The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-23
WORKMEN COUNTRY'S
GREATEST ASSET
tcon,Inued from page oae).

unions. They are a means OF giving
strength 10 the laboring man which
the laboring man as an individual
could not exercise. Unions atc nc.
only legitimate but deserve sympathy
ana support so long -as-their- aetlxi.
Ties are not directed at getting an UNI
fair advantage. and that rs something
that working men, IL can Judge by
the men | have known, do not desire.
| do not waste much oil my time
dealing with theories. | want 10 have
facts, real facts, and prefer ID he
Judged =faets.-I ask=te=b Judged
by what have actually done since |
entered public life.
On my desk here, is a set OF reso-
lutions adopted by the New Jersey
State Federation OF Labor They were
recently presented to me by Cornell
ius Ford and Henry Hilfers, president
and secretary OF that organization.
They give list of 10 laws in the IN
terest OF labor put on the statute
books during my first term as kov-
ernor. These resolutions are III ar-
probation OF those services. For IL
years Se leaders OF the great labor
movement in New Jersey petitloned
governors and legislatures for honest
laws which would protect the worker
aud furnish redress. In answer inc
governing and legislative powers
either refused relief or promised in
words and failed in performance. TIE
Is humane and just laws referred to
by the federation OF labor In their
resolutions, were signed and caused 10
be adopted by me and are declared 10
aggregate more justice to labor than
labor had received in this state IN
nearly two decades.
If have 10 make any answer TO my
critics, IL will be this: We have IN
this state now an employers liability
and compensation act which is being
used es a model by the New York
legislature. We have a fire escape
Jaw. amending the factory laws, which
places NeY-JerseY- atthe- lead OF all
the states in this form OF protection
of workers III factories and work
shops. We now regulate employment
agencies and license them. IL is q
misdemeanor here to improperly IN
fiuence labor representatives or iore-
men. A new law prohibits the EN-
ployment Of children in mercantile Is
adjustments during school hours, pro-
vides for a 5S.hour-week and prohib-
its children under 16 years Of age TO
work between the hours Of p. M.
and a. m.
Among other laws passed, which |
feel have a right to call my labor
record, are: The elimination OF con-
tract labor in penal institutions and
providing for state use system; a
semimonthly pay act for railroad en-
ployes; an act prohibiting the employ
ment OF persons under 81 years OF
age in first class, and Is years in Sec
ond class cities as telephone or tele-
graph messengers between 10 p. N.
and s a. M; an act providing for the
sanitation of bake shops, ETC., aud
licensing same; plumbers license
act; an act providing for at least one
half hour meal time for six continu-
Gus hours of work; an e1ght-hour day
On state, county and municipal work;
increased factory inspectors for bet
ter enforcement of laws; providing
for the safety and health OF foundry
workers, minimizing drafts and dis
posing OF noxious gases, ETC., by ex-
haust fans; appointment OF commits
sioners on old age pensions and old
age insurance.
AS nations are renewed from the
ranks OF unknown men, so must our
nation depend upon the laboring men
and their sons and daughters for her
new and better blood. The common
buckingham has a divine right to a
chance TO elevate himself. All he
asks is justice, Justice is his due.