Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-06-12
J, support Of bill covering convict


the support Of a bill covering convict
labor ; ::. :..,s. HI I. r.. 8 - II sz
i Miss Dunbar, representing the Tele-
phone Operators union Of Mime
apolis, spike ct length regarding
their, trouble with the Twin City
Telephone company. and the matter
was referred to the committee ON
resolutions.
An open meeting was held at the
opera house Monday evening. when
speeches by several delegates were
made and the Cans Chorus Of this city
entertained the meeting with several
fine selections. The chorus made Z
great hit. and the visitors were loud
In their praise.
Organizer French Of Kentucky of
the international Cigar Makers
Onion. John Hughes Of st. Paul and
John Swift of Minneapolis. addressed
the meeting and spoke on various
phases Of the labor movement. Con-
siderable interest developed over the
report Of the resolutions COMMITTEES
Tuesday morning when the majority
reported favorsbly on the introduction
of q resolution asking for political
action by the convention. The
resolution was as follows.
Whereas, the development Of the
trusts into world wide institute on
demonstrates the final formation of an
all embracing trust, owned and con-
troAed by few men, having legal
ownership of the means of life, whose
economic owner reflected in to govern
ment means final state of capitalistic
feudalism, and,
Whereas, the machineryof production
and exchange is now owned by the
capttalistic class and operated by them
only for profit, which prevents the
employment of willing workers and
imposes consequent burdens on those
employed and as the wages of the
working class in purchasing power
has steadily decreased and every raise
in moDey wages mas been more than
offset by the increased cost of
necessary commodities, it demonstrates
the necessity of the workers owning
the means of production and exchange
In order to escape tho inevitable
tendency of capitalistic slavery, and,
Whereas the power of government,
both state and nation is at present
vested in those who use the courts to
issue: blanket injunctions and the
police and military to enforce their.
despotic DEGREES and through these
means prevent lawful persuasion and
defeat the cause of organized labor,
therefore,
Be it resolved that the State Feder-
alton Of Labor in convention assem-
b]ed recommend to all local and
affiliated bodies the adoption of an
amendment to their. constitution by q
clause permitting political action
along the line of the class struggle
with the aim and object to assist the
political movement of the working
class Of the world in controlling the
powers of government and the public
ownership of all the means of pro-
duction and distribution under q
form of cooperative control through
the imperative mandate and the in
itiative and referendum.
There was also minority report
submitted by the committee, headed
by Joseph Pratt of Duluth, chairman
Of tho committee on resolutions, rec
ommending no action. On motion. the
debate was limited to five minu, es to
each speaker, which caused a good
deal Of hot discussion from the sup:
porters of the resolution.
Delegate Mullsne of Minneapolis
headed the favorable portion of the
convention in sweeping speech and
was followed by several who followed
along the same trend. Delegate
Pratt, head of the minority of the
committee. made an eloquent speech
and in q very logical manner stated
why he was opposed to the resolution
and gained many supporters during
his address. Delegates Perrault of
Duluth ana Brown of st. Paul were
among others who spoke in opposition.
The debate on the resolution took
up lot of time and just before ad-
journing motion to refer to the local
bodies for vote was carried. which
in the opinion of many is but a slow
death to. the resolution.
At the afternoon session many
resolutions were considered.
The resolution of the carpenters's
union of Winona, being grew ance
regarding the admission of other
members of other unions at Winona,