The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-17

| ed the opening session OF the Okla-
homa State Federation OF Labor
which began lis three days annual
convention in Convention Hall this
forenoon. Praise for the workers
part in every effort to win the wal
was on the lips OF every speaker
and full acknowledgment was made
to all branches OF labor for their CO.
operation in war work.
d. N. Ferguson Presides.
D. \. Ferguson, fifth vice-presi-
/ dent OF the federation and Ardmore'
representative on the state eXecu-
tive board, called the initial session
to order and introduced the speak
erS. Mr.. Ferguson first introduced
the Rev, K. F. l.. Morgan, pastor OF
Broadway Methodist church, who
pronounced the invocation. Mayor
W. X. Roberts, in brief address
bespoke the pleasure of the citizens
of Ardmore in the bringing of the
convention to this city. He urged
the delegates to regard the city as
their home and insisted that his
words OF welcome were the reitera-
ton of the welcome of all the city'S
people.
Andrew b. Riddle, city attorney,
who followed the mayor, also be
spoke a wa I'm welcome for the at
tendants at the convention and paid
| high tribute to unionism's partiCipa-
ton in war work. He reviewed the
events that had brought about the
entrance OF the United States into
the world conflict and spoke OF the
readiness with which the workers
had responded to the call OF the gov
ernment in every detail OF the war
program.
On behalf of the chamber OF com
merce ". B. Johnson offered words
of welcome to the convention dele
gates. He called attention to the
fact that our government is based
upon the idead that ''in union is
strength; that each state has a
form of government but that each
must look to the greater union for
protection and guidance i'll the con-
duct of larger affairs. SO it is, he
said. with labor: local unions and
state federations are and should be
controlled by the national organiza-
tion in order to reap the full benefit
of the purpose for which they are
organized. mo man liveth unto him>
self alone, the nation welfare must
always be paramount" the speaker
said. "Without government, capital
and labor are both worthless; with
government both must share the
material blessings in equal proper
tions or else it is not a just govern
ment.
Labor's Legislative Representation.
"Deviation to partisan politics has
injured the hopes of union labor
more than an vother organization.
Other organizations consider their
own interests first, using politics to
obtain their ends, but labor has not
vet attained that independence of
franchise which must be exercised
if il hopes to get the best results.
No man is competent to legislate for
you who has never earned his bread
by the sweat OF his brow, No man
who has not suffered the privations
OF life and its hardShipS. can prop
erly sympathize with suffering hu-
manity. The man who from child
hood has basked in the sunshine OF
plenty. whose environments have
been the slothful extravaganza and
luxury OF the rich, is not fitted to
Judge what necessary laws should
be enacted for the common people.
Nor has that man 4 broad concep-
ton Of this life who caters to one
class against another. Labor without
wealth behind it would be of no
profit and wealth without labor
would be worthless, so that there
should be a common ground for both
to stand upon and proper, and there
will be whenever each recognizes
the relative rights of the other, and
suitable laws are enacted to enforce
thos rights. You as representatives
of labor. ought to feel proud OF the
patriotic service your members are
rendering this government at this
time. Everybody delights to praise
them. and | predict when this war is
over. more attention will be given
to their interests than ever before,
because they have merited las true
soldiers. the full confidence and es
TEEN OF the American people.
Judge Freeman's Address.
Judge w. +. Freeman reused the