The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-06-30
Laws for Wage Farmers
of the Country Ia
advocated.
Albert a. Roe, of r. r.
Brotherhoods, Urges
Study and Standardi-
zation of Legislation.


vinced that great deal of the bad labor
legislation in this country is due to the
unorganized efforts and lack of scien.
tific standards in the making and secur-
ing such laws, Albert A. Roe, national
Legislative representative of the Brother.
hood of Trainmen and Locomotive Fire.
men has issued statement in which
he suggests that steps be Immediately
taken to overcome this chaotic condition.
Mr.. Roe declares that there exists alb.
solutcly no system in this country for
the framing and formulating of labor
legislation. In England, he says, there
is one body enacting legislation while
in this country we have fifty bodies poll.
tic, each with different ideas as to what
is constitutional and what is desirable.
Speaking of the organizations of
economists which are engaged in the
study and promotion of uniform labor
legislation, Mr. Roe said:
Without questioning the sincerity
and good intentions of those who com
pose these associations, 1 think it is
safe to say that labor need not expect
any great Or lasting beneficial results
from an association composed of men
not themselves suffering from the con,
dltions with which they attempt to deal.
''Many of the associations that has
been organized ostcnsibly for the pur-
pose of aiding labor in its struggle for
existence, but which soon develops its
real purpose-that of forcstalling labor
by occupying labor S respective field of
endeavor and thus, before any consider
able number of organized workmen have
recognized the new weapon with which
they must fight their future battles, they
find that an association or organization
owned or controlled by the employer,
has stepped i'll under the guise of a
prilanthropic undertaking and gained
possession of it.
'Thcrefore, I deem it essential that
organized labor get into the game at
once
The idea of systematizing and stand
ardizing labor legislation in the States
as well as in Washington has the ap-
proval of every member of the national
labor iobDy. arthur T.. Holder, or the
American Federation of Labor, said:
''For years organized labor played
politics only to the extent of opposing
Objectionable legislation 1t is only with
in the last few years that we have come
ont for constructive legislation. And to
properly frame and aggressvely work
for labor legislation we need the organ
lied effort and help of all those directly
directly interested in the welfare of the
toiling masses.''
1t is believed that as Il result of this
new move on the part of the labor off
cials in Washington, an organization of
| unionists and sympathizers for the scien
tifc study of labor legislation will be
formed in the near future.
The lack of information on the sub
.jects of employers liability, workmen s
compensation. safety appliances, anG
other labor legislation. is not only notice
able among workers, but also among so
| called economists. and in the labor de
partments of the States and Nation
In order to get data on workmen (
compensation, the last Congress had tc
5000 to go abroad and benefit by the
knowledge and experience of the Euro
peans and Australians on this subject