davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06

The Boise Trades & Labor Council
met in regular session last evening at
labor hall. c. E. Duffy resigned his
position as vice president and R. c.
Bailey was elected to succeed him. A
motion was carried to give the ladies
who assisted in the entertainment OF
the Idaho State Federation of Labor
matinee tickets to "The Birth OF
Nation" The council to affiliate with
Nation." The council voted to affiliate
with the Idaho State Federation OF La
Dor. Jess Hawley. P. M. Davis, and N.
w. Sweet, representing the CONNER
cial club were visitors and Mr.. Hawley
spoke in the interest of the good roads
bond election which will be held in
this county on April rs. The speaker
stated that If the bonds should carry,
the expenditure of money at this time
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
Regular Meeting of the Trades Council

would greatly assist the wheels OF pro-
eress and help the county to go ahead
that tncre will be no difference wheth-
re the issue carries or not so far as
taxes are concerned as there is spec
ial fund set aside from the automobile
licenses to pay the interest on the
bends The speaker asked the council
to assist the club in this matter and
also the promotion of better condi-
tions in the county. A committee
was elected to advise with the Com
mercial club with regard to the mat
ter and report back at the next regu-
lar meeting. Grange committeeman,
Allen reported that the farmers mar
ket had made arrangements to move
from their present location in the Em.
rire building to the building formerly
occupied by the Brady Candy Co.
Sixth and Idaho streets on May LIST.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
Fight for the Eight Hour Day

A vigorous campaign for univer-
sal eight hour day has been started
through the Labor Center Association
of New York. Every unit OF organ
lied labor unions throughout the
country and all social welfare organ
izations have been supplied from the
central bureau with propaganda mate
rial for the campaign. Over 100000
stamps, bearing the slogan, For the
eight-hour day; movement toward
Justice" are being distributed in
every State in the country The chill
dren of working people are being
supplied with them, with an admoni-
ton to stick the stamps on their
school papers, with. the following re-
quest under it: Teacher. teach us
these truths"
Clergymen are being pursued by
them and are being urged to preach
sermons on Nearer to Justice; The
Eight-hour Day" 1t is the aim of
the labor organizations to make their
stamp as familiar to the public as is
the emblem of the Red Cross or the
famous tuberculosis stamp.
Carl Beck of the Labor Forum.
commenting on the fight for the eight
hour day said:
"While there is probably no in
telligent man who questions today
the justice and economic value to any
community of working day of eight
hours, it is certain that the average
man does not realize how far we are
in this country from its application.
1t is probable that. more than three
quarters of the laboring man who are
organized in unions work over eight
hours day, to say nothing of unor-
ganized labor.
1--WE will get our demands some
cay, without the least question, but
it cannot be accomplished unless the
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
DIRECT LEGISLATION
MIR. Massey Expresses Views on Initiative and
Referendum
To The Editor.

To The Editor
In The Gem Worker OF March
30th, the editor states | introduced a
resolution at the recent meeting OF
the State Federation OF Labor critil
cizing the present primary law, and in
the closing paragraph he offered me
the use of the papers columns to pre-
sent my views. Our genial editor has
his wires crossed. introduced no
such resolution, nor did | once men
ton the primary law. l did. however,
make a few remarks on resolution
that was introduced by Delegate J. d.
Brown, of Boise, and which was
adopted unanimously, endorsing di-
rect legislation, not the direct pri-
mary. did not advocate nor do
believe in destroying all party affilia-
ton, but do believe the voter should
place the study of beneficial legis-
lation above partisan politics.
Since | have been offered the use Of
the columns of The Gem Worker,
] might mention in passing that | be-
lieve the present primary law is sub
ject to abuse. No voter has a ms b
right to help nominate any cand dte
whom he or she does not intend to
help elect, if the candidate is success
full at the primaries. Conditions may
arise between the, primaries and cleo
ton that would cause the voter to
change his or her mind, but, there
should be no mistake about the intent
of the voter while trying to nominate.
AS suggestion. why not amend the
primary law and require voters. when
they receive their primary ballot, to
pledge their honor that they will vote
for no candidate in the primaries. who.
ii successful there, they do not intend
to vote for at the general election
Now. a word as to ths initiative and
referendum. No student of direct leg
islation ever advocated, desired or
wished to abolish representative gov
crnment. Repeatedly has this charge
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06

been hurled at the friends of the I.
and K and time and again it has been
shown that such is not the case. I
will, however, try once more to get it
PLAIN. What we want is to safeguard
true representative government. Have
your representatives, but if they fail
to pass laws that the people want. al
low the people to make such laws
themselves by direct vote. If the
representatives pass laws that a ma
jority of the people don't want, let
the people be able to repeal them.
This is the principle in a nutshell.
10 make 1t workable and yet not sub
ject to abuse is matter of detail. 1t
is too cumbersome to be used except
ing for the most essential laws. Rep
resentative government is the ideal
form for enacting general rules or.
laws Should the people take three.
or four of the most essential issues.
out of politics every two years and de-
eide them by direct vote it would be
helpful to their Representatives and
of immense educational value to the
voters. An intelligent electorate IS
the best guarantee of justice. =
Representative government un-
checked must necessarily develop into
a science of log-rolling. Shrewd man.
ioulation of votes rather than states
manship will be the qualifications
most sought not alone by selfish in
terests, but by each community. More
and more will be chosen the represen-
tatives who can by trading votes get
the most privilege for the interests
or pork for the constituency. The
strictly honest man, the conscientious
representative, the legislator who re-
fuses to vote for a questionable bill
to gain vote for a meritorious mea-
sure will be able to accomplish very
little. Naturally he will be retired to
privat, life while s lccessful horse
traders. will be elected
RUSSELL C. MASSEY.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
Boise Typographical Union Meet

Boise Typographical union had a
very enthusiastic meeting last Sunday
and transacted much business of inn
portance to the craft
The chapel reports showed work in
fairly decent condition and the report
of the secretary-treasurer showed a
splendid bank balance of several hun
dred dollars.
The report of the delegate to the
state federation meeting was atten-
lively listened to and at its conclusion
the union unanimously ordered the
secretary to at once pay the initiation
fee and the first quarters per capita
tax of 10 cents per member.
One application was favorably re-
ported and also favorably balloted up
on and the obligation will be admins
tered at the next meeting.
The jurisdiction committee made a
detailed report of its activities dur
ing the past month and reported Bro.
Carl Gamble on the roll for benefits,
he having responded to the call OF
the organization in relinquishing his
position on the LeaderHerald at
Nampa when that paper refused to
consider the proposal of signing the
scale as presented to it by the COM
mittee. In reverse order w. r. Mill
of Nampa was ordered removed from
the membership roll for failure to re-
spond to like call. Strike and work
benefits up to maximum Of SIS pei
week was ordered in Brother Gam
ble's case until further action by the
organization.
The suspended membership of c
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06

public is awakened to its necessity.
The object of the stamps which we
are issuing is simply to make labor's
just demand familiar catch word
all over the United States.
"A man does not have to belong
to the ranks of labor to recognize
the justice and rightness of our plea.
] have just received a letter from Ivy
Lee. one OF Mr.. Rockefeller's assis-
tants, commenting our effort The
educated employer of labor, and par
ticularly the manufacturer, is awak-
ening to the fact that the average
man can do his best work if his day
is divided into three parts, with eight
hours for leisure, for slepp and for
work.
John P. White, president of the
United Mine Workers, has sent us
this telegram: A work day of more
than eight hours is un-American
From bed to work and from work to
bed belongs to an age long past
In operation. the eight-hour day has
done more to raise the social stand
ing of immigrants who have sought
our shores than any other single re-
form advocated. 1t has paved the
way to night study and has opened
the way to opportunity and ambi-
ton to thousands deprived of edu-
cation in their youth. The time is
near when the benefits of a shorter
work day can no longer be denied
to any branch of industry
"In this statement Mr.. White has
the backing of the British Medical
Journal, which recently made an
exhaustive study of the beneficial
effects on the output OF industries
and the health of workers in English
manufactures which have adopted
the eight-hour day-New York Ev-
ening Journal.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
PREPAREDNESS

PRODUCE several application forms,
put them in your pocket, then
RECALL to mind those who are not
members of your union, and
EXPLAIN to them the platform and
goal which your union aims to
reach.
PURSUADE them to give heed to the
thought of becoming affiliated,
APPEAL to their sense of fairness,
Justice and fraternity.
RECITE impressively the lesson
taught by the story of the bundle
sticks.
EARNESTLY expound the doctrine
of trades unionism as you know it.
DEFINE the aims and objects, the
purpose of organization.
NARRATE with reasonable modesty
the achievements of allied craft
cooperation.
ENDEAVOR to illustrate the mean
ing of "an injury to one being the
concern of all"
STICK to your task, shun exaggera
ton, sail on a sea of facts, and
SUCCESS will crown your efforts
surely and swiftly.
Mixer and Server.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06

X. Elerick was also ordered cancelled
because of his continued employment
at the CaxtonC CPrinters at Caldwell
another firm which declined to sign
the scale presented by the committee.
The CAxton Printers are better known
as the office managed by Jim Gipson
of Caldwell, Progressive State Chair
man.
The Executive Committee reported
voluntary donation of $2650 to Bro
H.B. Hargraves to help him and his
family to Denver, where relatives re-
side and where he can have the best
of care while suffering from a nervous
breakdown and a complication OF dis
eases. All hope to soon see him in
good condition.
Appropriate resolutions were pre-
sented and adopted on the death OF
Mrs. c. S. Buckley. Brother Buckley
is accounted one OF No. 27l's most
substantial and active members and
il would be hard to find man more
generally liked.
Five dollars was ordered appro-
priated for the purchase Of tickets te
the eighth annual ball of Phoenix
Ariz. union. This is an annual event
for the purpose of assisting crafts
-. .,,ffo.;,o, from, tuberctl1Osis who
go there in great numbers on account
of the splendid climate for that all
ment.
The jurisdiction committee was or
dered to remain on the job with free
access to the treasury.
Two applications for membership
were laid over for one month pending
publication in our official journal
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
AS TO THRIFT

Thrift is a good thing in its way.
Thrift may secure you fairly good
home (probably after you have got
too old to enjoy it,
Thrift may enable you to give your
children fair education.
Thrift may bring you now and then
a bit OF pleasure, such as a day off
to attend the circus.
Thrift may give you a decent fu-
neral and move some OF the neigh
bors, after you are securely buried,
TO say: We'll, he was good pro-
WIDER"
All this may thrift do for you bui
thrift will never make you a mil
lionaire. Millionaires are not made
that way. Millionaires are made by
THEFT, not THRIFT.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
MARRIED

Mr. H. Leroy Marcroft, secretary
OF the Moving Picture Operators Of
this city and Fora A. Eagle OF Nampa
were married Wednesday noon at the
bridegroom's home, 2ll North Twelfth
street by Rev. Willsie Martin. The
happy co~ele will make their home in
Boise and The Gem Worker joins a
most of friends in wishing them a long
hfe and continued prosperity.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06

now paid legislators. 1t is practically
impossible to get an efficient body of
men who will remain true as a whole
to public interests under present con-
ditions and those among them who
really fight for public interests are
forced to hedge. equivocate, straddle
and trade with misrepresentatives and
finally accept defeat OF their efforts
thru betrayals by the weaklings who
are tempted to sell out the public for
selfish gain in INFLUENCE or money.
There must be the p copies hand di-
rectlv upon economic measures con-
cerning their welfar and there IS
l'ttle need to theoriz or specialize
in argument to prove Ihe fact of direct
legislation's benefit 10 the people
all that is necessary is to bring for
ward the actual results where it IS III
operation and put them out into a
black and white comparison with re-
suits of any Legislatures best efforts.
Idaho must have it before there can
be any hope for subs tantial improve
ment in economic legislation and
there is not a measure suggested as
an issue which will have as strong an
anpeal as this one pr divided there are
guarantees of action behind it.
Z .
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
(By DR.. Scott Nearing)

Carlyle remarked that without tools
man is nothing; with tools he is ev-
erything. Man is the tool-making
and the tool-using animal.
The power of the tool is universal.
The old tool was a small affair. In
the last few years the type of tools
has changed in the most remarkable
manner.
No longer does man throw his tools
over his shoulder as he starts home.
He leaves them There you have the
contrast between the tool and the ma
chine. The tool was a thing that the
man who used it could make-a thing
he owned. AS Shakespeare said;
"A poor thing, but mine own" 1t
was simple, cheap, easy to handle and
to transport. The modern machine
is large, costly, expensive, unweildly
and difficult to transport-so much
social force that no one man can own
it or make it.
The machine has made want and
privation eternally unnecessary. 1t
has vanquished that ancient foe Of
Notwithstanding. In the leisure it
has created, it has made ample room
for the arts and sciences, for ciyiliza-
ton and progress. The machine has
made all this possible. These things
are the possibilities of the machine,
as opportunities. what it may do.
The increased effectiveness, ac-
oording to United States reports of
manlabor when aided by the use of
machinery as indicated by these fig
ures, varies from $50 per cent in some
cases to 2,244 per cent in others.
The result of this machine creation
is enormous increase in wealth In
this country in 1880 there were 23,-
100000 people, and now there are 1OO,-
oO0.OO0-an increase of four fold. In
1850 there were %,000,O00O00 of
wealth in this country; now there are
Sl87 900, ,000,OO0-an increase of twen-
tv-hve fold. Yet our forefathers in
1850 felt that this country was rich
and prosperous.
What has given us this new increase
in wealth? The increase in popula-
ton? Yes. But that has been only
four-fold. Machinery is the basis Of
it. Today we are richer than we ever
we're before and wealth is increasing.
II means that we have mastered the
problem of keeping famine away from
door; that we have mastered the
problem of making enough clothing
for all. of furnishing shelter for all,
of producing economically all the
things that man needs for health and
comfort.
No man need be hungry, cold or
she1terless today because there is not
an ample supply ready for him OF
food, clothing or shelter, provided h.
has the money to buy them Most oi
the things he needs can be secured for
less money than ever before, thanks
to machinery, cooperation and IN
vention. The great difficulty lies ir
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
Let The People Make tn e Laws
By Marcus Day

The new State Federation of La
Dor has put itself on record in favor
of the principles of the initiative, ref
erendum and recall being put into
practice and every effort should be
made by those who head the different
organized units making up the main
body to bring militant pressure t
bear upon the legislature at the next
session to write this necessary wea-
pom OF the people into law and to see
that the measure gives the kernel
and not only the shell of power to
the people.
1t is the very essense of democracy
and If put to a popular vote would re-
ceive the endorsement of Idaho's vot-
ers by a much larger majority now
than was given it when they cast
their vote of approval several years
ago. There is even more necessity
for the measure now than at that time.
There will always be an increasing
necessity for direct legislation in any
state that has it not. There will be
no material or moral gain in the per-
sonne of a body OF men who are only
required few weeks every other year
and whose recompense from the state
is such beggardly pittance as that
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
The NEW CONDITIONS
Machines Now Dominate In the Industrial
World

the distribution OF the wealth pro-.
duced on an enormous scale and in
,reasing at an enormous rate.
In short, it is for no lack of ability
to produce and for no shortage of
wealth that we suffer. We make
enough of both to go around, but we
have not yet found the way to make
it go around equitably. The science
of wealth production is highly de-
veloped The science OF wealth dis
tribution is our next problem.
In the second place, the machine
has turned the tool user into a ma
chine tender. Markham tool user
was a master of his tool. He stop
ped
Bowed with the weight OF centur-
les,
He leans upon his hoe and gazes
upon the ground"
But there is none of that today
Machinery is geared. The man is the
servant, the machine the master. The
factory owner speeds up his produc
ton with an endless chain. The man
must maintain the peace or find
another job. 1t is the machine that
sets the pace. The man must let the
work go on at that pace or he must
give way to another who can.
In the third place, the machine has
Reconstructed society. There was a
time of one-man industry. when each
man did his own work, and the people
lived in small communities-lived iso-
lated lives. The factory is the new
unit.
In 1910 in the factories of this coun-
try there were 6,500,000 people at
work. Two-thirds of them were in
factories employing more ltbaiit 100
men and one-sixth of them we'd in
factories employing more than 1000
men.
In the fourth place, the individual
has become cog in vast economic
mechanism He is, as Dickinson says,
Caught in his own levers and cogs"
He 10 longer creates product. He
does not use the things he creates.
His relation to the industrial life Of
the time is entirely artificial and inhu-
man. 1t is this relation that has Civ
en- rise to unrest and dissatisfaction.
1t is a resentment that is filling our
literature, our drama our religion,
against this new, artificial and inhu-
man industry which leads a financier
to say that if thing is on the balance
, sheet he is interested; If not, he does
not care.
The machine was made to help
mankind in his struggle against want,
to help him to get the finer things OF
life. Its place is that of the servant
not the master. THE mans the gold
for a that" as Burns said. Men and
women are the thing; the people are
objective point, not the product II
the machine becomes the master il
usurps the place of men. 1t must toll
for man and be an aid to him in his
strupo1e for life.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
BIG PROFITS IN LOCOMOTIVES

DAG ENOrA > I'm GO(OMOl Nv EO
Philadelphia-In its report for the
year ending Dec. IS, 1915, the Bald
win Locomotive Works shows net
earnings of $3,5lo,3s3, against $9sl,
7s4 during the preceding year.
The production of the year amount
ed to $lo,33o,o34 of locomotives and
the other usual products of the works,
and to $2,743,077 of other work result
ing from the war
The Baldwin concern styles itself
an open shop" which means that a
trade unionist jeopardizes his position
il he openly advocates organization
by the workers
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06

Conductor Strop Of the Interurban
has given up train service to act as
right dispatcher.
The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-04-06
TO THE UNI ON MAN

TO THE UNI ON MAN
Hail TO the union man who sticks
And sticks when tim rs are hard,
Stands up straight for principle
Stands by his union GARD.
If he sticks when tn ngs are darkest
blue
He proves his own tr &c worth
When he stands up strong and firm
and true
He's part of the sa t of the earth
Hail to the union mi n who sticks
And sticks the whold year round,
He may not amount to much himself
But his principles a re sound.
| By Lincoln Ne b., Union Man. r
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-04-27
DR.. John w. TOWey
PHYSICIAN and SURGEON
House Phone No. I22 Office No, 1872

C. 0. Rye was at Milton a couple
of days the early part of the week to
attend the letting of the contract for
the building of three modernly con-
structed school houses in Montrose
township. Mr.. Rye's bid on the
heating plants to be installed was
only $40 higher than that of the
Grand Forks firm that secured the job.
This week the Democrat has new
changes Of ad for the Cavalier County
Implement Co., Schulke's Department
Store, A. O. Void Co., Schefter's
Clothing House, Krien & Heapy, J..
F. Ramage and our two national
banks. Spring time is a season of
the year when the newspaper adver-
tiser has something that always we'll
repays the time given to a careful
perusal by the reader.