Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-02
Continued from Page One. }

Mr.. Dunnack was followed by Harry
Wisner of New York General Organi-
ger of the United Garment Workers of
America. He paid glowing tribute to
the services rendered in securing labor
legislation in the last Legislature by
President Charles o. Beales of the
Maine Federation of Labor. He agreed
with Mr.. Dunnack that a grave crisis
vas freeing organized labor and went
on to discuss child labor conditions in
the South and in Maine, and also
| touched upon the sweatshop cond;-
| tons and hours of labor.
Rev. Leroy w. Coons, pastor of the
Winthrop street Universalst church
was the next speaker. He said tina.
coming together in council was a good
thing. He spoke of the two methods
by which reforms came, evolution and
| revolution, the former being much pre-
ferable. He declared that should a
struggle come between labor and
capital it would be 10000 times worse
| than the Civil War. Not only think
but think individually" said the
| speaker. Labor and capital are both
| two critical conditions and l wish that
we might have some representatives Of
capital to meet us here in council in
| order that they might. understand the
situation better" said the speaker in
conclusion.
A rising vote OF thanks was extended
to the visiting speakers of the fore
noon.
President Beales then announced the
following committees:
Resolutions-Alden NJ Flagg, Au-
burn; r. A. Eddy, Bar Harbor; J.
Frank Partridge, Waterville; James A.
O'ROurke, Portland; Charles Mont
gomery. Auburn.
President and Secretary's Report
John Lobley, Millinocket; Thomas F.
Dewey, Bangor; A. W. Talcott,
Auburn; F. NJ. Rollins, Augusta;
Henry Descateaux, Biddefordf.
Constitutions-John F. Connolly.
Bangor; Leon c. Butemaro, Augusta;
VIM. Mulholland. Augusta; Frank
Reynolds Jr., Bar Harbor; G. F.. Wes-
ton, Skowhegan.
Legislative Fitzgerald, Au.
gusta; Nelson II. Lord, Portland;
Simeon Grenier. Biddeford; J. H.
Ambrose, Bangor; W. II. Davis, Au-
gusta
O'Rourke, Portland Richard Cram
Millinocket; NJ. F. Davis. Augusta.
Annibal Lamontague, Bddeford; r P.
Copp, Frankfort
Report of Executive Board.-E. L.
Leighton, Biddeford: W. G.. Bunker
Bar Harbor; Edward Turmene, Lewis
Darby, Belfast.
or1o
the president Of the federation, deliv-
cred his address as follows
I'm making my report as president
of the State branch for the year now
past 1 wish to first congratulate the
members of the federation and the
union men in general, of our State on
the success with which the plans laid
down at the last convention have been
carried out. 1t is much to say that
practically every measure which your
legislative committee was instructed to
work for will become a law at the ex-
piration Of the 80 days required by the
Initiative and the Referendum. Too
much credit cannot be given the leg
islative committee which you elected
at the last convention for the thorough
and efficient way in which it's work has
been done.
II will refer but briefly to the laws
favorable to the laboring class which
were passed by the last Legislature,
as l presume the legislative committee
has report ready which will cover
the matter in detail.
'At our last convention it was voted
to make the IS hour law for women
and minors in our manufacturing and
mechanical establishments the para
mount issue of our legislative work for
the then approaching campaign and
legislative session. The success with
which we met in this matter is well
known to you. In this fight between
the mill operatives and the corpora
tions our work would have been much
harder and our chance of success much
less had not Governor Fernald, in his
campaign speeches from one end of
the State to the other. told the voters
that the women and children of the
textile industries were compelled to
| work co hours week and that if
elected he should use his utmost in
fluence for the passage of the IS hour
law.
"These pledges were well kept, and
~ IildIl IL uuc IIOIc CItulI I'LL TIC
passage of the law than to Governor
Fernald, and the textile operatives of
our State can never repay him for his
interest and work in this direction.
can employers liability act was
passed, somewhat similar to the
! Massachusetts law. Under this law it
will be possible for an employe to re-
cover damages for an injury without
subjecting himself to the enormous eX-
Ipense necessary under the common
law.
"The trustee law was amended so as
to exempt $40 of a mans earnings from
trustee and allows only one cost to be
attached.
1.-THE law creating State board of
arbitration and Cancellation was pass
ed. This law goes a long way in the
interest of industrial peace and needs
no commentator. as it .embodies the
cardinal principles of trade unionism-
IAN amendment to the child labor
law provides that children up to the
18th year cannot be employed in manu-
featuring, mechanical or mercantile
box nt-