The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-06-07

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President Neary will call the twentieth
convention of the Minnesota State
Federation of Labor to order in the
city of Rochester. At the convention
Duluth will be represented by twenty
delegates, all of whom are prominent
in both local and state labor circles.
That the convention will be a notable
gathering is now an assured fact. The
business transacted will be the most
important ever brought before a gath
ering of workingmen. The attendance
will be large as is evident by the num-
ber of credentials daily arriving at the
office Of the secretary-treasurer. We
are safe in predicting that there will
be two hundred delegates seated.
The growth of the State Federation
during the past six years has been re-
markable. When the federation met in
Minneapolis in 1896 there were but
sixty delegates in attendance, and
nearly one-half of that number were
from Duluth. At Mankato last year
there were one hundred and fifty dele
gates on the convention roll.
This year will show a remarkable in
crease over last. Now Duluth, which
once enjoyed the distinction of being
the strongest trade union city in the
northwest, forms but small portion
of the unions affiliated with the fed
Grafton.
In 1896 Minneapolis had but very few
unions, and poorly organized at that.
Today that city is netted with them,
there being over one hundred thorough
=lysorganized; = and there is no one down
there talking about the: unions DeIfIgsa
detriment to the city either. On the
contrary there seems to be a common
understanding between the trade un-
ions and the business organizations
that insures the most complete har-
mony. They WELD powerful influ-
ence in politics and the politician who
turns them down has a rather poor
political future before him.
But getting back to the State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, which is the link that
binds the trade unions of the state 50
closely together. The work Of the fed
Grafton is confined to the organization
of trade unions in the smaller cities of
the state, and the securing Of legisla-
tfon in the interest Of labor. In both
branches Of it's work it has been as sue
cessful as the average central labor
body. From now on more may be ex-
pected from it than ever before. It is
in first rate financial condition and has
the assurance of a. steady increasing
revenue.
The smaller cities of the state will
in the future claim a greater attention
from the federation. It is there where
unions and unionists are the fewest. 1t
is there where non-union men are Sc
cured in immense numbers during a
strike. It is there where enemies of
organized labor are in plenty, simply
because they know little of the labor
movement, save the little knowledge
they receive through prejudiced press.
Hence it is among the smaller cities
where the efforts of organized labor
will be concentrated. Several at
tempts have been made in the past to
organize mixed unions in these cities,
but with poor success. No good organ
ization was ever given the workers
there, that would insure any benefits.
The coming convention will go over
this thoroughly. A plan will be sug-
gested that will insure to the members
some immediate benefits. that will pro-
tect each and every trade the same as
if it were separate trade union, and
which will eventually, with an increase
of membership, establish a trade union
Of every trade in the town.
It is too early to give the exact
program of the convention, but it will
be practically as follows:
Sunday evening.-Attending divine
services. Sermon by Rev. D. A. Doran.
Monday, 10 a. m.-Opening of con-
vention. Usual address of welcome and
responses. Credential committees re-
port.
Monday ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
standing committees; reports of Off
GERS; presentation of resolutions and
memorials; report of several standing
committees.
On Monday evening there will be a
great mass meeting at the Opera
House. The following interesting pro-
gram has been arranged:
Parade headed by Union Marshal
and Queen City band. City officers in
carriages and all attending deleeates
in line, followed by the unions of
Rochester and citizens in carriages.
AT Opera House:
Selection by Orchestra .............
Address of Welcome. BY the Mayor
Response ..............By M. E. Neary
Male Quartette' .Easton
Address ......... .Thos. Spellane, ESQ.
Vocal Selection. ...... Miss Schamfeld
Address .....:.........W. E. McEwen
Male Quartette
Address ..............Rev. D. A. Doran
Vocal Selection Miss Schamfeld.
Address 80. Hon. John O'Donnell