Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-18
IN THE LABOR WORLD

Samuel Gompers and the other ofncers
and delegates to the American Federation
Of Labor convention who come to Wash
inpton next week will be welcomed by
the Central Labor Union. At smoker
tn he given by the Central body Mr.. Com
pers will be expected to talk and tell OF
the doings at the big convention AS
Congress will soon convene the members
of the local legislative committee may
also be induced to outline some or theli
plans for the three months sessions OF
the Senate and House of representatives.
One Of the matters in which organized
labor is much interested-the Initiative
and referendum-will also form theme
for the speakers. Referring to this sub
iect at the A. F. l.. convention the other
day. President Gompers said:
1.-THE initiative and referendum move
ment continues 10 progress. Last Sep.
TENDER the people of Maine, by vote OF
more than two to one, adopted a consul.
tutional amendment for the initiative and
referendum.
will vote upon similar constitutional
amendment, but at the time this report
is being written the election has not taken
place. and consequently the result cannon
now be given.
I'm Arkansas the party in power has
promised to submit constitutional
amendment to the initiative and refer
endum.
I'm the states of Ohio and Washington.
and in other commonwealths, there are
non-partisan campaigns going on for the
initiative and referendum, Win the OUT
look good for success
I'm the present national house of rep
resentatives ia members are pledged to
enact law for the establishment of the
advisory initiative and advisory referen-
dunn for national questions.
''rhe method whereby these results were
achieved was the questioning of candi-
dates. The only exceptions are where the
question is comparatively new, as was the
case in the 1906 national campaign. In
the state of Maine the legislature unani-
mously submitted the constitutional
amendment. Not one of its members
cared to record himself as opposed to
submitting to the people the question OF
whether they desired the increase of
power.
I'm these campaigns the leading factor
has been the American Federation of La
Dor. In the national campaign 1t in
dorsed the questions to the candidates for
Congress, while in the state campaigns
the state branches led in the movement.
In many of the states the organized
farmers are cooperating with us. They
are as vitality interested as we in the es-
tablishmsnt of the right of the people to
govern themselves.
In Montana the initiative has been used
by the state branch of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor to propose the direct
election of senators, a law to regulate in
functions and an employers liability act.
John w. Hayes. master workman of the
Knights of Labor, in an address to- the
says:
There is an abundance of work for all
the members of the order during the next
two years. Let us then combine our judg-
ments, and through our joint efforts
secure the best possible results for those
whom we represent.
For twenty-four years 1 have served
you as general officer. in various ca
pacities; during most Of that time l have
stood in the forefront of the battle for the
preservation of this order and have seen
the enemy on the outside and the traitor
On the inside work one with the other for
It's destruction. l have seen the fool and
the knave join forces with the hope of
LhrOttling it's power for good and remov-
ing it from the field of labor reform, that
hey. might more easily dupe their de-
uded followers.
You have driven the serpent out of our
empIe and placed the Knights of Labor
once more in the position where it right
July belongs-the worlds best and most
advanced organization for the rights OF
man."
John r. Riggles has resigned as BUSH
ness agent of the Grocery Clerks Union
10 enter upon q private business career