The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-19

ton was made notable by the submis-
sion of the report Of President William
G. Gredig of Augusta. The report was
an interesting and valuable account of
the progress that is being made in the
advancement of the principles for
which the federation stands and was
enthusiastically received
The report found its keynote in this
statement of President Gredig's con-
ception of the mission of Union la
Dor:
I'VE shall continue, to command
respect and recognition, and in all
our deliberations in this convention, as
at all times, let us still be guided by
the high principles of justice and fair
ness TO all men, exacting nothing but
what is fair and equitable, and Civ
ing the same consideration to the
rights of others The elevation of
mankind and the betterment of the
condition of the working people is be-
ing accomplished more effectively
through the agency of organized la
Dor than from any other source. There
fore we are shouldered with a great
responsibility and it behooves us to
act with discretion and judgment
While we have done all in the past
that it was in our power to tccom-
plish, let us at this convention devise
ways and means to a greater accom-
plishment of the things that we deem
advisable for the moral intellectual
and physical welfare of our people.
While our past achievement has been
most gratifying. let the next year
speak more glorious record"
Report of Secretary Houston.
legislation, recommended the use of the
federation's influence in securing, first
and above all things, child labor law.
He recommended further the erection
of a state bureau of labor and labor
statistics.
Il also recommend" he continued,
"the passage of a law compelling every
individual and corporation in the state
to pay employees at least twice a month
and then in United States legal cur
rency, thereby doing away with the
cOmmissaries and concerns of like
nature. which have a tendency to work
a, hardship on the working man as well
as on the merchant"
The bill requiring goods made by con-
Wet labor to be so branded, the move
ment looking to the adoption of an
eight-hour working day, the use of the
union label and the presence of union
labor in politics, whenever it can enter
politics intelligently and -discreetly, all
received the commentator of Presi-
dent Gredig.
The deplorable condition of testile la
borers throughout the state seems to
have aroused, the peculiar sympathy
of President Gredig. Much of their ILL
fortune he aScribed to their depend
ance upon false advice, which their
own ignorance induced them to regard
as sound. "A very strong plea for the
passage of a child labor law can be
seen in the extreme illiteracy of a large
percentage of these people," said Pres
ident Gredig. And he continued:
Followed False Prophets.
1T know of instances where these
people have listened to the rabid utter
ances of anarchistic persons, who as
pired to the role of Moses-persons
whose doctrine is dangerous and harm
full to those who hearken to it. In
my own city we have a so-called labor
paper which has arrayed the unedu-
Gated classes against the world. It's
extrava%ant and extreme utterances
are daily working incalculable harm,
sowing the seed of anarchy and hold
ing the trade union movement up to
ridicule."
President Gredig concluded his re-
port with expressions of his thanks to
Mr.. c. T. Ladson. the attorney of the
federation, to the federation's official
organ, and to its officers who have
given freely of their time and their
best efforts in advancing the fedora
TONS work.
Report of Secretary Houston.
Secretary Treasurer C. C. Houston
read his annual report showing that
IViT1 hA arf
CARNATIONS had affiliated with the
state body, including unions from At
lanta, Savannah, Macon, Rome, Mari
eta and Brunswick
The finances of the federatio were
shown to be in good condition The re-
port was complete in every detail.
showing the transactions of the state
body with each of the seventy-eight
local organizations affiliated Herewith.
Mr. Houston is now serving his fourth
year as secretary treasurer.
Other reports were made bv Vice
President John K. Frizzell of the First
district, and by Mr.. Jerome Jones, the
delegate from the state organization to
the last convention of the American
Federation of Labor. The delegates
report covered in large part the trans
actions of the convention, which at the
time it was being held found their way
into the public prints.
Mn. Jones advocated the adoption of
an amendment to the state constitution
which would permit the passage of leg
islation by a referendum vote of the
people, without the interposition of anv
legislative body. The same sugges-
ton was made in a resolution passed
by the national federation, which was
conveyed to the state convention by a
letter from President Samuel Com
pers.
The Committees Named.
President Gredig named Yesterday
the general committees to which reso-
buttons will be referred as they are
offered in the convention. These are
constituted as follows:
On Laws: L. j. Kilburn, chairman
Jerome Jones, Louis Blase, T. J.
Naughtin, Robert F. Bradley.
On Presidents Report: Charles n
Pancoast, chairman Jerome Jones I
K. Frizell. P. w. Greene, M r. Earle
ON Finance: j. A. Alleyne. chair
man, j. l. Waite, Louis Wells, G. T
Chaffin. ]. L. Kent.
On Union Label: w. S. Harris
chairman. R. o. Ross, C. E. Stevenson
Benjamin kaufman, T. H. ]. Miller
On Grievances: Michael Riley.
chairman, j. ]. Holloway, Wesley
Lewis, G. NJ. Cohen, Mrs. Lizzie Hum
phreys.
On Resolutions: H. F. Garrett