The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-14
City News
LABOR SLEADERS
AT MASS MEETING.
EoMPERs AND OTHERS SPEAK IN
THE AUDIToDIUM.
President and First Vice President Of
American Federation of Labor, with
Other Prominent Trades Unionists,
Speak on the Motives Of the Fedora
ton.

Df the arts of war; eXtOlllng the organ
lied labor movement as a work under
taken for the benefit of all mankind
and bringing good to all alike; con-
demning the enemies of the labor move
ment, and above all announcing firmly
the demands of labor and it's determi-
nation to succeed in spite of every de-
feat and every obstacle, labor leaders
of national fame addressed the workers
of Minneapolis at the Auditorium last
ident of the American Federation of
Labor; James Duncan, first vice presi-
dent Of the organization; James O'Con-
nell, president of the international AS
ISOLATION of Machinists, and Dennis A.
Hayes, president. Of the Glass Bottle
Blowers. were the principal speakers.
The greatest interest naturally cen
tered in Mr.. Gompers. "This conven-
comparatively small delegate body, is
stiu of more than passing Importance, -
said Mr.. Gompers. cit is made up Of
people who are acquainted with the
needs of their fellow men, who have
come together to counsel for the means
by which wrongs may be righted and
privileges too long denied may be
achieved 5;? d. The labor movement nov is q
centuries. We have been told for ages
how to die. Labor would teach men
the more important lesson, how to live.
The labor movement is the modern ex-
ponent of the principles of Love thy
neighbor as thyself,' and equal rights
and opportunities to ALL That is what
we demand, and we will be satisfied
with nothing less.
Movement Is Rough.
"The labor movement has been called
rough. 1t is necessarily rough, as must
pc any great movement of the masses,
but let 1T be known by it's deeds and
accomplishments. The wage earners of
the country are the foundation of all
success and without them we can have
no prosperity and no advancement.
Even the very trusts are dependent on
labor and the fruits of labor for their
being. It has been said our move
ment was born Of hunger. True, it may
have been. Not only hunger for the
necessities OF life, but hunger in the
heart of man for the higher things of
ife-art, letters, education and all else.
1--WE are demanding more than we
did Yesterday, and we will continue our
demands until we receive our lust dues,
We ask no special privilege, no immun-
1ty. We do demand recognition and
equality. before the law and will be sat
1sfled with nothing less. We denounce
the use Of injunction not justified by
Jaw, morals or equity, and especially
brought to bear against us and US
only -.
Mr.. Duncan spoke Interestingly Of
the rise and growth of the labor move
ment, asserting that in principle it is
as old as time. All hnmanitarianf moves,
he asserted, have been forms Of the la I
Dor movement. Recognition Of the T
rights Of labor and advancement have
always pone hand in hand, and when
labor has been degraded and depressed,
there has been no advancement.
Defends Labor Movement.
-. Speaking of the charge that labor is
destructive and unpatriotic, he came to |
the defense of the labor movement and
asserted that labor, whether organized
or not, has always responded at the
first call and has been the first to stand
for flag and country. Mr.. Duncan
spoke of his pet principle, the eight
hour. day, and asserted that the fight
for it will be continued until won. It
will be carried, he said, into the legis.
lative bodies of cities, states and ma
ton, in order to secure its application
to all public work, after which others
will follow.
Mr.. O'Connell, who has been heard in
Minneapolis before. took as his sub
ject the comparison Of the conditions
of the typical "open' shop and the
typical "closed' shop. ON improving
the working conditions Of the working
classes,' he said, "the labor move
ment is doing a work that is undertake
en- and can be undertaken by no other
body He spoke Of the wretched con-
there is the absolute open shop; Of poor
surroundings of every sort, filth, dan
ger from machines, long hours, under
pay and child la Dor. ~. ~.
Their Own Business.
Mr.. Hayes spoke of The right of
trade-unionists to govern themselves.
Our trades, learned after years of
apprenticeship and toll, are our own,'
said he. "They are our business, and
we must do business on business Ines
and we do. We have right to some
word in the conduct Of our own bust
ness. We cannot object to a man run
ming his business to suit himself, but /
we do object to his trying to run ours.:''
Speaking of the advantages of the
organization. he spoke of the willing
ness with which the toiler outside the
realm of organized labor welcomes the
conditions and wages demanded and
received by the organized labor move
ment. -;.-.-- ..aE..
The program was frightened by mu-
steal numbers. AS the audience assem-
bled Miss Anna De Witt Cook, at the
pipe organ played an inspiring program
The audience demanded encores from
Miss Tena Murphy and Miss Frances
Vincent. The packers and nailers' /
quartet was given a rousing reception.
The quartet consists Of four members
of the union, William Palmer, John
Fosberg, Eugene Rohlen and Edward
Hanson. If.
J. H. McElroy, president of the State
Federation of Labor, called the meet
ing to order and introduced Thomas
Van Lear, chairman of the evening.