East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-02-06

Some Of his experiences as a fra
ternal delegate from the state organ
ization Farmers Union to the State
Federation Of Labor are given in a
report c. c. Connor has prepared for
the organization he represented at
the meeting held at Salem beginning
January 25.
The following extracts from Mr..
Connor's report deal with two import
ant subjects that were up, the eight
hour law and the question of single
tax.
Eight Hour Law.
The convention was called to order
at 1880 and c. c. Connor, the Farm
ers' Union delegate, was given the
first opportunity to explain his mis-
sion. After thanking the organiza.
tion for past courtesles. and referring
favorably to the work done by the
Federation of Labor deleate in The
/, Dalles meeting of December lst to-
Srd. he took up the subject of CO.
operation In political and economic
matters in reference 10 the Farmers
| and LabOrers' organization, and ex-
pressed the desire that they should
find It convenient to cooperate in
matters Of vital interest to both or
CARNATIONS, and be able to peacefully
pursue individual courses in matters
of individual interest only. He told
of the consolidation OF the Society Of
Equity which greatly strengthens the
working forces Of the Farmers Union.
He touched lightly on the subject OF
the eight-hour law, and, contrary to
the reports of the Oregon Journal, |
made no promises whatever concern
ing this proposed measure, but did
not say that he felt assured IL the
farmers were consulted when the next
initiative bill was proposed. It could
be so arranged as to be of mutual
benefit to both organizations, and de-
clared that he believed the farmers
would support a law for eight hours
continuous work on the farms, elimi- |
mating the chore period and the har-
vest months. He spoke of rural cred
its as proposed by the new rural cred
1t banking law, and explained where
the system Of short loans would be
of decided advantage to the labor
class. He told of prospective cooper
ative stores in Portland and the Will
lamette valley towns, to be instituted
under the auspices OF the Farmers
Union. and asked for the cooperation
Of the labor unions in establishing
and maintaining these commercial en-
terprises: at the same time made II
very plain that the Farmers Union
has never been connected with any
marketing or distributing enterprise
in the city of Portland other than the
Tri-State Terminal Warehouse Com
pany.
Wednesday morning-Roll call at
o'clock. During the morning ses
sion long list of resolutions prepar-
ed by Mr.. U'Ren for adoption by the
convention was offered and read.
Your delegate coincided with every
resolution except one which had for
the meat of it's subject THE Restora-
ton OF the lands of the state of Ore
gon to its people. and the complete
of speculation in land
values" This sounded to a Farmers
Union man like the flapping of the
wings Of a single tax angel, and i'm
brought forth a very pro-
nounced storm of protest. The sub.
ject was handled very automatically
and argued not from a standpoint
that the organization should endorse
the present form of taxation or that
hey should go on record as refusing
10 endorse this resolution. but tnat
nasmuch as pleasant relations were
low existing between the organization
Ind the Farmers Union, and mas
much as this attitude by the Fedora
ion would strain those relations, he
believed it policy for the organization
o eliminate this one resolution. At
he most inopportune time Mr.. U'Ren
ppeared and was asked to defend
his resolution. He began by saying
hat it was just continuation of res
luton passed by the Central Labor
'ouncil, but after a complete grilling
e finally admitted that II was a sim
le tax idea, pure and simple, and ia
en- directly from the Henry George
octrine The best your delegate
ould do, without creating dissatisfac-
on, was to get the report OF the res
luton committee referred to the
ommittee without adoption. Ad-
,urnment was taken until 1880. At
80 p. m. in company with c. S.
pence and A. r. Shumway. your del
gate appeared before the resolution
ommittee, but after finding that the
'entral Labor Conci in Portland had
dopted this resolution, and asked
hat 1t be adopted at this convention,
nd knowing that labor unions have
TODD for single tax since time imme-
norial, it was finally decided to ask
hem to adopt the report of the reSo-
ution committee as whole elimt
ating this one resolution, to be voteo
n separately and to give rising
ote. This was done, and to the sur
rise of your delegate it was found
o stand 80 in favor Of the resolution
nd nine against. You will notice
hat this signifies that almost one
bird of the labor delegates were in
avor of the present form of taxation
$. single tax which is gratifying
of affairs considering the
act that they have been educated
ince the beginning of labor organ
.ations by the venerable single tax
dvocate and Henry George theorist,
ir. U'Ren. 1t was asked by your
elegate that at some future time,
onvenient to both parties, the farm