The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-11-16
A. F. OF L. GROWING;
GOMPERS JOYFUL
Continued from Pane 1.

sade that, like a -wisp, al
lure the unwary into treacherous
boys. 1t is no easy matter to main
tain an open mind, aware of new
forces and tendencies, able and alert
to detect the real from the spurious,
the lasting from the ephemeral, in a
day when the minds of all mankind
are pondering the problems Of So
ciety and strainlng after solutions.
Mems Thoughts Widened.
with the progress Of the ages has
come widening of mems thoughts
and social vision, a new appreciation
of the meaning of life with it's attend
ant responsibilities and obligations.
Among men and women Of all walks
of life has come this awakening; all
manner of social solutions are urged; ;
all kinds of associations for the pro-
motion of special reforms have arisen.
The accumulated momentum of all
these activities has swept away. the
mental atmosphere generated by the
old tnd1vidualistic philosophy, made
way for broader, more generous SYM
pathies and impulses, and enlightened,
scientific efforts to achieve the high
~.
~, socially and morally.
I'm starting the forces that have led
to these changes, our much misrep-
resented organized labor movement
has welded an influence previously
little understood outside our ranks.
AS Is just, we profit also by the
changes we have created. for this
wider social vision has enabled men to
see the justice of our work and of
our fundamental principles and pur-
poses. Today we find innumerable
organizations working independently,
or willing to cooperate with US, to
the end that workers shall be enabled
to have better working conditions. q
shorter working day and better wages.
that our life may be wholesome,
clean, and uplifting. All of these
the toilers climb upward and onward
things are stepping-stones by which
each step revealing a wider horizon
and an increasing conception Of HUI
man possibilities
Organization and Growth.
The American Federation of Labor
issued 26O certificates Of utilization
(charters during the fiscal year end
ing Sept. 80, 1912, as follows: Depart
ment. 1; international unions. 2; state
declarations, 2: city central bodies, 81;
local trade unions, 14)9; federal la
Dor unions, 40.
AT the close of the fiscal year there
were affiliated to the organization:
Departments, 5; international unions,
liz; state declarations, Al; city CEN
trail bodies, $50; local trade unions,
434; federal labor unions, 1885,
Speaking of correction of judiciary
and injunction by law, President
Gompers said:
That the courts should remain un-
trammeled in Independent judgment
and decision in litigation and cases
coming before them, no right-think-
ing citizen will dispute, but that such
Judgment and decision should be more
IN accord with the needs as we'll as the
safety of our people and our coun-
try is equally true To accomplish
this purpose the propositions of the
recall of judges and the recall of de-
c1slons are receiving the consideration
OF our people. What 1 venture to
suggest in addition is. that the judges
OF the courts created by acts of con.
gress mot the supreme court, which
Is created by the constitution shall
have q time limit, say of four or six
years for their terms. subject to re-
appointment by the president. by and
with the consent of the senate
Praises Wisconsin Laws.
Mr.. Gompers praised the states
which have enacted workmen's com
pensat1on laws, mentioning Wisconsin.
There are now Is such states. Dis
cussing occupational diseases, he
said:
wisconsin made it obligatory that
builders and architects must submit
plans and specifications of proposed
factory buildings to the industrial
commission for it's approval and pro-
hibits constructions without such ap-
prevail. This commission is directed
to obtain inforation to enable it to
work out practical methods and safe
and sanitary conditions for the pre-
vention Of ,occupational diseases
Denounccs Stock Watering.
He blamed stock watering for much
Of the high cost Of living, and said: