The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-03
labor Thinks THE
SHOULD.
PRESERVE 9BDER
If They Do Their Duty
State Police Not Needed,
Resolutions Say.
Labor 4EGGIIssttItRE
State President Rogers
Says Men Should Not
scab Election Day
.LABlR -Ef6G!!SSEtlGRE'

Judging by the tenor Of the special
meeting Of the Monongahela Valley
Labor and Trades council which was
held yesterday afternoon in Willard
hall organized labor feels that it is up
to the sheriffs of the counties to pre-
serve order in West Virginia and that
any state police system woGld be an
unwarranted expense. The question
was discussed thoroughly by w. N.
Rogers, president of the West Virginia
Federation OF labor whose home is In
this city and who is also president Of
the Fairmont local Of the union car
penters, and others and at the con-
clusion Of the remarks the following
resolution which was drawn up by a
committee consisting of P. F. Buck
ley, Levi Phillips, G.. P. Hunter, L.
A. Shackleford and II. E. Peters, was
adopted:
We, the members Of the Monon-
gahela Valley Labor and Trades
Council in special session assernb-
led, representing oil trades in the
Monongahela Valley, certain that
the 1aboring classes of West Yir-
gtnia are law abiding and peaceful
citizens protests agsiHst any cons
stabulaty@ law, We think the
voters feel that with the Virginia
debt to pay there should be no fur
ther expense added to the tax
payers OF the state. II the county
officers will do their duty we will
have no use for state constabu-
larly law.
President Rogers in his address re-
views the recent session of the legis-
lature and then proceeds to emphasize
the Importance of getting laboring
men into the legislature Don't scab
on election day" he advised the men
present "Be a,unton man every day in
the year. Labor is loyal to the core.
We expect to carry the Stars and
Stripes to the very end (Applause.l }
The sheriffs and deputies can keep
order"
AT another time Mr.. Rogers called
attention to the fact that the leglsla-
tors voted to raise the salaries Of the
judges. of the governor, of the mine
inspectors and of nearly everyone else
but that legislators and others of the
governing classes harped on the fact
that the workingman must cut his sal
ary. after there is a cut in the high
cost Of living and not until then, can
we think Of reduction of salaries.
When things went up the pay Of the
workingman was the last to advance.
Let it be the last to fall"
Mr.. Rogers urged labor to elect its
own men to the legislature and con
tended that no man should be voted
for, because he belongs to one party or
another. What we want in the legisla-
ture is men who are identified with
labor. What could you expect from
men who work for So n day." he in
quired at another place in his speech.
Mr.. Rogers told Of the fight that
was waged against the Steptoe bin by
the big interests and how The Char
lesion Gazette had attempted to mis-
lead the legislators at the last minute
by printing an untruth to the eject that
organized labor was against the meas
ure. He read his reply which was read
in the senate and entered on the Jour
nal of both senate and house.
Mr.. Rogers roasted Former Cover
nor MacCorkle for his attitude against
House Bill No. 65 (street car bllll. and
told how he got the governors goat by
declaring that he (Rogers) represented
human lives in urging safety first
mesaure than dollars and cents which
appeared to guide MacCorkle. NJ.
Rogers said that Judge Tom Browne.
of Parkersburg represented the Mon
nogahela Valley Traction Company
and when he was asked il that rom-
pany opposed safety first" measure.
Judge Browne did not insist further
and contented himself with the argu-
ment that the public service commis-
sion should have the say.
H. E. Peters, of the Sflnc-workers.
another speaker, warned the union men
from passing resolutions which might
possibly be construed as meaning that
the unions were not loyal to the core.
He referred TO a resolution passed by
the Ramage local which breathed a
feeling he was certain did not exist
among mine workers
A Pennsylvania speaker told of how
the constubuIarly bill worked over In
that state. He said that when, the un-
ions decided on a meeting at a certain
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