Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-03
Afternoon Session,


At the opening Of the afternoon ses-
sion the Committee on Constitution re-
ported a change in the wording of the
Constitution to comply with the last
referendum vote separating the Offices
OF financial secretary and treasurer.
Hon. Thomas ]. Lyons of Vinalhaven,
commissioner of Industrial and labor
statistics, himself member of the
Granite Cutters Union OF his native
town, was the principal speaker of the
afternoon. lie began by citing his ex-
perienceS in the Legislature of 1887 of
which he was member and in which
there was opposition to every labor
measure. He contrasted the situation
with that of the last Legislature when
the lawyers on the judiciary and legal
affairs listened respectfully to the la
Dor men who appeared before these
committees. He spoke of the result
brought about by the effective work of
a few men in the interests of labor
legislation.
Mr.. Lyons touched briefly upon the
work of the labor bureau of which he
was the head and said that as long as
he was at the head of it the bureau
would stand for labor and represent
the labor interests of the State. He
declared that in the last Legislature
Maine had accomplished more than
any other state for labor and that
there were now more labor laws upon
the Statute books than in any other
state in the Union. He alluded to the
agitation started by his bureau in re-
gard to the women wage workers OF
the State, and called attention to the
women teachers of the State, more
than half of whom he said received
less than 5000 a year. notwithstanding
than $500 for their education. If this
was the condition with educated wom-
en- what might be expected in the case
OF women workers in factories and
mills? He did not see much chance
for a betterment of condition until
women were granted the right of suf-
frage.
He cited what the Granite Cutters
Union had accomplished in lettering
conditions in that trade as an example
of what might be effected by strong
organization. He said that with an
S-hour day and a minimum wage of
So day he did not believe that the
employers would do away with the
organization. They had rather deal
with organized than unorganized la
Dor.
In conclusion the speaker said that
in spite of what was done by the last
Legislature many things remained to
be accomplished. Among them ne cited
better laws regarding factory inspec-
ton, better laws regarding tenement
conditions. better enforcement of laws
regarding child labor.
Major Charles J. House, chief clerk
in the bureau of Industrial and labor
statistics followed Mr. Lyons. speaking
briefly in regard to his connection with
the bureau.
Not only was q vote of thanks eX-
tended to Commissioner Lyons and
Major House for their remarks to the
convention but a rising vote was TAX
en- in spite of Commissioner Lyons
protest for the courteous treatment ex-
| tended by Commissioner Lyons to rep
It sentatives of labor present at the
! legislative session.
The following additional reports
were made at this time by the commit
tee on resolutions and adopted by the
convention.
Whereas:
The trade agreement, which is of
! the greatest value in maintaining in
dustrial peace, is often used to defeat
movements which tend to elevate the
moral material and financial welfare
of workers, owing to the fact that the
workers in one department of a fac
! tory have a trade agreement which
! overlaps tine trade agreement of other
, trades employed by the same manu-
F., facturer or association of manufacture
ers.>
| BE it resolved,
! That the sixth annual convention of
the Maine State Branch of the A. F.
of l.. recommend to all affiliated unions
that no one union shall enter into an
agreement with any manufacturer or
association of manufacturers unless
+, the agreement shall terminate at the
L