The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-05-24

!, $ sli ~.
You can readily understand il
every lahoring man aD,l woman
was true to the principles Of labor.
unions, they would purchase none
but those articles bearing the un-
ion label. This would further the
interest OF the laboring people by
raising the standard Of wages and
Improving conditions Of employ-
mcnt in many industries which are
now unorganiZed.
3. The other important object
of the State Federation OF Labor is
to secure legislation to protect the
interests Of the laboring people Of
West Virginia. s
To do this successfully y, weshould
have tho co operation OF the Rail.
road Brotherhoods and in addition
to this enlist the support of those
engaged in farming.
1t should be borne in mind that
we are not seeking privileges for
ourselves that we are not willing
to grlntto others. We are not de.
inanding special privileges. We
are not and do not propose to ask
for such legislation as will be re-
garded as strictly promoting class
interests. We insist, however, III
having laws that will give the Ia
boring people of this state equal
opportunities with every other
class of people in West Virginia.
There are numerous laws that
should be enacted in our, State, and
] take this opportunity Of sngges-
ting a few Of the measures that
should I've considered hy the i,eXt
Legislatures. # 5S ;i453i
a law prohibiting the employ
ment of children under the age, of
l5 and then not more than As hours
per week. ssS
a law to increase the safety APP
plianccs on railroads III order that
accidents may be reduced to a min-
imum.
a law to improve the sanitary
condition of workshops, mines and
factories and provide a sufficient
number of competent men to make
a proper inspection ana enforce
the laws.
a law to fully protect the right
OF laboring people to organize and
be members oflabor unions.
a law to increase the number OF
competent mine inspectors to make
frequent inspections of mines in or
der that the frightful slaughter of
human lives III the mines of West
Virginia may be prevented.
A few OF the measures needed
have been enumerated. The best
method of securing such legislation
should receive your careful consid-
GRAFTON.
There are many men elected to
our Legislature who profess sym.
pathy for the laboring people but
when elected fail to support meas
uies that we want enacted, either
because they do not understand
our desires or have no interest in
our people except to secure our
support on election day.
There is one sure way of secur-
ing such legislation as we should
have and that is to elect men from
our own ranks to represent us. If
either of the dominant parties viii
nominate from our ranks a reason
able number of men as candidates
for the legislature, we will then
have fair representation to pro
tect our interests.
If these parties fail to nominate
men from our ranks, then we
should provide means to have our
our own men nominated and see to
it that they are elected
These are questions that should
interest not only the laboring peo-
yt4e but should interest every bus
mess and professional man of our
state.
1t is well known fact that
West Virginia has mineral enough
in its hills and mountains to make
it one of the leading Industrial
states of our country. Those In
terested i'll the industrial develop
ment of this State should have
greater interest in its welfare than
to merely devise methods how to
secure the greatest number of dol