The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-06-16
STATE LABOR MEETING WAS MOST
SUCCESSFUL IN HIS TORY OF UNIONS
CLOSER Federation.

rection of organization during the
past year because of the lack of
funds to prosecute the same, has en-
deavOred to strengthen existing or.
ganizations and to impress upon
them the need OF closer federation.
In election times we are very prone
to listen to promises made by seekers
for office. 1t becomes us who DOS
sess that valuable asset of the Amer
ican citizen, the, ballot, to listen with
the proverbial grain of salt to prom
ises never intended to be kept The
time has come, too, for labor to be a
political organization. What united
people can do has been demonstrated
by the workingmen of England In re-
cent elections.
The American Federation of Labor
has recommended, by document re-
, Gently circulated, the immediate for
| nation of leagues of workers who
| shall strive to elect from their own
ranks men Xho are true and honor
| able. They will then be in a posi-
tion to say what Legislation shall be
enacted which deals with the welfare
! of the great mass of toilers.
We are not cOntending that the de-
mands of laborers are always right,
but these conventions are for the pur-
pose of perfecting measures to pre-
| vent the perpetration OF any wrong
upon the employer as we'll as the
! employe.
During the past year the applicl:-
tions Of many towns desiring the
| services of organization nave been
declined through a lack of funds, and
we can not urge +nn strongly the
! remedying of this defect. We trust
| the convention may take into serious
consideration the immediate necessity
of securing funds with which to carry
| on this important work.
The apprenticeship system in togue
also merits the earnest consideration
| of the convention. Young men and
boys are no longer apprenticed to
employers to learn the trade, with
/ the result that in many instances but
very superficial knowledge of the
| business is obtained.
We earnestly hope that the day is
not far distant when all strife shall
cease between capital and labor
When instead of strife, we shall find
cooperation everywhere, and the
good of one shall be the good of all.
Our interests are common and our
desire is to have frequent conference
with the employer as to how we. can
best aid one another in the accom-
plishment of our common purpose,
the welfare of the industrial world
49, During the aftegnoon the members
a1sp went rs tie state PENAL inst iitns'
tion and inspected the prison through
the courtesy of Warden Henry VOL
fer. They walked over in a body and
were shown through IN smaA parties.
At 5 o'clock they again repaired to
the hall, where they listened to the
report of Secretary-Treasurer Nc
Even and Secretary James of the
State Federation Council. -espite the
fact that he had been severely in
jured in an automobile accident ear
lier in the day, Secretary James ap-
peared before the convention with his
arm wrapped in bandages and with a
badly bruised face.
Council Progressing.
His paper took up in detail the
work that had been accomplished
since the last convention and showed
| that the council has been steadily
progressing. He spoke of the urgent
necessity of increasing the per capita
tax in order that the efforts of the
council may bear better fruit.
| IF we are to have the success
which VIC merit" he, said, I'VE nuus.
have the funds, which are only to be-
acquired by the active financial sup:
port of all the union men in the state
1t is only in this way that the per-
petuity of labor organizations is to
be effected, aided by continual
agitation of the union labels and
union stamps. Let us be more con-
! sistent. At the present time there is
altogether too little demand for the
products of our labor. 1t can be said
without contradiction that the sup.
port being rendered the union shops
Is entirely inadequate. Always bear
in mind that every demand for the
| union label is an added element of
strength in our cause.
1--WE should also always take into
consideration the great good that may
be accomplished by educating the
women to ask for the union label.
They are the purchasing agents of
the home, and it stands to reason that
| they can be greatly instrumental in
promoting the cause.
He then went on to review the
routine work of the past year, the
| struggle that has been put forth by
| the typographical union for the eight
| hour day, and also reviewed the gen.
eral conditions in the state.
! He was of the opinion that the
American Federation of Labor should
| endeavor to secure concerted action
In the matter of setting common leg
| islation all over the United States.
Mr.. James further referreu in a most
complimentary manner to the several
state institutions that have been
secured through the efforts of or
ganized labor, and recommended that
the laboring people support the labor
papers throughout Minnesota.
w. e. McEwen reported as follows:
One of the events of the first day
! of the convention was the following
| exhaustive report by Secretary Treas
; urer w. E. .McEwen of Duluth. It was
listened to with rapt attention and at
the conclusion the speaker was greet
ed with a round Of applause.