Albuquerque morning journal., 1920-09-20
Hanna on Labor Problems

which is un-American and never at
any time to be encouraged.
"Organized labor has not only
brought about a better wage condi-
ton for the employe, but has
brought about the enactment OF
very favorable legislation, largely
for the protection of the laboring
man, but which at the sam me time
cannot help but meet with public
approval Instances Of this may
be cited in the legs alton for the
protection of the employees in the
iaine and the factory; the restric-
! ton of the employment of the
minor; the limitation of employ
ment to reasonable hours, and the
| establishment of a minimum wage.
ut seems needless to argue that
the prosperity of any people is bet
| tered when the prosperity of the in
| dividual is raised to higher plane.
| The wonderful prosperity of the
United States has been due largely
| to the fact that we have not had
a large pauper class or any large
| number OF people working for a
wage below that necessary to
| the adequate support of the family.
/
doubtless will continue.
Discusses Local Conditions.
81 cannot discuss at length the
numerous questions which have
arisen, and are now of interest to
organized labor, | desire to con-
sumo the remainder OF my time
in a discussion of local conditions
particularly as applied to our
| state, and at the same time | de-
| sire to keep away from the purely
partisan political questions, as it is
of no concern to the people of our
| state whether some of the condi-
tions which l will refer to should
| longer continue. These conditions
can be corrected and doubtless will
be in large measure corrected re-
gardless of which party comes INTO
administrative control of the af-
fairs of our state on the first day of
next January.
"Under the provisions of the con-
stitution of this state the repre-
sentation of the people of the state
in the Legislature must be fixed by
a redistricting of the state, and this
duty, which will devolve upon the
next legislature, should be more
carefully exercised to the end that
the control of the state legislature
may be placed where it belongs in
the majority. 1t has been possible
under the so-called gerrymander
now existing, for the minority of
the people of the state to elect
majority in the state legislature.
This is destructive of true repre-
sentative form of government--is
american, and | daresay will
not be defended by any good citi-
zen of our state. Unfair represen-
tation has been accorded to few
of the counties and the control of
the legislature must be brought
back to the citizenship of the state.
!. The redistricting which will be
made by the next legislature will
doubtless endure for another de-
cade of time. The ability of the
majority of the people to control
Legislation necessarily depends
upon the solution of this first and
! most important question now con-
!, fronting us.
Problems of Taxation.
Next in Importance and not any
more of partisan question than
the one just referred to, is the mat
ter of taxation. / shall not discuss
In any argumentative vein the OBJ
: lection to the present form of tax
J alton. The discussion would be O
lengthy one and goes back to con-
J stitutional provisions and legisa-
} tive enactments which have
: brought into the situation differing
| standards of taxation, which 1t is
| oil tra
ton in tax matters in this state.
} The important thing to realize and
!, understand is that within a period
of about four years expenditures
: in this state have increased from
about $4,000, 1000 to almost $10,-
: 600, 900, with perhaps some COM
pensating advantages; but at the
J same time the assessed valuations
2 of the state have not been mate
: rally increased with the result
, that the tax burden has become a
heavy one. This tax burden falls
S upon one and all alike. Some men
= NAV think because they are not
: on the tax rolls that it does not
D concern them. They should not lose
t light of the fact that the consum-
8 er Is the man who eventually pays
| a.
8 business. which is added to by an
Increased tax burden, Is passed on
S to him and in the final analysis,
a every individual contributes to the
I support of the government whether
: 1t be municipal, county, state or
national.
y ''If it be true as is so strongly
y urged that the mining interests OF
II .{,f
t the tax revenues of the state in
n proportion to the value of their
: holdings and on basis of equall-
s zation with other taxpayers, this
: should be corrected as soon as pos
$ sible.
2 Consider General Problems.
sTn conclusion, / desire to inn
press upon organized labor and
upon all friends of organized la
. bor. that while the questions that
= affect labor are of great lmpor-
: tance. vet one and all must fully
! appreciate the responsibilities OF
( citizenship and unite with all oui
people in correcting the conditions
which affect our state. 1t is possi-
HE that in the Importance of the
!, questions which must closely affec'
YOU. you may lose sight of the inn
I, nortance of the questions which at
feet us all. ..
! IA proper appreciation of these
u statewide questions--and perhaps
national questions, will enable the
! neople of our state and of our ma
ton to solve the great problems
| now confronting both. regardless OF
which party may be elected to as
sumo the responsibility of the ad.
y ministration of public affairs.
1.-THE United States OF America
+ can look back upon a proud ms
q tory Of accomplishment. Tremen
II dous problems have pee 7
y solved and the country has