Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-04

|ation against the union were describ-
ed by the speaker Interestingly and
concisely.
The speaker dwelt on organization
work in Maine and the possibility of
association from international organ
ization. He believed that a plan to
keep a man in the field the year
round by the Maine State Federation
OF Labor would meet with favorable
consideration and probable aid.
President Eagles extended to Mr..
Thornton the best wishes of the con-
venttion for his success in the new
held he enters as first vice president
OF his organization.
James Duncan, first vice president
or the American Federation of Labor
and personal representative of Presi-
dent Green extended to the conven-
ton from President Green his COM
pliments and best wishes for success
and for the welfare of the movement
In the State of Maine.
He spoke of his earlier association
IN Maine as member of the stone
cutters union and reviewed condi-
tons here at that time.
The first labor man to be elected to
congress, he continued was from
Maine, Thompson Murch in 1878. Re-
viewing the progress of economic
thought since that time he said that
While it had not progressed as much
as might be desired it had on the
| whole been satisfactory. Methods of
organization have changed greatly
since the earlier days, he added. and
| ne referred to the work done and ex-
periences of some of the old time
| organizers including his own. He
compared the spirit of unfriendly sac
| rlf1ce of those days with that which
In some instances is evidenced now,
detailing the hardships and Suffer-
| lngs willingly borne by some of the
earlier crusaders in the movement.
His remarks were interspersed
with entertaining "reminiscences,
some of which created a laugh among
his hearers.
Vice president Duncan reviewed
organization efforts in the time an
tiquity during Julius Caesars reign,
referring to an act passed in Eng
lad during Queen Elizabeth's reign
which was almost word for word
with that passed in Caesars time
and which prevented the people from
taking to themselves privileges which
the barons thought their own.
| Comparing labor conditions be-
tween England and this country the
speaker declared that while the
| United States Lad not progressed
as far in some directions the condi-
ton of the workers in this country
We're far superior to those of the
former. He reviewed some of the
legislation affecting labor in Eng
| land, citing Galdsto1e's attitude on
the eight hour day in which he ad-
vised the labor leaders to procure t
through economic channels rather
| than by having the governmental
halter on their necks.
This advice was at first resented
and, later highly appreciated when
time had proved it sound. The eff
forts in behalf of the eight hour law
in government work in this country
were reviewed by the speaker and
= he detailed most Interestingly the
manner in which its passage was
achieved, with the assistance of Sem
| ator Hanna who was at first strong
| ly in opposition.
! So far as trades at large are con-
cerned. the speaks. expressed the
| thought that the workers would do
| better to seek regulation of their
/ hours through economic fields rath-
err than to put the government halter
/ around their necks to use Glad
| stones term.
! Why Massachusetts voted against
! the child labor law is a problem be-
yond anybody's solution he said.
| Massa chusetts has of it's own the
| first child labor law in existence and
I why it should stumble at the rati-
fication of a federal law was beyond
Mr.. Duncan's comprehension.
! The alleged interference with
] states rights may have been a factor
! he thought and the opposition has
also been laid to the fact that it
| came from the south, the textile
states. He referred to Senator
| Beycridge who at first, opposed to
| the measure was so impressed by
/ the conditions he found in the south
when he personally investigated that
he made the finest speech in its IA
vor ever made according to Mr.. Dun
can.
The speaker stressed the necessity
of supporting the American Fedora
| tons efforts to have the veto power
of the United States Supreme court
| revoked. He referred to the
thought that as civilization moves
economics will be supreme and poll
| tics obsolete adding that when that
time comes law will be compatible
with justice.
In closing Vice President Duncan
spoke of possible increase in the
per capita tax which might be nee
essary to give the state board great
| or efficiency and he cited figures to
prove the advantage of being union
men, not in compensation but In
| compensation o., er above what they
| would receive if they were not union
men.
His illustration dealt with the
basis of 10000 men Governing a
period of 20 years and showed. an
advantage based on an increase In
wages of So a day or $2400OO,O 900.
At the afternoon session resolutions
| upon the deaths of Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
| of Labor, and Roscoe A. Eddy. Maine
| State commissioner of labor and in
dustry, were submitted by the commit
/ tee on resolutions and were accepted.
At the suggestion of President Eagles
the attending delegates asore and
! maintained a strict silence for few
moments in respect of the men.
John M. Gillespie, New England rep
resentative of the International Broth
erhood of Transfers and Chauffeurs
| of America, was seated at fraternal
| delegate.
A communication concerning con-
| ference in relation to prison labor was
referred to the committee on resolu-
tions.
! Edward E. Carey Of this city, report
ing for the committee on organization,
told of the meeting held the previous
evening with the grand lodge officers