The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-01-24
To The Convention Was An Extensive And An
Able One
IS ENDORSED WITH SLIGHT EXCEPTION
Deals Fairly and partaly With all Questions and all Re
concentrations Urged are Meritorious-Growth of
Organization Has Been Phenomenal

if we were enabled to put the or
Sanlzers selected by you at the last
convention to work, that we would
have over doubled our membership
and have at least nine tenths ofthc
cities and towns of our state af1ili-
ated with our organization. But
With no assistance and with hard
/ ~ any funds we are pleased to re-
port that we have added at least
an average of four local unions per
month. Our Organization has
grown since our meeting in Clarks-
burg in 1908, from thirteen locals.
one central body, to the present
time when we have one National
Organization, one District Organi-
zatlon, four central, bodies and one
hundred local unions. This is not
only gratifying to us as officers of
the organization, but should be
evidence sufficient to guarantee
the stability of our organization.
and to encourage those not vet
affiliated to affiliate. Following out
the recommendations of the last con
vention, i'll seeking the nomination
and election of labor's friends to
the Legislature, we are happy to
report that we haYe not only eject
ed number of friends and Jealous
workers i'll the interests of the trade
union movement, but we have also
elected three bonafide members of
the United Mine Workers of
America, who are today Delegates
to the present Legislature.
Prior to considering the nccess
recommendations upon which we
believe you should take action in
the interests of the men whom YOU
represent, we desire to call your
attention to the message of the
Governor of our State to the mem
bers OF the present legislature.
where he points out the wonderful
achievements made in the produc-
ton of wealth and where he points
| out the unfair distribution OF
wealth. Quoting his language,
''Such facts as these. and Others
that 1 have no purpose to re-
| cite here, are the causes of the
great unrest and the mighty NOV
ment among the people. They are
such as should cause every
Thoughtful man to pause. This
movement of the people is a broad
deep, yearning for better things.
Properly directed it will result III
good TO all; but scoiled at or bailled
if the stone of injustice is given
when the bread OF justice is fer
vently asked-we may endure
worse things before We obtain bet
ter.n lie also quotes the follow
ing remedy i'll his Judgement,
which is, ''It is justice-justice to
the individual man, rich or poor.
high or low, and to all associ-
ations of individuals. To every
one his rights, from everyone his
duty"
There isn't any question, if the
workers of our state stand solidly
together, considering honestly and
thoroughly their rights. and hon
estly discharge their duties, they
are bound to succeed i'll procuring
for themselves and families, ID
higher and better standard OF
living.
At our last convention we called
your attention to the necessity OF
better laws, regarding our public
schools, and l am pleased to report
that the Governor has not only ap-
pointed a commission for the pur
pose of considering this matter,
but strongly recommends in his
message, better teachers, better
pay, Il longer term of school and
compulsory education. All OF
which we heartily approve and
urge the necessity of impressing
upon the minds of the present
members of the legislature, the
necessity of laws being enacted to
this end. We also recommended
at our last convention. the neces-
sity of better laws for the pro
lection Of the lives of the coal
miners of the state. and We are
pleased to state, the Governor,
considering the Importance Of this