The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-18
THE sTATE FEDERATION.

THE STATE FEDERATION.
"Matters pertaining to the success OF this
organization should be taken up at this
convention and every scheme for it's fina
success gone over carefully, that we may
yet accomplish the things for which
we were organized. When the movement
was set on foot by the central bodi of this
State to organize this body, we were all
of the opinion that It would help in Sc
curing the passage Of laws for the benefit
Of the laboring man in Texas. 1t is not
the purpose Of the Federation to get laws
.rhdt Will beneaA especially the labor
union man. their interests are the inter
ests of every man who labors in this State.
The farmer, the grandest OF our citizenship,
may be opposed to organized labor, may
find faults in our methods, but II ne I'M
derstood the aims and objects or org0nlZh'
tion, he would be the most staunch sup
porter of our cause At the Waco con
VentiOn we changed the laws of the Feder"-
ton. allowing every local union In the
State of Texas the right OF direct amilla'
tiou. This was done for the purpose oI
getting every local union to recognize tht
importance Of the State organization ana
help in is upbuilding, believing that thi,
would result In securing the aftillauon al
a large per cent of the locals and Drlng
in sufficient funds to maintain the Fedora
tion MS 1t should be, to send lobby tC
the legislature, to work for the passage
Of such laws as are proposed by labor. II
this part of the scheme OF the waco con
vention was carried out. there is no doun'
in my mind but what the state Federation
of Labor would he one of the Leading or
ganlzatlons I'm this State. The c0si
of this individual affiliations Of the dinereul
locals Is SO small that they cannot aforC
to be without It. Six cents per annum fol
all members OH the books In November j.
very small fee for each local to pay
still the whole taken together would
amount to quite a little sum for the beDe
III of legislation. 1t IA not the purpose
of the Federation to but d up some posiuof
for high salarled officers not to put s3m'
fortunate labor leader In a good position
hut TO work for the benefit Of al organic -
| labor In he state Of Texas, that we ma
| oil Lcve the good OF the labors ~ the en-
| tire organization.
For the Federation Itself. l believe IN
| laws as passed al the Waco convention
| are very good policy for this conventtol
to continue. for If they are carried out
| have no doubt but what we viii soon Sc
| cure the support Of the whole membership
! Of the state 81 Texas. through the in1i
/ yIdual local unions. Tho per capita tax II
my opinion Is not sufficient To carry o
| the work as proposed by our avs no
| enough revenue accruing therefrom 10
| the purpose Of legislation that we eXpec
! nj the hands of the Texas legislature
| This believe should be Increased
L. cents per annum for the local union'
J and stated sum for each central bod
initiated. The central bodies of the stat
are the backbone of this organic itior
| Through them alone can we expect % man
| tain the closer afiliation of all the loo
| unions, because the locals depend largel
on The advice Of the central bodies WIZ
Il comes to Joining anything In the shay
| ~ n labor organization. That we can az
coupllsh more for the good Of the who
movement in Texas by and through hi
organization there can be no question. I
do this we must have the support of ever
local union In the State.