davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17
CLUB IMPOSES PENALTY FOR
FAILURE 10 WEAR OVERALLS

Sharon, Pa. April Ian Overalls
club formed at Wheatland. Pa, near
Sharon. and one Of the first 20 be
organized in western Pennsylvania,
has gone so far IN its zeal to protest
the high cost Of clothing as 10 i'm
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17
COURT TELLS LEADERS TO
ORDER MINERS BACK ON JOB

Pittsburg. kan. April H. - Judge
Andrew j. Curran this morning told
Alexander Howat and other officials
Of the kansas Miners union to order
back to work the miners who have
been idle for q week
The first counterfeit greenback in
the United States was circulated in
1852
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

In India when a number OF strings
with three cornered pieces Of paner
fastened to them are tied from side TO
side OF the street it is a sign that a
birthday is being celebrated in one
Of the houses
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

Austin. Tex, April 17.-State con-
troier Mark L. Wiggintsn is the first
state official to appear in overalls.
An overall club is being formed at the
state capitol
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

New York. April 17.-Managers Of
the Armour and Swift packing house
branches in Brooklyn, n. Y, were &C
cused yesterday OF profiteeriug, in in
creasing meat prices overnight They
were arrested and put under $500
bond each in federal cases
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

Every family in France that main
tains a servant is taxed 30 francs
for each one
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

Scranton. Pa. April 1T.-Students
and faculty members at Keystone
academy. F'actoryville. Pennsylvania S
only Baptist preparatory school, have
iolned the nrarau moEenanr
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

The demand for alligator pears
has always exceeded the supply
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

Miami Okla. April 1.-THE Ottawa
County Bar association has formed
an overalls club. composed Of law
yers OF the county and judges OF the
dIsrrIcr md cnurrE cnurls-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

Fresno, Calf. April 17.-With the
exception Of the president, every Of
ficer and employe Of the California
Associated Raisin company viii ap-
pear at the company office Mednes-
day morning in Overalls-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

Hot SPRINGS Ark, April l7.-More
than 500 boys and young men OF the
local high school have organized an
nr-arrrTa rTrh
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

A varied assortment Of pleasing suits In Wool
Serge. Wool Poplin and Wool Jersey-mostly
navy. but there are some black, tans, taupes
and Copenhagen-Sizes 10 to a; $500, $40
md SIS Suits. April Sale of Suits. $3.50.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17

salem. Ore April 11--Employes OF
the salem postoffice with the eUcep-
ton Of the city carriers, have or
ganized an overalls club. The car
riers are awaiting word from wash
ington as TO whether they viii be al
lowed TO discard their uniforms for
$780,
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
Unions Peace Plan
Gratifies Mexico

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-Mexican
officials appreciate the efforts of the
A. F. of L. to keep peace between
the United States and Mexico, says
Organizer Idar, writing to A. F. of
L. Secretary Frank Morrison.
In a lengthy review of conditions
along the Rio Grande river, the
southwestern unionist says:
"Mexican officials speak highly
of the many things that the Ameri-
can labor movement has done to keep
the people of Mexico and the United
States from going to war. The peo-
pie of Mexico in general have conf
dence in us and they feel that we
helped them and protected them in a
most unselfish and disinterested
manner.
"The consuls of Mexico in the
state of Arizona have specific in
structions to safeguard the welfare
of Mexican laborers by all possible
means. The officials of the A. F..
Of L. as well as any and all kinds
of representatives of our labor
movement are welcomed in a spirit
of great cordiality by all the Off
cials of the Mexican government
stationed in this country. The con-
suls have informed me that Presi-
dent de la Huerta is strongly in
sympathy with the American and
Mexican labor movements"
Organizer Idar, together with Sec
retary French of the Arizona fed
GRAFTON of labor, visited General
Alvaro Obregon at Sonora, Mexico,
to discuss the border labor problem.
"We were welcomed in magnifi-
cent manner" reports Organizer
Idar General Obregon expressed
his high regard and respect for the
A. F. of L., and then said this: THE
(Mexican) presidential election takes
place on the fifth day of September
of this year. If | am elected presi-
dent of Mexico | shall be very glad
to welcome a delegation of Mexican
and American labor representatives
with whom | wish to discuss any
and all labor problems that NAV be
brought to my attention. One of the
first acts of my government must be
to help the laboring masses of my
country"
General Obregon gave the trade
unionists a letter of introduction to
the Mexican consul general at Ell
Paso. Texas, with the request that
he discuss with the unionists "any
and all suggestions they might make
in reference to the importation of
Mexican labor into the United
States"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
COURT SUSTAINS
MINIMUM WAGE

OLYMPIA, Aug. Judge John
M. Wilson of the Thurston county
superior court today upheld the con-
stitutionality of the SIS minimum for
women in the housekeeping trades
set by the State Industrial Welfare
Commission.
Hotel men attacked the commits
sion's act on the ground of improper
procedure.
A further appeal to the State Su-
preme Court may be taken by the
employers. Girls in restaurants and
lodging houses come under the new
minimum law as well as their sister
workers in hotels.
If the hotel men lost their ex-
pected appeal to the State Supreme
Court it isb elieved in legal circles
here that hundreds of thousands of
dollars in back pay from the time the
Commission set the new scale will be
coming to women workers of the
state.
A legal fight on the $18 minimum
for women factory workers is also
under way.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

ing $400. Unless they have received
these increases, they are sustaining
losses.
AS matter of fact, there has been
no real increase of wages since 1886.
This is not news to workers who are
striving desperately to make ends
meet, but is contrary to what many
newspaper economists have been
writing for publication. The reader
of the average newspaper might I'M
agine that the workers are rolling
in opulence. The average employer
of labor sincerely believes that he is
paying much more than any worker
is entitled to receive.
But there is the report of the
Bureau of Labor, showing with
mathematical precision that in a
very few, if any, instances, are the
workers of this country as well off
now as they were thirty-five years
ago. Certainly they are not as pros
porous as they were in 1913.
The transportation wage board re-
Gently granted railroad workers an
increase of wages of 22 per cent
With other increases granted during
the period of federal control, the
average income of transportation
men is probably so per cent higher
than in 1918. For similar services
they today are receiving 25 per cent
less than they were being paid sew
en- years ago.
Workers will continue to ask for
higher wages and discomfort will not
abate until wages are again level
with living costs.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
TailOrs End Wrongs
Through UniOnism

CHICAGO, Aug. 7-"No better il
lustration of the value of organiza-
tion of wage earners exists in the
labor movement than is shown by
the results secured by the Journey
men Tailors' Union of America ~
said Thomas Sweeney, general sec
retary of that organization.
For centuries, custom tailors were
piece workers. They furnished shops,
tools, heat and artificial light, and
usually worked from II to IA hours
a day. Their average wages were
never higher than 80 cents an hour.
"The convention held at Chicago,
August, 1917, adopted the following
recommendations: Beginning with
September l, 1919, no member of the
j. T. U. of A. will be allowed to
work under any but the following
conditions: Free work shops fur
nished by the employers, weekly
wage fixed by the local, eight hours
to constitute a days work, time and
one'half for overtime
"This recommendation was adopt
ed by large referendum vote and,
in compliance with it, the demand
for the abolishment of piece work
was made in all of the larger and
many of the smaller cities of the
United States and Canada. AS was
expected, the demands were re-
fused by employing tailors, particu-
larly in New York City and all of
the larger cities on the Pacific Coast
"Strikes in New York, Philadel-
phia and other eastern cities were
not of long duration, but the Pacific
Coast strikes lasted from September,
1919, to June, 1920, and at this writ
ing there are a number of members
on the strike list.
"The tailors are now working no
more than eight hours as a regular
day, and many cities have a 44-hour
week, with an average wage of be-
tween $38 and $40 a week.
at cost the tailors about 100000
to abolish peace work and establish
the eight-hour day and a weekly
wage. While this is quite a sum of
money for comparatively small in
ternational union, our organization
came out of the fight financially and
stronger than it was at
the beginning of the struggle"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
PRICES ARE UP:
WAGES ARE DOWN

Food prices throughout the coun-
try continue to soar. The Federal
Bureau of Labor Statistics gives sta
tistics showing that during the six
months of this year the family bud
get has increased nine per cent. No
relief is promised for the near fu-
ture.
Practically every staple commodity
has responded to the upward climb.
On June Is the average family ex-
penditure was per cent higher than
on May Is. On May Is the cost was
2 per cent higher than in April, and
in April 5 per cent higher than in
March. Since 1913 the average in
crease is about 100 per cent.
This means that workers who to-
day are receiving in money twice as
much as their service commanded in
1918 are working for reduced wages.
1t is a simple matter of arithmetic,
To keep even and maintain his stand
ard of living, the worker who in 1918
received 500 should now be receiv-
ing 5000. The workers who re-
ceived 5000 should now be receiv-
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

The aggregate value of all the rail.
roads was estimated by the com
Imission at ,900000,00 as against
a book value of $20,040, 100000 give1
by the carriers.
A Leap in the Dark
This finding as to 'value" of the
roads was vigorously contested by
Commissioner Eastman, who fileC
what was equivalent to a minority
report. He was supported in al
he said by Commissioner Robert
w. Woolley.
"Under present conditions any
forecast of traffic expense for the
next twelve months is largely 6
leap in the dark" said Commits.
sioner Eastman, 'but the control
ing fact is that any valid determi-
nation of aggregate value is now
impracticable."
The Commissioner pointed out
that the Commission had been en-
gagged for some time on the task of
ascertaining the value of the rail
roads, but that it had not as yet
fixed the final value of any road
and that preliminary reports were
available on but little more thar
fifteen per cent of the mileage of
the country.
Principles Undetermined
"Nor have we as yet determined
the principles by which value fol
rate making purposes is to be esti-
mated from the data accumulated,
said he, "these principles are of
vital consequence to the country
He declared that the valuation
doctrines which were advocated by
the representatives of the railroads
and other public utility companies
were fundamentally unsound in
many respects and subversive of
the public welfare" That being
true, Commissioner Eastman held
that the Commission should not
attempt to place a value on the rail.
roads.
81 feel sure that it is not in the
public interest" said he, "and
cannot believe it necessary under
the law. 1t will almost certainly
be misunderstood and misinterpreted
and may have an unconscious influ
ence upon our valuation work for the
future"
Why He Dissents
Continuing, Commissioner Eastman
said:
81 was one of those who opposed
the early termination of federal con.
troll of railroads. The truth in re-
gard to federal control was then OBJ
scured, in part by natural misun
derstanding of circumstances arising
out of war conditions and in par
by propaganda which was often de-
liberately mendacious. The fact is
that both the central and the region.
al organizations of the United States
Railroad Administration were made
up of men of wide railroad exper.
ience, chosen without regard to polit
ical considerations, and that they
carried on pioneer work for theil
country in trying times, for the most
part with an ability, fidelity, and pa
triotism for which they merit only
honor and praise.
at was my hope that federal con-
troll might be continued, because il
was evident that the transition back
to private operation would create ad-
ditional disturbance in a time of un-
settlement and unrest, that existing
railroad facilities could be made to
do more work and meet more nearly
the transition needs of the country
Continued on Page Four)
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

Robert w. Woolley, member of
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, warned the people while the
Cummins-Esch bill was pending
in Congress, that the passage of
the proposed legislation would be
followed by an increase of twen-
ty-five per cent in freight rates.
Mr.. Woolley was wrong. The
increase in some instances is as
high as forty per cent, and in ad-
dition there has been a big in
crease in passenger and Pullman
rates.
Mr.. Woolley was denounced as
a "sensatienalist" for having made
that statement. Events prove that
he was a conservative prophet.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
GOmperS' Wage Stand
Stirs Low Wage Folks

WASHINGTON Aug NO rc-
cent statement .s Ira-Ia.u. Gompers
has caused -ug1 comment as his
declaration that the trade union
movement wI resist wage reauc-
tous This policy is uo, favored ov
those who are advising labor to- "pr1-
tuce more and who are now remind
cd by President Gomptr- that iu-
creased production is Not possible
while tal American Wooden Conn
panN the Peuusy Ean.a Railroad and
other concerns are laying off work
ems by the thousands.
cat a.i hazards we viii resist
wage reduction" " said President
Gompcrs. "Therc is no excuse and
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
JUICIEST PLUM IN THEIR HISTORY
Is HANDED AMERICAS RAILROADS

way companies also were granted
permission to increase their freight
rates in proportion to the increases
granted railroads serving the same
territory. The new rates, which
are to continue in force until March
1, 1922, will become effective not
later than September /, or upon
five days notice by the carriers to
the commission and the public. The
governments six months guarantee
of returns equal to that paid during
Federal operation ceases Sept. 1.
Increases granted by the commits
sion provide 6 per cent net in
come on the aggregate value of the
railroad properties, and such action
by the commission was made man.
datory by the Cummins-E law.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

(From the American Federation of
Labor Weekly News-letter.)
The Esch-Cummins railroad law
has struck its stride and the railroads
have been handed the juiciest plum
in their history in the form of a rate
increase of billion and half dollars.
1t is estimated that when the
charge reaches the ultimate con-
sumer 81 week will be added to
the living costs of every American
family.
The railroads were awarded this
$1,000, 100000 increase by the inter-
state commerce commission to meet
wage increase of 5000, 100000, the
remaining $90,000,000 to be used for
& per cent interest to the railroads,
The railroads are guaranteed this q
per cent interest for two years, with
free hand on the manner in which
they spent their income. At the
end of two years the guarantee ex-
pires, but the roads will be assured
a "fair" rate by the interstate COM
merce commission. If that body
sees fit, it can then give rates an
other boost.
The commission based it's billion
and a half award on an estimated
total railroad valuation of $18,OOO,-
100000. To this estimate MesSrs.
Eastman and Woolley non-con-
Cured. They showed that the COM
mission has been investigating rail-
road valuation for several years, and
to date the value Of only 15 per cent
of the total mileage of the country
has been ascertained. They refused
to establish figure that practically
validates watered stock and which
is far in excess of the railroads to-
tai market value, and permits the
railroads to use the S1S,0O0,O0 ,OOO
standard in future dealings with the
government.
The two commissioners intimated
a regret that federal control of rail
roads, "in time of unsettlement
and unrest" has ended. They said
a unified control would be more eff
fective than many separate COM
panies and that needed facilities
could be more easily secured by
public capital.
This reference to the value of
government control was distasteful
to Commissioner McChord, who re-
piled that congress "for the time be-
ing has settled the question:" and
that the suggestions made should
not be injected ''to further compli-
cate the extremely delicate and
vital situation"
During the agitation for a re-
turn of the railroads organized labor
urged that the roads be not returned
until a test of government control
could be had under normal condi-
tions.
This plan was rejected and the
roads were returned last March.
Because of differences between the
two branches of congress over the
senate Cummins bill and the house
Esch bill the act was rewritten by
conferees, representing both branch
es. AS usual, these conferees worked
behind closed doors. They made
their report public 4S hours before
the house voted and it was stated
on the floor of that body that there
was not a member of the house, out
side cf the conferees, who under
stood the bill, and that it was ply
scal impossibility to become &C
quainted with it's contents in that
time.
(From Labor" official paper of the
Plumb Plan League, Washington,
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

dry law.
8. Proportional representa-
ton.
9. Necessary legislation to
prohibit the renewal or extern
sion of leases on tide lands in the
harbOr areas.
10. Better support for schools,
especially rural schools; and the
impartial and accurate teaching
of civics, economics, history, es-
pecially industrial and social
history.
Mr.. and Mrs. and Miss Voter, thinI
these things over carefully and an
swer at the polls on November 2,
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

Acting under the mandatory
terms of the Cummins-Esch law
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion was forced to be kinder to
the private railroad owners than
the Railroad Labor Board, also
created by the Cummins-Esch
law, was to the 100000 railroad
employees
The railroad labor organizations
asked an increase of about 40
per cent in wages and were given
less than % per cent
The railroad owners asked
freight rate increases of 39 per
cent for the Eastern district and
they got 40 per cent. They asked
32 per cent for the Western dis
trict and they got 35. They got
all they asked in increased pass
enger, baggage, milk and Pullman
sur-charges. No one will now
seriously question that the Cum
Minis -Esch law was enacted for
the private benefit of private
monopoly
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1920.
asidcnt Michel called the C0mci.

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1920
President Michel called the Council
to order at p. m.
Credentials were presented by
George Munter of the Retail Clerks ;
O. Il. Almvig Of the Electrical Work
ers. to succeed Delegate Greenfield :
j. A. Peuser of the CigarmaAera.
On request of the Theatre Ushers
and Ticket Sellers the Star Amu-e-
ment Company, having met the de-
mands Of their Union, was taken off
the unfair list. The Amusement
Trades Federation made the follow
ing announcement Wednesday after
noon.
ITO THE PUBLIC
"The Amusement Trades Fedora
tiOn is pleased To- announce that the
controversy between the Operators,
Musicians and Ushers and the Star
Amusement Company has been set-
tied. An agreement was reached
satisfactory to adj parties concerned
this morning AT $3.50 and the girls
have been placed i'm their former
positions, the Tleutcr Company
granting the right of the girls to
organize and agreeing to employ
only members of their union. This
insures the girls fair treatment in
the future and as the treatment of
these girl workers was the only is
sue involved Il harmonious coucu-
sion was reached in the shortest
strike in the industrial history of
Everett. We appreciate the support
Al
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

Thirteen thousand workmen in the
government iron foundry at Tokyo,
Japan, went on strike without warn
ing.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

Freight and passenger rate in
creases to insure added revenues
approXimating something over one
and one-half billion dollars per an
mum were granted by the Inter
state Commerce Commission in a
decision made public Saturday,
July 81. Coastwise and inland
steamship lines and electric rail-
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

.
"Clra,ioyu Can,r5.u
"ll9r,, Eabsau
&C r Lemon
a communication was received
from the Central Labor Council OF
Lewis County announcing .he receipt
OF money Tor the relief OF Centraha
prisoners families. lied.
letter was received from the
Union Record announcing the arrival
of two new books OF am educational
chat4cIe[, ,r, one p| NI$rence 5,,' DaFLo"' -
eHIIlleo NE ofeH I o"oP, @"U ~ SIIe
QClJr or. ny vary "cH, eHI'IIeu, Inc
II h'GlV 10 9VIlhe. AeSe Sc, OooNs So are dG
On sac nao loI m 2'''U per IVo or '','.oo ~
per l'Qoo' Inc Ooullt" oIueIeu lII'S
Oh each' v,.,, rou.
"orAei9 Oohese
A letter was received from the
Workers College OF Everett of which
the following IS copy:
Everett, Washington, Aug. =. 1870.
To Members of Organized Labor
Everett, Washington.
ITvaD+iOCr-. This advise r-.rr
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

Smoke Chas. Sheets CHALLENGE
10c Cigar.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

Try "BLUE RIBBON" Cigars, DC.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13

(From Labor" official paper of the
Plumb Plan League, Washington
d, C,)
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-08-13
PLATFORM

/. Immediate and absolute
restOra ton of free speech, free
press, peaceful assemblage, and
all other rights guaranteed un-
der the constitution. Repeal of
the criminal syndicalism act and
release of all political prisoners.