The Anaconda standard., 1895-11-20
Anaconda Nens.

s.at. while Montana Is the home OF
some of the grandest labor orsaniza-
| tions the world has ever known, tnere
are thousands of men and women as
vet unorganized. a vast and fruitful
! field which viii yield rich returns LOT
| the labor spent upon IL. Let US pegin
| at once to strengthen and extend our
| local unions and to organize new ones
| and In a very short time, with a coh
plete organization of working men anu
women, we shah be able TO show 10
corporate power that labor has rights
which must be respected. And SUM-
cient knowledge to know wnat lts
| rights are.
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
wish now to say a few words on the
question of politics in labor organiza,
tions. Partisan politics never hao' any
| of right never ought to have any nolo
| on organized labor. Yet, as the very
air we breathe is pure or foul accord
| ing to how each laboring man voted al
the last election; labor organization @
absolutely without politics is OF httIe
more practical use for the betterment
/ of the human family than George
Washington's Chariot of State" Is as
/ a bicycle The need of political har-
mony and unity among the producing
| people has been so long ana generdiy
! felt that all national and state organi-
cations now have more or less nom
partisan political principles, not mate
rally differing one from the other' ana
| I believe II to be our duty 10 the
masses to further the common welfare
as outlined in such principles, in every
municipality where organized laDoi
casts a vote. i am opposed, however,
| to unions placing a labor ticket In the
field unless 1t can be shown that a.
| least 40 per cent. of the voters OF tnat
particular locality are actual bona noe
| members of labor unions. The woru
4 Ia. "a
human government" and there can ps
no class of people so deeply interested
| in that subject as the workers. 1eei
| therefore, that can safely recommend
| the study of that science In lapor or
ganizations, and wish to call your at
| tention to a political question upon
which organized labor should take the
lead, and that is education.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
The public educational system as
now practiced in this state to say the
least, is unsatisfactory to the people,
| especially unjust to children OF the
| working man. An educated man has
the right to demand that his vote
| shall not he offset by an ignorant one.
| AS long as the rich and the poor are
equals at the ballot box, threre snoulo
| be no difference between them In the
school room. The boy and girl born OF
| parents not wealthy, however pralny
and worthy, though no fault OF tner
own, cannot reach the high standard
| Of education so necessary to the COM
ing generation, because their parents
are often too poor to privide the requls-
ite school supplies. 1t therefore follows
that all school supplies should be fur-
nished by the state. II we expect our
successors to adjust for the beneht OF
the masses and without war and Dlood-
shed, the many portentious questions
and complications which they are GER
tain to fall heir to.
/ feel that / should fail in my duty
should / neglect TO call your atten'lon
; TO the fact that the last Legislature au-
r thorized the submission TO the voters
at the next election a constitutional
amendment to sec. 2 of art. ., wnlch
IL adopted by the people Is sure 10 re
suit in the curtailment of the francnls'
to the property qualineation' mus So
introducing anti+Free Soil and PRO
slavery" conditions in more vicious
form than our forefathers ever dream
. ed of. and re-establishing propert!
rights at the ballot box; now reserved
. for the guardians of all property anS
, human liberty.
7 cannot believe that this convention
VIII adjourn without adopting suci
| measures condemnatory OF this vicious
, assault on the rights of free men a.
, will lead to the defeat OF this amend
| ment at the next general election.
4 /
,, | fact that recommendations will b
! made to congress at dts coming session
. | that the standing army OF the Unlte'
: States he increased to $4,000 men. Com
: | ing as II does in "a time or profoun'
peace, this recommendation can ON.
he considered as being directed agains
| organized labor. And l suggest tina
this convention not only send protest
. | to the senators and representatives Q
! this state against any increase In IN
] army, but that the delegates be In
structed to bring the matter oetor
TO send protests to their representa-
/ tiyes and in every way possible try
= prevent the consummation OF this mos
iniquitous measure.
O AS organized labor Is pledged to ur
u hold free speech, whether expresse
81 be my duty to remind you that quit
" recently an effort has been made I
lie 'smuzzle" the prees of this state. Will
IS regret that the press as whole
n not as friendly to organized labor, nc
l. TO what we conceive to be the best n
" terests of the masses, as we would liz
re TO see. yet we cannot afford to let tn
e. opportunity pass without exhibitin
I'd the sincerity of our promise to re-ca!
u the sword into plow shares and pens.
I recommend that you take such a.
a ton as win assure the press OF tn
d. veal or woe, we are determined ar
TO ready to oppose Censorship of Il
Us press"
lg Trusting that the deliberations
ce this convention will be marked wit
no that consideration OF each other tn
IA harmony which Will prove to the pu
st lie that we are united in our deman'
for reform and a feeling of fraterni
ne and good fellowship which cannot fs
CT to be OF great and lasting benefit. tn
as report is respectfully submitted.
by ] ask the support OF each delegate
We expedlting matters as much as pos
ch BILE. Fraternally.
IS ]. A. Ferguson.
The convention enjoyed a serenat
during the afternoon by Profess
m Wasterlain's band which was COMP
he mented by all hearers. The boys we
We resplendent in new uniforms and the
lr- music was given with their usual ski
cn The session lasted until o'cloc
va at which time the council ad1ourn'
m 10 meet again at 3 o'clock this NOR