Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-08

TEIHE Socialist proposes to revolutonize
the existing order as to give equal OPP
"A portunity to all to live and grow and
blossom into the very highest and best
of which he or she is capable.
In other words the Socialist believes 1t Is
,>zssHa duty of society to see to 1t that the in
dividual members who compose it shall
every one be given chance to render his
best service by being perfectly equipped
mentally and morally for the work.
The Socialist recognizes that society can
attain its best only by each individual hav-
ing the opportunity to attain his best
Mary e. Garbutt.
N HE first annual conference Of the
Woman's Socialist union of Cali
Il fornia, after an interesting session
in Burbank hall, closed last night with
largely attended and enthusiastic
meeting, addressed by prominent local
persons.
Johanna Won Wagner of the housing
commission spoke on the condition of
toilers in Los Angeles, Rev. Reynold
E. Blight. minister of the Fellowship,
reviewed the worldwide social awaken
ing and Frances Nacke Noel told why
the working woman needs the ballot.
One hears about "the red flag of
Socialism" but the only hint of scarlet
perceptible during the entire proceed
ings was of the conference in the
masses of vivid carnations that banked
the edge of the speakers rostrum, while
the program yesterday afternoon in
cluded the following speakers and
topics: Rev. Dana w. Bartlett, An
Ideal City" Mrs. Catherine Pierce
Wheat, Parent Teachers Association"
Mrs. Willoughby Rodman, Civic AS
sociation;" Mrs. Hester T. Griffith,
''Womans Christian Temperance
Union" Mrs. Mary Engle, Union
Label League" Warren Eberle, Beth
! lehem Institutional Work." Mrs. Mary
E. Garbutt, 1.-The Root of the Matter" "
The discussion that followed was led
by Mrs. Jean Kellogg of Oakland.
Objects of Labor League
In the course of her paper Mrs Engle
outlined the objects of the international
Womans Union Label league as fol-
lows:
TO promote the welfare of the wage
Garner.
TO discountenance the sweat shop
system of production by aiding and en-
couraging the sale of union made goods
that carry the union label and by
recognizing the American Federation OF
Labor.
TO gain a universal S-hour work day.
To abolish child labor
To secure equal pay for equal work,
!. regardless of sex.
y TO sustain fair employers.
To urge industrial and political equal
ity for women.
Said the speaker:
1.-The elimination of the child from
the labors of the factory, mill and
mine is another object for which the
Label league is striving.
Chapters have been written, the
voice of the pulpit, press and bar has
been raised against this crime of cor
porate greed, but in spite of it all the
condition still exists. The child of to-
day, tending the machine, does the
work of dozens of the toilers of yes
terday. and will continue to do so just
as long as the people of this country
sit idly by and permit it. In some
states laws governing child labor have
been passed and are fairly effective.
The child labor law of our own Cali
fornia is a law in name only; a con-
viction can hardly be secured under
it, The labor movement of Los An
geles has tried to have it mended at
the last two sessions of the state leg
islature, but failed utterly, notwith-
standing the fact that the successful
candidates pledged their support to
the bill-before election. In the past
three years there has been but one con-
yiction under the child labor law in
fos Angeles county and that was
granted not because of the fact that
the child was under the legal age al
though such was the case, but be-
cause the employer had permitted him
to work longer than the legal number
of hours in one week.
inspection Not Effective
"There is no effective system of in
spection of industries in California that
will prevent the illegal employment of
cildren.
~ 1.-THE state has seen fit to place
scores of forest rangers in our noun
tains and valleys to protect the wild
things that inhabit them, but they, in
their wisdom, have ordained that two
labor commissioners are sufficient to
look after the interests of the chill
dren that inhabit our cities"
In his address on '"The Ideal City
Mr.. Bartlett sounded a clarion call con-
cerning the flood of emigrants which,
he says, is certain to flow in on South
ern California as soon as the Panama
canal is finished
''All the forces of government" said
he, ''are being directed to switching
the vast tide of emigration to the Pa
cific coast, and transatlantic steam
ship companies are already planning
to relieve the foreigner-congested east
ern cities by this means.
'In order to meet this condition it
will be necessary to have several new
laws and ordinances, and to ruralize
the city.
us it right, is it fair, I ask, that one
part of our municipality, where these
people will be crowded, should be foul
with filth and smoke and deprived of
sunlight and air, while another section
is fair and beautiful with parks, trees,
beautiful homes, wide streets and
lawns-everything that heart can
wish?''
Letter of Greeting Read
A letter of greeting and comradeship
was read from Madam Caroline M.
Severance, i'm which she said: 1.-The
next steps for us seem to be the initi-
ative, the referendum and recall, cleo
tion of senators by popular vote and
ownership of public utilities by the
people of the city, state and nation"
Rev. Mr.. Blight, one of the speakers
on the evening program, spoke in brief
as follows:
"The protest of the women of this
country against the proposed tariff bill