The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-03
RYAN THE ORATOR
Railroad Commissioners Makes a
Speech at VineWOod.
Confines Himself to Achieve
ments of Organized Labor.
NOW GET MORE WAGES
This Has Resulted From the
Spread of Unionism.
Also Secured Political Recogni-
ton in Kansas.


lied labor and every union in the city
was represented at the festivities
which were held at Ninewood Park.
tasting from early morning until the
last car started for the city near mid
night. The day was auspicfous. the
rain of the preceding evening having
frightened the foliage and made the
park more inviting than usual
Inc meeting was the largest and
most enjoyable ever held by the labor
unions since their organization first
celebrated Labor Day in the city
~ years ago and the fact that the
parade which has been one of the
FEATURES of the past was done away
with did much to add to the enjov-
ment of the day. The crowd was
much larger than the management of
the park had anticipated and first one
think and then another ran short.
Just when the appetites were, at a
razor edge bread ran out at the one
stand which was attempting to feed
Inc hungry hoard, and this was soon
followed by a shortage in coffee and
IN the hamburger departments
The shady hooks were occupied by
picnic parties ranging in size from the
exclusive sweetheart variety where
two was plenty and more would have
been crowd to the variety where
several families laid their spread to-
gether and made merry over the feast
mere were athletic sports of every
conceivable class and kind ranging
from ball game in the morning to a
varied programme in the afternoon
Frank j. Ryan, member of the state
board of railroad mmissioners, was
the speaker of the day though the ad-
dress was cut short on account of an
injury from which Mr.. Ryan was suf-
fering. The speaker was introduced
by w. L. A Johnson, state labor COM
missioner. Mr.. Ryan said:
THE large crowd that has turned
up here this afternoon is certainly a
great credit to the members of the
various local organizations and the
various committees should be compli-
mented on the success of the under
taking. AS 1 gaze around over this
vast crowd 1 can fully appreciate the
fact that it is an ideal Kansas gath
er1ng and / certainly am proud to say
to you that L am a native of Kansas
which to my mind is the best state. in
the Union. and Topeka. next to Leav-
enworth. the best place on earth I
can vividly recall to mind the first
celebration in honor or organized Ia
Dor that occurred in the city of Den
yer twenty years ago. AS 1 remember
it now, it was a magnificent spectacle
but 1 will venture to say that the
monster celebration that is taking
place today in that beautiful noun
tain city is even twenty times greater
than the event of twenty years ago.
This speaks well for organized labor
and the local organizations who are
responsible for this magnificent cele-
bration today are to be complimented
and should feel q pardonable pride on
account of the rapid strides unionism
has made toward the betterment of
the men and the women who by their
toll make possible the great Industrial
manufactures of this state. Kansas
has a reputation chiefly as being an
agricultural state but from the bureau
of labor reports we find that there are
nearly ninety millions of dollars in
vested in manufacturing industries in
this state, and that the total value of
the products of these manufa cturing
institutions is over two hundred mil
lion dollars. 1t is also a matter of
record that there are nearly forty
thousand employees in these manufac-
wages amount TO nearly twenty-five
million dollars year. 1t can readily
be seen by those figures, ladies and
gentlemen. that there is a great field
open for labor in an organized ca
pacity. 1t should also be taken into
consideration that labor has not been
slow to take advantage OF it's oppor-
tunities for all through the state we
find the various crafts organized strtv-
ing to improve their industrial condi-
lions. ---- -s.
According to the records there are
about six hundred labor organizations
in this state and 1 am proud to say that
these organizations have secured splen-
did results during the past year. Among
the important concessions as a result
of organization may be mentioned-tn-
creased wages-the shorter work day
recognition from the employer regarding
contracts and governing rules and regu-
lations surrounding the laboring mans
Industrial conditions under which they
labor. These as well as many other
concessions have been secured as the
direct result of organization But TINS
is by no means all that union1sm mas
secured for itself in this state. Through
it's state organizations unionism has Sc
cured political recognition as the sta
tutes of Kansas will bear witness Inc
legislative committee of your state So
ciety of labor and industry during the
last several sessions of our legislature
have been 3. instrumental in securing
more than thirty laws which We're en-
acted for the benefit and therefore are
of vital interest to union labor. Chief
among the most important area law
for a factory inspector to Or
der that employees OF manuIactorles
may be protected-a law providing for
sible to arbitrate in case of labor diff
fcultics a law providing for the cob
lection OF Industrial statistics in order
that the working man may be enabled
to better acquafnt nlmSeir with general
conditions governing labor-an act MAX
ing IL unlawful for any employee of a
railroad in this state to work con-
tinuousiy for over sixteen hours without
eight hours rest-a law providing for
beftsr protection to the coal miner.
making II necessary to construct an air
shaft in every coal mine in this state
which acts as an additional protection
10 the miner in case of accident. And
want to say that coming from a COM
-
coal mines that these laws effecting
coal miners have resulted in benefit to
the men who earn their living one thou
sand feet deep in the bowels of the