The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-11-09
UNION lAbOR wins
SAN FRANCISCO ELECTS A TRADE
UNION MAYOR. *:.
Organized Labor Driven Into Poli-
tics succeedv in Electing One Of
1ts Members MayoE-Opposed By 4
Labor Paper, BY Several Organ
igations, and Prominent Leaders,
He Carries OFF the Palm.


every member of q labor organisation
In the city. In short time business
was at standstill. The Golden Gate
was laden with ships unable to move.
factories were closed, and the shops
were silent. The lockout last for weeks.
Several attempts were made to arbi-
trate the differences, but failed, until
the governor OF the state, who refused
to send state troops to the scene Of the
lockout, insisted that both sides SUBJ
NIT the questions involved to arbitra-
tion. His advice was followed and an
agreement was reached.
Immediately after, an election was to
occur. Union labor got together and
nominated full ticket, consisting, only
Of trade unionists. The result of the
election was that a member Of the
Musicians union was elected mayor.
During the campaign several organi-
cations condemned the union labor tick
ct. The Building Trades Council pub
lished its disapproval as follows: 1.-THE
Building Trades Council desires to i'm
press upon every trades union man con-
nected with the building industry that
this municipality Is best governed when
public servants selected from the entire
community without regard to any par
ticular class"
A labor paper called the "Star," also
opposed the ticket and supported the
Democratic nominee, who was showed
under terribly. This papers excuse for
opposing the ticket was as follows:
LAS an earnest advocate of trade un-'
ionfsm, we point out the mistake and
danger of such a narrow policy. We
want no class to rule over San Francis
co; and the way to prevent that is to
have all classes represented AS we
would not support q man simply be-
cause he is member Of the Mer-
chants Association, so we will not sup
port a man simply because he is a
member of trade union, although our
sympathy is with trade unions and our
support has always been given J: to
Them" .$s ss Il %r$Izz .3..s5. hi !:
number re prominent trade union.
r I'll
iahof ticket. nut 81 4li aisss = ily
labor succeeded Ia electing its mayor.
Andrew Fureseth, of the seamen.s
union,' one of the brainest men in the
American labor movement gave the es-
sence of the fight in a nut she'll. He
said: During the lockout members of
labor organizations were attacked and
assaulted on the streets by special po-
licemen and hirelings of the Employ
ers' Association. We appealed to the
chief of police. but our appeals were
ignored. We next went to the Police
Commission, who treated US no better.
We called upon the mayor who refused
to do anything, and when the grand
jury was in session we went before it,
and found to our surprise, that the
president Of the Employers Association
was chairman of the grand jury. Here
We found the employing class thorough
ly represented in the government of the
city, and while I am opposed to any
class rule In government, ii we are to
have class rule, say give US the work
ing class"
The employers Of San Francisco unit
ed to crush the organizations Of labor
1t is often hinted in the press that there
have been suggestions for the unity of
the employers In many other cities for
the purpose of crushing labor. Let all
who propose such a move take les
| son from San Francisco.
/ Successful attempts may be made to
temporarily crush labor and it's organi-
cations. The strong arm Of the law
may be used, or rather misused, for ac-
complishing this purpose but the re-
action is usually strong. Labor can
vote, and vote with vengeance and
wo, behold the prosecutors Of honest
toll. - -
The mayor elect is safe and con-
servative man. This is q fortunate
fact, not only for the city, but for or
ganized labor as we'll. Ante election
cries may be raised about "class rule
but 1t is only when workingman is q
candidate that such cries are heard.
There are some people who think that
all any working man knows is how to
work, hence when he occupies a public
office he is blinded to everything else.