The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-03-25
:ime for our families and our own adj

time for our families and our own adj
vancement, and union labor all over
the country has been fighting for it,
as you know, and in many cases has
succeeded in reducing the working
day to eight or nine hours. Go to any
town where prosperity has come and
you will find we'll organized labor.
| You haven't felt hard times here as
you would have, had the labor unions
been less potent
| Mr.. Winkler then read from the Lab
or bureau statistics Of New Jersey to
show that the average wages of union
laborers is far above the non-union
average. He closed with an urgent
appeal to all workmen to join some
union, the Pioneer Federati if there
was no particular organization to
which they could belong.
Ex-President McEwen of the Duluth
Trades and Labor Assembly was the
next speaker, and Mr.. McEwen in
very forceful' and eloquent manner
set forth the advantages, necessity and
duty Of belonging to unions. He COM
plimented Superior on her fine organi--
zation in this respect. There was a
time, he said, when those who advo-
Gated unionism were prosecuted and
ridiculed, but it is different now, and
every man should he proud to be
member of Al union. He spoke at
length upon the organization of capt.
tai, a gigantic fedora ton of trust, he
soon expected. Capital is being join
ed for it's own good, labor should do:
likewise. It is a business proposition
with the speaker. The union has in,
creased the wages of the plumber, his
vocation, 100 per cent or more.
3.'somc do not like our methods of
boycotts AND Strikes he added.
'''Neither do T: Who does? But what
other weapon is ;there?'' You say the
ballot box, and I am ready tonight to
start the Organization of an indepen-
dent political organization which will
aim to accomplish the ends we desire.
We cannot get the improved condi-
tons while sitting supinely by, but
must get to work" The speaker was
frequently applauded as were the 9th
ers throughout the evening.
Joe Konkef was called upon and lie
| took as his theme the reason why
wages are us good as they are. He
argued that it is on account of organ
lied labor. The unions do not try to
| tear down the social institutions Of
the country; they are not anarchistic,
he said, but nj III to enlighten and adj
vance the masses. Laws should be
passed to protect the laborer, said Mr..
Konkel, and he promised that if he
were in Madison he would raise the
roof of the state house in his efforts
to secure the passage of laws which
present Legislators have not backbone
to stand UP for. The speakers tones
were eloquent and the audience SEEM
ed to believe that Mr.. Konkel would
do as he said. They applauded loudly.
Fl. p. Peterson made an address
which, as it approached its main SUBJ
ject, the Superior Rapid Transit Rail-
way company, was quite impassioned.
He was a great believer in unions, he
said, and looked forward to the day
when they would govern the entire
country.
At the hands of Mr.. Peterson the
street car company Jared badly indeed.
His philippines were bitter and force
full. In stirring phrases he condemned
the contract the employees are COM
PEELED to sign and the companys meth
DDS of treating it's men. 1t is time
the powers that be in the city wake up
and acquire the franchise, the terms of
which the company is daily breaking,
he said.
Il. r. Hudson closed the speech-mak-
ing with few words, urging the lab
oring people to arouse themselves to
the occasion, join the unions and put
men in office who will serve the toiling
masses. .-..-.
ARBITRATION MAY COME.