The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-01-20
PLANS FOR LOCAL
UNION ARE LAUNCHED


b. j. Stack, ex-secretary of the Ore
gon Federation of Labor, and San
Harris, representing the Portland
Building Trades Council, were present
and delivered addresses. The meeting
was an enthusiastic one, although
called practically on the spur of tn,
moment. G. ID. Nickelsen opened tn,
session for the local men, stating theil
aims in organizing.
While no effort will be made for tht
pre- ent to organize respective locals o1
the different crafts, a total of Sc mer
signed roll for application for a gen
eral federal charter.
The local movement for union labor
branch was prompted by local workers
coming IN contact recently with unior
labor men sent from Portland to the
new Columbia Gorge hotel. Because
Hood River has no union, number OF
local men were recently discharged
from the job. They faced the alterna.
tive of organization or meeting with
unemployment in future similar cases,
it is stated.
A paper prepared by j. H. McRae,
chiefly instrumental in bringing about
the local organization, his remarks
based upon his personal observation
before the organization was effected,
cited that home industry was not sup
ported by the general public. He de-
clared that business interests have less
for their labor and investments, in the
| long run, when the wage Garner does
not secure proper wage. 1t was
pointed out that orders for goods are
being sent out of town. The paper in
part was as follows:
Why not use our own home products
and save to the consumer and user the
vast sums Of money spent for freight?
Our trucks, many of them, are lying
idle tor the want of work that paws
decent remuneration and living wage,
and at the same time the business men
of Hood River are supporting outside
transportation companies and labor,
and at the same time bleeding home
industry and the local wage Garner to
the last penny.
Labor is the foundation of all busi-
ness. Everything of value and wealth
is the direct result Of labor the sweat
of the brow of the millions of toiers
in this land has been coined into vast
fortunes. The business men of Hood
River are not supporting and building
upon the foundation of its local labor.
The Hood River laborer is between
two fires. The laborer in Wasco
county, just to the east, is fully or
ganized, as is the laborer in Multno-
nah county, just to the west. So Hood
River county, unorganized, lies Just
between, and suffers the serious handi-
cap wherever and whenever union
labor is involved. We are not organ
lied and therefore the union labor from
either of these two counties can come
into Hood River county and work at
will, while the Hood River county
laborer cannot go into either one of
these counties without paying the re-
quired fee of the labor union, and this
is why we are organizing under the
Federation of Labor.
The population of Hood River county,
including the city and valley, is 5000
number of non-producers, l,204 pro- |
ducers of labor in Hood River county, |
including the farmer. 5000. This |
means that out of every three produc-
ers, we have one non-producer to sup |
port. The average non-producer s |
wage is 5000, which means that each |
producer has to pay $2.02 per day to |
support one non producer. Where the |
producer s wage does not exceed $5. so |
per day, ard $2.02 off to support nom
producer, means that the producers |
wage is cut to SO 48 per day. Whereas
the non-producer does not support the
producer to any great extent, he has
his $500 left. while the producer has
only 49, 48 out of his $3.50.
While it is generally conceded that
there is too much business in Hood
River county, of a duplicate character,
for the producers to live and support
their families as they should, and this
is the reason why there are As per cent
of our children in public schools of this
county under weight and 25 per cent
under clothed, it is not the wage earn
er alone who is being starved out
under these conditions, it is the far
mer of this county as well.
There is one contract for building
within one and one-half miles of this
city, let to a Portland firm that is now
outside labor on the Job,
and which is union labor, and local
labor and material. on account of the
lnorganized condition that prevails
here, has been shut out, and this means
The loss of large pay roll, at least
81 25O per week for a period of prob
ably five months, to the local wage
aarners who have their families to sup
port from the daily earnings, and be-
fore the job is completed, il will mean
he loss to the local laborers of approx
mately SIS. 0OO
Who is going to solve the problem?
Ne, the wage earners Of this county.
'annot do it alone as individual units,
Zach fellow going it alone for himself,
)ut we can get together and form a
strong organization TO stabilize the {
abor situation here and in our home
community. and help the labor situa-
ION as a whole in the state and nation. I
By organization, we can keep the pay
oil at home and thus assist TO support
'ur over-burdened community. Now.
lrothers, let us rally to the support of
rganized labor, and thus better pro.
ect our selves and our dependents
gainst the invasion of the unscrupu-
Gus employer who would require and =
emand that the man who works for I
ne daily bread as a wage Garner. must
axe and be satisfied with what wage =
e IS pleased to give, be it little or be
more.
Mr.. MeRae has been elected tenn
orary president Of an organization of 7
)cal labor men. W. j. Green was 1
AIMED temporary secretary.
When Won want your clothes Drees.7 u