The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-09
ADDRESSES BY
BY PROMINENT
MEN
Labor Leaders Speak Before
Large Audience at S.
B. A. Hall.

- ID. A. udti. u6 SpedhcIS were
James Kirby. general president of the
Structural Building Trades Alliance OF
hAmerica, and William d. Huber, gen.
Aeral president of United brotherhood
tof the Carpenters and Joiners OF
America.
The meeting was called by the Car
penters & Joiners OF the city, and the
hall of the 8. B. A. was well filed
when the meeting was called to order
an President Kirby of the Structural
BIT ding Trades Alliance was intro
,,dFSd as the FIRST speaker. The adj
<zess of Mr. Kirby was short but to
the point, and he pointed out to the
laboring men how they should organize
and stick together and by so doing
would benefit not only themselves,
but the community in which they re-
tsided. as a workingman receiving a
fair salary for the skilled labor which
he performs is OF vast benefit to any
community.
Mr.. Kirby was frequently applauded
during the course of his remarks.
President Huber.
was the next speaker Introduced and
he delivered a speech which took with
the men present, and he also gave
them some advice regarding the man.
ner in which they should organize
central bodies and stick together In
the course Of his remarks he referred
to the American Fedes&.ion of Labor,
which he characterized as one of the
best organizations on earth He said
that this federation had done more to
eliminate the sweat shop, to place
children of tender age in school and
take them froms factories. of unscrupu-
ilous employers, than ,ali-the legisla-
lures combined, and thissorganization
ishould be giventhes credit for the work
it has accomplished.
Touching upon local conditions ne
as well as others. and If the laboring
element thought that fairer laws are
necessary and some should be passed
to give less power to the capitalists,
that the workingmen should put those
in the legislature who would pass such
laws. He urged Them To put their own
organized men into these positions and
stated that he had seen men hold
seats In the legislature who were not
as At as some of the men he had seen
digging bitches.
THE labor movement" ne said, has
done more to lift up humanity than
any other power. 1t has done more
than allsof the fraternal organizations
combined The laboringsmen, the or
ganized laboring men, are banded to-
gether to lift up the whole, and not
any particular one man.
Take the fight of the Typographical
Union" he continued. Look at what
those men have done during the past
year. when they were endeavoring to
obtain eight hours as a work-day.
Those men were assessed s2.0e per
week for the existence Of those out of
employment, and they continued pay
ing this amount until they won their
sfight, and want to say that 1t is a
credit to them. ! always admired the
typos. for their spirit, and this fight
was a noble and creditabIe one.
II am a believer in arbitration, but
not to the extent that it shall decide
.as to the eighthour day. That alone
should be left to the workngman, no
one should ask of him more than eight
shours of labor out of the twenty
four"
Speaking of the Carpenters G join
ers he stated that the benefits paid
ont on account of deaths and infirmi-
ties amounted each month to over
$4,000, and this does not take into
consideration the large amounts paid
out on strike benefits. He said the
organization had a membership of
100000, and that he would not be
satisfied until there is a fund of ST.
000,00e on hand to provide for emer-
gencies. In connection with strikes
he said: 81 believe In teaching a man
,lnionism, and not paying him to be a
union man. There are principles in
yoIved."
Mr.. Huber, who is man of powerful
stature and pleasing address, held the
attention of his audience throughout
his talk, and when he concluded ne
and President Kirby were given a ris-
ing vote OF thanks for paying a visit
10 the city.