The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-01-05
A TRIBUTE TO UNIONS.
Necessary For the UpIift of Mankind,
Says Hoke Smith.

Necessary For the Uplft of Mankind
Says Hoke Smith.
Governor nov SENATOR Hoke Smith
Of Georgia, in welcoming the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor to Atlanta.
said in part:
at gives me pleasure to welcome you
to Georgia You are in a state and city
where organized labor is honored and
respected.
Il heartily commend organization
among members of the crafts and fed
Grafton Of their organizations.
Transportation and Industrial en-
terprises depend upon the investment
Of money and the labor of men. Men
and money cooperate to accomplish
results. Both are essential for success,
and each should receive just proper
ton Of the profits.
'If the men were incorporated, act
ing under single head, and the money
distributed among many investors en-
tirely disorganiZed, the power of con-
troll being entirely with the men, 1t
would scarcely be human for them to
give money its full part of the division.
Organization among the men is es-
sential to just hours, reasonable reGu-
lations and fair pay for their services.
If were member of craft would
carry the card of it's union and always
strive to continue in good standing.
1.-THE highest human service is found
in the advancement of men, not sim
ply of few men, but of men as
whole, and this advancement should be
mental. moral, spiritual and financial.
A reasonable amount of financial sue
cess is almost essential to mental,
moral and spiritual growth. The un
derlying purpose of our government is
the development of men, and all legis-
lation and administration should seek
improvement of opportunities for the
less fortunate.
81 welcome you with especial pleas
ure because you are engaged in the
work of developing men and of guard
ing the opportunity of those who
would be in danger but for your eff
forts.
make the dividing scales equal be
tween men and money. But your I'M
ions do more than this You seek the
improvement of your individual mem
bers What field of service is here
given!
"Men should not cease to grow when
they are of age, when they begin bust
rhNr
hce days to full artisan.
"The process of growth should be
the aspiration of manhood-growth in
occupation, growth in character,
growth in all that goes to make well
rounded citizen.
1.-The law of the land should seek to
improve the condition of each individ
ual by checking the concentration of
power in the few which would lessen
opportunity, and by stimulating ira
provement of the individual that Cp
portunity may be efficiently and full
used
"Your organization has vast facilities
to help make the law give the oppor-
tunity and to aid your individual
lHeulDeIS W lihplONe III lhCll opSNlui
lines and in all respects.
Every patriotic citizen should sym
pathizc with your efforts to obtain fair
treatment for all your members. and
more and more you are sure to sue
coed. 1t is also your work to encour'
| age the individual man to raise higher
his standard of skill and to reach that
standard, to learn how to use to best
| advantage the fruits of his labor by
! economy, Intelligence and thrift and
to grow in every line that makes "A
successful, useful citizen.
Unions are contributing much to
protect the rights, to improve the con
ditions and to develop the character OF
our people. | welcome to Georgia the
representatives of the great federation.
Be assured you are among friends"
81