Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-02

AC6IoAdliOIl Was clldCJGO the last SeS-
sion than for 20 years previous.
During the last year your officers
have had so many. extra duties to per-
form that the work of organization has
been more or less neglected. I would
recommend that during the coming
year the work of organization and af-
hliation be taken up to the farthest
extent that our finances will allow. as
l believe that with a comparatively
small amount of work every union in
the State could be affiliated with the
State body.
+ This work of organization is be-
coming more easy every year The
people at large are realizing more and
more each day that labor organizations
are not mastering for the same pur-
pose that nations muster their armies
for warfare-but for the Industrial
peace and social welfare of the wage
earners.
I'm the last year strikes in the State
numbered about ~, and were called by
the organizations of different trades
mostly small matters which were early
adjusted. The only one in which the
State branch was asked to act was in
the paper makers strike and as the
matter had already been referred to
the National American Federation of
Labor Convention and a decision rem
dered it was not in our province to take
steps in the matter
Your president was called to Madi-
son the last of the summer on charges
against one of the vice presidents, and
after talking with both parties decided
that the member was simply carrying
out contract made by his interna-
tlonal organization, and therefore was
only dong his duty, as it is the duty
of every man to carry out a contract
to the letter, for broken contract is
a poor argument to go to the public
with looking for sympathy. This man
was member of the Stationery Fire
mems Association.
1T is almost beyond my comprehen-
sion that men who belong to labor or
CARNATIONS and pay dues to build up
their own organizations will proceed
to tear down the organization OF others
by buying goods that do not bear the
union label, and that are if direct COM
petition with those who do.
1.-The sooner the union man wakes
to the fact that every time he buys an
article which does not bear q union
label, he is employing a person who is
working directly against that for which
we, who are organized, are striving,
the sooner will the trades be more per-
fectly organized.
Let us all resolve mot to buy any
article, be it hat, shoes, clothes, cigars,
fnhon sol, l.
bel cannot be found. but demand the
label and help those who, like our
selves, are striving for better living
conditions for themselves and those
who come after.
while times have been hard during
the past year, skilled labor seems to
be in steady demand The building
trades are in most parts of the State
steadily employed. The textile centers
are, as usual running full time and en-
larging their plants and building new
mills. which will call a large number
of skilled operatives into our State
and I urge the union textile worker to
see that when they come into the State
that they also come into their organi-
zation.
"In closing I wish to thank the Of
ficers and members of the State branch
for the full and hearty support ac-
corded me in performing the duties of
the office which 1 have held, and wish
to my successor as fair and as gen.
erous treatment as I have received
from those with whom 1 have come in
contact since taking the Office
The report of Recording and Core
spending Secretary John F. COnelly of
Bangor was as follows
The first duty Of the year was the
placing before the affiliated unions for
a referendum vote the constitutional
amendment proposed by the Waterville
convention, Viz: To consolidate the
offices of recording and corresponding
secretary and financial secretary and
to allow the sum of SIS per year as
salary; the treasurer to be paid 1925 per
year. 1884 voted for the proposition and
16 opposed. and the amendment was
made a part of the constitution.
In August as directed by the Water
vile convention, 1 issued a letter to
all the unions urging that the mem
bers put forth every effort to have the
Initiative and Referendum resolve
adopted at the State election in Sep
TENDER. Several thousand circulars
for distribution were also mailed.
The matter of forming a branch of
the Peoples Legal &C., that was dis
cussed at the last convention and re-
ferred to the executive board was put
before the unions by a circular letter
accompanied by blanks for the sigma
lures Of all who desired to register
their willingness to become members
of the branch if same We're instituted
Recommendations in respect to this.
matter will be found in the report of
the executive board.
Petition blanks in favor of the En-
ployers' Liability act were issued in
January by request of the Legislative
committee and such other assistance
rendered the committee as lay in my
power.
In October by advice of President
Beals / visited Madison and attended
two meetings of the Papermakers and
Stationary Firemen then on strike. and
Oh June 14th l addressed the National
convention of the Pulp. Sulphite and
Paper Mill Workers at Portland. 1t
is time that the seemingly endless con-
tr1VerSev between the two OrganiZa-