The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-24
DUNCAN sT|Rs: LABOR l..
UNIONS Of ST. CLOUD
Vice President of A. F. of I
Makes Junket to Granite
City Of State.
Tells Union Men and Business In
terests How Their Interests.
Are Served.

terests How Their Interests.
Are Served.
st. Cloud, Nov. 22.-Special to the
Labor World.
The most important and ENJOYABLE
event in the history of organized labor
In St. Cloud took place in Edelbrock's
| nall, Saturday night, when the local
branch of the Granite Cutters In
ternatlonal Union received and ban
quoted their National Secretary
treasurer. Mr.. Jas. Duncan, Of Quincy,
Mass. Never before has organized
labor in this city demonstrated to
| the public it's aims and objects, end
good felloshtp as was brought before
their notice with Saturday nights
| meeting. Never before in the history
OF organized labor in st. Cloud have
! the business men, producers and union
men met and clasped the hand Of
| friendship and banqueted together.
With Saturday nights meeting, the
two roads, whose starting points that
| were widely separated, finally inter-
| sected and there met Employer and
| Employee to do honor to their dis
! tinguished guest secretary treasurer
of the G. c. I. u, and End vice-presi-
dent Of the American Federation of
| inent labor leaders of the United
! States:
The. evenings entertainment was
| opened by song from the male quar-
tette entitled 1--WE meet again to-
| night"
c. A. Swensen president of the local
| branch Of the Granite Cutters Union,
| acted as chairman, and introduced
| the speakers in an unique manner.
The first speaker introduced, was
Mr.. James Bennett, Jr., who in the
| absence Of Mayor Robson, gave the
! welcoming address, and paid eloquent
tribute to the guest Of the evening
and to organized labor in general
The next speakers were Mr.. Chas.
Delaney of New York City, and Mr..
Isaac Coombe Of Brooklyn, N. Y,
| who were delegates from their re-
| spective unions to the convention Of
the American Federation, held last
| week at Minneapolis. Mr.: Delaney
spoke briefly of the advances made
by his branch In the great city Of
| New York, and said that since he had
left there he felt as though he had
been camping out. Mr.. Coombe spoke
a few minutes on. Brooklyn, and said
that he had belonged to the Union for
] 36 years, and had attended. many meet-,
f1ngs but nSvsr befDs1 l61l9 IN 60
pleasure OF attending meeting where
>business: men, employer and employee
were togther making merry. .".~
Major O. II. Havill. president Of the
Commercial Club, welcomed Mr.. Dun
can on behalf of the business men,
and invited him to make that place
his headquarters during his stay.
| Mr.. Walter Arnold, represented the
Granite Producers, and bid Hr. Dun
can hearty welcome from that body,
| and assured him of the pleasure that
future visits would give, but that he
would never be called here to settle
any trouble between the Producers and
Granite Cutters.
Mr.. Clayton T. Hines, represented
the Trades and Labor assembly and
! gave the welcoming Grafton for that
body.
Mr.. Swensen in a few chosen words
then introduced Secretary Treasurer
Duncan the distinguished guest and
speaker Of the evening.
Mr.. Duncan said as that his throat
was in very bad shape, he might not
speak long. but if the fog cleared
away. to look out for him. He did
not speak many minutes however, un-
til it could be seen that he had won
the hearts of his listeners. and that
no one would make objection If the
"fogr' did clear away. Mr.. Duncan Is
plain and fluent speaker, with
enough witticism to control the atten-
ton Of his hearers and just enough
Of the quaint Scotch brogue to make
his talk spicy. -
j He started his story back in the
early history Of man, and compared
his condition down the ages to the
present day.. and gave the reasons
why it had been necessary for the men
who toiled for livlihood to organize.
He said that Trade-Unions did not
fight until they were compelled to, but
/ stood for, Peace, Progress and Pros
Il perity, and the conducting of their
business on business lines.
He cited the conditions Of the Dark
II Ages, from Ceaser's time down to the
repeating Of the conspiracy laws in
England, in 1925, and that all of the
advances made by labor has been
since that time. Since 1926 men had
been allowed to organize in England.
He spoke of a banquet recently given
by Parry In Chicago, that the toast
maker had been known to say: II
am sorry cannot ask you to drink
to the flag, for the reason that the
flag has permitted the organization
of trade unions"
President Roosevelt, In conversa-
tion with Mr.. Duncan referred to this
banquet land said he was ashamed OF
the American, who would make such
|. Ia statement, and said further, that
after the battles down in Cuba, when
the dead was searched for the purpose
Of identification, it was surprising the
number of the boys, who had given
their lives for the cause Of freedom,
that were identified by the union
cards found in their pockets.
l After Mr. nuncan had concluded his