The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-21

Senator Reike this week introduced
Ia resolution in the state senate, re-
lquir1ng the labor committee to inves-,
(tigate the charge that organized labor
tnad secured concessions from the
Estate ta1r association in the constrfe-
Ition of new buildings, and also to as
certain the difference in wages paid to
lunlon and n0n-union labor.
We have wondered where the sena-
tor hailed from ever since we read of
|his resolution. He is undoubtedly
honest and sincere in his motive.
While from our standpoint, he is wrong,
lyet he believes that he is right, and
The will have many followers in the
lstate.
Just to show how men will differ,
lSenator MCGOWAN introduced another
resolution to offset that of Mr.. Reike's
kcommending the Fair association for
fits action. Why should these two
men differ? For this reason. Their
environments and trend of thought are
faltogether varied. Senator MCGOWAN
Us from Minnea polls, where he has
fseen the practical results of the orr
kganizatton of labor. AS a business man
khe knows that organization has Sc
toured higher wages for workingmen,
THUS ena bling them to become better
consumers, and consequently business
lis improved. Any one but blind man
knows this much. On the other hand
lSenator Reil<e, just as honest as Nc
lGowan, is far removed from labor or
|ganizations There are none in his
Vicinity. His only knowledge Of them
lis from what he may read in biased,
land unreliable press reports. With him
labor is as much Of commodity to be
bought in the cheapest market, as
lbindng twine, farming implements,
Tor anything else he may use.
I The fact that organized labor was
Tin a position to fix it's wages with the
Estate Fair association, is to him as
unjrst as if the binding twine trust
EshOuld close contract with the state
farm for binding twine, when it could
do much better with the state prison
|officials.
On the other hand when he has grain
to sell the question looms before him
in another light. Here he is the sell
Ter, just as the carpenter IS the seller
of his labor. Now he wants the very
best price for his grain, just AS the
carpenter wants the highest going
wage for his labor. Now he would en-
ter any kind of an honorable COM
pact to get that price, but the carpen-
ter is tyrant who would do the same
thing for Il high wage. The only diff
!, ference between the union carpenter,
land the senator-farmer, is that one
fhas brains enough to know hoW=Io Gets
50 ges b n1al
@lother has not. yet reached that point.
AS a seller the senator: is inconsist-
lent. He condemns wrongfully. He
lblames the carpenters union for Sc
Icuring contract from the Fair as
sociation, to sell it's labor there. while
the association was not compelled to
buy that particular kind of labor if it
did not so chose.
If we misjudge not, the State Fair
association has had experience
enough to know that the most satisfac-
tory labor, and in the end the cheapest
labor. is the labor that commands a
fair days wage for fair days work.
Hence their contract with the carpen-
,ters unions of the Twin Cities.
/ President NJ. E. Neary of the S. F..
Of L. attended the meeting OF the
Minnesota State Grocers' associa tion
at Mankato on Tuesday, and addressed
the convention on the Importance Of
purchasing the products of union labor.
Mr.. Neary also devoted some Of his
time on prison labor. He was given a
cordial greeting.
{ All denials to the contrary, a large
portion of the masters and pilots of
the Great Lakes have formed a trade
union, and have affiliated with the
Longshoremen. Pride goeth before
Sestruction. but naughty spirit be-
fore fall. Slowly but surely there
is ceasing to be an aristocracy Of labor.
At last the high bred engineers and the
proud skipper have realized that their
industrial interests are Identical with
those Of the uncouth dock workers.
We are In receipt Of the following
letter from Senator Clapp, which is
the first expression that the senator
is in favor of the eight-hour bill.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the seventh is at hand.
It is not certain yet whether the bill
will pass or not. Objection was made
yeasterday to it's consideration until
agreement could be made on the state
hood bill; and in view of this compi-
cation I cannot give you much en-
Scouragement, although we are very
anxious to bring it up at this session.
I am very sincerely yours,
Moses e. Clapp.
The private secretaries ct the rep