The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-12-14
OUR STATE PRESIDENT
An ENERGETIC WORKER
Iufuses New Life into the Labor
Movement in North West
Cities.
Unionism Now Booming in Towns
Of the Red River
Valley.

Geo. B. Howley, president of the
State Federation Of Labor, returned a
few days ago from official visits to
Fargo and Grand Forks, N. D., and the
towns just across the Red river from
them, Moorhead and East Grand Forks
in all of which he has been actively
engaged in organizing work and with
excellent results.
Mr.. Howley dropped into the office
of the Minnesota Union Advocate and
gave graphic account of his labors
and the promising union conditions
in the places he had visited, and made
1t evident that he had not only done
good work In them already, but had
opened the way for still augmenting
usefulness there.
In Fargo he organized a union Of
the" cooks and walters, one of the bar
bers with thirty-five charter members
and an outlook indicating large in
crease in the membership, and one of
the teamsters with twenty-six charter
members and fine prospects Of rolling
the number to ESQ or 300 by the be-
ginning of the new year.
When he went to Fargo he found
fifteen desert and languishing unions,
all suffering from neglect and nowhere
affiliated outside of their own local
central body. He left the city with
eighteen live and vigorous unions in
the movement, all affiliated with the
Minnesota State Federation Of Labor
and filled with spirit Of more ex-
tensive conquest which will not be put
down. His efforts nave added one
thousand good working unionists to
the membership of the Minnesota
State Federation, and a new Trades
and Labor Assembly besides.
Conditions at Grand Forks.
At Grand Forks there are now four
vigorous, energetic, working unions,
although when Mr. Howley went there
he found the union spirit very dull.
and these also are affiliated with the
Minnesota State Federation of Labor.
Last Friday night he addressed a
mass meeting there In the city hall,
which the mayor put at his service for
the purpose, and aroused considera BILE
enthusiasm. putting new life into the
movement. He will return to that
section next week and continue the
the field Is still white with the har-
vest and he is eager to put the proper
forces at work in reaping it. He ex-
poets to form a Trades and Labor
Assembly at Grand Forks and organ
ize unions Of the cooks and walters,
the teamsters, the BARRIERS; the freight
handlers, the sheet metal workers and
the retail clerks, the last named with
a prospective membership of about
300.
Printers Have Bulge Up There.
OF all the organiza tions of union
men in the cities named Mr.. Howley
found the printers in much the best
shape. They have the hours, the wag,
es and all the other conditions that
union men have been struggling for.
and every paper printed in all four
places carries the union label.
Minnesota Union Advocate Quoted.
One Of the pleasing surprises that
met Mr.. Howley In several places was
the sight of an article some time since
published in the Minnesota Union Ad-
vocate, showing how the farmers in
various sections are standing by the
union printers Of st. Paul In their
campaign against certain farm pub
lications in this city that are unfair
This was reproduced in several papers
in the cities he was visiting. Every
body seemed interested in the helpful
conjunction Of the toilers in the shops
and factories, and saw IN it fine
promises for future good results to all
classes except those against which
they have combined.
Mr.. Howley is doing grand work in
his missions and should be literally
sustained in 1nis efforts by both the
American and the State Federations OF
Labor.