Hellraisers Journal, Friday March 15, 1918
Mother Jones News for February 1918: Found at Hearings in Chicago
Towards the end of February, we found Mother in attendance at the Alschuler Hearings in Chicago. Federal Judge Samuel B. Alschuler was appointed by President Wilson to arbitrate differences between Packinghouse Workers, now in the midst of a massive organizing campaign, and the Stockyard Employers. The Alschuler Hearings were held in Chicago from February 11th until March 7th and a ruling is expect soon.
From the Oregon Daily Journal of February 27, 1918:
Chicago, Feb 27.-(I. N. S.)…..
Like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. “Mother” Jones of labor strike fame, came into the midst of representatives of the packers Tuesday during a five-minute recess in the hearing.
“Why am I here-why?” she exclaimed in a high pitched voice that penetrated the courtroom.
I’m here to tell you bloodsuckers where you get off at. I’m here to help drive out you crooks. I’ll not let up-I’ll not let up.
She directed her attack against John E. O’Hern, general superintendent of Armour & Co. plants, and others. Louis F. Swift, standing back some distance, heard her fiery statements.
A fist fight was threatened when Frank P. Walsh, counsel for the workers, read a series of letters indicating the packers sought to spike corrective legislation in various states.
———-
[Photograph added.]
From The Omaha Daily Bee of February 27, 1918:
O’HERN ADMITS 8 HOUR DAY WOULD
NOT HINDER WORK
—–
Former Omaha Superintendent Is on Stand
Entire Day in Chicago Stock Yards
Wage Controversy.
—–Chicago, Feb. 26.-On cross examination today John E. Hern, general superintendent for Armour & Company admitted that a basic eight-hour day for stock yards employes would not reduce the packers’ output or interfere with the adequate supply of foodstuffs to the military forces of this country and its allies during the war.
He said it simply would cost more to operate through the payment of extra compensation for overtime. The witness explained however, that if the arbitrators finding was for a basic eight-hour day the inference would be that 10 hours is too long for the men to work. An actual eight-hour day, he said, would seriously interfere with the efforts of the packers to meet the government and country’s needs during the period of the war.
On Stand All Day.
The cross examination of the witness occupied practically the entire day at the stock yards wage arbitration. “Do you agree with the report or the president’s mediation commission that the wages paid unskilled stock yard laborers are inadequate in view of the increased cost of living?” asked Attorney Frank W. Walsh.
“They are in line with wages paid by other industries for the same class of labor,” replied the witness….
Among the visitors at the hearing today were Jackson L. Spangler of Bellefonte, Pa., and Vernon Z. Reed of Denver, members of the president’s mediation commission, who stopped over enroute to Minneapolis where they are going to settle a street car strike; Louis F. Swift and “Mother” Jones, an organizer for the United Mine Workers, who is on her way west.
———-
From the United Mine Workers Journal of February 21, 1918:
We did not find Mother in West Virginia during the month of February 1918, but we, nevertheless, offer the following summaries of the ongoing organizing campaign in that state where Mother Jones has been an active participant despite threats made by company gunthugs to shoot her head off (see Mother Jones News Round-Up for December 1917).
FROM WEST VIRGINIA
Miners Lead Movement for Reform of West Virginia
Weights and Measures LawsBeckley, W. Va., February 16.—I have just returned from attending the convention of State Sealers of Weights and Measures. The miners had a good representation at the convention and it was the largest and most successful convention the State Sealers have held. The convention agreed with the miners’ representatives, that it is for the best interests of the public that our next legislature should make some amendments to the present Weights and Measures laws, as the convention unanimously adopted the following amendment, which will be presented to our next legislature:
1st. That all scales shall be installed on a solid foundation, and such foundation shall be of concrete when practicable, and where possible, such foundation shall be separate from the tipple.
2nd. All coal shall be weighed, and such weighing shall be done within 200 feet from the drift mouth of the mine, and that 2,000 pounds shall constitute a standard or legal ton.
3rd. That the present law be so amended as to provide for six additional State Inspectors of Weights and Measures, who shall be inspectors of mine scales.
4th. That the present law be so amended that the justices of the peace will have jurisdiction in trials for violations of the Weights and Measures laws of the State of West Virginia.
5th. That the appointment of County Sealers by the county courts or other appointive powers be compulsory, and that such appointee be a resident of said county for which appointment is made, and that they be paid a minimum salary of $150 per month and all legitimate expenses in counties of the first class, and in counties of the second class they be paid a salary of $100 per month and all legitimate expenses, and that they be placed under civil service.
The convention also unanimously adopted a resolution asking the United States Department of Seals and Weights to make an investigation of the scales and devices for the weighing and measuring of coal at the coal mines in this state.
I am confident that the mine workers of the entire state will co-operate with the Sealers to have the above recommendations put into law by our next legislature; and I feel they will at once get busy and approach their representatives from their respective districts and have them to support the above recommendations when they come up before our next legislature.
I would advise all local unions (that are not at present affiliated with the State Federation of Labor) to become affiliated at once. The initiating fee and dues are not very much, and I trust all local unions (especially those in District 29) will see the importance of affiliating with the State Federation. As to the initiation fee and dues or any other information that any member desires I will gladly furnish the same to them.
I want to call the attention of the mine workers and the public to an instance as to the weighing and measuring of the miner’s coal in the Winding Gulf of District No. 29. Last November, through the Washington agreement, an advance of 10 cents flat per ton was granted the miners, and the government granted the operators 45 cents flat per ton. Now in the Winding Gulf they don’t weigh the miner’s coal, the miner is paid so much per car, and in numbers of mines these cars hold three tons. Through the Washington agreement the operator got an advance of $1.35 per car with the understanding that he was to give an advance of 30 cents per car, but the operator granted the miners only 8 cents per car advance. Men don’t you think it is about time we wake up and have some laws placed on our statutes that would prevent such exploitations, if you do, then have your local to become affiliated at once with the State Federation of Labor, and commence now to prepare to have some law placed on our statutes that should have been there long ago.
Fraternally,
LAWRENCE DWYER,
International Board Member of District No. 29—–
Working Slow, but Better Times in Sight
Moundsville, W. Va., February 12.— Never having seen any communication from Moundsville, I thought I would drop you a few line. The work here is poor at present—one mine overcrowded, with men working almost steady, and the other running slow on account of the car shortage, but expect in a short time to be getting plenty of cars; that is, we are living in hope.
We have another mine at which are employed some strikebreakers and other things, also some of our former leaders in the labor movement have quit the union mines and have gone to that mine to work. I suppose they made a few dollars there for a few weeks, but now they are not working very much either. I think the future will see the union miner working every day while those fellows will be sitting around a certain store here telling hard-luck tales like they always do. You have had quite a few of their names in The Journal. Nevertheless, they have hurt no one but themselves. Of course, you know we will never work with them again, and some of them can go to a few other places north of Wheeling, for the former leader of their movement is bossing a mine up at Buffalo Creek, but they can’t move their property up there with them.
We are going to hold a celebration here April 1, and I want to extend an invitation in behalf of the union miners here to all local unions on the Ohio and West Virginia sides of the river. We have engaged two bands. We will parade to the camp ground and will have such speakers as Mother Jones, Congressman M. M Neely, John More and Wm. Ray. The Rev. Father Flanagan will deliver the address of welcome and prayer. We hope to see all the locals from the surrounding towns join us, for I think in this hour it is their duty to come to Moundsville.
JAMES H. MADDEN
———-
SOURCES
Oregon Daily Journal
(Portland, Oregon)
-Feb 27, 1918
https://www.newspapers.com/image/78421490/
The Omaha Daily Bee
(Omaha, Nebraska)
-Feb 27, 1918
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99021999/1918-02-27/ed-1/seq-12/
Labor and World War I, 1914-1918
-by Philip S Foner
International Publishers, 1987
-pages 234-238: “The Chicago Packinghouse Campaign”
https://books.google.com/books?id=cGPtAAAAMAAJ
The United Mine Workers Journal, Volume 28
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-Nov 1, 1917-May 2, 1918
Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America
https://books.google.com/books?id=OAxOAAAAYAAJ
UMWJ Feb 21, 1918
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=OAxOAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT538
News Exchange: From West Virginia
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=OAxOAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT547
Note: For more on the “Washington Agreement,” search this source with same. Search this source with “Mother Jones” for more on Mother’s work in West Virginia during this period.
IMAGE
Mother Jones Fire Eater, St L Str, Aug 23, 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/image/204372148/
See also:
For more on Alschuler Hearings & Ruling:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen’s Magazine Vol. 64, Part 1
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-Jan 1-June 15, 1918
https://books.google.com/books?id=BM45AQAAMAAJ
BLFE Mag of Apr 15, 1918
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=BM45AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.RA6-PA1
“Packing House Employes Win Fight”
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=BM45AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.RA6-PA13
PACKING HOUSE EMPLOYES WIN FIGHT
Get Right to Join Union, the Eight Hour Day
and Wage IncreasesThe right to affiliate with trade unions, the eight-hour day, wage increases and equal pay alike for work done by men and women have been granted the Chicago packing house employes after wage hearings extending over a period of more than six weeks. Judge Samuel Alschuler, who was appointed by Secretary of Labor Wilson, with the approval of the Council of National Defense, to act as administrator in the adjustment of working conditions and wages in the packing industry in Chicago and other western cities, began the arbitration proceedings under the stockyards agreement on February 11 and announced his ruling at Chicago on March 30.
The eight-hour day will date from May 5, 1918, when eight hours will constitute the basic workday. Overtime on week days will be paid for at the rate of time and a quarter for the first two hours and time and a half for succeeding hours. On Sundays and holidays double time will be paid for over time. An increase of from 3½ to 4½ cents an hour will be granted all hourly wage workers and piece workers are to receive a proportionate increase. In all cases the rates are to be so adjusted that the compensation for the eight-hour day shall equal the pay formerly given for a ten-hour day.
Provision for a hearing of grievances of the employes is announced by Judge Alschuler and no employe may be discharged because of trade union membership or activities not carried on at the plants.
Better sanitary conditions will be enforced and the packing companies are required to provide proper lunch rooms, washing rooms and dressing rooms and employes shall not be required to join company sick and benefit associations.
In the course of the hearing the most distressing conditions at the Chicago stockyards were bared. Frank P. Walsh, former chairman of the United States Commission on Industrial Relations, represented the unions of stockyards workers as attorney and advisor, and he gave his services freely without fees or reward.
John Fitzpatrick of the Chicago Federation of Labor, one of the first witnesses at the hearing, told of the work of organized labor in the stockyards, of the antagonism of the packers and of the movement which led to action by the Government through the Secretary of War, resulting in agreements by the packers and the unions with the President’s Mediation Commission on Christmas day. The letter and the spirit of the agreement was not observed by the packers, the employes contended, and they appealed to President Wilson. At the joint meeting of the packers and the workers which followed under the direction of Secretary of Labor Wilson, an agreement was reached on twelve of the original demands of the union, the remaining six having been the subject of Judge Alschuler’s ruling.
Working conditions as described by labor leaders and other witnesses showed the poorly paid employes were worked from ten hours a day up and scenes of squalor and privation were depicted. The widow of one worker who had died within a week testified that he had made from $7 to $10 a week until the last week before his death, when he worked eighty hours and made $23. John Kilkuski, organizer for the American Federation of Labor, said the stockyards workers were just barely able to exist.
For much more on the Alschuler Ruling:
The Survey, Volume 40
(New York, New York)
-Apr-Sept, 1918
Survey Associates, 1918
https://books.google.com/books?id=IrRDAQAAMAAJ
Survey of Apr 13, 1918
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=IrRDAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA33
“Packington Steps Forward, The Gist and the Spirit of Judge Alschuler’s Decision in the Chicago Packing Cases” by William L. Chenery, Editorial Writer Chicago Herald
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=IrRDAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA35
“Easter Day After the Decision” by Mary E. McDowell, U of Chicago Settlement
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=IrRDAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA38
For more on Frank P. Walsh:
“Frank P. Walsh” by Dante Barton
-from Harper’s Weekly of Sept 27, 1913
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=i2wyAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.RA2-PA24
John Fitzpatrick of the Chicago Federation of Labor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fitzpatrick_(unionist)
Children of Mother Jones – Pete Duffy