The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-14

! would be fatal to progress. >. 49,.
! DR.. Hills further says:
'In the long run there is no way to
increase the wage save as we increase
the, ,intelligence.s At WILL ., we can
method is simpie-double the quantity
and quality of work we do. We are in
vesting the hand in the spade. when
and a spade earn a dollar a day: lit
day -. :,
In one sense this is a platitude; in
another it is true. Labor may in
crease it's product without getting any
! increase of pay, as for example, when
the employers keep the increase and
force labor to live on at the old rate.
! To secure it's fair, rightful share,
| labor must be able to compel by eco
nomic means, an equitable division of
the product.
Has DR.. Hills ever heard of strikes
for more pay? Is he innocent enough
to suppose that all employers are be-
nevolent by nature, and anxious to
treat the workers justly, by voluntarily
increasing their wages, or better still by
| reducing their hours of labor?
|. What mockery' it is to tell work
men striving to obtain the proper re-
| ward of their labor that the way to
| increase wages is to increase the pro-
duet! What an answer to the demand
for fairness under existing conditions!
From a man who is SO unjust and
| irrational in his treatment of union
labor, frantic appeals in behalf of
non-union labor are not very Impress
| i've. From such champions as DR.. Hill
lis the "free'' laborer may we'll pray
to be delivered.
When the "free" laborers in free des-
peration strike against the aggression
of their employers, the first to whom
they appeal for protection and advice
| and get it-are the reviled trade
unions.
| Strange, is it not? But then, all stu
J dents and observers know what the
unionists instinctively feel, that
| Trade unions make the workers truly
! free.
! We have before us the proceedings
| of the sixth annual convention of the
| League of American Municipalities
| which was held at Grand Rapids, Mich,
| in August last. 1t is evident from the
! proceedings that the league is giving
! the question Of municipal government
| the very best thong ght. Here are some
aof: the settled
Second; 80 fon1e sfor scit
depend s. bon tae
! Each municipality should be. al f>lg >slaW,
into itself upon purely local matters.
! Third.-Every city should have the
right to own and control public util-
tiles without securing the consent of
the State Legislature. This authority
would serve to prevent corporation
! from becoming extortionate in their
prices.
Fourth.-The abolition of the con-
tract system on all public works.
! 1.-The struggle for municipal ownership
of public utilities has been an uphill
struggle from the very beginning
The successful operation Of one utility
by the people has not even checked the
resistance of the opponents of NUM-
cipal ownership. Before municipal
| ownership became popular the fight
was in the open arena of politics.
Since then every obstruction inlagin-
! able has been placed in the city; in
! city charters; in state laws by the leg
! islatures, and by esta blished prece-
dents in courts of equity. Slowly but
surely the true ADVOCATES of a greater
democracy are removing the obstruc-
tions that now seem to impede the pro-
gress of public. ownership. In st. Paul
this week. Representative Tighe sub
mitted draft of bill amending, the
enabling act with reference to city
charters.
Stripped of all it's verbage, the bill
provides that cities and villages shall
have the right to issue bonds for almost
any amount in excess Of the limit fixed
by law, providing the money derived
from the sale of the bonds shall be
used in purchasing, improving or main
tanning public utilities.
City attorney Mitchell has secured
a copy of Mr.. Tighe's bill. He believes
that if it is enacted it will require an
amendment to our charter, before
Duluth will have the right to go into
the electric lighting business. Mr..
Mitchell has drafted separate bill to
apply TO the needs of Duluth, and it is
hoped that this will become a law.