The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-04-02


Winona too, Is, Free From Sycophants.
From the off ice of the city poor COM
missioner of Winona, it was learned
that Is families were extended aid, dur
ing the month Of Feb. 1904 In all of
these cases an Investigation was made
to ascertain if any of the persons MAX
ing application for aid were members
of any Of the labor organizations of the
city, and it was found after the matter
had been thoroughly gone into that not
one of the persons making application
for aid was a member of any of the
unions, nor was there any application
received from the family Of any man
that is a member of organized labor in
the city of Winona.
Saltwater Union Mon too Proud to
Beg.
In the city Of Saltwater during the
year 1903, the Poor Commissioner DR..
T. c. Clark received 48 applications for
aid embracing 164 individuals that were
given assistance.
During the year 1904, up to March
"a, IS families have received aid, none
OF the heads of any of these families
were members Of organized labor, so
far as the poor commissioner knew of
at the time OF this inquiry. Investiga-
ton on the part Of the Inspector of the
Bureau Of l4abor however broug out
t b, fact that among the
was "a, member OF one OF the unions at
the, time Of said application .(1e03>. and
is now a member of good standing. The
officers Of the union, Of which he is a
member had never heard that the man
or, his family was in want, neither had
they any reason: to: suspect that his
circumstances were such that he would
ask for aid. The Inspector on investi-
cation, found him to be a man of excel
lent habits, and one whom has had
fairly steady employment in the past,
and from what could be learned, the
family surroundings were Of such a
nature that none for moment would
imagine that they were at any time
in needy circumstances. This is the
only case among the Se applications for
aid Of which the poor commissioner
has record, was any Of the applicants
found in any way to be connected with
organized labor.
Mankato Unionist Sole Applicant
for Aid.
In Mankato during the year 1903, 1876
persons were given assistance, many Of
those applications for aid were made
by people that resided mother portions
of the country outside Of the city Of
Mankato. A number Of names of per-
sons who had made application for as
sistance to the county commissioner
having charge of this portion of their
work, and who it was thought might
be members of some Of the different
labor unions Of that city, was given to
the Inspector Of the Bureau of Labor.
After an investigation he found that
among the names furnished him that
only one was member of organized la
Dor. This man was a member Of the
Carpenters union, and was in good
standing at the time of his application
for aid. The Secretary of the Carpent-
ers' union stated that the man or his
wife had never in any way made known
to the officers of the union that they
were In want. The officers Of the diff
ferent unions of Mankato, all declared
when talking Of this matter. that no
man who is member Of any of the
unions need ask for aid from any char
table organization or institution, for
the unions have In the past and will iii
the future render aid to all OF the men,
bers that are in need as well as to the
families of members. The Mankato Re-
lief Society extends aid, only to old
people who are unable to provide for
themselves: all other applications for
aid are referred to the County Commits
sioners.
6rainerd Union Men Take Lead.
In Brainerd it was found that there
was no established relief societies or
associated charities in that city. There
IS however a voluntary relief society
made: up OF ladies, members Of the diff
terent churches, who take upon them
sleeves the work Of relieving people who
are IN needy circumstances. Inspector
John F. Gardiner of the Bureau of La
Dor called on Mrs. Merritt. one of the
ladies' OF that city, and who has had
much to do with charitable work as it
is carried on in Brainerd.
In answer to a question Of the in
spector, Mrs. Merritt said, "1n the num-
erous cases that and my colleagues
mad discovered, and attended In giving
aid or assistance, Il do; not call to mind
one case in all my experience that was
made BY a man or the family Of man
VINO was a member OF organized labor
1 lille ] she abs ha q no meanssof= sayingshow
many People had assistet during