The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-01
State Society Meets in Topeka
for Annual Session.
Secretary Johnson Shows What
Has Been Accomplished.
WAS ONLY Is STRIKES.
That Is Record In Kansas for
Past Year.
Governor Bailey to Address the
Delegates Tonight.

The State Society of Labor met at
the state house at o'clock this morn
ing. There are over 200 delegates pres
ent. Geo. w. Brandon, of LeaVenworth,
president of the society, called the ses-
sion to order today. and after the for
NAL appointment of committees the
meeting adjourned. At the afternoon
session Secretary w. L. A. Johnson
made his annual report. He said:
In my report to the fifth annual con-
vention 1 took occasion to congratulate
the wage earners of this state on the
progressive industrial conditions for
that year. 1t is a matter of pleasure to
again be able to renew that congratu-
latlon and to add that if there has been
any change it has been rather an in
crease in the demand for labor. In
nearly every line of employment the
demand for labor has been Of a per-
manent character. Wages have been
increased in nearly every line of en-
ployment in the state. These prosper
Gus conditions have perhaps not been
entirely due to effective organizat ton,
yet they have been an inspiration to
the to1lers to organize more thoroughly
IN order that they might secure a more
equitable division of the products of
their toll.
This fact is very forcibly indicated
when we compare the number of organ
1zatonS at the beginning of 1903, hav-
ing at that time about 400 organizations.
Today we are able to report over 600
enrolled upon the records of the state
society. This is an increase in member
snip of organizations of more than so
per cent This increase in organizati ton
has in fact been synonymous with in
crease in wages. reduction in hours and
improvement in rules and regulations
surrounding employment in nearly every
line of industry.
There were only 16 strikes within the
state during the last fiscal year and it
may be said that all of them were of
minor consequence Eleven of them
We're successful and satisfactorily ad-
justed, While five were not attended by
any gain"
With reference to the labor laws in
Kansas Mr.. Johnson said:
1.-THE enforcement of labor laws of the
state has been a source of fruitful en-
ployment requiring diligent attention.
During the past year, the attention of
the bureau has been brought to hun
dreds of instances where a violation of
the labor laws was either in effect or
contemplation, but by prompt and de-
cisive action such notification was pre-
vented and the laws were caused to be
observed Among the more important
results in the enforcement of legiSla-
ton may be mentioned that long and
arduous fight for right and justice and
which eliminated in a triumphant de-
cision of the United States supreme
court on the conStitutionality of the
are familiar with this case, beginning
nearly four years ago. will remember
that the bureaus efforts were success
full in a line of decisions this case
beginning with the city courts of Wy
andotte county, through the district
court, the court of appeals, the supreme
court and to the last and final resort,
the United States supreme court.
L can assure you it has required the
constant and earnest attention of the
department to avoid the many techni
calities and pit falls into which such
cases are frequently entrapped; and it
is a pleasure to say that we at all times
had the earnest cooperation of the le-
gal departments both of Wyandotte
county and of the state in carrying
this case to q successful termination.
And since this famous decision in
which both the application of the eight
hours and the payment of the current
rate per diem have been fully sustain
ed. the bureau has been besieged by
numerous departments of our sister
states for copies of the decision and the
law in order that it's enactment may be
secured in other states. I am pleased
to note that since the courts have up
held the law, there is a spirit of ac-
Quiescence of those Interested in the
contracts and municipal work wherein
the eight hour law is a factor, as well
as in the observance of other labor
laws within the state
Following is the programme for to-
nights session at Representative hall:
Musical selection Observation-Disclosures.
.Lowman Chapel Chorus
Address of Welcome. Gov. w. J. Bailey
Response. $500 Pres. Geo. w Brandon
Solo ..............-.Mi Miss Celia NJ. Smith
Address, Labor and the Law"
..............Ho Hon. E. A. Enright
Representative from Wyandotte county
Musical Selection ....-.-...-..-..
........... Lowman Chapel Chorus
Address, "Review of Fifty Years of
Organized Labor INSTRUMENTATION.
Albert Griffin, Forty Years Unionist
Musical Selection OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
.Lowman Chapel Chorus