The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-06-13
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LABOR HAS ..
GREAT YEAR
(Continuel from Page ~

forming organizations for the express
purpose of fighting the trades union
movement. Mr.. Parry in his address
rs the president of the Manufacture
ers' association, at the convention in
New Orleans, used language in de-
nouncing the labor organizations that
called a great deal of comment from
the editorial writer's of all classes OF
newspapers in this country.
I believe that if the Manufacturers
association is organized for the pur-
pose DISCRIMINATING labor organiZa-
lions it will never be able to accom-
plish that end The battle of trades
unionism that has been waged for the
last thirty years under most trying,
. Difficult circumstances has demon
strated the wisdom of such organiZa-
tons and not Withstanding the fact
that we will all admit that they have
some time or another during that
time made mistakes, the amount OF
good that has been accomplished
through the efforts of united action
|. on so many people, so far outweighs
injury that has been done to the few,
that all fair minded people will ac-
knowledge the right of the toilers
and the necessity of such organiza
tons.
Speaking as l believe I do, and ex-
pressing the sentiment of thousands Of
members OF organized labor | will say
that l believe there is no reason to fear
anything from the organizing of the
employers of la Dor. If such an organ
lzation is formed, it will in my opinion
at least be Of great benefit to the en-
ployes and to the general public.
In this enlightened age the rule or
ruin policy cannot prevail The utter
ances Of the radical Or irresponsible few
will be set aside and the idea expressed
by the more conservative majority Of
any organza ton, will be put in to ef-
feet, and carried out whether it be an
organ izaton made up of employers, or
Of their employees.
The time has come when the employ
er and the employed must recognize the
fact that there is better ways of settling
labor disputes than by rcsorting to
brute force, and the feeling prevails
that it is the business Of both parties
to get together at times.
Mutual concessions and the recog-
milton Of principles through concilia.
tory measures can and will in most
cases enect a settlement of differences
that will continue to arise.
The successful labor leader Of today
must have an accurate knowledge Of
the conditions surrounding the people
that he represents, equal if not SUPER
ior to the knowledge possessed by the
employer, in addition he must be in
possession of the complete confidence
OF his associates. He must have the
ability to explain, to argue to organ
ize, as'Well as to execute, and must be
actuated by the highest motives, and
labor continually for the advancing in
terests Of all r ofathe atoilers@ t11atsheare--55
presents. Such leadership as this
with tried and loyal membership in
the different trades unions, will do
much to eliminate from the future his
tory of organized labor, the trials, trib-
uations, and difficulties, that have been
met with in the past.
Monday evening the delegates to the
! State Federation Of Labor convention
were entertained at the opera house by
the Cans chorus and several of the del
egates. According to the program Miss
Myrtle Rose Stewart of Moorhead was
to deliver an address on that occasion,
but the lady failed to put in an appear
ance. After the singing of several Sc
lections by the chorus, Mayor Vasaly
who acted as chairman of the meeting,
called upon various delegates to speak
and many Of them responded and made
some very good remarks. The exer-
cises closed with singing by the chorus.
The singing was much appreciated by
the delegates and they were much sur
prised that our city could produce a
musical organiza ton of this character.
Tuesday morning the convention got
down to business again, and after hear
ing the reports Of organizations, resolu-
+ tiOnS were introduced and considered.
A number of resolutions Of minor i'm
portance were acted upon and there was
nothing of a startling nature until the
following resolution was introduced:
Whereas, the development Of the
trusts into the world wide institutions
demonstrates the final consummations
of an all embracing trust, owned and
controlled by few men having legal
ownership Of the means of life, whose
economic power reflected into govern
: ment means final state of capitalistic
feudalism; and,
Whereas. the machinery of produce
ton and exchange is now owned by the
capitalistic class and operated by them
only for profit, which prevents the en-
ployment Of willing workers, and i'm.
poses consequent burdens on those en-
ployed, and as the wages of the work
ing class in purchasing power has
steadily decreased, and every raise in
money wages has been more than Off
set by the increased cost of the neces.
sary commodities, it demonstrates the
necessity Of the workers owning the
means Of production and exchange, in
order to escape the inevitable tendency
of capitalistic slavery, and
Whereas, the power of government
in 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
ldecrees, and through these means pre-