The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-12-20

Never in the history of the labor
movement has there been so MUGS m
terest manifested in the Minnesota
State Federation Of Labor as there is
at this writing. Almost every union in
the state has it's eyes riveted on the
work of this great organization. The
legislature will be in session in three
weeks. 1t is here where the Fedora
ton expects to give excuse for it's exist
ence, and it's usefulness to the wage
earners of Minnesota
Labor has not very many measures
to come before this session. 1t will be
more interested in preventing the pas
sage Of prejudicial measures. The
boot and shoe workers will be active
in advocating the passage Of law
regulating the employment Of convicts
at the state r1isOn. The federation anu
all of the labor organizations of the
state will be at their back in the hope
that something good will be done by
the legislature.
Besides looking out for the interest o.
labor at the state Legislature the fede-
ration has another function, which is
to oversee the work of organization in
the state. During five years the fede-
ration has been instrumental in Or
ganizing at least one hundred labor
unions in the state.
One does not have to remember back
very far to call to mind when there
were scarcely over fifty labor unions
in Minnesota. Now there are three
hundred all alive, active and up-to-
date. While many of the unions in the
larger cities have been orga nized by the
central labor bodies, yet great many
have been perfected by the carefui;y
selected organizers of the federation.
1t is not every one who can be an
organizer for the State Federation of
Labor 1t requires something more
than a union card to be a good organ
izer. One must be energetic, tactful:
persevering, absolutely honest with the
men he is organizing, and he must al
80 be good detail man. When the
president Of the Federation looks about
MIN for organizers he usually looks for
men who are possessed of these quail
f1catiOns. This is the reason why 1t is
SO difficult to secure a sufficient num-
Der of organizers to carry on the work.
About two-thirds of the unions of
Minnesota are affiliated with the State
Federation of Labor. Most of those
not affiliated are the organizations of
the railroad men. The Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers have constitu-
tional restrictions so that they could
not affiliate if they wished to. The
nf whom Federation
lists at heart, must secure permission
from their national office to affiliate.
An effort is being made to get them
into the ranks of federated labor. The
switchmen are desirious of afflliateing
and it is expected that some of their
locals will do so as soon as their ex-
ecutive board is heard from. Grand
Master HaWley informed the writer
that he would have no objection to any
local lodge Of switchmen affiliating
with the State Federation, provided
that the Switchmen would not be called
upon to enter strike on the call Of
the Federation. At this point let it be
said that the Federation or it's officers
has no power to involve any union in a
strike.
! No effort has ever been made to get
! the Trainmen or Conductors to affili-
ate, but it is understood that they all
feel friendly to federation. Mr.. Clark
| the grand conductor Of the 0. r. c. is
REGARDED as an ardent supporter of fe-
| deration.
| The work of organization for the
| federation will be continued before the