Denver labor bulletin., 1916-06-24
100 PER CENT CONVENTION
HIGH TRIBUTE TO DENVER
LcontInued LON Page onel


railroad train service employees had been
paying morr money ON watered stock
than any other large body OF employee
on earth.
Short Work Day Beneficial
There is absolutely no reason, he said
why railroads cannot arrange their af-
fairs 10 a. to accommodate them to the
eight hour day. Big corporations, how
ever, make 1t rul. to resist all efforts
to reduce the length of the work day TO
a reasonable standard, but when forced
to do 10 they find that not only can they
do so without inconvenience to them
selves, but that the shortened work day,
as 4 matter of fact, proves decidedly
beneficial TO them
For instance" he said, at san Fran
cisco the eght-hour day is in operation
on the street railway system, and | will
say that the railroad men are more en-
titled to the cight-hour day than any
other group of workers because of the
exceedingly responsible nature of their
employment and of all that depends for
safety upon their not being overworked.' .
Solidarity of Railway Employees.
Mr.. Hamilton said that the insight.
courage and solidarity of the railroad
labor organizations is such that they
would be sure to remove every obstacle
their adversaries were throwing in the
way OF the success of this movement.
The railroad companies, he said. were
SAYING that the business interests OF the
country would suffer, etc, or in other
words they were assuming the position.
thai letter or package OF freight is OF
greater Importance than the maintain
ance OF humane working conditions for
the railroad train service employees. He
said that the employees ought to have
an opportunity to live their lives as men
should, instead of being victims of the
conditions OF cnslavement that ensuc
from excessive hours of toll There must,
he said, he more consideration for the
humane element He pressed home the
fact that the workers propose thru their
organizations to take those conditions
that make for n better manhood and n
better womanhood in our country; he
emphasized that the features of the
Clayton law regulating injunctions by
federal cuorts should be incorporated in
the statutes of every state. for, said he.
since its enactment and since the federal
courts have been restrained in n measure
from the issuance of injunctions against
IL hor organizations, the state courts have
become unusually active in exercising
that power. There are, he said, in the
state of Illinois and one or two other
slater. laws requiring that Judges shall
not issue injunctions unless under the
same conditions as set forth in the Clay
tion law.
Support Given BY A. F. of L.
Enemies, he said. of the labor move
ment have been busy circulating the
statement that the A. +. of l.. will give
very scant support to the railroad organ
ization brotherhoods in their present
struggle for the eight hour day, simply
because these railroad labor organizations
arc not affiliated with the A. F. of l..
In the efforts put forth to secure the
eighth day and the other improved
conditions now being sought, you will
find he said. that the American Feder-
alton of Labor will give you the most
active and effective support it can cx-
tend from the entire labor movement,
and II there is anything you want just
make Il known.
Mr.. Hamilton's remarks were received
with hearty applause.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hamilton's
address President aCrter expressed warm
gratitude for the true fraternal message
he carried from the A. +. of L. and as
sured him that the sentiments which
prompted such promise of support and
such real fratcrnal sympathy were thoro
ly appreciated and rcciprocatcd by the
men Of our brotherhood.
Officers Of Subordinate Lodges.
Continuing the consideration of the
report of the grand lodge rules and reg
ulations committee on the proposal to
establish an endowment fund for tho
payment Of insurance at the end OF
twenty-five years membership, there was
n discussion which resulted In the mat
ter being dropped for the present.
A law was enacted providing that sub