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

resolution and many Of the delegates
began calling time before the chair
decided that he had spoken Ave min
utes. When the chair finally called
time Mr.. Reuben did@not seem disposed
to close and quite a 'hubbub was the re-
suit. President Neary then gave the
convention to understand that he was
keeping time on the speakers and that
he would expect leach one to confine
his remarks to five minutes only.
Mr.. Pratt was one Of the members
| who signed the minority report on this
resolution and told why he did so. 1t
looked to him as if the Socialists were
trying to inject politics into the Fede-
ration and as for himself he did not
how he should vote. Politics he said
had no place IN the Federation.
Mr.. Melane, who signed the majority
report, is member of the Socialist
party, and spoke for the resolution, re-
presenting his side Of the case in an
able manner. He claimed that politics
had already entered the Federation and
that many politicians were using it for
| their own personal benefit.
The resolution was finally referred to
| the affilia ting bodies to act on as they
see fit. Then some one made a motion
! that the chair appoint three members
in each locality to call on the unions
| and explain the purport Of the reso-
luton. Then there was more talk and
one delegate said that his union would
not listen to some wind jammer' that
the chair might. appoint to tell them
about the resolution, and claimed that
it would lead to political discussion in
the unions. The motion was finally ta-
bled.
At the session of the Twenty-fifth an
nual convention Of the State Federation
Of Labor held at the court house Tues
day afternoon, a resolution was intro
duced providing for an amendment
reading as follows: mo member Of an
affiliated union shall hold office in the
| Minnesota State Federation Of Labor
who holds political office either ap-
pointive or elective, outside che trade
he represents" And another one 1.-THE
Federation COUNSEL shall be authorized
and must declare any office Of this Fed
Grafton vacant when it comes to their
attention that an officer is holding a
political office Of the trade he repre-
sents.' This was part of the resolution
introduced by the Carpenters union of
Minneapolis, and the committee to
whom the amendment to the consti-
tuition was referred recommended the
adoption Of the amendment with the
above clauses stricken out. There was
some hot discussion on this subject and
speech in favor Of coucurring in the
recommendation Of the committee was
| made by delegate Rogan Of Minneapolis
and others. John B. Swift of Minnea-
polls also spoke On the same side Of
the question and made one Of the best
speeches of the convention. He is an
orator Of considerable ability, has a.
convincing way Of putting things, and
best Of all, he thoroughly understood
the subject upon which he was talk
ing. There was some of the delegates
who wanted some part of this amend
men referred to the affiliated unions
that it might be used the same as the
Socialist resolution, which provided for
turning the Federation into a political
irs eess4s ;sss#siss
i Upon a. vote being taken the report
OF the committee was adopted, and
these parts cut out.
Another matter Of interest that was
taken up was the strike of the telephone
girls in Minneapolis. It appeared that
a number Of them had been discharged
and that thereafter they organized a
union and wished to declare a boycott
on the Twin City Telephone Company
John b. Swift made an interesting
speech against any such action, and de-
clared that Mr.. Moulton, president of
the company, was a man in favor of
organized labor. Mr.. Swift wanted to
see these matters considered in all
fairness, and he believed that when the
matter was properly brought to the at
tention OF the head officers like Mr..
Moulton, satisfactory adjustment
would be made. This gentleman's re-
marks seemed to have considerable
weight with the convention. The con-
vention decided not to take any action
IN the matter at this time.
The convention adjourned at 6 O'clock
and those who SO desired went out to
the pail park and witnessed the game
between st. Cloud and Little Falls.
In the evening they were entertained
! at the opera house by Hon. w. I No.
| Ian.
Wednesday afternoon the session
| draged along with the reports from the
| organization. Considerable new BUSH
ness was transacted, and then came the
maj hight of the session. It started
out on the official organ. The contest
was between the union of MINNEAPOLIS
and the Union Advocate of st. Paul
Until the time that the vote was co,,nt-
ed, it was generally supposed that the
! union would succeed, but Just at the
ELEVENTH hour the trick was turned and
ten Union Advocate Of st. Paul went
out. Next came the fight for the presi-
dency. President Neary. c. E. James
OF st. Paul, A. G. cambridge, of Min
neapolis, were nominated. The first
! ballot resulted in vote of n4netv-
seven for Neary, fifty-three for James,
thirty-two for cambridge, thirteen for
Garfield, of St. Paul, and few scatter
Ing. This vote put all the candidates
into action; there was all kinds of
trading going on.