The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-11-16

Senator La Toilette and Repre-
sentative 3Lenroot. both Of Wisconsin.
have measures before tho senate and
house dealing with this subject from
federal standpoint Tho time has
come when we should give this fea-
ture OF the remedy our close study,
and If we reach the conclusion that
this Is the wisest course to pursue,
we should bend every effort to Sc
cure the passage OF strict physical
valuation laws j: IT,. ~ -. .-..
He also praised Wisconsin for the
Of wider use Of school property.
''Wisconsin." he said, has been ono
Of the leaders in q movement to use
school houses for political purposes.
Two years ago the Wisconsin legis-
lature passed law requiring school
boards to grant free use Of school
houses as neighborl1ood headquarters
for political discussion. The demand
for social centers gains in definiteness
and intensity due to the increasing
conviction that affairs Of tn common
life can best be managed by co-opera-
ton and mutual helpfulness."
For a Labor Forward Movement.
President Gompers proposed
movement for the advancement Of
the cause of union labor similar to the
great men and religion forward
movement of last winter: Such a
movement, he said, was tried with
success locally in st. Paul and Min
neapolis, and would doubtless do great
good II applied according to a nation
al plan. :.-->s,. ..3.<-..
Organizing Steel Workers.
Referring TO- the fact that the steel
trust had practically crushed out
union labor in its plants, President
Gompers severely scored that great
corporation for labor conditions
among It's employees. He declared,
however, that progress was being
made in the direction of organizing
these men and that better wage and
living conditions were in store for
them in proportion as they entered ef-
fective unions.
Claims Credit for New Laws.
The federation efforts toward new
| labor laws we're declared by President
Gompers to have brought about much
wholesome legislation in the past year,
| including the new eight-hour law, the
establishment Of a federal children's
bureau, extension of federal compen-
sation laws. advancement Of the
! amendment TO rdirect election Of
| United States senators, and the grant
! ing of organization rights to postal
| and other federal employees.
| President Gompers declared that the
federation was not partisan other than
| that It was faithful to any principle
! to advance the interests of the work.
ing class
Among other statutory reforms ad-
vocated by President Gompers as in
the interests of labor were trial by
jury for contempt Of court charges,
federal initiative. referendum and re-
call laws, further safety appliance
rules and more effective inspection
laws, and he also scored the so-called
scientific management system as a
proposal which under the guise Of
efficiency would simply mean the
hardening of conditions of toll,
In conclusion President Gompers
said: $500. >"
Entrusted to the keeping Of organ
lied labor, are power and opportunity
to fight for. the right, to strike down
the wrong, to secure for all the right
to free life and to work which will
best express the real and better self
For the achievement of those en-
nobling aspirations it is an honor to
enlist, not for a battle or campaign,
but for all time. so long as life lasts. -