davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
COURT SUSTA|NS:
EMPLOYERS CLAIM
Oklahoma Judge Supports Street
Railway Manager Who Black
listed Union Men.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, Nov.4.
The criminal court Of appeals has
reversed the district court of Okla
homa county and annulled the law
making it a misdemeanor for an en-
ployer to require employees to sign
a contract not to become members
of a labor union.
The district court fined Manager
Bemis of the Oklahoma Railway CON-
rany 5000 for coercion of ,laborers.
He threatened to discharge them If
they joined the street car mems un-
ion. On appeal this decision was re-
versed. In his opinion Judge An
derson followed the decision of the
United States supreme court, Jan. 25,
1915, when a majority of the supreme
court justices annulled a similar law,
passed by the Kansas legislature.
Since then the Ohio supreme court,
on May. S, annulled the anti-coercion
law Of that state. e.
Summed up, these tribunals take
the position that the worker has the
right TO quit work for any cause or no
cause, and the employer has the same
right
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
..k|NGdT(IRl :
DOWN hRB|I||T||RAI||uD|I / III n


7 e 9: opper
mine operators 1avssrefused to arbit-
rate the demands OF their striking. en-
ployes for higher. wages. The strike
started last month. 1t It wan originally
caused BY the dismissal OF workers
who Joined the union: Representatives
OF the miners submitted this plan for
"a settlement, which: was rejected by
the operators, :: e. - =. -: es.
IAN Of the demands of the employees
to be submitted to a. board Of :,arbitra-
ton. The men to return TO work at
their former. wages pending the de-
cision of the board of arbitration.
When the board hassrendered. its de-
.cision the men to receive the advance
in wages, Il any, from the. day they
return to work. This difference TO
be paid on the first day after the
board has decided on the scale. in a.
lump sum, in addition to the wages
due for the past IS days. Two mem
bers Of this board to be appointed
by the employers, two by the employees
and a fifth member to be an employe
of the department. of labor, to be ap-
pointed by the secretary OF labor, and
the findings OF this board to be final
and binding on both parties.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

u H1Ne1soes,: : Nov: 10 "a; ;-=,rhs.
United States department: ot; labor,
through its bureau Of labor. statistics
publishes the results Of tho third
study in the series OF Investigations
being made into unemployment. The
following ~ cities in ~: the. Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast states
were canvassed: Butte, Los angeles,
Oakland, Ogden, Portland, .Sacra-
mento, Salt Lake City, San Diego; San
francisco, Seattle, Spokane and. Ia
coma. In those cities >36,637 families
were Investigated, and the number
Of wage earners were found to ;be
*49.9s9.' The unemployed total .6,573,
or 21.9 per cent, and: the part-time
wage earners are 9,s7f, or 2o.2 per
cent.
Portland, Ore, with. 20 per cent,
has the highest average Of .unem-
ployed. Oakland, with 26.s per: cent
has the: highest number of part-time
wage .earners, The lowest percentage
Of unemployed, <.s, was found in og-
den. Butte reports the lowest num-
Der Of spart-time wage earners, 1877
per cent:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
BRIIISHDE[EckIEs !.
ARRNEINlE|AVDR

- r EwSYQ 4.:zr -:
vim and Charles 6. Aimtndmu1dn, Aitndu1 strater-
nal delegates from British trade: ,,n;-*
i9nists ;to the american Federation
Of Labor: convention at San Francis
co, arrived in this city last week. IN
discussing English conditions. .Dele-
gate :Beyin said pnionists y III; his
country were not opposing the in.
;.creasing number Of women in in
dustry. because of the war. 't.All we
ask,"'c>$he said l., "is.: that women be not
introduced into factories and: rail:
way work at less pay than men get.
Our fight against conscription is
an economic one, having in view pos
isible conditions after the war. What
we have now represents more than
100 years of concerted action and
work, and to ask us to give up: these
conditions and accept conscriptien is
asking more than is required Of land
lords and manufacturers"
Mr.. Ammon is president of the
Fawcett association :(postoffice. en-
ployes) and Mr.. Bevin is organizer
of the Dock, Wharf and Riverside
Workers union.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

withstanding her too many duties, de-
voted herself to him until he knew
his letters. The rest he had to do for
himself, and, considering that he had
on one. to guide him in his choice of
studies, he did remarkably we'll for
by this time he was FL years old, and, j,
in spite OF his very limited leisure
time, he was fitted to become the edi-
tor of weekly paper in his district
This is not so surprising, though,
when one learns that his prime; fav-
critics among the moderns were
Thomas Carlyle and John Stuart Mill.
Did Not Fight in Vain.
In. 1877, when he had just turned
21, there was considera BILE disaffec-
tion among the Ayrshire miners. The
long hours and the miserable pay
were too much. for them, , so they
stopped work in order that their
grievances might be redressed. Hardie
was their chosen spokesman. This was
a signal proof of the very high esteem
In which he was held by his fellow
workers.
!, The miners did no, fight. in vain,
but their leader was dismissed and
blacklisted for so great temerity, for
such: It was accounted in: those days
in Scotland.
Blacklisting. for most workers is a
terrible thing, as it means no end of
hardship, but fortunately, Hardie's
thorough mastery of shorthand and
his: great knowledge OF working class
problems obWated that difficulty! for
him and, in the end, made him a
much more effective champion Of the
peoples. rights. s, !, :.
His first journalistic work was done
as editor Of a local weekly, ,the Cumm-
mock" News which he made famous
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

The daily papers defenders of commission
it exists in Duluth Business and professional
generally to like the form because nearly
resembles the closed corporations with which they familiar
people in the suburbsthe workngmen if You please
haven't very high regard for the five little onema-ns
ons at the city hail. misnamed Commission Government
1t admitted at the ouset that quicker action
in the matter of making public Improvements under the
present order than obtained under the old form Of
And this is about the only good thing to be said
about the new FORM T..
We promised "a hundred cents worth of
for every dollar paid in taxes Arc getting it? We
assured that the city would be conducted at minimum cost;
that while taxes would not be lower economy and system
much of the money then by aldermen would wisely
used better results would be had without increasing the
government to the people. More than years
under commission indicates that the commission
not whit consderate about spending the
peoples money than the aldermen during the most
extravagant days Of the past
We led to believe that politics would be foreign
commission governments that faithful efficient employee
would be removed because of his politics. and that the letter
before What the results? There is politics at
the city hall than during the most rotten days of adermanic
rule
Why Bob" Metcaf dismissed from the health de-
partment? Because of politics, to make for faithful
election worker Metcaf passed civil service examination
appointed inspector without political influence
is not politician and knows nothing about the game Of
politics For this and other he dropped from
the health department pay roll His record for service
conceded to be good.
Why did Chief rroyer resign as head of the police de-
partment? Because Of politics When he left Duluth
lost the best chief of police in the United States and
beginning to realize since he gone Even the crooks
realize it, They to feel there is better chance for
making getaway now then when Troyer the job.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
ATTORNEYS FEES ARE I
PROTECTED By COURT

i, WASHING Nov. Justice
Gould Of the District: supreme court.
has ruled that congress has no right
to direct what per cent Of d claim
shall be- given to lawyers. Thomas
Fahey was voted '1,s4oS BY congress.
When this and similar bills We're
allowed. congress directed that attor-
-neys for the: claimants should not re-
ceive more than 20 per cent Of the
moneys, Fahey had previously signed
a contract calling for 33 1-3 per cent
and was sued by his attorneys for
the difference.
Justice Gould held that congress
had no right to direct how the money
should be spent.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
WHATS WRONG WITH COMMISSION GOVERNMENTS?

CAf McKercher is good man but it will take him long
tine to learn the criminal ropes Troyer knew them
Why Dr. Murphy, trained specialist in public health
work removed from the health department? Because of
politics. He knew nothing about politics. He spent his time
atoleg in training for the public service He brought to
benefit Of his scientific research
ofpubc health. And to pay political debt he dropped
fr the service without moments notice He not out
ofA position week when he offered secretaryship
Of the Minnesota Public Health association: '::%
told that commission government would
employment of specialists rather than politicians
to important work of the city The dismissal Of Dr.
The public health specialist forced resigna
Chief Troyer expert in his ine because of cheap
politics. not speak very highly for the business end Of
commission government at present conducted in Duluth
is begging the question say because the city tax
that the cost of less The increased
valuations of and property responsible
in the tax rate and not the practice of
ecdony the administration Of city affairs by the
colmissioners They spending far money than
tho aldermen did, and they doing without restraint
The daily papers pattng the commissioners the
back for purchasing department after two and
onealaR years of commission government The commits
so probably would not have the necessity for this
it not for the fact that good number Of Duluth
beginning to realize that the commissioners not
meeting the ideals of commission government.
Bccause they not meeting the ideals Of commission
there sentiment developing among the people
the Strengthening of commission form government by taking
away from the commissioners their legislative duties and pac
ing in the hands of board of aldermen the members
of which shall act check against public exravagances
and,the usurpaton of power by the commissioners.
sf there board government and less one-man
the present form there probably would se-
men change just That there is sentiment
such wholly the conduct of the commissioners and
their failure to follow the spirit of the city charter obsery-
ing The ideals of commission government :. ::
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
BY John McLaren, Organizer Boston Socialist Party.

Miner, but the more appropriate title
OF the Labour Leader was given it
later. It was an uphill fight to keep
the paper going, but Hardie's heroic
efforts, with the aid of a. few loyal
comrades and friends, won the day.
The venture became so successful that
the Indepedent Labor party numeri-
cally the stronkestsaSocialist party in
Great Britain. took 1t over as its Of
ficial organ, and It became the most
influential Socialist and labor journal
in Great Britain. ....,. -
Began Bitter Fight. ~.
While conducting the Labours Lead
er, Hardie was. in constant: demand as
a speaker in trade union and Socialist
circles: The: question uppermost at
this time was unemployment, and the
workers were glad to learn of the
cause, and the remedy. In his agita-
tion on the unemployment question
he was so successful as to be elected
to the House of Commons in 1892 as
the member for the unemployed" I"
Something approaching panic was
created among the Liberals and Tor
les by the advent, of Hardie into the
House Of Commons, for they knew
such an, event heralded q funda-
mental change in the thinking Of the
working class. | .,s.,.;: ):
No sooner had he taken: his
seat in the House than a crop
OF Chambers and 1nisrepresenta-
ttons2 were created, a desperate: me-
thod Of fighting this man in the .hod-
den gray suit ana cap For they
greatly feared the influence Of his
words upon the workers as he would
tell them about the: real causes OF
poverty and unemployment with an
,eloquence ana ,eerlty sene allied in
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

It seems as if an ill fate were purI
suing not only the international"
but also its bright lights. The re-
moval by death Of Bebel was fell
blow to the German Social Democracy
as was ais 10 that of Jaures, by assas-
sination, to the French Democracy.
more Of a loss, as his voice was ever
the clearest' in the whole Interna-
tional for peace-the absolutely ne
cessary condition for any progress.
It is necessary to know. something
of the life OF Keir Hardie before one
can appreciate him as q man or as a
leader Of men, for he was an intense
" practical man, moved more by the
every day realities Of existence than
by any theoretical notions about it,,
This fact accounts for his great sue
cess and at the same time explains
the failure of men Of greater talent,
such as, Hyndman, Blatchford,, Cum
ninsham Grahame and Bernard, Shaw.
His Early Life.
He first saw the light on Aug. IS,
1856, in a typical ,one-roomed miners
cottage. in, Ayrshire, Scotland. So Door
We're y his parents, people Of rare and
noble: character, that he was put to
work as q messenger at years and
at 8 we find him working in the
PIT! The great hardship of this is
made, apparent most vividly when it
E1s stated that during the winter
) months. he never saw daylight, for he,
: with his fellows, had to work Il to
-. hours daily, thereby precluding
such, possibility. =
Before taking up his place as a.
tbrea adwinner he had tho advantage of
one days schooling! but. he was for
*tunate In having 9; mother who. not
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
PATERNALIsTiC BOSS
"GooD"TO EMPLOYERS

ATIfoLsa, Mass. >, Nov. ~4,--President
McGregor, 'of the Union Twist Drill.
company. has notified>the public that
we have: always watched out tor the
interest ct our employ md ssthats
the company VIII 1ititue fo conduct
Its. business t*without dealing with
labor unions or shop committees or
their delegates. So About: 400 workers
are on strike: at this place for an eight
hour day, time and one-half for over
time and double time for Sundays and
holidays -
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

through his brilliant advocacy. Of
much-needed social reforms. And
while editor of this he was made Sec
retary~ Of his local miners union, an
office usually filled by leaders who
have been blacklisted.
Although able to shine as a jour-
nalist and writer, Hardie's genius
best suited him to politics. He saw
clearly, as none Of his time did, that
the British government was more the
institution. of a decadent aristocracy
than an institution of the people. This
now universally accepted view, per.
haps his most important contribution
in clarifying and arousing the work.
ing class spirit in Great Britain, he
was the first to set forth, when, in
1886, he sought to enter Parliament
as an Independent workingmen's
candidate for the Mid-Lanark 'divi-.
sion Of. Scotland. This effort could
hardly be called a failure. for every
nook and: corner of the British Isles
re sounded with the din@of that one
fight, Gibes and sneers were abund-
antly showered upon him from all
quarters, but he was, undisturbed and
remained strong in so-called defeat.
He trusted the workers and knew that
they would receive, his. message as
soon as they had had fair opportunity
to hear and understand it.
= The Newspaper; Propagandist.:
The experience OF the Mid-Lanark
contest taught Hardies that; while the
press was good for. general news. he
could hardly hope for any impartial
treatment OF the new cause, which he
was espousing, and SO he founded a
paper through which to- carry the
message Of Socialism to the people.
For a. short time It was: called the
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

working class agitation. The imme-
diate result of these ISLANDERS was"de-
feat in 1895, but, judging from sub
sequent events, that defeat was the
best thing that could have happened,
for. through 1t, all, and perhaps be-
cause of the attacks made upon him,
he proved himself q man and won
from the people a reputation for sin
cerity and honesty in all that he said
and did. C,r',.
: Experience In Parliament.
The experience Of three years In
Parliament was helpful for now
Hardie understood the workings OF
the government. Il was much easier
for him to persuade his fellow trade
unionists to take political as well as
economic action and that the only
way to. be successful In that was by
sending men Of their own class to
represent them in parliament, through
an Independent, Labor party. Hardie
raised. the question OF political action
at the Trades Union Congress, held in
Glasgow in 1892. This body CORES
ponds to the American Federation Of
Labor here. The result was so en-
couraging that they realized that the
Labor party was q certainty IN q few
years. At the Trades Union congress.
held at Plymouth In 1888, q reso.
luton was adopted inviting all trade
unions, cooperative societies and; So-
cialist organizations favorable to po-
litical action in the interests Of labor
to form an alliance. And, as q result.
the Labor party was formed Ia 1900,
with James Ramsay Mac Donald. M.
p. as secretary. The cont buttons of
Hardie and v 8:,f 4, Mac Donald to this
achievement were very great.
This. abors part ls a political salli--
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
CONDEMNS FACTORY:
:. FOLLOWING BLAZE

=, PITTSBURGH. Nov. 4.-Thomas
L. Pfarr, IRE marshall Of Allegheny
county; condemned conditions In the
building occupied by the H. H.
Woods Paper. Box company and or
dered the company to >vacate it's
premises as soon as possible. Woods
is executor of the Brown estate.
which owned the building occupied
by the Union Paper Box company,
inwhich Is persons lost their lives
Woods was held in $4,000 bail, for
the coroner's inquest on a charge Of
negligence.
The fire marshal condemned sew
eral other properties.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06

mons were delivered in honor Of the
Independent Labor Party conference
held there in 1912. And let 1t bo.
stated here that Hardie was always
respected by Catholic and. Protestant
alike, for he never slighted or in
any way criticized the religious tenets
Of his hearers, always maintaining
that religious belief was purely pri-s
vate affair and, therefore,. foreign to
the economic movement as such.
. Chosen Iabor's. Leader. s5s5
( The year 1905 was = mpmentous
one for. labor and Socialism in Great
Britain. Thirty members were elected
to parliament to represent labor from
the Labor party's efforts. Each and
ali were tested and tried unionists
and Socialists. and Keir Hardie was
chosen their leader in the House Of
Commons. This culmination, though,
was hardly enjoyed to the full by him
as he was stricken seriously Ill He
had an iron constitutions but his 80
years Of incessant labor az agItator.
writer and executive officer were too.
much for him. His recovery REQUIRED
4 long rest and the doctors ordered
;a'tour around the world for him. His
journey took him through Canada,
Japan, China, the Straits Settlements,
'Ceylon, India, West Australia. South
New South Wales. New
Zealand and South Africa FTe res
turned from this tour much better
IN health. and. though his trouble
left lts mark physically there Na1
=
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-11-06
EMPLOYERS L| |ND0R|SE:
JOINT BARGAINING
Splendid Testimonials From Man.
ufacturers Who Have Trade
Union Agreements.
SEVERAL EYE OPENERS,FOR
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD
Sss. hls.e.,.- thing 1nsures Sta
6il''' es& = II .>..77sst
Strike AntSde-

Mass, Nov. A.
Last week several large manufact-
urers of this state told the Massa-
chusetts board of conciliation and ar
bitration that trade agreements with
their workers created stability in in
dustry. The board held hearings on
eight-hour strikes in this city and
brought to Worcester men who rep
resented industries working under
trade agreements. In no case did the
visiting manufacturers express dissat-
isfaction with the trade agreement,
and in every instance the witness tes-
titled that he would not return to
the working conditions that existed
prior to the adoption of the collective
bargaining plan.
A Strange Contrast.
The testimony of these business
men was in strange contrast to the
declaration Of Worcester captains of
industry who have organized an as
sociation for the avowed purpose of
conducting their plants on the nom
union, or so-called "open shop" plan.
y Richard Reed, Westfield manu-
afacturer OF boilers and radiators, and
member of the firm Of H. D. Smith
company. told the board that he
wanted his men to be 'fgood" union
ists-to attend their union meetings
and take an active part in it's pro-
ceedings. He said:
MY employees believe one of the
most honorable jobs is to be appointed
on a shop committee to present their
grievances. I want every man to feel
t. at he can be a member of the shop
committee without fear. I advise my
men if they join a union to attend the
meetings.
Encourages Shop Committee.
with the Patternmakers' league
deal with a shop committee. I al
ways recogniza~.tha shop committees,
and hope that nobody stayed eff the
committee because he was afraid to
come in.
II had one experience with COM
mittee. T asked it's members if they
none further than the presentation
OF their requests. told the commit
tee, to go back to- its union ad get some
AutNOTlty, SO tHdI l. COulQ LalK WIFI
It. The men did. I want to tell you
that there are some mighty good
scrappers IN these committees, and
they tell you some things that you
would never learn otherwise.
III meet any kind Of cosn nittee
whether can talk their language or
not
Mr.. Reed stated that 81 years age
he was, privileged to sit in meeting
IN New York With the executives Of
the NJ tioaal Founders asso, iatior
and. g. committee of executives Of The
Iron Molders' union. There were nc
troubles said Mr.. Reed. "betWecr
the employees and the employers: 1r
that conference was effected what wa.
known as the New York agreement
De-