The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-12

has come to organize a state fedora
tion of labor, and it's these two or
ganizations which seem likely to come
into conflict Many of the union labor
men think that the union labor people
are vastly better off with the state So
ciety of labor and industry than they
will be with a state federation. and
they feel that by establishing a state
federation, there is strong possi-
bility that the state will abolish the
state labor bureau as department of
the state government The more con-
servative union labor men are in
clined to stand by the state society of
labor and industry. while the more
radical union men think that the fed
Grafton is essential to the upbuilding
of labor unions in Kansas
Address by Mayor Green.
After the convention had been called
to order by Chairman Walker, and Rev.
F. z. Mallory had delivered the invoca-
tion Mayor William Green made a short
speech of welcome to the delegates.
Mayor Green mentioned the various in
teresting manufacturing institutions
about the city for the delegates to visit,
and spoke especially of the automobile
factory.
L believe in the Organization of labor"
said Mr.. Green. 1T is the right thing
for labor to do. Unless labor is organ
lied and prepared to stand for it's rights
weaker force is likelyto get the worst
of it, but by Organization, the laboring
men can command respect of capital"
]. w. Mitchell of Topeka then read an
address of welcome prepared by Frank
Curry of Topeka, who was unable to
attend. Mr.. Curry represented the labor
interests of Topeka His address follows:
.'On behalf of the Topeka Industrial
Council and the union men of our fair
city, it gives me pleasure to welcome
you within our gates.
"Our honorable mayor. who will follow
me- no doubt will turn over to you the
keys of the city We are not afraid to
turn the keys of the city over to any
Kansans that come within our fold. The
facts are, we do not know what harm
you could do with the keys as our town
is as dry as whistle. Why, do you
know do you realize, I know you don'ti
So 1 will put you next. You have to
have a toothache, a pain in your stom-
ach or an aching void or some other
consarned complaint before you can get
a drop of anything, except the sparkling,
silvery white fluid from the raging Kaw
and 1 advise you to stay with the silvery
white fluid IT is best by all odds.
"It is indeed an honor that am proud
of to stand before you as labor's repre-
sentative and extend to you the right
hand of fellowship. You who possess
the Drawn and brains that represents
the very best citizenship of our state.
You who with your brains and Drawn go
into our factories, on to our farms. into
our mines. and onto our railroads, ana
produce the wealth that makes possible
our boasted civilization You have as
senbled here today to use your brains,
to devise ways and means to get more
of the wealth that you produce, and GOD
knows. I hope, the day is not far dis
tant when you will assemble to devise
you produce.
'You are the ones that should ride
in the automobiles. wear the f1ne
clothes, enjoy the arts. have coHege
and in fact roll in splendor.
Why not? 1t is your toll applied to
mother earth that produces all these
things. The man who lives by the
ticker or behind gilded bars, taking
usury does not produce cents worth
of ANYTHING. You fellows should be
at the seashore, right now, enjoying
on your last years earn
ings instead OF sitting up here in the
Sweltering heat listening to chump
like me-
deliberations on this occasion should
be of the most solemn nature. You
should lay the foundation and build
an edifice called the Kansas state
nized trade union lines. This edif1ce
should be so planned and built so
strong, grounded on a bedrock foun-
dation, that she will stand as long
AZ the word Kansas IS printed on the
map. thus cementing the forces of or
yanized labor together that we may
push onward and onward and make |
kansas better place to live in.
''I thank you for your attention on |
behalf of the organized labor move
ment of Topeka and we hope your
stay here will be pleasant and your
work of lasting value
Chairman Walker then made a |
short speech in response, in which he
said:
Labor organizations strive for
-hree things; first to get a man a job; !
second, to get him adequate pay for
MS work; third to shorten his hours Of |
labor so that he may have time to i'm
prove his condition. If he has the /
money and can buy books and has the |
time to read those books, he can edu-
cate himself
''There is need here for a state fed
grafton of labor to solidify the labor
union sntiment in Kansas. This meet |
ng should be harmonious, and I be-
ieve it will be. We are all striving
Tor a common cause.
Mr. Walker then appointed his |
committees. and the convention ad-
iourned until Tuesday morning at 9 |
clock.