The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-06-13

DOT organizations that were being ad- j..
ded from time to time to the roll of
honor in the cities of Duluth, Mime
apolls and st. Paul and during the
first ten months of the year 1909 the
spirit of organization was working
among the people of the three larger
cities of our state and in that year
there was larger number of organi-
zations formed and greater number
of new recruits embraced the oppor-
tunities of becoming members of the
various labor organizations than at
any like period since the Inauguration
of this movement in the state of Min
nesota.
From the modest beginning of one
small union in the city of St. Paul in
the year 1872 You are here giving ex-
preston to the wishes of more than
thirty thousand of your fellow work.
ers Your deliberations here today
will be noted not only, by. the people
who make up your organization, but
by every progressive citizen of the
state of Minnesota, and news Of your
action in convention will be flashed
from the great lakes to the gulf and
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Who amongst us here assembled can
honestly and correctly ~prophesy the
increase in our number within the
next thirty years? My observation
has led me to believe that the s1-
called "race-suicide'' does not apply
to any considerable degree to the
families of the working people in this
young and vigorous west with the
advantages that we enjoy so far as
| members are concerned and with the
opportunity that is presented by
which we are enabled to spread the
light and preach the gospel of trades
unionism amongst the people who
must of necessity toll: if they would
! live. With conditions as they are at
| the present time, and as I firmly be-
| lieve they will be in the future, l say
| that it is the duty of every man, and
every woman who is member of a
trades union to instil1 into the minds
of the growing generation the neces-
sity of organizations, and in this way
members of organized labor will be
many times multiplied.
Up to October, 1902, the Bureau of
Labor had gathered statistics from tn.
various labor organizations, in the
state, showing that they had in round
numbers a membership. Of 2S,3SS.
Several unions reported, who for some
reason or another failed to furnish
| us the information relative to the
number of persons who were members
| of their organizations. This inforrna-
ton did not include people who were
| employed in the railroad train service
of the state, and who have in their
organization some $500 members.
! I have recently been informed, bJ
what consider the most reliable au-
thority. In the state in matters of
this: kind, that the increase in new
unions, and add ition lin t The: way sof
l1la<,
-
'|ztober sc last sfhe present
time,a as itS ids It's any like period or
the year 1902, and since that time: up
to the present date, and believe is can
be said without fear Of. contradiction
that the number of new organizations
that have been formed, and the addj-
tional membership to older unions will
undoubtedly wrest the supremacy so
far as the number of organizations
and membership are concerned from
the year 1902.
In addition to the employees that go
to make up the various trades and
callings there are 81 local lodges and
divisions reporting membership for
the year 1902, of 3,615 men employed
upon the trains of the steam railroads
in Minnesota
One of the most important chapters
in the history of organized labor,
when it is properly and impassion-
ately treated, will doubtless be the
history of the organization Of railroad
men In breadth of scope, in thor
oughness Of organization, and in the
business like methods in which they
are conducted, the leading brother
hoods and railway orders will co:npar
favorably with any business enter
prises ..~.. ..:,.+,-<.
From a careful estimate it is safe
to say that 80 per cent of the men in
this class of service are members in
good standing of some one or the other
of the four railroad brotherhoods
One who has studied the methods in
vogue among these railroad labor or
ganizations cannot help but admire
u the way in which their grievances
| OH Lllc dluStlllcul VI wages DIS Well d.
the regulations of conditions that the
men in this calling have to contend
with are handled. .s>. :.
. These strong !. organs o nizations within
their respective Branches of the SER
vice are able by careful and conserva-
tive business and conciliatory meth
DDS to successfully negotiate between
the railroad employees, and the Off
cials of the various lines. agreements
and contracts. that=zzare. of a highly
elaborate and tteehpiieal character
Few if any contain provisions for the
settlement Of disputes by arbitration
The railway conpanies recognize the
unions and are generally quite willing
without a formal agreement to nego-
tiate with the officers of the Brother
hoods regarding Al disputes whether
of loca. % or general ature:. This is
usually in accordance with the well
!. established practice: laid down in the
rules Of the Brotherhoods themselves
l. 5.sS