The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-15

in St: Paul and Duluth. The bureau
in existence in Minneapolis for the past
| two years proved to be so successful,
convince the honest legislator that the
state ought to extend the system to
other cities.
plete abolition Of the private licensed
bureau. I know Of no greater menace
to the floating wage earners Of the
In the business, but the principle Of
charging workingman fee for in
formation relative to securing employ
ment in order that he may produce
thing could never relish, and trust
| that the time will soon come when
the state free employment bureaus
sha snail prove to be so adyantageous to
there will be no excuse for the exist
ence of private employment agencies.
While the latter exists In cities 1t
sage of laws and ordinances, which
lection. In Duluth we have q very
modern and up-to-date city ordinance,
decidedly few complaints are being
made to the police by workingmen Of
abuses received from private employ
| Recalls Duluth Ordinance.
Il desire to call your attention to
q provision in the ordinance regulat-
ing private employment offices in Du-
bly,, and which is of more or less In
terest to organized labor.
1T requires that whenever an en-
p1oyment agent is notified in writing
| by bona fide labor organization that
agent employs men to take the places
duty to stamp the words: STRIKE ON
| in red letters across the face Of the
! employment ticket.
This provision has been Of much
value to the man seeking employment
| as it certainly is to- the man on strike
For many men are sent some distance
from home, and are innocently required
to take the places of strikers, when
wants. and are strangers in asstrange
land. If an applicant for a job is duly
Informed IN or before leaving his home city
given an opportunity to refuse to act
as a strike breaker before leaving
be taken to have like provisions in
serted in the ordinances regulating
employment offices In all Of the cities
IN the state. The constitutionality of
the Duluth ordinance has never been
tested, but as agents are obliged to
give applicants full information about
the, work they are supposed to do, the
matter of being compelled to inform
courts.
Labor and Politics.
AT the Saltwater convention I dis
cussed the question of labor and poll
tics most extensively, and I suggested
a program for the conduct Of the State
Federation Of Labor during the ap-
preaching political campaign, which
was in part adopted by the conven-
ton.
THE, state central political commit
tee,. whose appointment was author
lied by the last convention, will re-
port on the result of their efforts.
of the labor question as it presents
itself to me.
minnesota is largely an agricul-
tural s STATE IT, and beyond the cities or
this reason the result Of R0 iaSors r rer
cent experience in the political arena
tain that the moral effects of our en-
trance into politics was decidedly felt,
particularly in districts where there
were labor votes.
Our first: experience should be an
| impetus, and when the occasion again
presents itself we should be in a posi-
ton to line up our forces for men and
some consideration in legislative and
executive deliberations.
On Treacherous Soil.
Il appreciate that we are treading
upon treacherous soil when we divert
out attention from economics to poll
bilious in our own movement, are ever
| ready to take advantage Of every
opening to further their personal ends,
and often, too, at the expense of labor:
| teach us to be extremely cautious in
determining our course.
We Jared a trifle better in the last
Legislature than we have in previous
|
a few of the crumbs which fell from
the table Of the special interests, whose
greed was In most cases appeased. The
really beneficial legislation we sought.
that which would have given labor
more protection than it now enjoys,
and would have fixed more RESPONSE
nomin ously defeated. TOO often n was
this done by representatives from ru-
raj districts who ought to have been
our friends and who were used to
pull the chestnuts of others from the
fire. under the impression that they
were helping some employer of small
capital in the smaller cities. In this
manner they became the unwilling
| allies OF those who are foes to both
the farmer and the laborer.
Is Not Discouraged.
! But I am not discouraged I look
for better returns next time We
have observed some shortcomings as
the result Of our first experience and
1 -
I am satisfied that with a sufficient
| amount Of money to conduct an active
| campaign, we would be able to COM
mand the recognition labor deserves
from our state law making body
zone of the most interesting phases
| of labor's entry in to politics, in both
state and nation. was the activity of
| the Citizens Alliance. Their publica-
tions and agitators were sent into
every district where labor was making
a fight, and they forgot every other
purpose for which they were organ
lied to prevent the enactment of any
kind of labor legislation, with or with
! out merit.
| open opposition signified that labor
after all, was on the right road. The
more the opponents of labor come out
| and fight us in the open. the better
will be our chances for success. There
are more members of the working
class, than of all the others COM
| bined, and there is nothing that will
arouse labor to united action so much
as an open attach from its enemies
Has Lost Nothing.
Labor has lost none of it's dignity
by attempting to seek a remedy
through politics When they ask us
to hold aloof from this, they are but
| seeking to divert our attention from
our own best interests.