The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-12-15
TWO GREAT LAWYERS
FAVOR LABOR UNIONS

order, n. f., Reeves, chairman of the
legislative committee of Maryland
Railway Trainmen, was the first to
address the delegates. He welcomed
them to the state, expressing himself
as emphatically favoring closer allied
affiliation.'
William Rroerng Speaks
William Broering, the states attor-
ney, followed with a further word of
welcome. He commended the organ
ization for it's objects and purposes
and for doing the things the indi-
vidual cannot hope to achieve for him
self. believe you are Just
as loyal to our country, just as loyal
to its institutions and that you do
those things which make your city
the best in the state, your state the
best in the nation, and your nation the
best in the world"
In dealing with unemployment Mr..
Broering suggested that state or mu-
inequalities provide emergency i'm
prOvement work that will not in any
way compete with honest labor or
affect labor organization, where men
can be kept self-respecting by making
them self-sustaining, but it must be
done in a way that will not affect the
standard wage of the community"
Attorney General Straus Talks
When Chairman O'Rourke intro
duced Attorney General Isaac Loeb
Straus he eulogized him as the fore
most constitutional lawyer in Mary
land, man who never fails when
called upon to do something for labor"
Mr.. Straus said 81 want to say,
not as a compliment, but in all sin
certify, that l consider it an honor
to speak at this meeting. Although
there are a great many useful, service
able things man might do, there is
nothing l can think of as really useful
and as actually important and SER
y!ceable as speaking to laboring men
organized in their associations and
speaking for their just rights. +
The supremest temporal thing that
should concern the minds of men is
that a man is more valuable than
money, and that people are more
precious and important than property.
* # You represent to me as I
stand here the supreme hope ulti-
mately of democratic institutions"
Mr.. Straus said he viewed the labor
organizations as a body of men band
ed together to do what they ought
to do, protect themselves, lift them
selves, advance themselves, and strike
down every interest that is militantly
hostile TO the well being of them
selves.
"You ought to rule, not through dis
order or violence, but as free men
engaged with the duties of self-gov-
ernment at the ballot boxes of the
nation. r
Generally you are right in your
organization, in the high things you
stand for; it's the duty of every
honest freeman to put his shoulder to
yours and help you in the accomplish
ment of the things you want to do.
Your first duty is to have organiza-
tion then stand up as men and say
here is what we want and here is our
justification for wanting it and get
ting it.
What do you mean by organiza-
ton? What is the idea of it? It's
very important to understand what
that means.
The forces against you are well
equipped, well supplied, we'll furnished
with resources of every sort. They
subsidize and monopolize the talent
and brains of the country; they can
wait a week, a month or a year. The
individual laborer cannot wait; they
know it; he is alone and must take
what is offered to do without,
"A child is born to a laboring man
oday; he rests in the cradle the in
FAINT of the man without means, of
United education, of less opportunity.
The child of the millionaire capitalist
Is born, upheld by a thousand advan-
ages as if on eagle s wings. The
problem before you, the problem in
Fhi,h l would feel it the highest
ryice in life to help solve. is how
make the condition of those two
children as nearly equal as possible,
nd all children in America to have
qual opportunities and equal rights
4 life.
you want a fair and just share in
hat which YOU create; in short, you
want better wages Fair prices for
'yerything and rising prices for
MUSCLE, nerve and brain
you are entitled to a shorter work
ay Whenever YOU stand as one,
nd write up where every politician
an see it; Eight hours shall be
working day, and no man who opposes
shall ever so into office Emblazon
t on the banners that stream from
he Atlantic to the Pacific so that