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

lative Districts-Mucn Work
Done - Duluth Delegation
Did Well-St. Cloud Gets
Next Convention-Per Cap
ita Tax Increased.
nesota is the greatest of all the Unit
ed States. 1t is one Of the foremost
in recognizing human rights. It's gov
ernment Is the most responsive to pop
ular will. In agriculture 1t leads the
world, and its fame as the great
bread and butter state extends far
and wide. I'm iron production it has
no second. Its resources In this re-
spect are unlimited. It's forests, while
fast disappearing, have produced un-
known wealth. Its transportation IA
cilities have set the pace for the COM
merce of the world. Its industries.
| while confined to but few localities,
! are of the> most modern type, and their
productions find a demand In the
| markets of the world. Its system Of
education is second only to one state
in the Union.
Yes indeed is Minnesota rich in ma
tural resources Here is a state of Op-
portunity, not wholly for the stlfish
individual, who through the applica-
tion of brains, money and industry.
and too frequently perhaps Of schem-
ing, but for the organized forces of So
ciety to secure for the citizens the
greatest happiness, comfort and con-
tentment What is life without these,
! and is government used to the best ad-
vantage when it does not attempt to
attain these objects of true living?
I have no quarrel with those who
have appropriated to themselves the
| use of the Godgiven resources of a
| community, which by every right be-
long to all the people, but hold that
1t is the imperative duty of govern
ment to place every safe guard about
them so that the interest and welfare
of the people may be best protected.
! Developments of the past year have
caused an awakening among the peo-
pie. They are beginning to under
stand that predatory interests must be
! combatted. That the safety and per-
petuity of the nation depends upon the
interest manifested by the citizens of
our country. I know Of nothing more
responsible for the great revolution in
American thought than the American
labor movement, through it's commend
able system of agitation.
Inc MluHcSOld state FeOeraC1On OIL
Labor, too, has been a useful factor in
arousing the people from their slum-
ber.' It not only has appealed to wage
earners to organize themselves into
trade unions, but it has taken such an
Interest in the affairs Of government
|svshere the interests of the working
Itssf1Rak sWeIa- -tnHo1Xe aa to-. ,caNxsa
Illustrations to guard we'll the tights
Fof the people.
I have been identified with the work
of the Federation for more than ten
years, and know something of its ever
increasing influence in matters Of pub
lie concern. The conservative policy
laid down by the conventions, and
this Federation the most important
factor in the labor movement, of the
state.
If it's influence has not been far
reaching enough to s,,'+ us 1t is be-
cause we have lacked the united sup
port of the trade unions of the state.
Some organizations Of labor feel that
they are sufficiently strong to stand off
by themselves, and can appreciate no
benefits in affiliating with the Fedora
tion. Selfshness alone prompts such
an indifference to the welfare of the
movement which makes their success
possible. If local union cannot Sc
cure direct benefits from utilization, 1T
most assuredly can be Of some help in
aiding us to organize other unions.
For several years I have urged an
increase in the per capita tax, which at
present is entirely too inadequate to
permit us to carry on the work of Or
ganization in the smaller cities of the
state If we had a full affiliation of
the unions now organized the funds
at the present rate" Of tax might be
sufficient to do this with greater sue
cess. But unions are very often like
non union men who wish to get the
benefit Of what union labor achieves,
but who do not care to contribute one
cent for their achievement.
What has the State Federation Of
Labor done?" asked a union member in
my home city the other day. l did not
reply without asking him a few ques-
tions in return. I found to my sur
prise that he had never paid any at
| tention to the labor movement outside
of his own trade union. I proved to
him that we had organized no less
| than eight local unions of his trade
in the state. If this was true about
his trade, why should it not also be
| true of other trades?
If 1T were not for the State Federa-
tion of Labor their would be no affin-
ity between the trade unions Of the
cities. You in St. Paul land Minne-
| apolis would know nothing of what is
being done in Duluth, Mankato, Still
! water, st. Cloud, Brainerd and other
cities. This organization, maligned,
! misunderstood and abused by too many
trade unionists. is the factor which has
! crystallized into one mass the labor
movement of Minnesota. Its worth
| and value to every union in the state
| should never be underestimated, and
he who attempts to belittle it's efforts
can not do so without helittling the
movement itself.
Work Of Organization.
! The Federation Council will un :
doubtedly report at length on the ef-
forts at organization work during the
year, and with the limited funds at
their disposal. During the greater
!. rart of the year I was confined to my
bed with trying sickness, andAthere-
fore was unable to be actively engag-
ed with the Council in this department
of labor. In beginning wish to say
that during my experience as an ofti-
Ger of this Federation we have had
some splendid executive councils, but
i know. of none that devOted ga ,,ouoh