The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-25
.HANLY AND WATSON
ATTACKED BY LABOR
Bitter DenunCiation of Them
Made by President Per-
kins at MunCie.
REPORT IN PRINTED FORM.
THE TELEGRAPH LINES WAS
ENCOURAGED-TELLS OF THE
OPERATORS WRONGS.

At
ly and certain methods of his admin.
istration and also criticism Of Con.
gresham James E. Watson of the
Sixth district were sensational fea-
lures of the report of Edgar A. Per
kins, president of the State Federation
of labor, before the convention in this
city Tuesday afternoon.
President Perkins did not read his re-
port, rather his annual message, but
caused the same to be published and
freely distributed in the convention
hall. The message was contained in a
large f~our-page pamphlet of about r.
O words.
Asked why he did not read the re-
port, President Perkins, whose name
is attached to it, stated it would occupy
too much time and might prove a tire
some task for his listeners. He con-
tinued that its printed form will enable
the delegates as well as the members of
their respective unions to study it and
make the best of it. The report was
submitted to the proper committee,
which passed on it.
President Perkins approached his at
tack on Governor Hanly and Congress
man Watson with a discussion OF the
appointment of a factory inspector a
few months ago. He leaves the impress
sion that Hanly and Watson connived
in making a selection of an inspector
to succeed d. II. McAbee of his city.
The fact that President Perkins and his
supporters deplored the election Of
Hanly is frequently reiterated in he
formers message, especially at the
j%uncture where he says:
THE executive board of the Indiana
Federation of labor opposed the nomi-
by the republican party. To this time
| have seen no reason why we should
regret this action"
President Perkins, in speaking of the
appointment of a factory inspector.
said that the employers of the state
were behind the movement which re-
suited in the appointment of William
E. Blakeley of S~helbyvi1le to succeed
d. H.. McAbee of Muncie. He said
Aot 1+iA- n hdu Gu al
strong facto = inspection law while
such law had been opposed by the en-
ployers.
Attention was called to the fact that
William II. Blake1ey. who was appoint
ed, was a close friend of Congressman
Watson and that Watson was under
everlasting obligations to Blakeley.
President Perkins also pointed out that
Blakeley was a close friend of Charles
Campbell. a ~Shelbyville manufacturer.
He said that Mr.. Blakeley had beer
chiefly known in his community for his
inability to make good"
Discusses Politics.
Under the heading of politics, Pres
ident Perkins discussed the relation
of labor to legislation and reviewed
it's influences. He admonished his
fellows to ~denounce all forms of goy-
eminent regulation in the form of sub
sides, wrongful use of courts, special
privileges, o. any of the chimerical
propositions that are made in the
name of labor. He said: and let
us get back to the first principles. to
a point where we exalt the union,
where we announce hat in ourselves
rests the power for the correction of
abuse and that we have the faith nee
essary to move a mountain. BY using
our strength for the establishment of
a strong militant movement more
would be done for the benefit of the
working class than car be possible
through any other method"
President Perkins also encouraged
the dea of government ownership of
the telegraph, saying that the strike
of the telegraph operators has given
great impetus to the demand for such
government ownership. While speak
ing of the telegraphers' strike he GEN.
sured the companies. Here are his
words:
But the strike of the telegraphers
has brought forth some facts hat
found their way to public notice. Not
only has it been found that the oper-
ators received miserable wages, but
their working conditions were in many
cases abominable."
He also reviewed the accomplish
ments of organized labor and told of
its great strides since the convention
held here eleven years ago. Organ
lied labor in this state at that time"
he said, was at the lowest ebb it
had been for twenty years or more.
Today all this is changed. Work is