The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-06
COmmends Congress for Recog-
milton OF Working Men.
LABOR is FOUNDATION
Strenuous Conditions Cause
Ever Present Discussion.
First Attempt to Unionize Was
Made by Tailers in 1906.

Mulberry, Kan, Sept 6.-State La
Dor Commissioner W. L. A. Johnson
was the principal speaker at the La
Dor Day meeting here and spoke as
follows:
I'VE are assembled today to ceIe-
brate Labor's natal day, a day that
has been hallowed by congress, by
LEGISLATURES and is being haT1owed to-
day in all the states, towns and ham
lets throughout the United States, by
labor itself. 1t is proper for labor to
discuss the social and economic prob
lens that confront it in may be term
ed, the Modern Industrial Struggle
The Iaborer builds, creates and
wealth of the world, while for him
self he is content in most cases with
bare existence Too often he sees
the major portion OF his toll, the
child of his brain and Drawn. usurped
by a strenuous world, actuated by
greed and avarice-
This element of human seIfishness
creates the labor question and in fact,
is it's very foundation 1t is not
new question, but has existed in great
er or lesser degree since the world
began. God in his infinite wisdom
created a labor question when he said
to Adam and Eve, BY the sweat or
thy brow, shalt thou eat bread
Id
There always has been, is now, and
always will be a labor question. All
material development, all progress,
all wealth production, in fact, all civ
nization, are but the products or the
vital activities of men under this most
perplexing labor question Every man
ufacturing industry, every railroad,
every railroad, every building, every
machine, every mine, every book
written in fact every avenue OF hui
- of
labor question and becomes part of
the Industrial movement of the world
First Union Was Formed in 1905.
I'm 1906, the Journeymen Tailors
were organized but were compelled to
meet in escret places, in cellars and
garrets for fear OF betrayal Let the
minds eye run back over the 100
years and not the achievements and
developments of labor in its organ
lied capacity. In those olden days, Ia
Dor performed it's stinted tasks with
fear and trem bling-fear because of
the insignificance and inferiority with
which the Iaborer and his rights were
regarded. but as organization brought
courage and independence. we find
as we come down through the century,
recognition and concessions to labor
in its organized capacity.
I'VE find states organizing bureaus
of labor for Investigations into the
conditions of labor. We find statutes
We find factory inspection laws, laws
for the safety and protection OF
health, child labor laws, compulsory
education, boards OF Cancellation ana
arbitration, anti-blacklistfng laws,
laws preventing discrimination. week
Iy wage laws union label laws and
here in our own state, and through
the influence of organization, labor
has reached a condition in the enact
ment Of the State Society of Labor
civ RI Ia
the selection of it's officers, such as
are enjoyed by no other state in the
Union
Cost of Living Has Advanced.
But the modern Industrial struggle
is still on as IS indicated by the So
called adjustment or Ieve1ing of prices
of commodities as compared with the
level of wages. Last week, Bradstreets'
Commercial Agency made compar-
ison with 10 or u years ago as to
| the cost of living. The level OF prices
was $50 the first of September as
compared to $40 in 1896. which
means that what S570 would buy in
1895 1T now takes $3.50 to buy, or an
| increase of just about so per cent in
| the cost of living.
| Much has been said about the adj
vance in wages and while wages have
advanced materially, and it was nee
essary for them to advance in order
| that labor might live respectfully, yet
| we 90 HOI LlIlu thet vases liz ny
| entirely in pace with the cost of liv-
! ing and by this comparison, we are
| brought face to face with the fact that
! capital is organized and that the trusts
are becoming more 'trustified' and
| that the agencies that control condf-
| tions and commodities are able to
/ force up the prices in spite of organ
| fzation and in the great maelstrom
sweeping across the country the inter
ests of labor are lost sight of.
While II is true that during the pas
six sessions Of the legislature, organic
| ed labor has secured Al enactment.
which they have presented and which