The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-09
STATE LABOR HOSTS
Large Convention Opened at Roches.
ter This Morning.
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT NEARY
Labor Day and State Fair, Convict
Labor and Other Topics
Touched On.

in this city to-day at 930 at the German
Library hall. with a large attendance
from all parts Of the state. A special
train arrived last night from Minneapolis
bearing over hundred and fifty delegates
from the twin cities. Duluth and St.
Cloud Chairman William O'Haron, of
the general arrangements committee,
opened the convention. introducing NJ F..
Neary, Of Minneapolis, who is president
of the state ASSOCIATION. Mr. Neary gave
the opening address. The remainder Of
the forenoon was given over to the re-
port Of the committee on credentials.
The afternoon session was called to or
der by Mr.. O'Haron. who was chosen to
preside at the convention. The time was
spent until the adjournment at 4 o'clock
by appointment of committees and hear
ing the reports of officers. President
Neary's report was in part as follows
1t is with feeling Of great satisfaction that
have the honor Of welcoming you to this,
our twentieth convention. Ny source of sat-
isfaction is derived from the fact, as our
organization grows older, our power and in
huence grows greater. The work accom-
pllshed by the federation in the past year
towards bringing the wageearners of the state
more closely together should be cause for
great pride and satisfaction for all members.
Until the past two or three years the work
of the federation, outside Of looking out for
1eSlSidllOu, was COlHlSQ 10 OTSdulIluS Iuc
wageearners of three or four Of the principal
cities of the state But our experience taught
us that to be successful we must gather I'M
der our banner every wageearner in the state.
With the motto, "Toilers Organize" as our
battle cry, we, have progressed without inter-
ruption, surrounding obstacles of capitalism
adverse legislation and prejudice, sounding
no, call of retreat, but marching on with a
solid front for the accomplishment of our
aims We TODAY in mr.
than eighteen towns and cities, comprising
two hundred unions, with membership of
over %, 900.
In the past year the officers have endeay-
ored to reach all localities where it was pos
sble to organize union.
During the past year organized labor has
experienced marvellous growth; the older
organizations have increased membership at
surprising rate. While it may not be fair
to give the federation all the credit for this
condition, yet We are justly entitled to large
share Of it.. One condition that speaks we'll
for the federation lies in the fact that in
localities where individual unions are af-
fliated and are loyal to the federation, they
completely control the situation from an Or
ganiZed labor standpoint 1t should be clear
to every wageearner that, his individual inter-
est is in. thorough organization, which can
only be brought about by grand federation
of all the toiling masses. - -. ..
1t is the duty of every, up to date trade
union to affiliate with the federation. The
trade unions that do not affiliate, nor contrib
ute their mite to the support of the federation
are enjoying benefits secured largely through
our concentrated efforts. =
State Fair and Labor Day.
At the last convention was instructed to
appoint committee to confer with the state
fair association with a view to having the
date of the fair changed so as not to conflict
with Labor day. I endeavored to see Mr.. Ran
dali, secretary of the association, but not be-
ing able to find him, his secretary informed
me that the date for the next fair would be
set al: a meeting to be held in January, 1902.
Relying upon this l did no more about the
matter until the last Of December, 1901, when
to my surprise I learned from Mr.. Randall
that the date had already ben set by meet
ing of the northwestern fair association which
was held in Chicago early in the fall Mr..
Randall informed me that representatives of
the Northwestern states met in Chicago and
set the dates of the various state fairs in
order that they would not conflict with one
another, and that it would be impossible to
change the date at that late day. He stated,
however, that he would be pleased to meet
representatives of the federation. According
ly appointed the following committee: D. M
Allison of the Minneapolis Retail Clerks I'M
ion, Louis Hansen of the Federation council,
John o Donnell state labor commissioner. The
committee after comforting with the directors
of the association, came to the conclusion that
it was impossible to have the date Of the
1902 fair changed, but that the meeting paved
the way for some sort Of an agreement for
future years. I would recommend that the
matter be brought before the legislature and
that an effort be made to have the date
changed by law.
'-' Convict Labor:
Acting on a recommendation adopted at the
last convntion, the officers arranged meet
ing with the state board of control in refer
ence to bringing about a change in the system
of employing inmates of the state penal in
stitutions Nothing transpired at this meet
ing that would justify us to believe that we
were any nearer ythe solution of the convict
labor problem than ever. One difficulty we
have to contend with in this matter Is the ap-
parent friendlness of the officers Of these in
situations towards the prison contractors. 1t
is tmpossble to see a contract or find out
when they expire. recommend that steps
be taken towards limiting the powers of state
officers in entertaing into contracts Of this
character. . 49, -...---
So Compulsory Arbitration.
In my last report your attention was called
to measure introduced in the state legis-
lature known as IN arDlLrdLlOn Dill. ln1S Dill
was Indefinitely postponed, with the under
standing that the federation would take the
matter UP, and make some recommendations
to the next legislature along these lines. Nc
action was taken at the last convention. The
delegates deemed it wise to lay it over until
this meeting. 1t appears to me that it should
not take much time to act on the question OF
compulsory arbitration. I am convinced tina,
if such law was passed it would place us in
even worse condition than we are in to-day
Our experience is that all laws for the mutual
protection of the employer and the employe
have resulted in protection for one, and per-
secution for the other. l recommend that the
federation place itself upon record as against
compulsory arbitration. Labor favors arb1tra
ton This federation has repeatedly declared
for arbitration, but it wants voluntary arbi-
tration.
| Shorter Work Day.
The success that organized labor has met
| with in it's efforts for reducing the hours OF
toll proves conclusively that it is right. The
action Of large employers of labor all over
| the country clearly indicates that the time is
not far distant when our hope, after years O.
weary toll and struggles will be realized, ant
! %l,n% <;oht hos,r will ha roc al 1op