The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-12-14

nearly the full measure Of a union
workday-the State Federation Coun-
Gil wrestled with labor problems last
Sunday in its second quarterly meet
ing Of the year, which was held at
Alexanders hall in Minneapolis. The
meeting was a long and busy one, but
| most important in its action and it's
bearing on the great cause which the
council has in charge.
The session was called to order by
President Howley promptly at 10
o'clock, and the roll call showed the
presence of every member of the
council except one who was unavoid-
ably absent. After the reading and
approval Of the minutes of the last
meeting, reports were made by each
of the members present.
Tho Presidents Report.
The first report was that, of Presi-
dent HoWley, who called Vice Presi-
dent Warren Of Winona to the chair
while he made it. The document was
elaborate in scope, fruitful in facts
and encouraging in tone and promise.
covering Mr.. Howley's work, both as
president and as organizer during the
quarter. It recited that he had at
tended and addressed the Labor Day
celebration at Mankato, and warmly
commended the labor organizations Of
that city and the committee III charge
of the celebration on the splendid
showing they made on the occasion.
His next move was to visit Red Wing
and infuse new life and spirit into
the organizations there, as he found
them inert and listless. He went
among the members with per-
sonal appeals to attend the meet
ings, and succeeded in getting several
open meetings and two or three mass
meetings, through which he was able
to create considerable enthusiasm
among the unions. In Red Wing he
also found the clay workers about to
demand a raise Of twenty-five cents a
day In their wages, including in the
list Of names submitted rs or 80 work.
men who were not members of the
organization. He advised that the
proper method Of procedure was to get
all these men into the union before
making the demand, and the next
night, 81 new members were Initiated.
! aFrfney then presented their demand and
received an increase Of fifteen cents
a. day for all. Mr.. Howley also Sc:
cured afriliation Of the Trades and
Labor Assembly of the city with the
State Federation, overcoming objec-
tions made by the brewers by explain
Ing the relations Of their craft with
the American Federation Of Labor.
Organization Work in Fargo.
About the middle Of October, acting
under instructions from the American
Federation of Labor, Mr.. Howley pro-
ceeded to Fargo and there organized
unions of the BARRIERS, the teamsters
and the cooks and walters, and also
added many members to the unions Of
carpenters and painters. In addition
he affiliated the new unions he formed
and nine others, namely, those of the
painters, carpenters, printers, electrical
workers, stationary engineers, book
binders, plumbers, clerks and tailors
with the Minnesota State Federation.
In Fargo he held II open meetings
under the auspices Of the Trades and
Labor Assembly which furnished it's
hall free for the purpose and gave
him every aid in ints power.
HustIes in Grand Forks.
From Fargo Mr.. Howley went to
Grand Forks, where he found four
sluggish and languishing unions, those
of the carpenters, the painters, the
plumbers and the printers, the print
ers' union being the only one that
showed much sign of vigorous life.
The mayor of the city placed the city
hall at his disposal and he addressed
several open meetings. He awakened
great interest in the cause and left on
other urgent business with a promise
to return at an early date, with excel
lent prospects Of organizing the bar
bers, teamsters, freight-handlers and
cooks and walters.
Industrial Workers in tho Hive.
On his return to Minneapolis Presi-
dent Howley found a representative of
the Industrial Workers of the World.
with headquarters in Union Temple
and doing effective organization work.
ent1cing even some members of differ,
ent unions away from their former
allegiance He at once took steps to
have the representative of the invad-
ing organization removed from the
hail.
Further. Efforts in Grand Forks.
Returning to Grand Forks late in
November, Mr.. Howley organized the
BARRIERS, with every workman at that
craft in that city and East Grand
Forks on the charter roll, and the
stage employees with a good working
force to start with. Vigorous unions
Of the bartenders and teamsters are
also In process Of formation, and all
the new unions formed are affiliated
with the State Federation. Moreover.
the theatres were induced to insist
upon having the union label on all
their printing. ..:s.<
Farmers Union True Blue.
Mr.. Howley received communica-