The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-06-16

J ALWAYS SOLD ON S.
has something to sell for which he
wants the best possible price warranted
by the conditions. Conversely the buy
er wants to get this commodity at the
lowest possible price. Here may be,
and usually Is, a reciprocal interest,
but by no stretch of the Imagination
can that statement be true which is so
often told us, that the interests of the
employer and employe are IDENTICAL
1T by no means follows that because
OF this economic diversity of interests
the two parties to the labor bargain
should go to war about it. There is a
better way, and the Industrial world
Is learning it, although at the cost of
much bitter experience on both SIDES
The industrial agreement Is being sub
stituted for the strike. John Mundella
the great apostle of arbitration in
Great Britain, we'll said: We cannot
expect industrial peace until we treat
the man who has the commodity of la
Dor to sell with the same consideration
we treat the man who comes to us
with any other commodity And it is
not the least Of the triumphs of the
trades union philosophy that this wis
dom of Mr.. Mundella's Is becoming
more and more appreciated by the fair
minded captains of industry in Amer
lea.
A. f. Of L. Convention.
The American Federation of Labor,
of which this organization is a part,
Is without doubt the greatest and most
influential labor organization in the
world. Its power for good can not be
forceful policy has commanded for it
the respect Of the best men in America.
Its president. Mr.. Samuel Gompers Is
without doubt the greatest labor lead
er OF the age. The secret Of his sue
cess has been his conservatism
In all the fights. both within and
without the American Federation Of
Labor, which have been made upon
President Gompers, his genius has new
er failed to assert itself, and bring
him out 4 victor.
When T first entered the labor move
ment had different opinion Of Mr..
Gompers than have today. You know
that 1t IL 50 easy for US to condemn
the leaders in the labor movement. To
use a slang phrase. TT is easier to
Knock than 1t is too boost" Mr. Com
pers forced his way to recognition
through a pathway Of knocks This is
why l admire him. I like his courage.
like his Judgment like his phil
osophy. His genius and character have
forced me to admire and respect him.
Through his untiring and energetic
EFFORTS the American Federation of La
Dor mas become a power In American
analrs. 1t may be true that this great
organization has not progressed as
rapidly as some Of us would wish. But
1t is generally admitted that the pro-
gress made has been decidedly healthy
and advantageous to the working class,
IN November next the A. F. of l.,
Will hold its annual convention in the
city OF Minneapolis. The officers of
this state federation played no unim-
portant part in inducing the delegates
to come to Mime sota in 1905. While
our fellow unionists in the Flour Cftv
are undoubtedly in position to offer
the very best entertainment to the
convention without any outside help.
yet 1t strikes me that it is our duty
to cooperate with them in the name
OF the organized wage earners Of Min
nesota. would recommend that the
incoming officers Of the State Fedora
ton of Labor tender their good Offices
to the local committee for the purpose
of aiding in the reception of delegates
to the A. F. Of l.. convention.
Child Labor in Minnesota.
Williams special report of 1906 on
Child Labor, was agreeably surprised
to note how few children under the
age Of 16 are employed in the factories
and workshops of the state. Mr.. Will
liams has been making some search
ing Investigations, on the Child Labor
question. and in his experience has
found some defects in the law which
should be remedied by the next
legislature. Our State Federation of
Labor should give Its heartiest sup
port to the Bureau Of Labor in this
matter.
Mr.. Williams seveer1y critizises the
present method in vogue in some
cities by school authorities in grant
ing labor permits to children under
school age on the most frivolous of
| representations. The child labor law
provides as condition to the grant
Ing Of an employment certificate to
any child during the time Of the ses-
sion Of the schools that an investiga-
ton be had as to whether the child 8
labor is necessary for its own support,
or that of the family to which he be-
longs According to the Labor Com
missioner such investigations are not
made. except in a few cities
He recommends an amendment to the
Child Labor law that will render it
more effective. It Is that school super
intendents shall report to the Bureau
OF Labor at regular periods the names
OF all children permitted by them to
work. as well as the place and name
OF the employer. It also implies that
no certificate can be ISSUED until the
child first has a position. and that en-
ployers must have permits recorded
| with the Bureau of Labor. The intent
! Of the amendment. being, I believe,
| to enable tho labor bureau to enforce
the child labor law to the letter.
|. Al Minnesota advances rapidly In
| manufacturing. and unless we have an
effective child labor law, ana q. vigil.
ant Bureau of Labor, the employment
OF children In industries will greatly
increase. Whatever good we as nov