The Topeka state journal., 1899-02-06
LABOR
ASSEMBLIES
To Name It's Own Labor Com
missioner.
Convention of Delegates From
Kansas Labor Unions
IN SESSION IN TOPEKA
All Organized Trades Thor
Oughly Represented,
Particularly Railroad and Pack
ing House Industries.


convention is held under the provisions
of the law passed by the special session
of the legislature called by Governor
Leedy, creating the society, its COM
ponent parts being the representatives
of the labor organizations, selected in
the capacity of delegates.
Permanent organization of the society
will be effected tomorrow afternoon, by
the election of officers, the principal one
being state labor commissioner. the
office now being held by Lee Johnson.
1t is generally believed that Mr.. john
son will be reelected to this position.
Mr.. Johnson called the convention to
order today. Governor Stanley deliver
ed the address of welcome.
Mr.. Stanley said: Il am pleased to
meet you in this convention; 1 am glad
to have the honor of welcoming you to
the capitol
Il can not conceive how we can esti-
mate the value of labor to Kansas. 1t
has builded all our lines of transporta-
tion. Constructed all our buildings. Our
agricultural interest-the greatest of
all lntereStS-1S directed by the hand of
labor. am now pleased to know that
the hand of labor has been Joined with
the brain that thinks. (Applause.)
THE solution of the la Dor problem, as
well as other great problems, has been
in the hands of the politicians and 1
may say in the hands of the dema-
gOgue, but the time is coming when we
must get closer together. We must get
out of our economics the question of
capital against 1abOr.' Neither can get
dlOnS without the Other. II capital at
tempted anything alone it would rust
in the vault. Without labor it could do
nothing. Yet we want such a condi-
tion that labor will receive from capital
the just recompenSe which is due. (Ap-
plause.) We want broad gauged men
to do this work. 1 hope you will have a
great meeting. If 1 can, during my Off
cial term, do anything which will bring
these elements closer together I will
nave done all that I could desire to do
l hope this start which you are making
here today will mark the beginning of a
new era in our history which will de-
velop and improve the conditions with
which all have to contend"
Lee Johnson, labor commissioner and
the author of the new law which crea-
ted this convention, responded to the
address of welcome. He congratulated
the delegates upon the promise of a
good meeting. He referred to the fact
that Kansas is q pioneer in the labor
movement, which now prevails all
over our land and is now progressing
rapidly under the direction of men of
intelligence and men who have the IN
terests of labOring men at heart"
Mr.. johnson discussed the various
phases of industrial conditions which
the new society of labor in Kansas will
attempt to meets mentioned the fact
that the department has been hob
bling along" for years but is now, ow-
ing to the new law, ready to engage in
a work, the Importance of which can
not at this time be accurately estima-
ted.
" l. > e
dress, extended to the individual dele
gates an invitation to visit the eXecu- /
tive office.
Ex-Representative James Cassin who
introduced the bill in the house creating
the society, made a short speech, in
which he was frequently applauded, as
he told of the history of the passage of
this new law.
The convention effected a temporary
organization by electing the following
officers:
PreSident-JoSeph McGrath, Kansas
City.
Secretary-K U Whitfield Topeka.
The committee on credentials was
then named as follows:
w. S. McCauley, Kansas City.
L. Voss, Leavenworth.
c. J. Rutland. Osawatomie.
j. K. Paul, Kansas City.
w. J. Blaine, Hutchinson.
The convention then adjourned until
after dinner.
Tonight at Representative hall there
will be addresses by Edward w. Bemis,
professor of Economics and Sociology,
Kansas state agricultural college. Sub
ject, 1.-The Possibilities of the Bureau
of Labor and Industry under the New
Law" also by George D. Heron, pro-
fessor of Economics and Sociology, Iowa
college, Grinnell, Iowa. Subject: THE
Ethics of the Labor Movement"
The following delegates are in at
tendance:
II. f. II Hansen. irisss1. B. Of l. E, Wellington
W. B. Cary, B. of L. F., Arkansas City.
$e%i $sf Kjpp 3 Of /. I F. - HTsTIng50n-
y Q. Harris B of I L F. Kansas 6an nS,es City City
w A Thomson. B. of L. E. El Dorado.
l. N: Allen, Q; Z; g, Fort Scott.
J. e. Enright B. of r. T., Atchison.
VIM. Mckinney. =. of r. T, Goodland-
r. s. Thompson. B. of r. T.. Newton.
W. II. Travis, B. of r. r. Chanute.
AT,o(Vo ioI- I I
Robert Tompkinssl 1: T. o., AtehisOn.
K. Z: Whitted I. T. i. Topeka.
w. G. Bird. 1. of a. M, Kansas City.
F. X. Shoemaker, Leather Workers
F ]. Roth. ElectricaIworkers Atchison. +
w ]. Clark, Painters and Decorators, /
Geo eoS HeTbeTser aTbeSsa 6. N l. t. SPeha WPiehita.
Louis Voss G. NJ. |. u, Leavenworth.
Henry Kinsla, Tailors' union, Leaven-
). S. Kelsey. Coopers' union. Kansas
Samuel S. Snyder. Musicians union, To-
VIM Davis. Horseshoers' association.
LeaVenworth.
James w Tapp Amalgamated Butcher /
Workmen, Wichita.
J. A. Marshall. Amalgamated Butcher
Wor1men, Kansas City.
Walter S. McCauley, Beef Butchers |
union. Kansas City
]. Gibson, Pork Butchers union, Kan |
John Daley Amalgamated Butcher |
Workmen, Kansas City
Joseph Brownrigg, Tallow Trimmers' |
Martin Ward, Oieo Workers union Kan
James Mcclellan. United Mine Workers.
Thomas siddIe. United Mine Workers.
Weir City.