The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-11-02
.hEWsf LETTER | !: FROM
". {, sIACY, ILLINOIS
Formerly Vice President of; the
Minnesota State Federation
i of Labor
Then Of St. Cloud and Mime.
apolis, But is now Of
Peoria, III.

Federation Of Labor convention Mr..
Stacy says: i.
To the Labor World:
Il came here to see not tc Re seen;
to learn and not ito teach. But, must
admit that the great commonwealth of
Illinois,, wherein was born and raised,
with it's four and half million of
people,, and five hundred thousand or
ganized toilers, and with The second
largest city in the United States with
in her borders-could with great profit
to herself, look fto the comparatively
young commonwealth, to the north
west (Minnesota) for a guiding star in
all things pertaining to the labor move
ments going into politics.
True. the Illinois State Federation,
when in convention assembled at
Rockford, adopted a resolution, giving
a man with the union card in his
pocket, the right to expect the support
Of his fellow unionists regardless Of
what old ticket, or new for that mat
ter, he might be running on, the fed
Grafton members could then sit down
with a smile, of satisfaction on their
faces which seemed to say: there we
lave done the best we can for you,
now go it,
They provided no method, means or
organization, to guide: the trade union
voters in their efforts to support the
friends of organized labor, as against
its enemies. The federation adopted a
platform similar to that of Minnesota:
but what is true Of the first PROPOSE
ton is also true Of the second, except
that they maintain a lobbyist at
Springfield during the session Of the
legislature. The lobbyist at the last
pending) reports his work almost an
session (not the special session now
entire failure.
AS to the convention, it was COM
| posed Of as enthusiastic bunch Of
delegates as one could find anywhere.
OF course the tin horn politician was
In evidence. For instance a cigar
maker from the Windy city, repre-
senting a stimers' 5or shippers union
elected by three votes for and one
against.
Another cigarmaker represented "a
federal labor uniona Only six members
in hall when meeting was called to
loEdeEssand It requttsda seven for. a. quo
Ebsrs ana continued with their business
and elected politician No. g -%s>s>'s;
/ Happily there was: not enough Of
such people on the floor to influence
the members, but this only goes to
show to what extremes this class of
| people will go to force themselves
upon the trade union movement
We also had with US the radical
| Socialist. A convention would not be
! perfect without one at least, to- tell us
| that we were doomed to the ternal
! "bow-woWs" II we did not endorse his
particular brand Of Socialism. There
| was quite a few delegates, that believe
In Socialism, in attendance, but they
| did not think it opportune to take up
| the time Of the convention talking
about Socialism, but gave their time
entirely to the business in hand.
| would not now be amiss. Mr.. Walker
who run against Uncle Joe Cannon
was on the floor. He showed by his
ability as a. speaker, and also by his
fairness as acting chairman that he
| was worthy of the respect Of his fellow
trade unionists.
| Mr.. Arkwright of the cracker and
| cake bakers local, Peoria, is deserving
Of credit for the very efficient work
he did Cor his local.
From the sounging Of the gong, Peo-
ria and Galesburg were fighting for
the convention of 1908. Peoria stead
lily maintained the lead and finally won
| out.
Your humble servant had nothing to
do but holler Peoria, and he did it,
| w. e. STACY"