The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-13


ure, which has the support of labor, is
warmly endorsed anu President Gompers
calls upon all organized labor to work
for its early passage. Mr.. Gompers ex-
presses the belief that by united action
the Wilson bill may be passed at the
next session, and he expresses the opIn-
ion that even should it be vetoed by
President Taft, u great victory would
be partly won. He declared labor could
expect little voluntary help from the
president on the anti-injunction legisIa-
ton.
To the subject Of immigration, much
of the report is addressed. Several plans
are proposed for bringing the migratory
laborer into the ranks Of organized Ia
Dor Further restriction of immigration
is deemed necessary and schemes OF dis
tribution of immigrants are discussed.
"Turn which way we may, the fact in
variably confronts us, IN our endeayor
TO ameliorate the LOT Of the laborers
now in America, that there must be
restriction OF immigration. Restric-
ton, as recommended by the United
States immigration commission, is, II not
the first step toward organizing migra-
tory laborers. az least an essential step.
There are sufficient workers on the Pa
ciiic coast at the present time, were their
shifting about intelligently systematized,
TO perform all the pressing work there
throughout all the seasons of the year.
The main trouble has been that the en-
ployers have not paid any adequate at
tention TO the laborer as a social entity
a IL - Il 10, La
hired Society has not concerned itself
seriously about the casual worker.
"The early completion Of the Panama
canal, however, viii without doubt bring
about total change in the labor situa
ton of the Pacific coast, both internally
and with relation to other countries. II
has already been calculated that imml-
grants from Europe may be landed via
the Panama canal at Pacific coast sea
ports for less sum than is required to
pay the passage to inland points in
states of the middle West. 1t is to be
remembered that the enormous fleets OF
foreign vessels which are in the immi-
grafton trade are seeking business the
world over. In single year, aided by
the climate, the present transatlantic
feet could carry 100000 wage-workers
from the southeast OF Europe to the Pa
eific coast ports, while also transporting
the average yearly number to the At
lantic coast ports. This is a more than
probable forthcoming condition to be
faced by our fellow trade unionists OF
Washington. Oregon and California.
In the federation's fight for employers
liability and workingmen's compensation
laws. progressive legislation il reported
from the states OF Massachusetts,, New
Jersey. New Hampshire, New York, Ohio,
California Florida, Illinois, Kansas, YER
mont, Washington and Wisconsin. The
work of the commission, which has been
hearing suggestions for federal laws, Is
highly commended and II is expected
that some report will be made to the
coming Congress.
The work OF the United States bureau
Of mines in establishing mine rescue
stations through the coal regions ana
the campaign of education which the
bureau has been carrying on among
miners. is warmly commended.
The report endorses the bill introduced
ut the last Congress by Representative
Sulzer OF New York, creating a depart
ment of labor in the fedora government.
In an appeal for better laws to protect
life and health in factory buildings,
President Gompers refers to the hire IN
the Triangle Shirt Waist company's
building in New York last March, in
which l43 girls lost their lives.
In scoring the s6-called efficiency and
scientific management systems, Presi-
Il ag a
ments that the systems have Increased
wages. He charged that the systems
work undue hardship on the labor and
result in no material gain.
The fight for the eight-hour day, Pres
dent Gompers said, is steadily going on,
and he declared that labor men could find
satisfaction in the fact that the last
Congress applied the eight-hour law to.
the construction of battleships, and that
those provisions of the law had been put
into effect by the executive officers OF
the government.
Among the other subjects treated in
the report are child labor, locomotive
boiler inspection, the Danbury hatters'
case, the Senate third degree investiga-
ton, seamens rights, railroad track IN.
spection, insurance laws, the strike OF
the women garment workers, the Bald
win locomotive works strike and the
work of the federation's organizers. Each
is treated briefly, reporting progress, but
without any recommendations other
than those hitherto expressed.
The membership of the organization
was never so great. According to Seere-
tary Morrison's report, its financial con-
dition is excellent. The treasury shows
balance of nearly 100000 on hand.
Nearly $5,000,000 was disbursed in sup
port of strikes by the various unions
which are affiliated with the federation.
During 1911 the federation issued 326
charters to unions, bringing the total
of its organization membership to l,4o4.
In individual membership the federation
gained nearly 100000 during the year.
The American Federation OF Labor
through its affiliated organizations has
to-day the largest membership in its
history" said President Gompers in con
clusion. "Its standing is sound and pros
poets are bright. In its long drawn out
legal contents there is more reason than