The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-15
STATE FEDERATION OF lAb0R HOLDS
BANNER CONVENTION AT ST. CLOUD

seemed to be up to this time;' much at
the mercy Of confessed bigamist and
murderer on whose testimony he, Mr..
McEwen, would not consent to convict
He said he had closely fol-
lowed all proceedings during the great
strike in Colorado, and hai failed to
learn Of a single member of the West
ern Federation of Miners who was re-
corded in court as guilty Of crime
of any kind. Then turning to- the
question Of wage -earners and their
earnings, he said that. the wage scale
fixed by a union for its members was
the fairest and most satisfactory that
could be devised; that il was just
above the bread line for a workman
of the lower class, and If the employ
er was honest he would pay better
men better wages according to their
merit. Above all, he said, Minnesota
was coming to the time when she
would have no child labor, and would
probably be the first state III the great
American federation to reach that
altitude Of legislative progressiveness.
Everybody Invited.
President McElroy extended a cor
dial invitation to everybody in St.
citizen Of the town, to come and enjoy
and take part in the proceedings. He
informed the people that there was
no latch string out, but tha. there was
no latch and no possible use for
string-in fact, that the only string to
be thought of in connection with this
convention was the cord of fellow
ship that bound everybody present to-
gether in the effort to work out the
best possible results for thu wage
earners Of the state. He then intro
duced Mr.. J. w. Kennedy, Of Mime
apolis, who spoke we'll of the labor
legislation of the last session of the
states law-making body and urged
the need of more vigorous efforts on
the part Of the labor people and more
funds to support those efforts.
Standing Committee Announced.
President McElroy announced the
regular standing committees Of the
convention, which completed PRACTICAL
ly the organization and placed it's
business in the way of proper atten-
ton and transaction.
The committee on credentials.
through Secretary McEwen reported a
list of the delegates entitled to seats
in the convention, and the report was
adopted and the accredited delegates
were seated.
L. r. Porter Of st. Cloud was Il, ap-
pointed sergeant-at-Asstis by the presi-
dent and at once entered on the dis
charge of his duties.
Rules and Order Of Business.
The committee on rules and order
Of business made report covering all
that was committed to them and the
report was adopted as read. 1t pro-
vides rules for the government of the
convention and an order Of business
following the usual method Of pro-
cedure, and outlines the work in a.
systematic and consecutive manner.
Representing a Union Firm.
Mr.. j. Molinger, member Of the
firm Of Winer Bros. & Molinger Of
st. Paul, was granted the privilege Of
the floor and In using it presented
forcibly to those who heard him the
goods put out by his house, which are
oil Ulduc dIlu "OIIlty OL ul&u
regard in every respect.
American Society Of Equity.
On motion Of delegate A. E. Kelling-
ton, chairman of the committee on
credentials, delegates Erick Peterson
of Princeton and A. E. Westling Of
Green Lake, representing the Ameri-
can Society of Equity, were admitted
and seated. Chairman Kellington
stated that he had visited the meet
ing of this society at Bethel and had
found the movement in which the
farmers are engaged was growing and
becoming formidable; and he recon-
mended that the Federation Council
be authorized to distribute literature
on the subject of unionism 10 farmers.
The report was accepted and referred
to the committee on officers reports.
Secretary McEwen's Report.
The next thing in order was the an
nual report of the secretary treasurer
Of the body, and this proved to be one
Of the most interesting features Of the
meeting so far. With deft and skill
full fingers Secretary McEwen swept
the whole gamut of the labor ques-
ton, touching forcibly yet rot irrever-
erently the points and pinnacles Of
to the present day, and showed that
the progress of man in the procession
Of the ages was a steady advancement
Of the producing class-the bone and
sinew of our race-and that no matter
great affairs along which history holds
her splendid march, from Roman times
what opposed them the toilers Of the
earth have been working resolutely
and steadily upward to higher rank,
more considerate appreciation and
a more impregnable position in the
esteem of mankind. He made a
statement in detail of the receipts and
disbursements of the Federation for
the year, which showed a healthy fl
nancial condition and vigorous pur-
suit of labors best interests on the
part Of the State Federation. The
number of new affiliations during the
year was fifty-three. Ten years ago,
when the state convention met in St..
Cloud, there were sixty nine delegates,
and but five cities we're represntd.
Today twnty two cities arc representa-
and the number of delegates is nearly
three hundred. Secretary McEwen's