Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-03

port-E. l.. Leighton, Saco; p. H. FitZ-
gerald, Augusta; James A. O'Rouke,
Portland; Noah Cartier, Biddeford;
Charles Pennings, Millinocket.
Resoutions-Jerry Cronin, Bangor:
r. O. Eddy, Bar Harbor; j. c. Clark,
Portland John Byrnes Lewiston; Alb
ner W. Nichols, Augusta
Constitutional. l.. Meserve, Madi-
son; J. H. Libby, Millnocket; H. De
Coteau, Biddeford; A. l.. Brown, Au-
gusta; J. f. Connolly, Bangor.
! The report of President Charles O.
BeaI Of Auburn was then read cs fol-
! lows:
We are once more sent here by our
| several unions to take M what may
come before this fifth convention of
| the Maine State Federation OF Labor.
The past year, though marked by
| great financial depression, has been
one of steady progress for the labor
movement.
| Although the textile industry has
| been forced to curtail by a reduction
of hours and the operatives have been
made to stand cut in wages, notwith-
standing all this. it has been one OF
known N Maine in the way of organi-
| cation. 1t is q conservative estimate
to say that there has been over 10000
| cotton operatives organized since the
last convention. The building trades
| have passed through Il hard winter
but their line of work is now in a bet
| ter condition than ever before.
| The trade unionist should be given
| Al, 4.
preston, although there has been q
steady increase in the price of the ne
ces:;illcS Of life he has in most every
| instance remained content that II,
| should get enough to keep his fami.
from actual want and in some instan-
| cCS he has bowed to q reductions OF
wages without a murmur
| The most of you delegates do not
| know what this means to Il man living
| in a textile center where rents and all
commodities are high. A curt;1 lmcnt
of hours was bad enough but pat Il 10
per cent reduction of wages on top
| of that and it means that all thc lux
| urics and some of the necessities of
! life must be done without. But in the
| face of this, these men are not crying
| out or Sinking. but are working every
| day to build up their or%aniZat 0nS and
| are waiting until the day of prosperity
| comes, which means Il shorter work
| day and Il fair return for their la
| Dor.
| The past year having cen an off
| year in Legislation. there i, not much
| to say in regard to it, oily this, that
we know that our Legislative program
| has met with much success in the
| terms that we have had a Legislative
committee in attendance at the Ses-
| SionS. and it was our duty to give our
| committee our undivided support in
carrying out the work that is before
| them the coming winter. There are
| bills to be presented which should have
| the backing of every union man in the
| State, laws that if passed, will mean
| more than we can realize to the work.
| ing class in years to come.
The laboring man is slowly but sure
| ly waking to the fact that in order to
| get legislation that is fair to the poor
| er classes we must have men in the
| State Legislature who are not only
| friends of organized labor but mcm-
bcrs of our own organizations, and
where there is a chance to elect q man
| from our own ranks it should he our
| lookout that q man be selected that
will be a fair and impartial one, that
will use his best thought and judy
mcnt on all laws and questions that
are brought before him and one who
will not weaken when he knows that
he is in the right.
As we are on the eve of another
State election it would be well for our
| IN fn int,
| candidates from their respective locali-
ties and find out their attitude toward
the laws that we are asking for. And
we are not asking for anything radi-
cal and wherever a man is found who
VIII give his support to those laws
let him have the undivided support of
the unions of that district At the last
session of the Legislature the initia-
tive and referendum was passed, sub
icCt to n yen and nay vote. At the com
ing election, and it must DC our special
aim at the polls this fall to get all our
own members and all those who SYM
pathize with us to vote in the YES col
umn.
In my opinion the most important
matter for our committee to take IN
at the next session will be the 5S-hour
law and this law, in humanity to those
who only see daylight in the winter
months through glass we must have
The textile council Of the State is
ready fer the fight and they must have
our heartiest support.
Last September Il new child labor
law went into effect. a law that was
endorsed by the factory inspector and
one which he said would stop the en-
ployment of children in the mercantile
industries of our State There is no
doubt that this new law has done good
along the lines intended but there is
much to be done yet. 1t seems now that
we must have a law that not only
makes the employer liable, but also
one that includes some of the city Of
hcials. men who should be above re-
proach in such matters.
. During the last few months. Mr..
Morrison has found cases to the num-
Der of 81. or more where children are
working under false certificates. This
matter was laid before a grand iurv
and no bill was returned. Mr.. Morri
son assures us that the matter is not
tn ha IN