The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-11-12
LABORERS PLEASED
WITH TRUST BILL
Wars, World Progress ano
Strikes Discussed In Annual
Report to American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor.

Philadelphia, Nov. 10.-Pronounc!ns
the passage of the Clayton trust bill
as organized labor's greatest single
accomplishment for the last year. the
executive council OF the American
Federation OF Labor presented its an
nual report today to the S4th conven-
ton Of the federation here. The ~ol-
luminous document covers every ques-
ton which has affected labor during
the year. including the European war
OF the Clayton bill the councils
statement says that it contains the
most fundamental, the most compre>
hensive enunciation of Industrial free
dom, found in n legislative act In
the history of the world" and that 1t
was obtained through the organized
economic power represented by the
workers Of the United States.
Proud of Progress.
Discussing economic organization as
the keynote of the federation's thought
and effort. the council expressed pride
in the report of progress transmitted
"at a time when most of the civilized
countries are submerged by a world
wide war;" while in the United States
ION every hand the workers are insist
ing upon the maintenance of organ
ization and resistance to deterioration
of present working conditions" Or
ganized labor" 1t adds. has assisted
the effort to mitigate the industrial
REORGANIZATION and losses entailed by
the European war"
Before the war" 1t continues, "the
thought and effort Of civilization were
conferred upon the development and
Qualification of human life. One life
was counted of infinite value. But
since the cataclysm hat brought war
between the nations, men are treated
as only military pawns. Things are
valued for their life destroying power.
Guns are worth more than men,"
Workers Are Sufferers.
Summing up steps that may be ia
ken toward the adjustment OF war,
the report continues:
"Militarism and competitive arma-
ment must be abolished and tribunals
for awarding Justice and agencies for
enforcing determinations must be in
stituted. The working people of all
lands bear the brunt of war. They do
the fighting, pay the war taxes. suffer
most from the disorganization OF in
dustry and commerce, which results
from war" .. .a
Lengthy presentations were made of
conditions in mining fields In West
Virginia, Colorado, Michigan and Mon
tana, including much OF the corre-
spondence exchanged between opera
tors. employees and officials of the fed
eral and state governments. Summing
up the general situation the report
says:
Mining Situation.
1.-The various different movements OF
the miners for improved conditions
have been more conspicuous this past
year h those of any other organiza-
ton. This Is due to the intensity with
which the struggles have been waged,
amounting in each instance, practical
ly, TO civil war; to the number of hu-
man beings to whom the struggle
meant privation, suffering and losses.
Land holding conditions involved In
some mining districts hav enabled the
operators to establish what amounts
to a feudal operating system for the
mines. They W vast tracts Of lands,
hundreds and ever thousands of square
miles in extent on which the mines are
located. The mining companies own
and therefore control all roads that
traverse the land. They own the
houses In which the miners live; the
villages made up OF these miners: the
school houses to which their children
iiAo By " IA HGAiAAlib. NlO
churches which minister to their
spiritual needs: the stores from which
they buy their clothing, food and 9TH
er necessities: the postoffices where
they get their mail, mono orders and
conduct their crude banking transact
ions. Every detail of mining life is I'M
der supervision of the mine operators
through their power of ownership. In
time of strike the mine operators have
the power OF eviction and have forced
hundreds of strikers and their families
to seek shelter in tent colonies. with
the constant danger of exposure. There
can be no real freedom under such
conditions OF industrial tyranny.
Statistical reports show the mem
bership this year to total 2,020,671 as
against 1896, 004 last year. The one
cent assessment fund to defray expenses
OF the United Hatters and contempt
cases shows that OF $l5,01S, the sum of
.$14,752 has been expended, the largest
item being attorneys fees to Alton b.
Parker, for both caseE, amounting to
S9,547. Charters issued this year t.
various unions nu:nberec :e5.