hu.
man rights to which even bartender.
are entitled, although they may be
grudgingly recognized. OF course
Hicken may be just; If he only want.
police power over bartenders he viii
treat them right. We have this much
confidence in him, but some da,
Hicken will be gone, like Pharoah o1
old went. and there may arise I'D q
New King Over Egypt Who knew
Not Joseph" and it will be the sam>
old story OF persecution that come.
with too much power.
1t is this power We fear more thar
anything else. even over bartenders
The labor world., 1914-02-14
TORTURER OF STRIKERS
QUITS SOUTH AFRICA JOB

LONDON, Feb. 13.-Thc Daily Citi-
zen, a labor newspaper. today says
Viscount Gladstone resigned as gov
ernor general Of the Union of South
Africa month ago and only remain
ed at his post because of the unset
tied state of affairs. He will quit at
the earliest possible moment. Clad
stone took the harshest action against
strikers that have ever been used in
an English speaking country.
The labor world., 1914-02-14
New York Sun Makes Complaint
Charging Big News Service Is
in Restraint of Trade.
RICHARD JONES DIGS
UP SOME A, P, HISTORY
Tells How Vital News Was Sup
pressed, Operators Blacklisted
and Reports Colored.
BY RICHARD JONES.

Congress has been asked to look in
to the practices Of the Associated
Press. This information is given us
through the newspapers. Owing /"
tained in the newspapers comes from
the Associated Press itself. we are pre-
vented from knowing just exactly
what the trouble is about. We are
told, however, that the New York Sun
wants congress to ascertain why the
Sun cant obtain news service unless
it becomes member Of the Asso-
ciated Press. The Sun wants to pur-
chase its news outright and is re-
fused.
The Associated Press is voluntary
association comprising about 900
newspapers throughout the country:
it has no capital stock. Art Young,
Socialist cartoorist, has published
cartoon which tries to show that the
news sent out by the Associated Press
is corrupted at its source, and con-
sequence, Young and a comrade have
been arrested for libel.
Challenge to A. p.
At the risk Of being hailed before
the courts on a charge of libel. l shall
enumerate a few instances to show
that the Associated Press, benevolent
institution that it is. has put some
things across which places the bur
den on it to prove that Art Young's
cartoon accusation is incorrect.
Mother Jones was in a West Eir-
! ginia Jail for about three months Oh
a trumped up charge. Hardly any
one knew Of it excep those who
| learned it from the Socialist and labor
press. The Associated Press. for some
reason did not carry line concern
Ing sM other Jones incarcerat Ion. (
provost marshal who ordered her ar
rest and confinement was the CORES
| pondent for the Associated Press.
Rotten at its source? Well give you
| three guesses.
| One Paper Baked.
The dispatches from the copper
country during the first days of the
| strike were so palpably colored that
it is said one of the Twin City news
! papers sent a wire to the correspond
| ents in that region to the effect that
their readers wouldn't stand for sucl,
stuff. You will remember that these
first dispatches contained hardly any
thing except that the strike was
brought on by a few agitators that
the miners we're we'll paid and salts
/ fed and that ''out Of a total of about
$4,000 miners only 175 had been
killed last year.
During the telegra phi strike of 1907
another instance of the prejudicial
and biased character Of reports Of
| industrial trouble is seen. The strike
was directed against the Associated
Press as we'll as against the two big
telegraph companies. In Duluth and
the Twin Cities the A. p. carried re-
ports that in Houston, Galveston and
southern cities the striking teles-
raphers were rapidly returning to
work. To the southern newspapers,
this benevolent news service sent re-
ports that the strikers in Duluth and
the Twin Cities were going back.
This happened during the early days
of the strike and we in this region
knew that the reports In the southern
| papers were lies: we were notified by
| our striking brothers in the south to
| pay no attention to Associated Press
Continued on Page 3.
The labor world., 1914-02-14
BOOkB1NDERS MAKE GAINS.

LAFAYETTE, Ind, Feb. )13.--After
ten days strike, bookbinders in this
city succeeded in signing a wage scale
that calls for an average of 81 a veex
for both men and women. This is the
first time the women have had a
recognized scale. Their increase
ranges from so cents to 81 a week.
The labor world., 1914-02-14

Continued on Page 3.
The day book., 1914-02-05


daughter of ex-Sheriff Corbin, sui
cided.
New York.-cesare Cont, private
banker, steamship and railroad ticket
agent who maintains immigrant
banks in seven cities, made assign
ment for benefit of creditors.
WashingEon.-Use of abandoned
military, naval and other government
buildings and stations as sites for
government tuberculosis hospitals,
proposed in bill introduced by Sen.
Shafroth.
London.-Another attempt to as
sassinate King Alfonso of Spain re-
ported
Davenport, Ia.-Unable to hear
approaching switch engine because
of deafness, Mrs. Belle Schneider,
35, killed.
Battle Creek, Mich.-Toasted corn
and wheat flakes scattered through
Michigan Central Railroad yards
when freight train ploughed into eX-
press truck left standing on tracks.
Loss $500.
Lincoln; Neb.-Melcher Leubben,
Pres. First Natl Bank, Sutton, Neb.,
indicted on charge of embezzling
$4,000 from bank.
New York.-aBttIeships North Da-
kota and Arkansas quarantined.
Diphtheria.
IndianapoIis.-Robt. L. Dorsey,
wealthy manufacturer. driving big
auto, ran down and killed Mrs. Law
renee Il. Wheeler.
CIeYeIand.-John D. Rockefeller
has not yet obeyed demand of coun-
ty tax commissioner that he pay S12,-
100000 in personal property taxes.
Lima, Peru.-so killed and wound
ed in battle which deposed Pres.
Guiller1no Rillinghurst. No success
sort proclaimed.
New York-"EVery time man buys
drink he should pay wife twice as