Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-04
WILL FIGURE IN POLITICS
State Society Of Labor and Industry Which
Meets This Month.
HAS SOME LEGISLATIVE PROPOSITIONS
Committee VIII ne Appointed 60 In
vesdsate Records of Party candi-
dates to AscertaIn Their Att
tude on Labor Affairs.

The State Society OF Labor and Industry
will meet at South Omaha during the week
OF September % for the purpose OF discuss
ing matters OF interest TO the wage earn
ers Of the state. There will be q meeting
Of the executive committee of the society
at Labor temple IN Omaha Sunday for the
purpose Of issuing the formal call and ap-
pointing committees to prepare for the con-
~vention. The committee expected to hold
a meeting last Sunday, but Il found itself
without a secretary. Fred Baumann. the
secretary elected last year. has been trans
ferred from Nebraska to Illinois by the ex-
ecutive committee Of the International
Walters union. and Ed skelsey, his assist
ant. has gone 70 Denver for his health. A
temporary secretary will be elected next
Sunday to serve until the convention is
held.
BY the time the society meets practically
all Of the candidates for once win have
been nominated by the political parties and
the convention, through a committee to be
appointed, will canvass the merits OF the
respective candidates as shown by their
records and make a report to each OF the
organizations represented in the state orr
ganization. II is not believed that decided
recommendations will be made in Any case,
but the records OF the candidates Will be
passed upon without favor. The report will
show whether the candidates have taken
any part for or against the laboring man.
either as organized unions or as morgan
lied working men. Candidates for legisla-
tive ofhces will be given special attention.
as the state society expects to take a con-
siderable part In the work OF the legisla-
ture next winter.
Committee on LegislstiOn.
To represent the society before the legis-
laturs a Legislative committee will be Sc
lected at the coming meeting. This com
mIttee will be sent to Lincoln at the ex-
pense Of the society. with instructions to
investigate all bills originating in either
house and to discover the bearing each will
have upon the laboring people OF the state.
doing all in Its power to advance the bills
which they favor and TO defeat those which
they oppose.
There will be some specific matters which
will receive consideration at the convention
and It is more than possible that some
steps will be taken to secure pledges from
candidates before election as to their course
when the measure comes up for copsidera-
tion. The most important measure OF this
kind is one which will be pushed by the
retail merchants Of the state to amend the
exemption laws. The laooring men Of the
state are very well satisned with existing
conditions In this respect and will oppose
any attempt to increase the ability Of
creditors to garnishee wages, while The re-
tail dealers hope to be able to amend the
law so that wages In certain cases can BE
held for the payments Of the debts Of wage
earners.
Bills for LabOr's Interest.
Bills which the convention will favor are:
One to recognize the union label and to in
sist upon it's use upon all supplies pur-
chased or ordered by the state or any OF Its
officials; an amendment to the female. labor
law; a bill to abolish the employment of
minors under the age OF IA years in any
store or factory; a bill TO increase the
powers OF the state labor commissioner; a
bill to provide for arbitration OF labor dis
putes which will make 1t possible for either
party to the dispute to inaugurate action.
Other bills. some OF them entering the do
main Of practical politics. such as the cleo
tion Of certain officers now appointed by
the governor, the Initiative and referendum
form OF making laws for cities and the
state, have been suggested. but II is said
by some OF the leaders that the effort OF the
legislative committee will be confined. under
the instruction Of the state society. to action
upon the bills Immediately affecting labor.
The society has a membership of about
100 unions In the principal cities Of the
state, the railroad unions being particu-
larry strong In the organization. ros 1,c7F