The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-04-29
barometer of Public OpiniOn


Editor world. " seems to mo the union
printers OF tho United States have chosen -
most inopporuno time to tty to enforce shorter
hours Of employment. I am heartily in sym
pathy with organized labor. having served a
number OF years as deputy organizer for the
J. r. l.. ana believe. organized the first trade
union in this statc--tho printers at Guthrie In
May, 1879, ! ALSO organized the printers union
AZ Oklahoma city and was the only representa-.
tive from Oklahoma at the Chicago session OF
the J. r. l.. In 1893, when they voted to do
mand a 5o-hour week-ono hour off on Satur-
day! Now, II appears, they have an eight hour
day and want all saturday afternoon Off at the
expense OF the employer. Maybe | have been
working 30 long ON my farm II hours day
win saturday afternoon off at my own expense
that have gotten out OF line with the times
but II does seem To ilc the boys are asking
Just a little mite too much. Eight hours is
long enough II a printer ~ on his mcttlc and
goes the gait, but II he IN not able to work
eight hours out OF q, his place Is In the hos.
pital and not In Il printing plant
Had II not been for organization, labor con.
ditions would he intolcrable. but there ls such
thing greedy workmcn as we'll az greedy
employers, and that seems To be the snag on
which | fear the brethren may sink their boat
SM-hour days will lead to four-hour days and
eventually no one Will work but the farmers
and ne win dodge as much of 1t ns possible.
In 1915. 100000 organized railway work men
demanded sweeping reduction in hours Of
labor with material increase in pay-and the
president OF the United states forced the con
gress TO pass the Adamson law. This started the
ball rolling. No doubt many of the demands of
the railroad men were fair and just, but the
result does not seem TO prove that enforcing
thesc, demands by federal statute was a wise
proceeding or TO the best interests of all the
people, though IL did no doubt materially aid
the president in his campaign for reelection.
That II avertcd strike and tying up OF trans.
portation for the time being there IL little dues-
ton. but in my opinion 1t sowing the seed
for far more disastrous strike at later date.
what the Adamson law did not do to the rail-
roads son-u law did--and the people pay the
freight 1t now costs so cents to ship one and
two-thirds bushels Of wheat from Oklahoma
points to Galveston, about three times much
as pre-war cost. lumber dealer in Perry,
young man whose word Is good as gold, told
me it now costs II cents each to ship fence posts
from Arkansas to Perry | fenced three farms
with Arkansas posts bought from his father at
to cents each before the government became
sort OF father-in-law to freight rates, Recently
| paid him 30 cents each for no better posts
and thanked God didn't have TO buy many Of
them. II looks little like the roads and the
men are combined TO get the rest of us.
The time has arrived when both employer
and employed should cease grabbing for every
thing in sight regardless Of tho nations wed
iarc. The highest type OF patriotism may bc
developed In times OF peace az well as in warl
and he is most truly patriotic who does most
TO bring about and maintain Industrial peace
and "A return to prosperity.
take little stock in the Oft repeated pre-
dictons that the world is rapidly nearing the
end OF the christian and far less I'm Mr.
Wells scheme for the formation OF a world
state. But II he succeeds with his undertaking
what he win most need will not be a modcrnlzcd
Bible brought down to date by committee
presumably created and headed by himself but
a Messiah to rule over It. Wonder II Mr.. Wells
has ever considered getting modern Savior.
too? Governing ha world state would be
monstrous undertaking Tor any human agency.
In view of the tact that you can hardly get men
capable OF efficiently governing village Of D. 900
people, Az world affairs have gone the past
few years one could hardly blame tho Almighty
II lie again rcpented and wiped the slate Cleanl
of both sinner and saint and started am
over again To solve race OF men more worthy
"A great Creator He certainly has reason to he
tremendously disappointed with us at this time.
| sincerely hope the printers will reconsider
and not walk out MAY Day. II they could put
themselves In the farmers place a little while.
with last year crops and livestock falling far
below the cost of production and green bugs
devastating his wheat and odt fields this spring
! feel sure they would not consider their lot sol
hard oven II they have to work IS hours for "A
week. job is a right nifty thing 20 be con
ucctcd up with these days
Perry Okla, April 20. GRANT SHOOP.