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

1cIt fenton annual report.
~ Since the adjournment OF our last
convention, the greater part OF the
activities OF our organization have
necessarily been directed toward
problems arising out OF war condi-
tons. The entire nation has been
organized ior war purposes and the
many changes that have resulted,
both in industrial and in govern
mental affairs, have presented new
opportunities to organizations OF
labor to place in effect the con-
structive policies that have been ad-
vocated by organized labor for
many years. Recent events have
served to justify these policies and
to give to organizations of labor 4
new influence and standing. The
entry Of the United States into the
war and the subsequent demands
made upon industry for its success
- ful presentation have served to fully
demonstrate the fact that the fun
damental principles of organized
labor are constructive and not de-
structive.
Oklahoma's record in war work is
most enviable one, and in the max
ing of this record the various affil-
lated unions have contributed ma
torlally. The various organizations
aud individual members in the state
have responded Loyalty to all calls
made upon them and there has been
no disposition on their part to waver
in the performance OF the duty that
we all owe to our country i'll this
great struggle for hmuan liberty.
Present conditions make imperative,
(greater activity and 4 close ad-
Aherence to fundamentals, lest the
4 standards that h've been established
through many years Of effort be de-
stroyed. During the period cov-
cred by this report our efforts have
centered principally around these
problems.
Labor and Wages.
During the past year the fedora
ton has been called upon in many
cases to assist affiliated unions IN
wage negotiations and we have re-
sponded to these requests whenever
it has been possible to do so, par.
ticularly where a representative OF
the international was not available.
On account of the fact that some
of our critics eagerly seize upon ev-
o. cry opportunity to denounce or
ganized labor, and have made the
charges OF profiteering in many in
stances where attempts are made to
secure advances in wages, | tecl
hat some reference should be made
o the matter in this report.
Even before the war prices OF
ioodstuffs. clothing and rents had
been increasing to the extent that
many organizations had been forced
to demand and some OF them had
secured, advances in wages. With
The outbreak of the war, millions OF
men turned from their usual pro-
ductive occupations to engage as
active participants or in the manu-
iacture of war materials. The nat
ural result OF the increased demand
for clothing. foodstuffs and other
necessary commodities was an I'M
mediate increase in the cost of these
necessities. This condition became
more serious with the entry OF our
country into the war and it is doubt
ful that without the legislation
passed by congress. authorizing the
creation of the Food Administra-
ton. if conditions necessary to the
thorough organization of industry
could have been brought about and
maintained. Adequate wages are
not only important at this tins as
matter of equity to the wage earn
ers, but are necessary to insure the
~ roper operation OF the various in
e1ustries whose production is les-
sential for war purposes. The en-
plover who attempts to hold wages
down to the pre-war level, as some
are doing, and who charges labor
with profteering because or Its at
tempts to secure necessary wage in
creases. contributes to a greater de-
gree to loss OF production and ham,
pers the government more. than
even the Industrial W orkerS OF the
World and kindred organizations.
Organization.
During the year 70 new local
unions and two central bodies have
been organized in the state. A few
of these new organizations are
merely re-organizations OF suspend
ed unions, others were organized
by the members themselves and OF
ficers OF the federation organized
or assisted in the organization OF
thirty OF this number, as follows;
Trades councils, 2; musicians, /;
meat cutters and butcher workmen,
5; retail clerks, building labor
res 2: federal labor unions, i;
cooks and walters, | shoe repairers,
/; railroad laborers and helpers, ];
bakers. /; laundry workers, 8; team
sters. /; cereal mill employees, i;
refinery workers. i; asphalt work
ers, /: carpenters, /; elevator op-
orators. /: maintenance OF way
employees, |.
Railroad Laborers.
\ When the railroads were taken