The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-10-26
IN INTEREST OF LABOR
Record Shows Senator Chiffon
and Democratic Congressman
To Be FRIENDS OF LABOR
Condensed Record Of Their
Votes Taken from Leading
Labor Paper

That Senator Chiffon and Congress-
men Nicely and Littlepage have at all
times voted in the interest OF labor
and have shown themselves to be true
friends OF labor is shown by record
OF their votes on questions vi ally af-
fecting the interest of labor, appearing
in the Wheeling Majority" one OF the
leading labor papers OF the State and
the official organ OF the West Virginia
Federation of Labor. The vote as
given in that journal is reproduced in
condensed form.
Senator Chiffon votes for the Gem
stitutional Amendment providing for
the election Of Senator'S by vote of
the people. favor by labor and on
August 18th. 1911, voted to admit Ari-
iona into statehood with a constitu.
ton providing for the initiative, refer
endum and recall. principles advocated
by labor. Senator Chiffon IS also re-
corded as voting against striking the
Literacy Test from the immigration
bill. Senator Chiffon also showed him.
self to be friend of labor when he
voted for the bill providing for COM
pensation for injuries to employees en-
gagged in interstate commerce. Among
other votes which disclosed Senator
Chilton's desire to accord labor a
square deal was his affirmative vote
for the Eight Hour Law, his affirma-
tive vote for the Seamen's Act, an at.
firmative for an investigation Of the
industrial conditions in the West Vir-
ginia coal fields, his affirmative vote
in retaining the proviso in the Sun
dry Civil Bill prohibiting the expen-
ditures for prosecution of laboring
organizations who combined for higher
wages, his affirmative vote on the Clay
ton Antitrust Bill which insured the
trial by jury in cases of contempt Of
court I'm injunction cases, his affirma-
tive vote for the abolition of the stop
watch system, his affirmative vote In
favor OF the Child Labor Bill. Last,
but not least, Senator Chiffon is re.
corded as voting for the Adamson
Eight-Hour Law, which was in the
interests of labor and which resulted
in averting the strike which seemed
SO imminent for a time.
Equally as consistently favorable to
the interests OF labor have been the
votes of Congressman Nicely and Lit
tlepage who are recorded as voting for
the provision against using sundry
civil appropriations funds for the pros.
ecution Of labor organizations. while
congressman voted for the immigration
rule to con1ider the bill. The two
congressman voted for THE immigration
bill containing the lteracy test favor
by nature and Congressman Nicely
voted for the convict labor bill favored
by labor. Mr.. Littlepage was not then
q member nor was he a member when
the Clayton Antitrust Bill containing
sections exempting labor and farmers
organizations from the antitrust laws,
injunction limitations during labor dis.
putes and right OF trial by Jury I'm case
OF indirect contempts. in favor of
which Congressman Nicely voted. Mr..
Nicely also voted for the Palmer Child
Labor Bill. Messrs Nicely and Little
page both voted against the Borland
bill increasing the working day OF gov
eminent employees without additional
compensation and are both recorded in
the affirmative on the Federal EN-
ployers Automatic Compensation for
injuries BILL favor by labor Their DO
sitiOn was equally as consistent on the
Nolan bill fixing SO per day as the
minimum pay for federal employees.
The two West Virginia representatives.
voted against compulsory arbitration
amendment 20 the Adamson Eight
Hour Bill and IN favor OF the bill on
its passage IL Is a significant fact that
Messrs. Bowers and Cooper while they
voted for the bill on ifs final passage,
voted for the adoption OF the com.
pulsory arbitration feature which was
Objectionable 10 labor.
While only few instances OF the
thorough sympathy felt by Senator
Chiffon and Congressman Nicely and
Lituepage for the objects sought by
labor have been cited the complete
record Of the Democrats OF this state
in Congress shows them 10 have been
at all times as consistently the friends
81 those who sought the betterment OF
conditions under which the laboring
man worked.