The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-01-21
uI,oma, Wednesday, January 2I, 1920
UNION MEN PASS
RESOLUTION; RAP
STRIKE MEASURE

At a mass meeting of union labor
men held in the Union hall last
night resolutions were passed with
the instruction that copy be mail
ed to President Wilson, Senators
Owen and Gore and Congressman
! Scott Ferris. The resolution which
follows, was signed by Jno. w. Duff,
/ II. II. Duncan, r. r. Turner, A.
Bankston, Chas. j. Baker and j. D..
Robinson, all Rock Island men:
| Whereas; Our attention has been
called to the Cummins bill now in
congress which has for its purpose
the regulating of the railroad indus
try in the event they are returned to
private owners and in framing that
bill 1t was thought well by the fram-
ers to try and tie the hands Of the
railroad labor organizations to the
extent that ii would be unlawful for
them to strike and for the violation
Of this law It would be an offense
equal to a .e.o ony which would carry
with it an enormous fine and a Jail
or penitentidry term.
Now, we are not going to take
the position to say that there was
any evil thought in the minds of the
gentlemen who framed that bill but
on the contrary we will say, they
were prompted by the desire to do
something that they thought their
country needed But in doing sowe
might venture to ask the question
of these gentlemen, il they ever
stopped to think that they were par
ties to framing a bill of gross class
legislation? Did it ever occur to the
gentlemen who framed that bill that
It takes two parties to complete
strike?
I'VE have also heard a great deal
of the public interest of late, and
also Of the miserable minority Of TIE
labor organizations as compared
with the population Of the United
States. Let us take look at this
question from the other side, and
see what the facts in the case are.
The American Federation of Labor
has a membership of something like
three million five hundred thousand
and of that number we understand
there are three million heads Of fam
lilies and the average family being
live, that would make naggrega-
tion of 100000 souls. We find
thst we have 42,G00000 wage earn
ers in the United States and we
will be conservative and say that
each one of these have at least one
dependent, that would make an ag-
gregation of S2,000000 souls depend
ent directly or indirectly on the eff.
forts of organized labor and we will
hasten to say that it does not ap-
pear to US that S2,OO0000 out Of a
population of 11O,OO0,OOO resembles
a minority by any means.
I'VE are going to take the posi-
ton that organized labor does not
desire a strike but to the contrary,
we do not desire that method of ad-
iusting our differences, but when all
other methods fail, what is left to be
done?
IF it Is the sincere desire Of the
gentlemen who framed that bill to
relieve the people of the possibility
of the strike, we will say that we
are with you to the extent Of re-
moving the condition that makes the
strike possible.
I'VE are going to say further, that
we are American citizens and have
the good and welfare Of our country
Under consideration at all times, and
we cannot believe that any such leg
islation as the Cummins bill sets
forth will be fruitful Of beneficial re-
suits but to the contrary will hive
The opposite effect.
we might venture to ask right
, here if it is more of an offense for
labor organization to meet ana
! formulate methods by which they
may receive a living wage for their
services, than it is for any group Of
gentlemen to form a stock company
for the purpose of making dividends
out of an investment
I'VE do not believe there is any
fair-minded man in the United
States but will concede that when
our country was in need Of real as
sistance that the appeal was made to
the labor organizations and the ap
peal was not made in vain. When
our good president Of the nation said
to the labor organizations: "Yonl
country needs your undivided sup