The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-04-02
UNION LABOR SEEKS NO AID

'Ac greatest Uellclll, d1tuou6n uOt lAc |
me most easily seen, is the effect up
IN character. The man who joins a |
lnion feels more direct interest in !
1imself as an item in general progress. |
He feels that he has more power and !
this feeling gives him confidence and
1evelopes him. He has himself under
better control and his wife and family |
catch the same spirit. There is present
2 distinct evidence of confidence, in
dependence and strength in the family
life.
Very respectfully yours,
A. w. GUTRIDGE,
Gen. Sec. Associated Charities,
st. Paul, MINI.
Standing Of Applicants as Union Men.
On investigation by one of the In
spectors of the Bureau of Labor, as to
the standing of the three men referred
to, with their unions, it was found that
the man claiming membership Of the
Stone Masons' union was a member in
good standing. He had never in any
way signified to any of the officers or
the members of the union that he or
his family were in want, and they fail
ed to understand why he should ask
for aid, as he is a man of excellent
habits and has been quite steadily en-
ployed. The officers of this union in
formed the Inspector that it was the
policy Of that organization to at all
time assist any of it's members who are
unfortunate in not securing employ
ment. or who through sickness or ac-
cident, are placed in position where
they might be compelled to ask for aid.
ANY member of this union who is in
good standing need never ask for aid
from any othehr source as long as the
union has a dollar in the treasury, and
he is a man that is worthy of assist
ance," said one of the officers
In the case of the man making ap-
plication for aid that stated he was a
member of the Coopers union, it .>..5
found that he was member of t.;::E
union in good standing, and the un1'n
had assisted him to the extent allowed
by the rules of the organization. Ho rs
man with a large family, and !: as
been confined to his home for SON.
time on account of sickness. Is OF OK
cellent habits, a good workman, ana
worthy Of assistance.
It was learned on Investigation ti,at
the man representing that he was
member of the Carpenters union Wa;
not in good standing with the unitt'1 (
the time he made the application, tor
aid from the Associated Charities, nor
WIS hes In good d.Ssta ding Tor ses<exstsa Il Il
ss,s,..ss ssss,,
ES's
time q neressarsffo ffotz al y5rf1e1rib
the Carpenters union to make apI Ga ;.
tfon for aid to any charitable OF. 80.
ization, as they as union are in ,%,~
tion and are at all times willln
render aid to any Of the members. .~.4
necessity demands such assistance"
Duluth Union Men Not SuppIic,v.t
Duluth, Mimi, Feb. n, 1.&,4.
Hon. John O'Donnel1,
Commissioner of Labor,
St. Paul, MINI.
Dear Sir:
Acting under the instructions re
ed from you to secure information as
to the number Of persons of labor un-
ions that asked for and received aid
from the different charitable organiza-
tions of the city Of Duluth for the year,
just passed.
I find from data furnished by the Of
ficers of the charitable organizations
referred to, that they received in all
1868 applications for aid from Feb. 23rd.
1903, to Feb. 23rd, 1904. Seven hundred
of the above applications however were
made to the Bethel for meals and lodg-
ing only.
375 cases called for docto rand hospital
attendance. A majority OF the calls
for medical and hospital attendance
were from men who work in the pine
ries, who after coming out of the woods
spend their money in a few days, and
are compelled when taken sick to seek
aid to which I have referred.
OF the other 593 applications for aid
it was found that thehy consisted of
requests for fuel, clothing, groceries,
money to pay rent, ETC., and during the
year ending Feb: %, 1904. Applications
for assistance had been members of Or
ganized labor.
One Molder Asks ror Aid.
It was represented that one man
whose family made a request for aid
was a member Of the .Moulders' union.
One man who asked for and received
aid from Bethel was a member of the
Stone Cutters union. The other man
whose family received aid, and claimed
to be member OF the Carpenters un-
ion. After careful and searching in
vestigation, I submit to you my find
inss. The man who was represented as
a member OF the Molders' union when
the application for aid was made, by
his wife to Supt. of the Poor, it was
found on investigation was on strike
at the time the application was made
and was being allowed $500 per week
in cash by the union, which he had
on several occasions spent for iquor,
This amount was allowed to every
member of the Molders' Union while
the strike was in progress, and no
member was entitled to more than an
other.
The man, a member Of the Stone
Cutters union, was taken care Of by
the Bethel for some little time This
union has no out Of work benefit, but
has, rendered aid to this mans family
on different occasions. The officers