You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Saturday November 14, 1914
Butte, Montana - Opponents Concede Defeat; Women Win Vote in Montana
Opponents of Women's Suffrage have conceded defeat in the state of Montana, and the Big Sky State joins Nevada in granting women the right to vote this year. To the map below, we can now add Montana and Nevada for the year 1914:
From
The Scranton Republican of Pennsylvania:
SUFFRAGISTS WIN IN STATE OF MONTANA
BUTTE, Mont., Nov. 11.-Opponents of woman's suffrage conceded today that the equal suffrage amendment was victorious in Montana last Tuesday. Official returns from twenty-nine counties out of thirty-nine, and unofficial figures from two more give equal suffrage a lead of 3,689.
The remaining thinly populated counties are expected to increase the suffrage lead.
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Also from The Scranton Republican of November 12, 1914:
A. F. L. HEARS REPORTS GIVEN AT CONVENTION
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Addresses are Made On Prevention of Diseases and Accidents By Delegates.
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PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 11.-The convention of the American Federation of Labor today listened to reports presented by the fraternal delegates to and from the Canadian Trades and Labor Congress, also heard addresses on the prevention of occupational diseases and industrial accidents and then marked time while waiting for committees to make reports on the various matters referred to them. Some of these committees will make partial reports tomorrow.
The usual grist of resolutions were filed with the secretary and referred to appropriate committees by President Samuel Gompers.
Among the resolutions was one which asked the federation to urge the New York legislature to amend the workmen's compensation law so that no physical examination of employes will be necessary before they are given work by an employer. The resolution charged that certain employers in New York state are requiring applicants for work to undergo a physical test in order to give them an opportunity to discriminate against union labor.
Another resolution referred to committee provided that the federation request Secretary Redfield of the department of commerce to investigate the entire system of steamboat inspection with a view to making changes to better safeguard the public. This resolution declared that steamboat inspection is not conducted strictly according to law.
Porto Rico Conditions.
Santiago Iglesias, delegate for the Porto Rico Free Federation of Workmen presented a resolution that the American Federation petition congress to investigate the "deplorable industrial conditions and general government " of Porto Rico. This resolution was also referred to committee.
Several resolutions bearing on working conditions in the Panama Canal zone were also sent to committees. One of these declared that Americans accepting government employment in the zone should be guaranteed at least six months steady work. The resolution gave instances where men who were hired to work in Panama were laid off shortly after reaching the zone because of lack of work. Another resolution urged the federation to take some action against the government continuing to pay twenty to thirty cents an hour to alien plasterers in the Panama Canal zone which the resolution said, is a discrimination against American plasterers who receive seventy-five cents an hour.
Retirement Law.
A retirement law for superannuated federal employes was also advocated in a resolution presented by the postal clerks union.
Lewis T. Bryant, commissioner of labor of New Jersey, pointed out the dangers arising from occupational diseases and general unsanitary conditions which he said, is the most important problem confronting the worker of this country.
[Mr. Bryant declared:]
It is quite possible...for one to be employed in a veritable fire trap for years without incurring any danger or inconvenience, and the worker may by exercising care follow his employment surrounded by dangerous machinery without injury, but the very nature of industrial disease hazards makes it absolutely impossible for the worker to be subjected to unsanitary or unhealthful conditions without being contaminated to a greater or lesser degree.
In conclusion Mr. Bryant said:
It would seem to me entirely practical for you to take up an educational campaign among your members and acquaint them with the hazards of their several occupations and the best methods for correcting improper conditions. If you could secure the services of instructors who would go from state to state illustrating the danger incident to certain occupations and the accepted methods for overcoming them, much good could be accomplished.
[photograph added]
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SOURCE
The Scranton Republican
(Scranton, Pennsylvania)
-Nov 12, 1914
http://www.newspapers.com/...
See also:
"Hellraisers Journal: From the Minnesota Labor World:
The Top Ten Reason to Kill Woman's Suffrage"
-byJayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/...
IMAGES
"Votes for Women a Success" Map, about 1914
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
AFL Button
http://www.laborsolidarity.info/...
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Bread and Roses-Kate Vikstrom
As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for -- but we fight for roses, too!
-James Oppenheim
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