The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1898-06-18

Stone Cutters union, Sandstone Quarry
mems union, st. Paul Iachinists' union
No. 112, Machine Coopers' union, Min
neapolis, St. Paul Painters union, Min
neapolis Woodworkers' union.
The American Agents association Of
Duluth have also voted to affiliate and
the fee has been ordered paid. They
-e also represented here by delegate
This makes a total of 13 new unions
since our last meeting.
1 tried to keep statistics of the number
of employed and unemployed members
of the various trades and callings, but
on the account of the negligence of local
secretaries l have been unable to reach
any fair calculation. If the secretaries
Of the local union would give the above
question better attention, we would be
able to reach some creditable knowledge
of the strength and conditions of our
trade unions and their members.
Upon instructions of the president I
wrote to every railroad labor organiza-
ton in this state, whose address I could
obtain relative to afiliating with. the
Federation and later. I mailed each and
every one call and blank credentials,
but at this writing I. have received no
answers from any of them. ~
= But one union has been expelled from
the Federation during the past year.
q, In compliance with the constitution
/ was obliged to erase from the books
the name Of the St. Paul Tailors' union
for secession from their national organi-
zatlon. T.; : ........ s:sl L. II &
IA There have been but two strikes and
one boycott officially reported to the
Federation. The Boot and Shoe Work
ers of st. Paul reported strike on the
Foote, Schulze Co., manufacturers of
shoes, which eventually led to q boy
colt. No official reports have as yet
been received Of it's settlement The
second strike was that of the Duluth
plumbers of but four days duration and
which resulted in complete victory for
the union. @.@.
II Since the st. Cloud convention l have
opened a ledger account with each at
filiated union, 1 believe now, that, with
out any intentions Of praise, the books
and accounts Of the Federation are in as
simple and plain form as in any body or
organization. The auditing committee
will have no trouble in examining the
books, if pursued in a systematic man
ner. Is.
!. With reference to correspondence and
acknowledgement Of receipts and money
! have given each one my careful and
Immediate attention. : ;.
]! There were times during the term,
when on account of other business and
sickness that I was obliged to put off
the work for few days, and although
sometimes late in acknowledgement of
yet I have,I believe,
everyone.
I would recommend that for the pur-
pose of insuring the Federation against
loss, and on account of the increasing
revenue of the Federation that those
officers who are entrusted with moneys
be placed under bond by some reliable
surety company. I do not make this
because of distrust, but
purely as matter Of business. g,.y.
Through observance in our manner of
1 would also recommend that
the president have full power to ap-
point deputy organizers in any locality
that he may deem advisable, and that
he be declared state organizer for this
Federation. BY vesting the president
with this power I believe that better re-
suits will be received from the work of
organization, and will tend to centralize
the work so that the president will
know exactly how the movement islpro-
crossing. ~ .@. -. SIS
In conclusion let me say that I have
great hopes for the future of the FEEDER
alton. Never before has it made such q
remarkable progress, yet our work is
not completed. n
In order for us to receive suitable rec
ognition from law-making bodies and
others, we should represent fair pro-
portion of the citizens of our state.
Labor is in the majority. There is no
just reason why there are not more or
ganized workers in our state.
There never was brighter opportu.
nifty for organization than at present.
The trend of all classes in society is to.
ward organization. That trend is man
ifest among the wage earners as we'll as
all others. They are only waiting for
some good workers to take the initiative.
Every town and village in this state
should be organized, and it will be if we
are earnest and sincere in our efforts.
I have tried during the past year to
open up correspondence in several un-
organized towns. In many cases l re-
ceived many favorable replies, and all