Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-03-31

TechniqueS for conducting the bus
mess of the wage-earnerS construc-
lively are essential to industrial and
social progress. The agencies and the
methods that enable the wage-earn-
ers to advance himself, we feel de-
serve the moral support of public ap-
proval.
Individual wage-earners are power
less to deal with their separate prob
lens. Association action-the union
means the development of an agency
that will enable wage-earners to have
some control over forces and deci-
siOns that condition their lives. Union
means the beginning of a planned
and ordered life for wage-earnerS
The American Federation of Labor
has helped to stimulate and unity the
efforts of wage-earners to build
themselves unions that have brought
orders and progress into their work
lives.
At the same time that wage-earn-
ers were fashioning their tools for
progress uniOn-they have been
formulating and working toward the
realization of definite goals in their
plan for social progress. The FEEDER
alton has never restricted the pur-
poses to be accomplished by our trade
union movement
One of our first and sustained OBJ
jectives has been to provide equal
educational opportunities for all. Be-
fore the establishment of the public
school system, educational opportun-
tiles were limited to those who could
afford to pay. The American Fedora
ton of Labor builded upon this foun-
datiOn laid by the earlier labor move
ments and has helped to secure COM
pulsOry school attendance legislation
in the various states ...
When we first organized only eight
states had laws prohibiting the en-
ployment of children under certain
ages, while 16 had laws regulating
hours ranging from 10 to II per day,
to one which restricted the hours of
labor from sunrise to sunset. Now
all states have legislation regulat-
Help for Mothers.
Mothers pension laws have been
passed in AZ states and the District
of Columbia The labor movement
will continue to urge the improve
ment of these laws and their admin
istration until every child is assured
full opportunity for the full develop
ment of its physical and mental
powers. To achieve this end, state
laws must be supplemented by fed
eral legislation.
The American Federation of Labor
has contributed materially to raising
the percentage of the school popula-
ton enrolled in elementary and
secondary schools from 65.5 per cent
to 1880 to S1.5 per cent in 1928.
We have advocated measures to
put principles of democracy into ac-
tual practice.
To prevent employers from round
ing up his workers and taking them
to the polls to vote as directed, the
American Federation of Labor advo-
Gated and helped to establish private
balloting of the Australian system.
Improving Government.
We were advocates of principles of
popular control of government, the
initiative, referendum and recall. The
support of the labor movement help
ed to incorporate these measures in
state constitutions and statutes.
We worked for an amendment to
authorize the election of senators d.
rectly by the voters of a state.
We have helped to write primary
laws into practically all state laws.
We have assisted in the enactment
of legislation regulating the attach
ments of wages for debts. The
amount of exemption varies in the
various states. There is still much
room for Improvement in this form of
legislation. In our own state the eX-
emption is now only $35 per month.
This should and will be increased as
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