The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-07-18
STATE FEDERATION
COMES TO DEFENSE
OF MINNEAPOLIS ELECTRICAL
TON PROCEEDINGS.
aNJURY TO ONE
CONCERN OF ALL.
% the Policy Of the State Federation
Of Labor. Executive Council
Takes Firm Stand.-TeIephone
Girls Case is Dropped for
Good.


Girls Case is Dropped for
Good.
Rt. Paul, July 18th. Special Cores
pondance.
Judge Cray's decision granting an
injunction against the Electrical
Workers union and the Building
Trades Council OF Minneapolis is not
TO stand as good law unless the SUI
preme court of the state affirms it.
Such was the decision Of the Fedora
slon Council at its regular meeting In
st. Paul on last Sunday afternoon. All
teh members were present except Dele
gate Hamlin, and there was an entire
nnanimity Of expression with refer
ence to this matter. It was also de-
cided that the Federation Council
would take hand In the injunction
proceedings against the Plumbers
union of St. Paul, as this was a case
similar in nature to the injunction
granted in Minneapolis. It is the pre-
vailing belief in the circles Of organ
lied labor that these injunctions are
sougth and granted, not SO much
against any particular union, but that
they are being systematically directed
against the very principles of union
ism. Hence the determination of the
Federal ton Council to take charge Of
the st. Paul and Minneapolis cases.
Messrs. Carlin, Frye, Furlong, Nc
Court and Wahlquist were present in
the interests Of the Minneapolis men
enjoined and Messrs. Gus Meyers and
w. P. O'Brien appeared in behalf Of
the st. Paul Plumbers: union.
Delegate Frye briefly reviewed the
Minneapolis injunction matter from it's
inception and gave it's status at the
present time.
Business Agent Phil Carlin, of the
Building Trades Council, said that
Judge Cray had enjoined every man
on a building. He. Carlin, could not
talk to man on any of the jobs COW
cred by the injunction in fact, he did
not dare go near the building for fear
of violating some of its provisions.
He hardl knew whether he dared look
at a man employed on one of these
jobs. He certainly would not take any.
chances ,of being inscont tempt even,
B
The#a ttorneyssa thsf scas4s d atsd,
that the ii1junct SO process had been
stretched to- the Utmost tension, ,E ana
that there were good grounds for an
appeal, and that reversal might con-
fidently be expected.
Gus Myers, of st. Paul, then present.
ed the case of the striking St, Paul
plumbers. He stated that the boss
plumbers would not sell the strikers
any material with which to do work on
their own account. The Builders Ex-
change was backing the bosses in their
fight against the union, and every men,
Der of the Exchange had been assessed
50 to carry on the fight against organ
lied labor. The boss plumbers them
selves were resorting to intimidation.
They were informing those firms who
signed the scale that they would get
the worst of it,
w. P. O'Brien also spoke in behalf
Of ths plumbers, and urged the neces-
slty of concerted action in this grave
crisis
President NJ. e. Neary, of the State
Federation of Labor, asserted that it
was not the fight Of any single union,
but the fight Of organized labor in gen.
eral. He believed that no reasona able
expence should be spared in ascertain
ing the limit Of the power Of these
judges In the matter of granting in
functions, restraining men from doing
every conceivable thing under the sun
and many that were uncomfortable. If
int ch1
sued, the speaker Sdeclared the unions
would cease to exist. He thought that
an assessment of five or ten cents per
capita would furnish large fund for
contingent legal expences connecte j
with the appeal.
Delegate Vallencourt, of Saltwater.
McCourt, Of Minneapolis, and Temple
man. of St. Paul, all heartily gave ut.
terance to their opinions that a great
principle was at stake. and that it be.
hooved every friend of organized labor
to put his shoulder to the wheel in
this emergency.
Chairman James stated that this was
a time when the State Federation Of
Lobar showed its usefulness. These
two cases now demonstrated one fact
to-wlt: It was period when all petty
jealousies should be sunk out of slight
and every union in the state come tt
the rescue. He suggested that a com
mittee be appointed to act in conjunc.
ton with like committee from the
Building Trades Council of Minneapo.
lis. This suggestion was acted upor
and Messrs. James, Templeman anG
Bohan were appointed.
When the subject of the strike of thu
Minneapolis telephone girls was reach
ed, Joseph Macauley, of. st. Paul, re.
quested permission to speak before
the Federation Council acted upon tn,
matter. He stated. committee ha3
been appointed by the Electrical Work
ers' union of st. Paul to inform tilt
Council that the electrical workers O.
both st. Paul and Minneapolis had al
agreement with the Twin. City Tele
phone company. That agreement wa.
satisfactory The company treated