The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-09

| Ineulaue competitor. All lnlS Is uue
to the efforts of organized labor.
I'm 1903, the ship carpenters started the
first strike in America. They concluded
that sixteen hours made too long a
working day. This was precedent that
was later taken up by labor of other
crafts. Unionism grew from that time
on. The objects of such unions may be
classified as follows: First, to place
labor on an equal footing with capital;
second, higher wages; third, higher
standard of living; fourth, the health
and safety of employees; and fifth, to
render assistance to fellow laborers who
are temporarily out of work or ILL.,
These are high and noble aims. Yet
never before in the history of the coun-
| try was there such determined and such
general opposition to union labor as
there is today. Whence comes this de-
termined opposition. 1t is not the natur
al opposition of capital. That is always
to be expected.
| Mr.. Taylor cited the causes of this
opposition, as he saw them. First is the
boycott, an unjustifable attempt to in
timidate the customers of man, against
whom the union shafts are directed.
Second is the custom of demanding that
certain party shall break contract
with another party whom the unions are
fighting. The obligation of a contract
should be considered as sacred. Third
is the wrongful treatment of man who
does not belong to a union. Every man
has the right of selling his labor as he
sees fit. 1t is as much tyranny for
the laborers to say, "You shall belong to
the union," as it is for the capitalist to
say, "You shall not belong to the un-
ion"
Mr.. Taylor thoroughly believed in or
ganized labor. He believed that labor
organization was one of the best bene
fcent things that were ever instituted.
| 1t gives the laborer spirit of in
dependence Tt puts labor and capital on
an equal footing, where they can barter
and deal together. The unions should
take care to perform this function prop
erly. They should choose honest and
conservative men for their leaders and
officers. If they do this they will have
an organization that no power can sub
vert.
The third and final speaker of the day
was John Durker of Minneapolis, or
GAMER of the office employees Of that
city and chairman of the committee on
organization of the Minneapolis Trades
and Labor assembly. DIR. Durker spoke
extemporaneously. His clear, strong
voice could be distinctly heard by ev-
erybody in that part of the grounds.
There was nothing conservative about
his address He is a radical. He took
exception to Mr.. Taylor's condemnation
of the boycott. "a boycott he declar-
ed, "is declaration of war, and | am
in favor Of that war. [ come from a
race of people who know how to war;
the wooden shoed Dutch of South AT
RIGA" He went on to say that the boy
colt was the best weapon that ever was
placed in the hands of the union laborer
for his advancement and betterment
The Bible, he said, authorizes the boy
cott Moses was the first boycotter. He
placed the boycott on pork and it is
there yet Mr.. Durker declared that all
the big corporations use the boycott
to greater or less extent.
Mr.. Durker saw no hope in either of
the old political parties. He would give
the republicans no credit for the revival
of prosperity. He attributed it's revival
to the war with Spain, that created
demand for products and reduced the
supply of labor. Another cause of the
revival he saw in the advent of mod
ern machinery.
The labor unions, he said, would be the
saviors of the republic. They would
prevent the reins of government from
falling into the hands of those who
sought only to increase their already
vast stores of material wealth. He look
ed for Lincolns, Garrisons, Beechers
and great men of all descriptions to
come from the ranks of labor. He laud-
ed Samuel Gompers and repeatedly de-
nounced Don Mike Perry of Indianapolis.
The last part of Mr.. Durker's speech
was devoted to the union label. He also
spoke at length on the flour mill strike
in Minneapolis, and urged his hearers not
to buy Minneapolis flour. 'Buy Man
kato -four he said, develop the indus
try in your own city. Do not lend your
aid to the concentration of industry and
wealth."
In the afternoon the people repaired
to the other side of the mound, where
they spent the afternoon watching the
races of the driving club, the base ball
game between the teams of Mankato and
st. James, and the tricks of an expert
bicyclist. The bands also furnished
large part of the afternoons entertain
ment. The ball game was the last fea-
ture of the day. Mankato defeated st.
James by the score of IA to 4, giving
Mankato the championship of southern
Minnesota.
In the evening the Labor Day dance
in Schiller hall was attended by great