The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-05-31
WON BY UNIONISM
What Organized Labor Has Done
For the Worker.
A RECORD OF Achievement.
Brief Summary of the Influence OF
Trade Unions In Enforcing the Just
Demands Of Labor-A Benefieent
Movement For Moral Uplift.

DEMANDS OF LdpoT-H ce'e"SSN
Movement For Moral Uplift.
At the recent session of the New
York legislature the following laws
recommended by the state factory IN
vestigation committee, were passed by
both houses and signed by the gov
ernor:
In relation to fire prevention in fac
tories. providing for freproof recep-
tacles. inclosed gas jets and prohibit
ing smoking.
Providing for fire drills in factories
in which more than twenty-five per-
sons are regularly employed above the
ground floor at least once In every
three months.
Requiring the installation Of auto
matte sprinklers in every factory build
ing over seven stories in height in
which wooden floors or wooden trim is
used and where more than 200 people
are regularly employed
Limiting the occupancy of buildings
or factories according to the size and
number of exits.
In relation to the prevention of fires,
This amends the New York charter to
provide for fire drills in every factory
where it is deemed necessary by the
fire commission. 1t gives the officials
of the bureau Of fire prevention the
powers and duties of these officers and
the right to make arrests.
For the registration of factories.
Prohibitory of woman labor within
four weeks after childbirth.
The New York legislature also enact
ed a law reducing hours of labor of
women and minors not to exceed fifty
| four in any one week.
The legislation in the interest of the
working people enacted by the legisla-
ture of the state Of New York has re-
Gently been almost duplicated in or sur
passed by several other industrial
states of the nation.
And what is the status of the legis-
lation which labor has presented to the
congress of the United States?
The bureau of mines, established last
year to devise the safety Of the men
employed under ground, is one of the
nose effective in existence.
The creation a few weeks ago OF the
| federal bureau to govern and regulate
the labor of women and minors.
The eight hour law, long established
for government employees and for CON
! tractors on government work, extend
ed to all naval and military construc-
| ton work The bill extending it to
subcontractors and to work done for
the government passed the house of
representatives by unanimous vote.
The federal workmen's compensation
act extended to government employees
and in excellent legislative position. so
that its provision shall apply to all en-
ployees of common carriers engaged in
interstate commerce.
The recent abolition by law of the
use of the dangerous white phosphorus
in the manufacture of matches.
The manifest willingness Of congress
to rectify the evil of the injunction
abuse and to take the organizations of
workers from out of existing law.
which regarded them as being In re-
straint of trade.
The passage by the house of repre-
sentatives of the law prohibiting the
labor of convicts coming into compe
titon with free workmen and many
other demands presented by the Amer
lean Federation of Labor and organ
lied labor of America and pressed
home for enactment.
The economic demands of the Amer
ican Federation Of Labor are Tor the
abolition of all forms of Industrial
srrvitude. except as punishment for
crime. for tree schools. free textbooks
as well as compulsory education. A
general demand for the eight hour
workday, whether in public or private
employment A release from employ
ment of one day in seven. Tin con
nection with the establishment of the
eight hour day in private employment
all observers and thinkers know that
the normal workday of eight hours
n,ore generally prevails in the United
States than in any other country, ex
cept possibly Australia.l The aboli
tion of contract system on public
works. whether OF federal. state or
municipal governments, and thus the
elimination of the sweater, the middle
man Liability of employers for in
Jury to workmen and for compensa-
ton. Woman suffrage, coequal with
man. Permits to build houses or com
partments used for habitation to con
tain the qualification that there shall
be ample bathrooms and bathroom at
tachments. Sanitary inspection of
factory, workshop. mines and homes
Sanitary appliances In all industry
where men or women are employed.
The initiative and referendum and
the right of recall.
These are some of the demands
which the American Federation OF
Labor and its affiliated trade unions
have pressed home upon the lawmak-
ing bodies of the nation and of the
states and upon the employers of la
Dor throughout
| Neither do these present the sum
total of organized labors constantly
increasing demands which 1t makes
upon modern society for material.
moral, physical and social uplift
Many of labor's demands. more than
have been enumerated herein. are al
ready enacted into law and apply to
the general everyday life of our work.
ing people Samuel Gompers
The League of Patternmakers has