davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
A Straight Tip to
Prospective Immigrants

! greater portion of the year IN look
| ing for work.
The result is that unemployment,
owing to the constant influx of Euro
pean immigration, has resolved itself
into stupendous problem, and until
our lands are made available to the
people at prices that will permit set
tlement the condition of unemploy-
ment is apt to increase from year to
year
The land question lies at the heart
of our labor problem, and the pos
sibility of a family of limited means
successfully establishing themselves
on a small farm has almost vanished,
and in consequence our cities are be-
ing glutted with industrial workers
who are unable to find permanent en-
ployment even at the present wage
standard, which has been reduced to
the lowest level. Little, if any, gov
ernment land is now available to new
settlers unless it be in regions so re-
mote from the markets that success
is rarely accomplished. While it is
true that we have millions of acres
of highly productive land, much of
which is lying in idleness, this land
is being held by spectators who are
unwilling to sell except at fabulous
prices-at prices so high that the
added cost of development puts it be-
yond the reach of the person of mod
crate means.
The situation, therefore, is by no
means inviting to the immigrant who,
with small money, is hopeful of bet
tering his condition by coming to the
United States. In justice to the peo-
pie of your country, who are liable to
be influenced by plausible literature
designed to attract them to this coun-
try, but which does not acquaint them
with obstacles that are invariably en-
countered by foreign people reaching
our shores, | am constrained to offer
encouragement to such foreign immi
grafton that can only add to our prob
lem of unemployment,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) E. w. OLSON,
State Labor Commissioner.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
UNIONS PROTECT WAGES
DURING DEPRESSIONS

TORONTO, Ontario-The Industrial
Banner makes this case in favor of
the bona fide trade union movement:
Never in any other period of busi-
ness depression has the American la
Dor movement made such a favorable
showing as during the last two years,
when unemployment has been so much
in evidence.
in past depressions, as a rule, the
American Federation of Labor always
suffered a serious decline in member
ship, and as rule reductions in
wages were of frequent occurrence.
During the last business strin-
gency, however, the A f. of L. boldly
pronounced that it would strenuously
resist every attempt in this direction
on the part of employers who might
manifest disposition to take advan-
tage of existing adverse circum-
stances.
THE result was that the wage rates
of the different big international or
ganizations were hardly interfered
with at all, and during the present
strenuous times a still more remar|
able showing has been made.
Not only have the international
unions protected their wage scales,
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
STATE LAND COMMITS
sIONER OLSON PUTS
DUTCH CONSUL WISE
Aug. 21, 1915

Aug 21, 1915.
Hon. Jan Kool, Acting Vice Consul
The Netherlands, American Bank
Building, Seattle, Wash:
Sir: Pursuant to request made
to this department by Hon. |. M.
Howell, secretary of state, to furnish
YOU with information regarding the
conditions attractive to foreign immi-
grafton into this state, l have the
honor to submit to you, under separate
mail, a copy of the ninth biennial re-
port of this bureau, which contains on
pages 13 to "a inclusive, brief re-
view of the conditions relating to that
subject.
Being advised through your letter OF
enquiry to the secretary of state that
this information is desired for use in
a quarterly report to be made to your
government and assuming that the in
formation in this report will be dis
seminated among your people in The
N6lH0T pei llll lnC W hSSCIIu"'S
some of the statements made in the
report of the bureau of labor above
referred to, that the conditions in this
state are not encouraging to the for
eign immigrant who, with limited
means, desires to come here to estab-
lsh himself in industrial or agricul-
tural pursuits.
For many years past there has been
a surplus of labor in our manufactur-
ing industries, and especially is this
true of unskilled labor. This condi-
tion mas naturally forced wages to a
very low level and it is not uncommon
to find great groups of foreigners
working on railroad construction and
highway work, receiving therefor as
little and even less than $160 per day
and paying from 80 cents to $1.00 per
day for board, and these conditions are
being intensified because of the fur
ther fact that but little steady employ
ment is offered and the workmen are
therefore compelled to drift" the
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
LIFE is MORE THAN TC
LABOR.

SAN FRANCISCO-In urging con.
sideration of an educational system
that means more than modest" self
effacing working people the Even
ing Bulletin says:
Man lives as much to play, to
think, to meet and talk with others.
to consider the wise ways of the little
fishes and the great stars, even to
loaf, as he does to work. If the
world is to be increasingly a great fac
tory, and men are to be bred solely
for the uses of that factory, we had
better pray for another ice age to
wipe us out and give creation a new
start"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
Triumphant UniOniSm

working hours and conditions. but a
majority of them have increased in
membership, have even secured higher
wages, shorter hours and improved
working conditions, not in a few iso-
lated instances, but in hundreds of
cases scattered over both the United
States and Canada.
These organizations have even
grown during this last season of de-
preston, have increased the amount of
their surplus funds as well as aug
menting their membership.
This all goes to show that the
trades unions that are built on solid
foundation to encounter stormy as well
as fair weather have, during the past
few years, fully demonstrated their
ability to protect their membership.
The trades union movement is
above all an evolutionary movement.
one that learns by experience and has
gained strength and stability through
the mistakes of the past that have
pointed out the rocks and shoals to be
avoided.
with the return of prosperity the
international movement will be in a
position to take advantage of its
larger opportunity and there is no
doubt whatever but that their future
growth will altogether surpass all pre-.
vious records"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
LABEL LEAGUE NOTES

The Label League entertained about
rs members last Friday evening at
the Labor Temple. After a short pro
gram they played whist until late
hour. when dainty lunch was served
by the committee in charge assisted
by Mr. Allen, of the Commercial I'm
porting Company, who donated and
served Corona Blend coffee
The League wishes to extend their
thanks to the Commercial Importing
Company for the service they ex-
tended to us.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
UNION BEFORE OUR NEEDS,
CRY MINERS

COLUMBUS, O-One hundred union
coal miners of Hillister, Athens Co.
Ohio, although idle and dependent up
on charity, refused to accept employ
ment in non-union mines in Kentucky
according to w. p. Lear, representing
a coal company of Stone, Ky, who re
turned here from the Hooking Valley
district
Men place their union above their
bread and butter" he said, "and de-
clined to take employment in the Ken
lucky mines when told they would not
be permitted to for union. We even
offered to pay transportation of the
men and their families and to pay
wages of SO a day"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
ILLINOIS LABOR UNIONS SUP
PORT NOTED EDUCATOR.

Protesting in a resolution condemn
ing the authorities Of the University
.of Pennsylvania for their summary
dismissal of Scott Nearing, professor
of economies in that school, the Dan
vile, H., Trades and Labor Council
have initiated a campaign of protest
in Nearing's favor Professor Near
ing was known as teacher of the
brand of economics which is most Op-
posed by the capitalist class and the
orthodox educators of the day He
was dismissed summarily by the uni
versity, from its faculty.
The resolution reads in part:
Whereas, Scott Nearing, a profes
sor of economics in the Wharton
School of Finance Of the University
of Pennsylvania. was a valuable pro
fessor in the Wharton school, be
cause he made a great study of the
economic question pertaining to the
interest of the working class; and,
Whereas, The trustees of the
Wharton school dismissed Scott Near
ing, who was a professor of econom-
les at the Wharton school because he
was educating the students and the
working classes to their economic in
Iterests; therefore, be it
Resolved, BY the Danville Trades
and Labor Council that we, the mem
bers of this Council, condemn and pro
test the action of the trustees of the
Wharton school who dismissed Scott
Nearing from the Wharton school;
and be it further
Resolved, That we consider the
dismissal of Scott Nearing detrimen-
tai to the principle Of organized labor
which is striving for higher standard
in human life and higher standard in
education to their economic interest" "
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

are vicious, but, instead it is need of
things necessary and good that makes
men vicious Where wages are high
est, there will be found the most pros
porous nation and the most contented
people. There will education be the
most generally diffused There will
morality be the purest. there will
patriotism be the most profound. Help
to make your country prosperous; help
TO liberate mankind Join the unionl
Swear by the union! Work for the
unioni"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
'"WatChman, What
of the Night?''
H. President Washington State Federation of Labor

labor and living conditions known tC
the civilized world, and when she
called upon her sons and daughters
for the supreme sacrifice, they made
it with a completeness at which the
world stands aghast.
English statesmen have just begun
to understand the German method
and are slowly working out industrial
reforms to make life more worth liv.
ing for her working classes, but gen
erations must come and 80 before the
human deterioration caused by rotten
factory and slum life is overcome.
Yet don't forget that the same
forces that forged an industrial army
of well-fed, well-clothed, educated men
and women, were able to turn that
army into a death-dealing engine of
destruction, causing millions of brok-
en- hearts, desolate firesides and ruin
ed homes. Benevolent" despotism,
if it please you, but none the less
"despotism."
All the nations at war have shown
a ruthless disregard for the sacred
rights of property" in their hour of
national peril. No mans personal
belongings were longer his did his
government need them. Confiscation?
They call it by another name, viz.
military necessity. All modes of trans
portation, if needed by the govern
ment. were taken over without hest
tation. Privately owned factories
Jared no better did the government
need them in it's business. War upon
so vast a scale found private capital
totally inadequate to cope with the
situation. If the government may do
this in time of war dare we longer say
that in time of peace it may do less?
Surely not if it may bedemonstrable
that the health, happiness and general
welfare of the mass of the people
may be thus better conserved. But
government monopoly may be no bet
ter than private monopoly unless the
people keep at all times control of the
machinery of government in their own
hands.
One of two things must happen in
Europe as a direct result of this war:
Either millions of people will sink in
to servitude indescribable or a new
industrial order will emerge. Scarce
ly a nation involved in which it's peo-
pie have not groanad for manv years
under a burden of taxation almost un-
bearable, caused by he tremendous
military outlay. No war in history
has even approached the cost in dol
lars of the present conflict. The war
debts of the unhappy nations will
stagger the Imagination to compute
when peace shall come. Every penny
in the last analysis must come from
the tiller of the soil, the factory hand.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
POLICEMAN KILLED STRIKER

JERSEY CITY, N. IA coroner's
jury has voted to hold Police Inspec-
tor Cady, of Bayonne, responsible for
the death of an 1S-year-old boy who
was shot during the recent strike of
Bayonne oil workers. Physicians ties
titled that the bullet entered the back
of the boys head and pierced the
brain Several Bayonne policemen
testified that imported gunner shot
at the strikers. resulting in the death
of two workers.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
A Stirring Appeal

MELBOURNE, Australia = Under
the caption BE a Unionist, Body and
Soul" the Labor Call of this city
says:
If you don't want to be trodden
on, join the union.
DO you want to be well fed. well
housed well clothed and well read?
Join the unionl DO you want to help
your mates along? Join the union!
The monopolistic press and the mon
opolist may tell you that such desires
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

wonder how many of us realize
that we are living in one Of the great
est epoch-making periods in all his
tory Future generations Will look
back upon the time of THE GREAT
WAR with a feeling of awe and won
derment that we cannot experience
We are "too close up" to the~screen
to catch all the lights and shades OF
the great human panorama before us
We scarcely realize that a great So
cial and industrial revolution is being
mixed in the war caldron. 1t is with
in the bounds of PROBABILITY that upon
Europe's bloodstrewn battle fields Will
arise a new order of society in which
kings and potentates shall rule no
more and labor the handspring of all
life's activities, shall come into its
| full reward. Labor, slow to wrath,
patient and accomplishing to fault,
can hardly help but learn the lesson
last to make another world slaughter
impossible Every great human ad-
vance in the worlds history, every
change in the social order, has been
wrought in pain and travail, in blood
and tears. Human suffering is the
price we pay for human liberty.
The great Bismarck looked through
the vista of the years and saw a
glorious, dominating Teutonic empire,
place in the sun" for every child
of the empire. That man of iron
foresaw that such a future must come
through conquest, and conquest meant
force of arms. He saw what other
statesmen and empire builders failed
to see that the power of nation is
guaged absolutely upon the physical,
mental and moral we'll being of its
working people.
A generation ago there began in
Germany an industrial and social evo-
lutionary process which bears it's fruit
today in a military preparedness and
efficiency such as the world never
saw before. Our sympathy in this
war may be pro-German or anti-Ger-
man, all of us must admit that the
eighth wonder" of the modern world
is the German military machine. That
machine could not have existed save
that industrial Germany" made mill
tary Germany" possible.
Russia with all her vast millions of
fighting men, England with her Gin
vincible" navy and British tenacity of
purpose France, famous in song and
story as a nation of brilliant, daring
and heroic soldiers, call upon the last
ounce of national strength to beat
back the German tidal wave which
sweeps with awe-inspiring force over
the continent of Europe. Germany
gave to her working classes the best
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

the labOrer of every calling. Work
and pay, work and pay, work and pay
But can they pay? When it comes to
a showdown the human creature can
subsst on next to nothing, but how
about it when he gets down to moth
ing? When we realize that millions
of human beings have been living on
nearly nothing, we realize that those
millions may reach the limit. And
what them Internal revolutions that
will sweep from their thrones the
present governments of Europe
Strikes-caused by hunger, perhaps
that will make all previous industrial
conflicts pale into insignificance?
Who can tell?
That the European workman will
not go under without shaking govern
ments to their foundations, may well
be imagined. There is a forerunner
of this thought in the recent strike OF
the coal miners in Wales. 1t would
be an insult to that sturdy race to say
they are unpatriotic. The miners in
Wales would without doubt give their
lives in defense of their homes and
loved ones, their country's life or their
country's honor, as quickly as the
workmen of any nationality. But they
did not propose to see the mining op-
orators grow rich through supplying
the necessities of the nation at war
prices" while they, thousand feet
below Gods sunshine, braved danger
and death for a beggarly wage.
What an all important factor labor
is to the state has been amply dem
Onstrated in Europe. 1t is no less i'm.
portant in peace No nation can hope
to keep its place in the worlds pro
cession, in peace or war, which neg
lects its producing class, allows it to
starve in the midst of plenty, treats
it as a dead, inanimate object with
out feeling, ambition or desire
The great changes which will un-
doubtedly take place in Europe must
affect this country as we'll We can
not help being affected by the desti-
nies Of Europe Should wholesale i'm
migration to our shores occur after
the war is over, our labor problems
will become still more acute-and God
knows they are serious enough as it
is. Widespread poverty in the Old
world will spell economic disaster for
America just as surely A new indus
trial order in Europe brought about
through consolidation of European
workers would be the torch to light
the way for Americas wage-earners.
In all history no more momentous
period ever faced mankin. We stand
at the threshold of a new day; a day
that shall usher in veal or woe to mil
lions Of human beings
What saith the future?
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

Included in this total is an amount
of $2S62 covering the cost of stand
pipes ordered by certain property own
ers; consequently the amount of the
final cost, for the matter of compari-
son, with the estimated cost of 1928,
is $1,07OS9 less $2S.62 or $1,O42.21. In
other words the estimated cost per
lot was $4,000 and the actual cost per
lot is $32.57, the cost of stand-pipes
not being included in either case.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
DEBS COLLEGE HEAD

Eugene Y Debs has been elected
president of the Peoples College at
Fort Scott, Kansas. The college is the
one organized effort of the working
class to control education through
correspondence departments.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
JAMES LARKIN TO SPEAK IN
EVERETT.

James Larkin, the Fiery Cross"
labor orator of Ireland, will speak in
the Peoples Theatre Tuesday evening,
August 81.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

It's about time for Germany to re-
taliate for Englands reprisal for Ger
many's revenge for England's reply to
Germany's air raid. - Philadelphia
North American.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
LABOR LAW FORCES CHANGE

DIES MONIES, lathe new child
labor law, which took effect last
month, is forcing laundries in this
state to change their working systems
because of provision that no girl uu-
der p years Of age shall be employed
at any occupation where she will be
required to stand on her feet con
tinuously
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
August q, 1915.

August q, 1915,
Honorable City Council OF Everett,
Gentlemen:-Below please find re-
port showing total cost of labor, ma
terial and incidental expense in con-
structing the sewer in the alley be-
tween Highland and State Street, from
the center line Of goth to center line
of 10Th Street, or LID. No. 308:
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27
MACHINISTS STRIKE.

WILMINGTON. Del - About 800
machinists went on strike last week
for an eight-hour day and an increase
in wages Recognition of the union
is also demanded
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

II am thinking OF the country" says
the Colonel Not, we trust, what he
thought of it three years ago-Colum-
bia State.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

MIR Bryan's advice to the people
seems to be; support the President:
| can't "- st. Louis Globe Democrat
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

Saw your own wood-dont expect
your neighbor to do 1t.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

Any color so long as it's RED
Eugene Field.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-08-27

Patronlze YOUR advertisers
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-19
Topeka Siarket-

FURNISHED 81 Chas- Woln Packing CO
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-19
TO QUIT M'COMBS.

- fcontlnue, from Page One.J
Gently she has been staying at the
country estate of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
Letter in Mclean va. Mrs. Letter
and Mrs eMcCombs are sisters.
Mr. McCombs is on his way to the
Pacific coast, but intends to spend
some time on his plantation near Lit
tie Rock, Ark He stated in Chicago
few days ago that his trip had no
political Significance. Although init
mate. friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Nc
Combs have sought to effect recon-
Citation, it is stated by one of them
IN position to know the real situa-
ton that there is no hope of an ami
cable adjustment.
& AR. and Mrs. McCombs have been
married less than Is months, the we'd
ding having been celebrated in Lon
don November Z, 1913. Washington
society was greatly surprised at the
marriage, the announcement of which
was made only one day in advance of
the ceremony.
Before her marriage Mrs. McCombs,
who was Miss Dorothy Williams, was
leader of the younger set in the cap
1tal and she is recognized one of
Washington's most prominent young
matrons.
Mrs. McCombs could not be reached
today and at the williams home Moth
ing could be learned of her intentions,
but society folk will not be surprised
at any time to learn that a divorce
action has been started. 1t is said that
even close friends have not been taken
into Mrs. McCombs confidence as to
the actual reasons for the estrange-
ment.
Is 1t Politics?
Albany, n. Y, April ia row is
brewing in the Democratic National
committee A cabal is at work in
Washington plotting to bring about
the retirement of William F. Nc
Combs as chairman of the committee.
McCombs will not quit without
fight. His friends here understand he
Will resist to the end any attempt to
force his retirement.
For several days articles have been
appearing in the newspapers under
Washington date lines to the effect
that Mr. McCombs might retire on
account of poor health.
Mr.. McCombs friends bitterly re-
sent the suggestion that he is think
ing OF getting out and do not hesitate
to say that there will be a merry fight
if any attempt to GUST him is made
Tumulty Makes Statement.
Washington, April Unpublished
report that VIM. F. McCombs would
resign as chairman of the Democratic
National committee drew the follow
ing formal statement today from Sec
rotary Tumulty at the White House:
The story appearing in the morn
ing papers of Mr.. McCombs' resigna-
ton and my selection to succeed him
as chairman of the National Demo-
cratic committee is made out of whole
cloth and is the gossip of persons
whose purpose is to make trouble and
create discord within the ranks of the
party ~ r 80 81 - f--
= Other reports have peen that Homer
S. Cummings of Connecticut, vice
chairman of thet national committee
would succeed Mr.. McConbs in case
he resigned. "a