The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-12-23

their inception.
I am satisfied that if the organlza.
tons will but make manifest their oe'
sire for its enforcement, the Bureaus
of Labor will be more than willing to
respond with c~heerfulness.
A. F. OF L, ABEL
an in constant receipt Of letters
from organizations affiliated, asking
| for the F~ederation's label. From my
experience l am led to believe that If
this convention should authorize the
incoming executive to prepare a union
label to be issued under such regula-
| tons as may be deemed most advis-
able, much good would result. Of
course, the label must not either
supersede or be in antagonism to any
label already Issued by any of6liated
organization.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW.
At the request of the International
Typographical Union the Executive
| Council endorsed the bill pending be
fore Congress for an International
| Copyright law, and insisted that one
of the provisions Of the law shall be
the protection of the compositors and
of other wage workers in he printing
trade.
The bill is still pending before Con,
gress and we have reason to believe
will be enacted into law.
BALLOT REFORM.
In several States a reform in the
method of voting, by which the citi,
zen protected from scrutiny and open
coercion in casting his vote, has been
enacted into law.
[ trust that we will not relax our
energies to extend its benefcent eff
fects until all the States in the Union
are brought into line upon this ques
ton.
In speaking upon this subject it
will be well to bear in mind that not
withstanding all the safeguards that
human ingenuity can devise for a
secret ballot, political intimidation
and freedom of action a only result
from economic independence.
AUDITORS.
Pursuant to the Constitution, the
Executive Council appointed a Finance
Committee Of three from the delegates
elect to this convention, to meet in
this city prior to the convention to
audit the accounts.
ORGANIZERS.
The several hundred general organ
izers appointed for their respective
districts have continued to work
faithfully and ~zealeusly in the Trade
Union cause. To them large measure
| of credit is due for the success with
which our movement is meeting.
Thousands of our fellow-workmen
and women who formerly we're work
ing long hours and receiving a miser
able pittance therefor, treated with
contempt AMI without the slightest re
spect in consequence of their disorgan-
lied condition, have been brought
within the fold of union and almost
Immediately resulted in an approved
change surprising to themselves.
In view of the prevalent selfshnes
of so large an amount of people, it is
but a faint measure of praise to say
that these men have made sacrifices
of both time and money in the inter
est of their fellow men, without re
ward or hope of reward, other than
the consciousness and satisfaction re
resulting from having performed a
noble duty.
COMBINATIONS.
Recently the movement among the
corporate and employing classes to
combine has taken more rapid strides
than aver before.
We frequently hear OF the forma
tion of organizations among them
with the avowed purpose of antagons
izing and thwarting the efforts of the
working people. This movement has
not only been going on in any one
country, but the efforts have been
directed to give it an international
character. Many an expression have
l heard of fear of such a growing
power, and it becomes my duty to call
attention to the fact that, as wage
workers, we have nothing to fear from
such combinations, providing we have
the intelligence, the energy and the
courage to meet the combinations of
our employers with the organizations
of labor.
There is no greater power to deal
with the exactions or to curb the ten
dency to injustice of corporations than
the we'll disciplined and prepared
grand army of organized labor.
TIE extend the b~enefcent influences
of organization to the wage workers
throughout the entire length and
breadth of our country should be our
first nnrnnsa and 70 allu orr fnrcas