The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-20
FIGHT ON WILLIAMS
LIVELIEST INCIDENT
OF THE CONVENTION
CONTINUED From Page ~

nish some evidence along that line
if it is needed. Now, | am for this
resolution. believe that we should
4 not go back Of the previous record
Z of his body and refuse TO condemn
a man whom every speaker against
this resolution has said he does not
approve and whose record on organ
lied labor matters is not what we
would want it to be. In my estima-
: tion we should be big enough and
bold enough to declare ourselves.
We should not be afraid to condemn
man who is opposed to the best
: interests OF union labor and | am
going to vote for this resolution and
expect every man who has the best
interests OF organized labor at heart
to do likewise
Delegate Walter Albright, repre-
senting the pressmen, Oklahoma
City, prefaced his remarks with the
statement that he was not sure how
he stood on this matter, but Al
bright's characteristic joker soon
followed: "As far as | am con-
cerned, don't know but what | am
in favor Of the committee report
We've had Bob Williams at Okla
homa City for about four years now
and | am not sure but what it would
be best to let him have this appoint
ment and thereby trade him oil to
the eastern side OF the state
Boydston's Able Appeal.
lust when the delegates seemed
to have decided that the talk was all
over, that everything had been said
that could be said, Delegate :. NJ.
Boydston. OF the Mine Workers,
Wilburton, stepped to the front OF
the convention floor and rounded
OF the argument against Williams
in All able manner. Boydston had
not previously appeared upon the
floor and his portion OF the debate
was a surprise TO many OF the newer
delegates and to the spectators, but
10 the old timers, who have known
Roydston as 4 "wheelhorse' of pre-
vious conventions. it was soon APP
parent that he had purpose in
mind when he held his argument 10
the time that it seemed that the Will
lams supporters had about exhaust
ed their forces.
Several lawyers have spoken
against this resolution" Boydston |
said in substance. in his introduc-
tory remarks. 81 am not lawyer and |
/ shall not be able to deliver TO YOU
such an address as they have given !
The convention. Ny remarks will be-
presented to you in Just the plain .
every day language OF coal dig |
ger but ] want you to realize that
what | may lack in polish ! hope |
TO make up for in my sincere desire
TO further the best interests OF or
ganizcd labor in Oklahoma. Dele
gate Powell has charged that he was
obliged to come before a packed !
jury and that the miners caucused |
last night and tied up every coal
digger delegate to support this
resolution. If that has shocked the
delegate from Oklahoma City.
would like to remind him OF many
caucuses that we have participated in
lin previous conventions. ] am not
apologizing for the caucuses OF the
past and | know no reason why we
should not have caucused on this
measure. We are a unit. solid
body against the appointment of
Bob Williams and we know we are
justified in our position. | know !
am. for one reason if | had no other.
The convention OF lqlI condemned
Williams because he vetoed the ap-
preparation for the Wilburton
School OF Mines, the only place
where the miners can give their
children an education. I'll tell you
how | got my education. 1t was at
night, al the WilburtOn School OF
Mines. and ii was after was married
and was trying to support family.
And then YOU don't want us to con-
demn a man who closed that school {
If there was nothing else, that would
be sufficient to determine how labor ,
should stand on Bob Williams. But ,
there's the effort he made TO mine ,
coal by convict labor and there are
many other charges that might be ,
brought against him, but these =,
ought to be sufficient for 4 l0O-per- ,
cent union man. was one Of D.,
delegation that went to Oklahoma
City to urge Governor Williams 10
make it possible for the Wilburton
school to be reopened He did treat
us with courtesy-that is, he staid
in bed while we talked to him. And
he said, mo. boys, | am not going
to reopen that school. There's
bunch OF politicians down there in
Latimer county that haven't been
me and so long as I am
governor OF Oklahoma. they're not
going to get anything. Now if he
did not use those exact words. that
Is the substance OF his answer.
political Wire Pulling"
"There has been lot of talk about
political wire pulling in this CON
Sention. These other fellows have
charged that if We condemn VII
Iiams, it will amount to an indorse-
ment OF Gordon. | don't know any
thing about Mr.. Gordon, but ! don't
believe he can be more unfair to Or
labor than Williams has.