The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-10-25
PROTECTION OF
NATIONS WORKERS
on This Theme Peter w. Collins
Builds Convincing Arguments
for Social Bet
termont.
LEGISLATION IS NEEDED
Speaker Tells Things That Menacs
Workers-Large Audience at
the Grand Sunday
Hears Address.


well balanced address on 1.-THE Work
ers in Industry and Their Protection"
delivered at the Grand theatre yester-
day afternoon under the auspices of
the De LaSalle council, knights OF
Columbus. and before a packed house,
said that If the workers were to pro-
eress, socialism has to be abolished,
child labor would have to be stopped,
better and safer working conditions
would have to be secured and
labor legislation would have to
Re passed by the states of
the union, especially to relieve the
burdens Of the working woman who is
to be the mother Of the coming gen
Grafton.
Mr. Collins handled his argument in
a mastery way and there was no
wasted energy. every point had it's
place in the frame Of the structure he
pictured The large audience heard
the speaker with rapt interest. AS
Rev. James Gillespie, pastor of st.
Peters Catholic church, said in his
Introductory address. the question of
work and workers affected all present
and because of that, it was a vital
topic, and the speakers words proved
that it was vital topic in the force
full and interesting way he presented
It.
In opening his address Mr.. Collins
said that before treating the subject
proper, that he would review his ad-
dress on socialism that was delivered
here a year ago because socialism
was one OF the first great menaces to
the workers of the world. Although
the speaker stated that socialism was
supposed to be movement of the
workers that this could not possibly
be as in all ages. the workers were
always found to be spiritual and God
fearing
Flags sociaIistic Doctrines.
Mr.. Collins stated that socialism
was a menace to the workers. mental
ly morally and materially for after
taking away the high sounding univer-
sity definition it meant Just plain
athaism. He said the doctrine of the
denial OF God could not come from
the workers and that this doctrine
could in no way aid in the advance
ment Of the workers but was opposed
to the progress OF the workers.
Mr.. Collins stated that socialism
was not founded by the men who
were not workers. Ha said that the
question was moral bne, and that
before material progress could follow,
that the moral interests had to be
looked after.
Mr. Collins also touched carefully
on the question OF restricting labor of
women and children Statistics show.
said the speaker. that .the total num-
Der OF women and children under six
Teen years of age engaged in gainful
operation to be 100000. That Of this
number five and half million are
women and one and half million are
children. But of the latter number,
less than 100000 are employed in in.
dustry. the balance being engaged in
agricultural pursuits
The speaker said that laws were
needed to protect the women work
ers, both morally and physically. as
meg We're to be the mothers Of the
future
Mr. Collins then took up the ques-
non Of the laboring man and told the
thlnss that were needed for his pro-
lection. Accident insurance. death in
surance unemployment insurance.
employers liability laws, shorter
working hours, better working condi-
t'ons and safety We're some of the
POINTS he touched on. He said that
, mere were 100000 workers in the
United States and that in some states
me working conditions were very bad.
Industrial Commission.
me sneaker told Of the work of the
hllnois industrial commission that re.
rsntly drafted set OF labor laws that
heohore Roosevelt and others had
seclared the best code in the country
lIr the protection Of the workers The
sUeaker wanted to see such code in
all of the states.
MT Collins was member Of this
commission. composed Jointly OF work