Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1896-11-27
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL REPORT
A Review Of the Work Of the State
Trades Council for the Past
Year,
Together With President FergusOn's
Recommendations for the
Future.

"RSAS hS"~ "
the recent meeting in this city of the
State Trades and Labor council, non
were given closer attention or will carry
more general interest to working men
all over the state than President l'ergu.
sons annual report. 1t is too lengthy
to be given in full, but the following is
a comprehensive summary:
To the Officers and Delegates Of the
State Trades ard Labor Council Of
Montana:
BROTHERS: The experience Of the
past year has proved, il proof was neces-
sary, that this organization has nor only
been the means of comforting great Bone
fits upon affiliated unions, out has also
been the means through which can be
realized many of the reforms 80 anX.
louely looked forward to by all trades
unionists. AS the reports of the secretary
and chairman of the executive commit
tee will cover in detail the work actually
done, the greater portion of this report
will deal with SUCH questions us may be
properly discussed III this convention,
with a view to united action on the part
OF all unlons in the state. La my last
report the necessity of strengthening ex-
listing unions and making strenuous eff
forts to form new ones was suggested,
and it is highly gratifying to all that so
much has been lone in this direction.
Active work in organizing has been
the order of the day, but per
hHps, the most remarkable progress has
been shown in the western part of the
state. Since December last no less than
II new unions have been formed and all
the old ones greatly increased in
strength and utility. At its last session
this convention passed the following res
olutions (here follow resolutions as to
forming unions among the employees of
the Big Blackfoot and Bitter Root Lum-
boring Notwithstanding companies,
heretofore published). A faithful COM
pliance with the letter and spirit of
these resolutions resulted in
the establishment of strong
ard progressive unions in both these
places This work revealed such Il sur
prlsiDg condition of affairs in the lum-
Der Industry that organization among
the lumbermen was continued in other
camps and mills upon the proposition
that the labor unions in this state would
in ali cases give preference to union.
made Montana materials and in return
for this support d reduction in the hours
OF labor was asked. In many places this
was granted, and it is estimated that
during last summer 10000 hours Of labor
have been saved to the lumbermen of
western Montana.
A noticeable feature in this connection
is the fact that the employers are fully
satisfied with the shorter hours system,
and the men deserve great praise for
their efforts to show that they appreci-
ate this and other concessions made by
going at their work with q will.
1t should be the constant endeavor of
every unionist-and great good will be
accomplished thereby-to learn, to im-
prove, to do his work we'll. 1t is then
to prove to an employer that union
labor is the best and consequently the
cheapest, end we may then iook for a
day when IA union card will be the best
recommendation of ability for an appli-
cant for work that he can present.
A firm adherence to the declarations
IN favor of home industry as adopted 10y
this council will be OF great assistance
IN securing shorter hours. Let US not
fail to help each other in the p%laineet of
all duties. u the good results will be
soon apparent, especially in the lumber
interests OF western Montana, where low
wages and long hours are the rule on &C
count Of the low price Of lumber. When
the product OF these mills ia given pre-
ference over eA4tern and western una.
terlal, the hours of labor are sure to be
shortened and wages advanced in this
state.
Action was taken by the last conven-
ton upon Il very important matter, viz:
the unitication OF all labor organizations.
While rs yet practical results are very
limited, a great deal of preliminary work
has been done. While awaiting the &C.
ton of the large bodies, which will
necessitate delay. ] would suggest that
each union should adopt a uniform reeo-
luton which will provide that the union
will accept a card from any other labor
union in lieu of the regular initiation
fee. Such action would obviate the
necessity OF II travelling member joining
and supporting two unions and at the
time preserve the autonomy of all
organizations. while the members would
receive the protection and benefits Of
both unions alike, and also receive a
practical illustration OF the benefits to
be gained by uniting all organizations.
In the constitution of this council pro-
vision ia made for a legislative body,
whose duty it shall be to watch the pro-
ceedings of the legislature and report
to ths different unions the vote of all
members of the house and senate on the
bills in the interest Of labor. The stat
ute books OF this state contain very few
laws pertaining directly to labor, and
there should be a very urgent demand
made by this body upon the incoming
Legislature for some recognition in this
matter. 1t is we'll, however, that the
unions should not place too much de-
p%endence upon the Legislature and ex-
pect it to do that which may be better
and more properly done by the unions
themselves. Neither should we attempt
to accomplish too much. 1t will be nee.
essary for this convention to decide on
the number of bills to be presented and
their nature, and among those to be con-
sidered liberty is taken to suggest the
following:
First. A bill to establish in this state
the initiative and referendum and i'm