The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-12
In Labor S Field.
MUCH ACTIVITY
By SOCIALISTS
THEY'RE WORKING no, BRING
UNIONS INTO POLITICS.


The socialists are making an active
campaign in an endeavor to secure
favorable action on the proposed
amendments to the constitution of the
State Federation of. Labor. These
amendments have been sent to the
various affiliated unions by the Sec
rotary of the federation and are now
being voted upon. Socialists are APP
pearing before some of the unions in
this city and ST. Paul in the interest of
the amendments. asking an affirmative
vote upon the same. An" emissary of
the socialist party appeared before the
local Retail Clerks associat ton last
Tuesday. evening ard spoke in fayor%of
the proposed amendments, and it lis
said an organized campaign is being
carried on to secure; a majority vote
for them. In come ction with the
work being done in the interest of the
measures, a pamphlets being cir
culated which contains the folloWing
as an introduction: 50 s3S.
THE CAPITALISTS UNIONSOR LABOR
$s:s, UNIONS. WHICH?
This pamphlet is published by union
1886 American Federation Of Labor, for
affiliated unions.
We believe that no wage Garner, if pa
tiently studying the facts herein suggest
ed, will again. vote for pitalstica parties.
ma tive vote to the following proposition:
'Resolved, That the State Federation Of
labor. in convention assembled, recon-
mend to all local and affiliated bodies the
adoption Of an amendment to their consti
Etutions:b a clause permitting political ac-
l;tion along the line Of the class struggle.
with the aim and object to assist the po-
litical movement of the working classic
the world in controlling the power #of
government and the public ownership of
| all the means of production and .distribu-
ton under form Of co operative control
thru the imperative mandate and the mi
tiative and referendum. - s ssS
The Plan Opposed. .: II u
Prominent members Of the labor
unions who were shown theEpamphlet
yesterday were very emphatic in their
Views as to what will be the result
should the proposed changes in the
Federation constitution BECOME. effect
live. One high in local and national
5circles, commenting upon the matter,
Esaid: -. u 4 ~. s3=,l.s:. SIS
l'#a'If these amendments are adopted
lits will result in the socialists; gaining
! control of the State Federation EOf
ELabor. Any one who understands the
situation knows what this means: We
do not need to go far from home for
an example. kew Wisconsin,, for in
stance, where the socialists control the
state labor body. - ,phat sta teaS has the
Reputation OF being the poorest for
labor unions Of any in the country.
There were less than 100 delegates4in
Isattendance at the last state conven-
ton and the principal business trans
acted for the benefit Of organized labor
4 consisted Of the passage of "a few
!, resolutions aimed at the capitalists
and urging labor unionists to try and
I convert their unions to the idea OF
supporting a. class conscious political
4 parry. Unless am greatly mistaken,
i the trade unions of: the state of Min
plunge them into politics. particularly
t. politics of the nature suggested -
) [5,s. Not an A. r.. Of T.. Circular. ;5:s 81
..The pamphlet being circulated ir
esetlle interests&of the amendments is, tc
z say the least, misleading The frs
kparag graph would convey the dea,s te
those who did not know to the con
: trary, that these little, books We're is
sued by the American Federation OF
Labor to instruct affiliated unions how
to vote upon the, resolution printed
Now, the fact Of the matter is loca
union is responsible for them, and it il
: known that a. local man is. the author
The American & Federation of Labo!
: had nothing to do with their publ
cation and more than this, the reso
a Hutton in question was presented tt
the federatio at the recent conven
! ton and was defeated along with :
a number of others of a similar charac
jter. tS ,ssa.'t..:$sa5s
."The ,sooner%thee trade union move
!; ment Of this city and state ribs ltsel
tof this element the sooner it will oc
! cupy the place it should. numbe
of unions are seriously considering tn
u Withd rawal of their delegates from
the, cen trail trades body because of tn
T. fact that there are men holding seat
as delegates in, the local Trades AS
senlbIy who have no other claim t
the same than that they hold mem
/. bersf.ip in asso- called. labor union.
..5 Astin overnent is.now under way t
Il Interest the members of trades union
in general in Minneapolis in unitin
to the end that unionism may b
placed before the people in its prope
g light, and in this way it is possibl
that various reforms wished for b
those opposed to the .minglng {
unionisn1 and politics may be real
led
1 1t is asserted by persons who are i
4 a position to know, that the WlthdraN
al Of the Painters union from the as
sembly was because ofsobjection to tn
= presence of socialist delegate ties in tn
central body, and because Of the pc
lief, that certain departures, from Gus
toms obtaining in the past should {
made in order that $, the assenb
might be brought down to the bas
of a purely trade-union organization
MILLERS' ANNUAL BALL
It Will Take Place at Masonic Temp
Chritnas Night.