The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-01-15
the world and industrial democracy

ton has heen labOring for is not OF
f, selfish nature, but relates to the
General good
Organized labor has taken stand
against the leasing of the State con-
sicts and public sentiment is, ! truly
believe, against the system that is
now in vogue and which will, I fel.
be changed at the ensuing session of
Tie LEGISLATURE.
The initiative. referendum and
recall need be placed upon the stat
utes OF our State. and labor is back
OF the move.
The child labor bill and employees
liability bill. which failed of pas
sage at the last session of the Leg
islature. should again be pushed to
the full.
We need a department of labor in
our State. A bill constituting a bu-
Ieau of labor statistics. passed the
Senate. at the last session of the
Legislature, and majority of the
members of the House was commit
ted to the measure but in the hurry
ul the closing hours the bill was moi
called up. This is a matter of vital
importance to the State at large.
With proper bureau established
not only will it be beneficial in all
that relates to the collection of valu-
able data relative to labor, and in
enforcing labor laws. but it will be
il. position to adjust differences be-
tween capital and labor. Who car
doubt that, with such a bureau in
existence when the trouble arouse in
Jacksonville between the street ca"
company and its employers last fall
the great expense to which the State
OF Florida was put in ordering ont
the National Guard would have been
cbviated
\ legislative committee will be
elected by this body to further the
aims and purposes of organized labor
ly impressing members of the l.egis-
lature with the importance of pass
ing nepdful laws. You want to take
this matter into serious account. II
is no junkcting trip. 1t is a mos
important mission which requires
men of good and mature Judgment,
who will use tact in approaching the
Lawmakers with reference to what
we have near and dear at heart.
Secretary treasurer j. &. Privett,
who appends his report herewith,
gives you IA fine showing of the re-
suit of the years work together with
suggestions and recommendations
that should be handled by this body
And right here desire to say that
in Brother Privett organized labor
has Il priceless jewel man whose
whole heart. soul and body is
wrapped up in the labor movement
and who has been of incalculablc
benefit to your president in further
| ing the cause of organized labor in
this State.
And now, brother workers. | would
have a word with you concerning the
duty OF trade unionists. II is meet
I that We should constantly keep OUT
cause our aims and purposes be.
fore us. TO the end that we may. in
every possible way. further the GOOD
Of trades nnionism.
When you affiliated with your fell
lew workers il was TO better your
condition and that of your fellow
| b.Vu, iou iuu 'OIlt ~ VedllZe tUd'
privileged power and monopoly was
the formidable enemy of the low.
l! But there are outside our rank.
strugglers who do not appreciate tho
true relation Of man to man -o
brother to brother and It's Wit.
these that you want TO exert you.
influence. There is not trad,
uniOnist who cannot exert IN inilu
ence in advancing the good of tn,
organization-who cannot point on
10 the non-uniOnist fellow workma,
the benefits that will come through
organization and impress him Will
the fact that it is duty We ow,
each to the other to be mutual,
helpful. You may be confronted
: with the remark that trade unions
are not ideal. and you can frank,
ADMIT that they are not-that the,
are no more ideally right than tn,
world is ideally right. But you CT,
: assure one and all that trade union
ism is ever striving to adjust itsel
d to the ever-changing conditions n
: society and of government. The con