Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-02-15
Ohio Workers
In Convention

l. 4 Il
Columbus, Ohio. Feb. The con-
vention is finally settling down to
work and the Committees have been
busy this last week with hearings and
discussions on various proposals sub
mitted which at the close of business
Thurday had reached a total Of 215
with still more to come.
The Labor Committee has given the
subject of Workmen's Compensation
accidents and occupational diseases
/ the first consideration and a thorough
discussion of the three proposals sub
mitted on the subject was entered in
ito at the meeting Of the Committee
Monday evening, resulting in the APP
pointment of a subcommittee consist
ing of TetloW, Dryers, Wagner.
Thomas and Cordess to draft out a suit
able amendment covering this subject
for recommendation to the Conven-
ton.
Brother William DaVie, of Cleve-
land, who enjoys the unique distinc-
ton Of being the smallest delegate In
point of stature. in the Convention, and
who follows the trade Of lather when
he is not mixed up in constitutional
convention work. dropped in one Of
| the big proposals of the week, Davie
proposes in his measure to amend the
constitution so as to confer upon the
state, county and municipality, the
right t oengage in any business. occu-
patton or enterprise, whether that
business be building railroads, operat-
ing public utilities, or projects Of less
er magnitude and Importance IN the
commercial realm.
The Legislative Committee, to
which this proposal was referred,
took UP this proposition at one of its
night sessions this week. and pro-
poses to go into the subject deeper at
another meeting which will probably
be held within the next few days. The
Importance of this proposal is so self
evident that comment is unnecessary
The Convention has adopted string
ent rules to Keep Lobbyists off the
floor, and out Of the smoking room
during the sessions of the Convention.
Despite this fact, the Bell Telephone
company placed its chief Lobbyist in
the smoking room as telephone at
tendant. He was promptly fred by
resolution Of Thomas Of Cuyahoga
county. The telephone company re-
placed him with another ttendant
whom the Senate last year refused to
employ, and a motion by Thomas is
now pending to fire both Company en-
ployes as attendants, and have the
Convention designate one of its own
employees to do the work.
Proposals submitted by Labor dele
dates this week. are 1874 by Thomas,
providing for one Legislative Body
with the Initiative and Referendum.
Mr.. Thomas measure provides for
the abolition Of the senate and vests
the power now exercised by that body
in the hands of the house of represen-
tatives, the people to have the right
to adopt or reject any measure Initial
ed by themselves or proposed by the
legislators.
Bro. Stillwell Of Cuyahoga county,
has proposed an amendment to the
constitution which takes away from In
dividual companies or corporations
the right to organize, maintain or en-
,ploy an armed force Of body Of men
for the purpose Of intimidating mem.
hers of organized Labor, in Industrial
disputes. #
Bro. Stillwell has offered second
proposal, which specifies that no per
SON who is not citizen Of the United
states, or has not declared his inten-
ton of becoming such. shall be en-
ployed on any state, couny, or nlunici-
pal work. The amendment delegates
to the General Assembly the au-
thority to see that the aforesaid provi-
sions are properly enforced.
Another porposal by Bro. StillWell:
Neither the State nor any political
subdivision of the State shall have
the right OF employ anyone who Is not
a citizen Of the United States, or who
has not made application to become
one.
providing for Mechanics liens for
workmen and material men.
In addition to these, VIM. Harris
has introduced proposal 2O3, providing
that text books for the state shall be
published by the state; and VIM. Wal
ter Brown, Of Lucas, proposal 175 to
completely abolish all forms of Con-
tract prison labor.
Ok proposed amendments consider