Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-02

at the formation OF this bureau ana
would urge upon you the necessity Of
giving this matter earnest and
thoughtful consideration. II a mis-
understanding exists 1t should be
made clear at once. The Maine Fed
Grafton Of Labor welcomes honest
criticism Of all legislation we present
and we most earnestly condemn the
prejudiced and bigoted criticism OF
the individual or organization who
opposes all legislation that Is intro
duced to better the conditions under
which we toll and we should demand
the elimination Of the person or per-
sons that urge the use Of such meth
DDS BY any organization.
Organized labor is only too pleased
at all times to cooperate with any
body of men who are striving to i'm
prove business conditions and bring
new indNtries into our State. but we
insist upon being treated fairly In re-
turn and We will use every means
that we have at our command to de-
feat any organization unless we re-
ceive fair treatment and honest con-
sideration.
At the recent session Of the Legis-
lature a law was enacted fixing the
hours Of employment for women and
children at "a hours per week. This
measure received rough treatment
and was in danger all through the
session until signed by the Governor.
1t seems that the opponents OF this
measure after losing out in q fair
fight before the Legislature are en-
deavoring to secure sufficient names
to a petition to hold the law up for
two years and they are paying five
cents per name. / feel that any man
that is worthy Of the name would
be ashamed to have his signature at
tached to petition that will increase
the hours Of labor for women and
children of this State to satisfy the
employer of those women or children
or the unfortunate persons who are
ip such pitiful circumstances that
they must accept employment TO Sc
cure a living for a few months in
this miserable manner. The gentle
man who is directing the securing OF
these petitions held one of the high
est offices in the State until last
January at which time he stepped
out of his Office in the State House to
direct the efforts of the manufacture
ers' lobby during the session of the
Legislature and to prevent the en-
actment of this measure. 1t would be
we'll to remember that a few months
previous he was stamping the State
in the interest of one Of the great
political parties and the platform of
the said party contained an endorse
ment of this same fifty-four hour bill
l believe that organized labor should
impress upon the minds Of the lead
ers of all political parties that if they
wish our support they must stop
honoring men who use the influence
thus obtained to defeat honest legis-
lation and prevent the parties repre-
sentatives who have been elected on
stated platform from supporting all
the planks that are in its platform.
l understand that the same gentle
man is vice president of a child labor
association. He must indeed be a
remarkable lawyer to realize where
his obligations begin for one and end
for the other.
All / care to say at this time re-
garding this measure is that it is a
great disappointment to those who
hoped to see an honest compensation
law enacted.
How many men in this convention
have taken the pains to study one Of
the union label bulletins issued by
the American Federation of Labor
ard through it learned how complete
ly one might clothe himself and family
and supply his household wants with
articles which bear the insignia of or
gained labor.
How many different trades are
daily sending their product out to
you and me with the label on them
telling us that it is the work Of men
who have reached that stage of in
dustrial progress that enables them
to declare themselves as union men.
And do we buy these products and
thereby enable them to still retain
these conditions? In a half-hearted
way we 60, but we do not use one
half the power we have in our hands
in this way.
1t must be plain to all that when
the demand for the label becomes uni
versal that labor troubles and open
-. and closed shop arguments will be
, reduced to a minimum. And let US
. not forget when we are out boosting
: our own label to say a good word for
: the label of the other fellow, as one
:, cannot exist and gain favor unless all
do.
. In closing 1 wish to thank the
. members of the executive board for
the interest shown by them during
, the past year. also the membership in
general of the whole State for their
moral and financial support Of our
policies and ask for continuation OF
, the same.
In his report as secretary Of the
J federation Henry M. Donnelly OF
! Biddeford, now located in Augusta as
deputy factory inspector in the De-
, partment of Labor. called attention to
the fact that the first annual conven-
ton of the federation was held In
, Augusta in 1903 and that at that
! time there was very little law on the
statute books to protect the toiling
masses in the State. The federation,
he declared has been very successful
in exciting it's influence to help In
AEN $afy