The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-02
Elimination of Child Labor,
Restricting powers of
Judges" Plans in Pro-
gram
URGES VIGILANCEON ALL
During 1924 Will Seek To
\ Perfect Organization
Increasing Soil
darity
(By Associated Press . }

Wy EhSSoIldtcu IIcSS
Washington, Jan. 2---Organizeo
labor. while forcing its battles in the
Industrial fields during 1924, expects
likewise to stay in politics, particI-
pating mot only in the final election
but in the selection of candidates in
the primary elections everywhere
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, said
today in a public New Years greet
ing.
Amending the Constitution to
eliminate child labor, restriction o,
"usulpation of power by judges ana
the carrying forward Of oar con
cept of industrial democracy" he
enumerated as among the items Q.
the years program for labor union
members.
Aa"The year 1924 presents us with
Tremendous issues Mr.. Gompers
continued. During 1928 we have
met great issues, and many Of them
successfully. AS labor sees the out
look, the following is Il partial enum-
Grafton of the political issues of the
coming year:
THE injunction abuse, the child
labor amendment to the Cons itution
made necessary by the adverse de-
cislons of the United States Supreme
Codrt On two child labor laws, the
railroad question involving the rail
road labor board, the usurpation O..
power by judges in contempt cases
T. we'll as in Injunction cases, the
duestion Of whether laws may con-
tInue to be killed by court decisions,
and efforts to enact anti-strike and
compulsory arbitration laws.
"ln addition to these legislative
issues there IS in the political field
the overshadowing matter Of the ma
tional election. Labor confronts this
great struggle with the determine
WA to carry forward the banner Of
progress, justice and democracy and
TO record in~broader terms a victory
such as was won last year. Labor
will participate not only in the final
election, but in the selection of can
didates in the primary elections
everywhere.
ION the industrial field there will
be great issues. We look back upon
1928 with qualification. We have
achieved much for which all wage
Gamers may be thankful; much that
means for greater freedom and n
Cotter life in the future. But the flu
ture is not the past and the future
brings its fresh struggles.
In Terms of Profit
$50 long as there are men who
think and act only in terms of profit,
labor must be vigilant. And while
there is a wage Garner unorganized
labor must organize. Rights that
have been won must be held Ameri-
can labor has 'abundantly justified
its organized existence. The wage
earners of America enjoy higher
standards of living than those of any
other country. They have fuller,
better life in every respect. They
labor with the mighty machinery of
our land and produce more per man
and in the aggregate than the toll
ers of any other land; they come
nearer to being masters of the ma
chimes with which they work than
do the workers in any other land.
And, in addition, they do not have
their hands at the throat of their
government, as is the unhappy case
in SO many other countries.
During 1924 we shall seek to per-
1ect our organizations, to increase
our solidarity, to improve our stand
ards, to come one step nearer to our
ideal. We shall seek to carry for
ward our great concept of industrial
democracy, which means freedom OF
mankind in industry through the eX-
e1cise of an effective voice in the
councils of industry-the building of
an 1ndestructible and glorious mos
trial life that shall make America
great beyond dreams. But, in going
forward, we shall as in the past, keep
tlr feet upon the ground, having be-
fore us the facts of life as they pre-
sent themselves