Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-09
BY TELEGRAPH.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.


Bosroy. Aug. SIN urging the neces
sity Of direct legislation BY the people, thu
delegates attending the eighth annual con
vention Of the state branch Of the Arneri
can Federation Of Labor were informed b,
Delegate T. K Foster. during YESTERDAY
Afternoons session, that Direct legisis
ton would dwarf the politician and mag
Nifty the everyday citizen"
Probably the most important Question
tina, will come before the convention con
Germs the advertisements Of trade unior
labels and increasing the demand fol
union label products. This matter wa
discussed al length, aud il was decided 10
issue what will b. termed
A Label Bradstreet.
In this publication will be given the loca
ton Of every trade asing trade label, ths
membership Of each union, the occupation
Of the members and their rates Of WAGES
1t was also decided 90 place the publica
ton of the book in charge of a delegate
to the American Federation of Labor. and
20 pay a sufficient salary to ensure tn.
employment of naa of superior ability
The proposition Of the Boston Central
Labor unien 10 hold conference Of New
England Central Labor unions was en-.
dorsed. with The amendment that the New
England state branches Of the American
Federation of Labor should be given rep.
resentation in the conference.
A motion WAS adopted empowering the
executive council to elect delegates to the
conference, providing the suggestion oi
the convention should be acceptable to the
committee issuing the call for the Central
Labor unions conference.
Delegate Foster. chairman OF the legis-
lative committee. next made report fol
the committee. The repnrt, which was Of
some length, proved TO he Of great interest
TO the delegates, and WAS in part as fol
lows: ~.- ~
b. -- Fosters Report
Pursuant with the instructions received at
the last convention Of this body, a tlesinHin
has been made in til. campaign for direct leg
i>lation through the initiative and referen-
dun. Petitions seat ont for this measure re-
ceiyed hearty aud practically unanimous
en- iorsement from our various affiliated
bodice. and We are Of opinion that the timc
Is rape fur the Inauguration of "A concentrated
and energetic effort for the advancement OF
this ides.
Without entering into any extended dis
cussion To the merits OF this measure, We
simply call Your attention 20 the fact that by
It's attainment the wage earning classes would
immessuTrahly increase their influence upon
the law making powers and any reasonable
step In legislation which could successfully
stand the test Of publicity and discussion
could be taken.
From whatever standpoint it is viewed, di-
rect legislation Offers u feasible. simple and
safe plan OF achieving the legislative saliva
ton of labor dcStro az the insidions infu-
ence OF the lobby and making the government
truly one OF the people.
We therefore recommend that the delegate
to this convention cooperate with the friends
OF this principle, wherever found, in the
formation Of leagues for the agitation of and
education in this idea, that whenever possible
affiliated organizations devote at least a pof-
tion of meeting in the near future To thn
same cause.
We also recommend that candidates for
legislative Office in this state be- requested to
define their position upon this question, sd
that organized labor may know those nhu ar,
in sympathy with popular government.
We recommend that the incoming leSi-la-
tive committee be directed by all Legitimate
means In its power to have the measure
brought prominently TO the attention Of the
next legislature, with q view 10 securing the
adoption of the necessary constitutional!
amendment
Our affiliated unions whose products bear Il
union label have reason to congratulate them
selves upon a label law, which, while not all
that could be desired, is yet an improvement
over anything that before existed In this
state. . -.
The various bills looking for shorter hours
for the factory women and children unhappily
met with defeat. and there was not that unan-
unity of sentiment among the representatives
of the factory center, which is the prime ts-
scntal to the further advance OF this move
meat. ='
We are Of opinion that an appeal should b.
made by his body to the organized labor Of
the other New England states to try and bring
their respective states to at least a level with
Massachusetts in the matter of factory laws.
This report WIS referred to proper com
mittees for iii yestion and subsequent rec
concentrations