The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-09-24
| ABOR GIVEN
ITS WELCOME
TO THE CITY
Twenty-eighth Annual Con-
vention of S. F. of L. OPP
ened at the Coliseum with
Warm Greetings.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

spot in your heart for Richmond
hope that you will see fit to hold your
state meeting here again"
Charles Jordan Speaks.
Charles Jordan, secretary of the
Commercial club, said: II am honored
to have the privilege of appearing be-
fore you and of welcoming you to
Richmond. Richmond is proud that
she has you here. Richmond is proud
of any organization that has for its
purpose the uplifting of humanity, and
your organization belongs to this
class.
There are no labor troubles here,
first, because Of the high character of
the laborers themselves, and then, be-
cause the employers are men of ster-
ling worth. We do not care how big
your bank account is, we welcome you
because you are good men. AS rep
lresentative of the Commercial club,
tell you that it's object is to promote
the welfare of the whole community.
Your representative, Mr.. DeMiller,
said he has nowhere found such ideal
labor conditions as here. He said to
me, The men from the office shake
hands with the men of the shop
Some people believe that the state
federation meets to plot against the
welfare of society. The local Com
mercial club does not share this opin-
ion. 1t knows better. Our Work is
often misunderstood, but we are striv
ing as you are to make conditions bet
ter.
THE man with the soiled hands and
greasy face Is a good man, because he
can wash off the dirt, but the man
with soiled heart is an undesirable
citizen because only the blood of the
Lamb can wash him clean. If a man
has amassed wealth and ground up
men and women in so doing, he is
worthless.
I'VE welcome you, because you are a
great agency to uplift men," Mr.. Jor
dan then pleaded with the federation
to pass a resolution favoring the es-
tablishment of state penal farm
where prisoners laying out short fines
may be put to work.
TTGS oLSIn WELCOME.
Ed. Stein, president of the Central
Labor Union, then extended a well
come on behalf of the union and of
organized labor in Richmond He said:
when you accepted the invitation
to come here, you did not know that
you would have hall wherein to meet,
but you took the word of the Rich
mond delegates and accepted our in
vitation. We have made arrangements
to entertain you here without interior
ing with your business affairs. l wish
to thank the Commercial club, it's Sec
rotary, Mr.. Jordan, the business men
and the newspapers for assisting us.
We want you to go home feeling that
uniol labor here has entertained you
as best it could"
Response of Perkins.
President Perkins responded in a
gracious reply. He said:
Il extend the heartiest appreciation
of the federation for the many kind
words spoken this morning and believe
that we made no mistake in holding
the convention here. 1t will do the
friends in Richmond good to have us
with them. l believe we will be able
to convince some people here that may
have had false conceptions of our
work that their ideas were incorrect. |
believe that the analysis given by Mr..
Jordan of the purpose of the trade
movement is correct.
Back of all movements must stand
the character of the individual. Our
movement is founded on character.
Without character we cannot go far.
1t is founded on that cornerstone and
we will advance no further than
character develops in the individual"
Address by Walsh.
John J. Walsh, state factory inspec.
tor, spoke before the convention this
afternoon. After outlining the scope
of the work done by his department,
Mr.. Walsh advocated adding a first
class architect to the department
my idea is to add to the Inspec-
ton Department a first class archi-
tect, one who would be capable of de-
signing and experimenting the cree.
ton of any building in the state, and
could have charge of the construction
of all state buildings. He would also
pS III q poSAsiSh w iShoSi al ullUIdSSO
report on all buildings in the state
that are any way dangerous" Mr.
Walsh said:
when this architect is appointed
he and the secretary of the State
Board of Health or a sanitary engineer
and the head of the State Bureau OF
Inspection would constitute a Board
and Immediately upon the organiza.
ton of this board, every person in the
state of Indiana engaged in any work
INTENDED for the protection of health
life or limb whether city building in
spector, fire chief insofar as his work
includes the safety of buildings, ele
svator inspectors, electrical inspectors
and health inspectors shah immedi
ately be lifted out of the pail of poll
tics, and be placed absolutely on their
merits, where honesty and efficiency
alone will count, the board to be alb
solutely non-partiseG, and In the future
any inspectors that are appointed shall
first pass a comparative examination
before this board as to his Qualifica
tions for the line of work they are tc
be engaged in, and all inspectors must
receive the Endorsement of the board
before being appointed, and all ap