Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-05
Council Bluffs
Judge Smiths
Labor Record
Fully Given
Chairman Henry G. Peterson of Ninth
District Congressional Committee
| Makes Statement.

In his speeches throughout the Ninth con-
gressional district w. +. Cleveland, dem
ocradc candidate for congress, has made
some misstatements concerning the atu-
tude OF Congressman Walter !. Smith,
based on information given him by the
Des MOines democratic campaign head
quarters Henry c. Peterson. chairman Of
the Ninth district congressional commit
tee, yesterday afternoon issued the follow
ing statement concerning Judge Smiths
record in relation 70 legislation affecting
the interests of labor
To the Editor of The Bee My attention
has been directed to some statements which
have been made by some Of the friends OF
Mr.. Cleveland with reference to the record
Of Congressman Walter /. Smith in matters
affecting the interests of labor and labor
organizations. / imagine that with most
OF the labOrtng people here in Council
Bluffs, personally acquainted with judge
effort to show him in false light will be-
get deep resentment and quickened de-
termination to go 70 the polls and vote
for him on election day.
The record OF suSge Smith is against
those who have made the statements here
tofore referred to, for so far from being
hostile to labor in the slightest degree
Judge Smith has been an active friend Of
the laboring man and Of the cause OF labor
and labor organizations on all occasions
during his service in congress, He has
been Instrumental in advancing much legis-
lation which has been important and Of
the highest interest TO labor.
Among the measures enacted wholly or
in part for the benefit Of labor while Judge
Smith has been in congress and for which
he worked and voted may be enumerated
the following:
Empioyers liability act Of June II, 1906
Act creating Department OF Commerce
and Labor, February IL, 1903.
Act authorizing the secretary Of com
merce and labor to investigate and report
on, social, moral, educational and physical
= conditions Of women and child workers in
the United States, OF January 20. 1907.
Act establishing the foundation for the
promotion OF Industrial peace, March 2.
! act limiting service OF railway employees
/ TO sixteen hours, March 4. 1907.
! Model act regulating employment OF child
4 labor In District OF Columbia, May ., 1908.
Act to promote safety OF railway en-
Act to promote security OF travel in in
/ terstate commerce and TO encourage the
The ashpsn bill for the protection Of men
when compelled 20 90 under locomotives.
He has been chiefly instrumental in Sc
curing ample appropriations TO execute the
Erdman act for the furtheTance OF voun-
tary arbitration OF labor disputes; he has
opposed compulsory arbitration as viola
voluntary seTvitude Many other sDpcia
/ measures having a direct beneficial effect
on labor might be listed. such as the pure
food act, the meat inspection act, and IN,
Ike, all carrying with them provisions
whereby labor was bettered.
II Is in no small measure due 20 wOTl
done by Judge Smith that the railroads
are rapidly substituting steel mail cars
for the old wooden ones and thereby cut
ting down the number OF fatalities 20 posta
clerks in wrecks Judge smith secured tn,
passage Of a law providing for an inspec-
ton OF mail cars without cost 10 the gov
eminent by a corps Of inspectors already
examining cars aE 20 safety appliances
under the Interstate Commerce commission
Judge Smith found that the printers and
5000 other employees OF the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing, where our pape
money Is printed at Washington were work
ing under intolerable sweatshOp conditions
He made a personal investigation OF thI
matter and as a result started an agita
| ton which brought relief In the shape O
an ample appropriation for a new build
ne HMlSn VII ai-nIu lIeel S.llei,t..Yqns ~
Judge Smiths work IN this connection N,
Steel and Copper Plate Printers union pre-
scented 10 him beautifully and artistically