The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-06-14
LABOR MEETING.
Federation of Labor Delegates
Now in Session.
The Order is Enjoying Healthy Growth
in the State. Liquor Dealers Assn
Not Recognized.

The nineteenth annual convention Oi
the Minnesota Federation of Labor
opened in Schiller hall at 10 :15 O. clock
Monday forenoon. The attendance is
about $50 delegates, including tae
ladies, and is fully as great as was ex-
pected, and as great as former conven-
tions have had. The delegates are a
fine appearing body of men and
women, and represent the more ad-
yanced of labors' cohorts They are
earnest, active workers in the cause
which interests everybody the most,
that of bread and butter They are
welcome to our city, and we hope will
take away good impression.
J. E. Reynolds, chairman of the
local committee of arrangements,
called the meeting to order. DR.. j.
NJ. Driver offered prayer.
Mayor Peterson warmly welcomed
the delegates and in neat little speech
turned the city over to the convention.
President NJ. E. Neary of Mime
apolis responded on behalf of the
delegates and thanked the mayor and
the local committee for what had been
done and said.
The following committee on Gre
dentials was appointed Lewis Han
son of Minneapolis, E. B. Lott of st.
Paul, Geo. NJ. Davis of Duluth, j. P.
Degman' of Rochester, P. Fl. Coogan
of ST. Cloud.
The committee reported in favor of
admitting two representatives from
Minneapolis of the Retail Liquor
Dealers association only as fraternal
delegates, without votes. Similar &C
ton was taken at the annual meeting
held at Red Wing last year, after a
warm fight.
Among those present at the conven-
ton are Deputy Labor Commissioners
Joseph Ellis of Minneapolis and E. B.
Lott of st. Paul.
VIM. Tunell is acting as assistant
to Secretary W. E. McEwen Of Duluth.
He is taking stenographic report of
the proceedings.
The special train on the Chicago
Great Western road last eve ming
brought 70 from Minneapolis, of whom
ten were ladies. The st. Paul dele
CATION arrived at 10 80 a. m. over the
Omaha.
Secretary a. W. Goetzinger of st.
Paul, and all the other members of
the federation council are present.
Dr.. J. NJ. Driver preached sermon
on organized labor lsat evening that
was attended by the delegates in the
city. His text was Meet We Together
as One Man" He gave the arguments
that are urged against unionism and
then proceeded to answer them. He
held that it was the duty of laboring
men to themselves and their families
to organize to resist the encroach-
ments of organized capital. He quoted
Scripture, HE who provideth not for
his family is worse than an in
fidel.'
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session was opened
by President NJ. E. Neary at 80
o'clock and the report of the committee
on credentials was taken up and caus-
ed considerable discussion as it has at
former meetings of the federation. 1t
was championed by Geo. Harvey of
Minneapolis, and Louis Hanson of
Minneapolis opposed it. TWAS finally
adopted.
y The president waived the reading of
the minutes of the last meeting as they
had been printed in book form and
placed in the hands of the delegates.
The report of state officers was next
taken up and President Neary read his
report, which showed that the past
year has been successful one for the
Federation of Labor In membership,
organization and financially the year
Of 1900 had made the best showing
since the organization had existed.
Mimi esota. he said, was classed as one
Of the best organized states in the
union, and had a membership of
twenty-fv to thirty thousand. He
recommended that the organization
appoint organizers throughout the
state. The committee of the legisla-
ture last winter enacted an eight hour
working day law. but it. had not been
enforced. The president recommended
that some action be. taken to enact an
arbitration law at the coming session
Of the legislature, ors-again take up the
bill known as the johnson arbitration
bill. He recommended. the appoint
ment Of a committee to take action
on this question. He recommended
that the proper officials be communi
Gated with who would bring about fed
Grafton ideas of prison or convict labor.
While here let us show Mankato that
we are as capable of legislating as
working. The report of the president
was received with applause.
: II Il