The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-03-30
THEY ARE ALIVE.
Organised Labor In Minneapolis Max
ing 1T Lively All Round. /.


ing it Lively All Round. III
j MINNEAPOLIS, March 20. The UNI
ion. labor organizations Of Minneapolis
are making preparations to commence
"a campaign in. the interests Of the un-s
ion label as soon as spring arrives. All
of the central labor bodies, the Build
ing Trades Council, the Trades and La
Dor Council, the Allied Printing Trades
Council and the, Label League are en-
listed in the work. An effort will be:
made to interest every union labor man
in the matter and to secure his patron
age for every article made by union la
Dor in preference to products manufac-:
tured by "scab" employees. l.
During the past few months the cen
trail labor bodies have been issuing cir
culars from time to time containing
lists of the fair and unfair firms in the
city,. The result has been that the
firms on the fair lists have received the
bulk of the union labor patronage and
the unfair firms have suffered in pro-
portion. This is we'll illustrated in the
laundry business in Minneapolis.
There are only two firms in the city
whose working force consists of union
employees. Recently the Trades and
Labor Council commenced issuing
pamphlets containing list Of the
"scab" laundries in the city. AS Il
consequence the two union firms are
doing a tremendous business, while the
unfair companies are daily cutting
down the number of their employees.
Several Of these unfair firms have re-
Gently taken steps toward unionizing
their shops.
The local Cigarmakers'. Union, No.
II, has commenced a vigorous fight
against cigar manufacturers who are
| charged with employing children and
women in the manufacture of their
products. A publication entitled the
| Minneapolis Blue Label Advocate has
been published and circulated among
the various unions advising the mem
bers to boycott certain brands of cigars.
The circular has had the effect of cut
| ting down the trade in these cigars
very. materially. There is talk of ex-
| tending the boycott to those drug
| stores which handle cigars known to be
made by the unfair firms.
There is also a movement on foot to
organize the householders Of the city
into what are known as Consumers
Leagues, the object of which is to in
duce consumers to ask for union goods
before making purchases. This plan
has also met with good results, and
several of the department stores have
found their business so influenced by
it that they have added greatly to their
stocks of union made goods at the ex-
pense of the prescribed firms.
The organization committee of the
Trades and Labor Council has COM
menced forming unions among indus
tries, which have. hitherto not been
affiliated with any labor organization
The argument used with the manufac-
turers who are disposed to oppose the
work OF. the committee is that, unless
they, unionize their shops, organized
Labor will not buy their goods If the
same products manufactured by union
labor in other cities can be bought in
Minneapolis. Union labor is inclined
to patronize home Industries, but it will
not do so unless the home products are
made by union employees.
The committee has commenced or.
ganizing the shirt waist makers of the
city. There are two factories in Min
neapolis and about $50 persons are EN-.
ployed. Their conditions are said to
be deplorable. They work from ten tc
twelve hours per day and the wages
range from 50 to Sc per week. The
jewelry workers are also to be organ.
lied. There are large number OF
these craftsmen in the city, and there is
said to be a strong sentiment among
them toward organization.
i J. H. Carver, the chairman of the or.
ganization committee of the Trades
and Labor Council, in discussing th<
subject, said:
THE Minneapolis competitors of for
eign union made goods have got to ge
into line. The Label League does no
invite foreign competition, but it viii
certainly favor it in preference to the
local 'scab' shops. We have commenc;
ed a campaign to unionize the Mime
apolis non-union manufactures ane
propose to give them a fair chance tt
avail themselves of the patronage O.
union labor, but if we find that the,
cannot be organized, we will certainl:
! take no pains to increase their bust
ness" - -