The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-17
LABOR DEMANDS.
Samuel GOmpers Appears Be-
fore Platform Subcommittee.
With List Of Things Wanted by
the Federation.
CHECK ON INJUNCTION
Extension of Eight Hour Law
to All Federal Employees.
Woman Suffrage, Cabinet Place
and Postal Savings Banks.

Chicago. June 17-when the sub
| committee of thirteen of the resolu-
tions committee began business at 10
| O'Clock, the doors Of their assembly
room were thrown open temporarily
for the purpose of granting a twenty
| minutes hearing to Representatives of
the American Federation of Labor and
to those of the Illinois Manufacturers
| association. President Samuel Com
pers and Vice Presidents Keefe and
Duncan appeared for the federation
and at the beginning of the hearing
Mr.. Gompers suggested the following
as plank in the platform, saying that
1t contained the embodiment Of the
federation's views:
The Republican party is in accord
with the great emancipator Abraham
Lincoln, when he declared that labor
is prior to and independent of capital.
Capital is only the fruit of labor and
could never have existed if labor had
not existed first. Labor is the superior
| OF capital and deserves much more
consideration
Through his wise and humane
policy the Shackles were stricken from
the limbs of four million chattle
slaves. The Republican party has
been the staunch defender of property
and property rights, yet holds and de-
clares that personal rights and human
liberty must of necessity be entitled to
the first and highest consideration.
Recognizing the new conditions aris-
ing from our marvellous industrial de-
velepment, our people and our nation
realize the fact that the wheels of in
dustry and commerce of our time re-
quire that new law and new concepts
of law must be enacted to conform to
modern industry and commerce and
advance freedom in line Herewith.
I'VE therefore pledge the Republi-
| can party to the enactment of law
| by congress, guaranteeing to the wage
earners, agriculturists and horticul-
| turists of our country the right of
| organized effort to the end that such
| associations or their members shall
not be regarded as Illegal combina-
tions in restraint of trade. We pledge
| ourselves to the enactment of a law
| to prohibit the issuance of injunctions
| in cases arising out of labor disputes,
when such injunctions would not apply
, when no labor disputes existed and
that in no case shall an injunction be
| issued when there exists a remedy by
/ the ordinary process of law; and
which act shall provide that in the
| procedure for the punishment of con-
/ tempt Of court. the party cited for
was not committed in the actual pres
| enee of the court be entitled to trial
1 by jury.
| 1--WE pledge the Republican party to
/ the enactment of an amendment ex-
| tending the existing eight hour law
| workers, whether employed by con-
| tractors or subcontractors doing work
| for or on behalf of the federal govern
| ment
| eve pledge the Republican party to
| the enactment of law ty congress as
| far as the federal jurisdiction extends
| for a general employers liability act,
| for injury to body or loss of life OF
| employees.
| 1--WE pledge the Republican party to
| the enactment of a law to the extent
| of federal jurisdiction, granting wom-
| ans suffrage and to submit a constitu-
tional amendment for the ratification
| to the states for the absolute suffrage
| of women, coequal with men.
| I'VE pledge the Republican party to
| the enactment of a law creating a de-
partment of labor, separate from any
| existing department, with secretary
| at it's head, having a seat in the presi-
| dents cabinet.
| 1--WE pledge the Republican party to
| the enactment of a law for the creation
| of a federal bureau of mines and min
| ing, preferably under the proposed de-
| partment of labor, and the appropria-
| tion of sufficient funds to thoroughly
| investigate the cause OF mine disas-
| ters, so that laws and regulations may
! be recommended and enacted which
| will prevent the terrible manning and
| loss of life in the mines.
1--WE pledge the Republican party to
| the enactment of a law for the estab-
| lishment of United States government
postal savings banks"