The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-01-20
Confined from Last Week.
ASSESSMENTS.

ASSESSMENTS
Four assessments have been leviet
during the year. A two-cent assess
ment to aid the United Halter in theii
fight. This has been mostly expended
in defraying the expenses of the appea
from the decision of the federal circuit
court of Connecticut, under which the
Loewe Hat Company was awarded dam
ages in the sum of $222,OOO. A three
cent assessment to aid the United
Hatters on strike which conflict, by
the aid of organized labor generally
was won. A one cent assessment fol
the legal defense of the officers Of
the federation in the injunction and
contempt cases. A one-cent assessment
to place organizers in Los Angeles
where the manufacturers were trying to
disrupt and destroy the labor move
ment.
SECRETARY MORRISON'S REPORT.
During the fiscal year charters were
issued to two international unions, 1872
trade unions, SO federal labor unions,
one state branch, SO central bodies: a
total of 334 charters.
Reports from so national and inter
national organizations tell the story of
the year in the following figures:
Two thousand one hundred and nine
ty-four charters were issued and 1913
/ surrendered-a net gain in charters is
sued of 6Sl. One thousand three hun
dred and forty seven of the charters
surrendered were locals of the national
and internationals and 166 were af.
filiated direct with the \. F, of L.
The gain in membership reported by
62 international unions is 21S.229.
Reports from so international unions
show S27 strikes during the year Of
these 470 were victories for the stril-
ers; "a were compromised; 60 were
lost; 259 are still pending Three hun
dred and fortyone thousand four hun
dred and forty-eight persons We're in
volved and 502,996 were benefited.
Beside caring for their own members
financially, the sum of $1337l6 was
donated by organizations Ia sister
unions in trouble Twcnty-one crafts
had their hours of toll reduced, rang
ing all the way from one to two hours
week to an hour day. Fifty inter.
national unions have gained an in
crease in wages for affiliated locals
The amount of $l,320,664 have been
paid in death benefits In benefits to
members wives, $53,492; sick bene-
fits $719,165; travelling benefits, SAP
999; tool insurance, S6,945; unem-
ployed benefits, S197,SOS.
GOV. HADLEY'S ADDRESS.
One of the most notable addresses
delivered was that delivered by Cover
nor Hadley. of Missouri. on the sub
ject of 'Workmen's Compensation" It
ought to be read in full by every mem
Der of organized labor The governor
showed an understanding of the prob
lens of labor such as few public men
outside of the labor movement pos
sess, and fewer still are the, public
men who have the courage to tell to
the world their convictions on the
questions at issue. The speaker had
some very decided opinions and his re
marks on the judiciary are worthy of
repeating. He said in part;
ut has been usually the experience
that when factory or mine inspection
laws, or laws limiting the hours of la
Dor in dangerous and injurious occupa
tions are taken into the courts the first
experience has been that the courts
have declared them unconstitutional
One of our unfortunate experiences in
government has been that many of our
judges have apparently seemed much
more solicitous about protecting the
rights of property than in protecting
the rights of the people
"I have never recognized that any
department of our government is i'm
mune from criticism. I know the exc
cutive department has never been i'm
mune from cricticism, and I know of
no more reason why a man who is
elected to judicial office should en-
JOY any immunity from havfnt the
correctness or the wrongfulness of his
acts or of his reaso0'nr subject to
public criticism than should an exc
cutive or member of the legislative
department In fact, it seems to me as
though the protection of the Just Judge
is to establish the rule that criticism
should be directed against the unjust
Judge who renders decisions not based
upon good reaons or upon public morals.
Otherwise there is no incentive to the
proper performance of those duties
81 feel that in this country perhaps
we have been little bit too tender and
sohcitious and fearful about criticis-
ing judges who render wrong decisions
If we had been little bit more asser-