Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-09-04


fer upon congress authority 70 pass
statutory legislation mslzina child life
Iree. Bitter and malignant opnos.-
ton IL being made t. this worthy
cause. But the American Federation
Of Labor viii continue the fight until
It has made possible FER congress to
protect the natians children from in
dustrial exploit ion.
The Saturday half holiday and the
forty-hour week are the results Of
trade union agitzlon.
The union labeI placed on articles
produced BY union men and women
is proof that they were made under
sanitary conditions & wages that per-
nit the wage earnezs 70 live IN reas-
able comfort. When you buy union
labeled articles you benefit your fell
low union men.
The American Federation Of Labor
and its affiliated organisations have
not only brought greater happiness
in the lives Of the wage earners but
in the nations hour Of danger it
pledged the loyalty Of is members to
the government Of the United States.
And that pledge was kept. The A.
merican Federation Of Labor Is never
at . loss what to do II any great
crisis. And this was exemplified in
its attitude during the great war.
Among other victories and activities
which no one can deny t6 Labor are
workmen's compensation laws, the re-
striction of immigration, preventing
the importation of labor under con-
tract, collective bargaining, elimina-
ton of the sweat-shop eivL abolition
of tenement-hour labor crusade
against the white plague by insisting
upon sanitary workshops, fondemna-
ton of the sale Of narcotics and refus-
al to accept reductions in wages dur
ing industrial depression.
After years of agitation Labor fin
ally prevailed upon congress TO enact
a law that labor is not commodity
or article of commerce.. That same
law provides for jury trial in con-
tempt cases. This was most re-
markable advance in the restriction
of the assumed power Of judges and
the supreme court recently declared
it unconstitutional. It also declared
arbitration unconstitution-
al in either federal or state legisla-
ton.
AS the trade union movement grew
labor papers began to appear here
and there until today they number in
struggle for the labor press in the
early days, but their publishers were
so deeply ingrained with trade union
ism that they accepted their set-backs
and hardships philosophically. Be-
cause of their great devotion to the
cause they sought to advance they re-
fused to recognize defeat. Many all
union men recognize the sacrifices
made in their interests by the labor
press.
The non-partisan political policy Of
the American Federation of Labor |
has proved it's wisdom. During the
last nineteen years 200 laws of direct |
benefit to labor have been enacted I
by congress while all state legisla-
lures have passed important remed-
ial Legislation.
One reason for the success of the
legislation urged by the American
Federation Of Labor is that it benefits
all the people except the privileged ,
few. Labor asks for nothing that is
not good for the people generally. It
has stood by the farmer in his efforts
for economic advancement. It has al
ways supported any practical legis-
lation that would benefit the farmers.
1t has aided every movement that has
for its purpose the Advancement Of
humanity.
While these are only few of the
gains made by labor in
the past forty-four years they are
sufficient to show that on this Labor
Day we have much for which TO be
thankful. On this dhy we should
renew our pledge of continued and
vigorouse agitation for more progress
and still more progress.