The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-24
M n - Z - q II
]. The TAFT Of Minnesota.

III, The Minneapolis journal took occa-t
sion last Sunday, after Former Insur-
ance Commissioner I'd. OBrien res
turned from the Mesaba range, to pay
him an unusual compliment for the:
splendid suggestions given the COWS
ernor as the result Of his OBSERVE
tions Of conditions on. the range. The
journal too graced itself by, paying a
worthy tribute to Mr.. O'Brien for the
valuable services he rendered the state
while occupying the position Of in,
surance commissioner. The following
Is the Journals EDITORIAL:
: Thomas: D. O'Briepx had mo sooner
laid down the office of Insurance COM
missioner than he was, hurried TO the
Iron range as a personal representa-
tive Of Governor Johnson. at the seat
Of the strike difficulty. - ~ 10
"Mr. OBrien was gone one working
day. He found misconduct on both
sides. He made it plain that the auth
critics had no right to break up peace
full gatherings Of the strikers. He con-
WINGED the strikers that their public
parades were not conducive to. good
order, and, that they had no right to
go upon the property Of the companies
to persuade or intimidate men at work.
Having thus defined the rights of the
men and the things they may not do,
Mr.. OBrien and his associates re-
turned to recommend that these, things
be embodied in a proclamation by the
governor. The advice was quickly fol-
lowed, and trouble on the range has
again been averted, perhaps for good.
The clear head Of the insurance COM
missioner saw that violence must
come If the men were further irritat-
ed by raids on their meetings. or If
they were permitted to demonstrate
their numbers by parades. He was
able to convince both sides that they
were going too far. His service was
OF no less value than that of the gov
ernor's own visit the week before.
This Is not the first time that +.
D. O'Brien has been called upon for
special duty. He has been Governor
Johnson's most trusted adviser during
MS whole administration. AS insur-
ance commissioner he began by safely
guiding a reorganization Of the larg-
est insurance company in the state,
then drifting on the rocks thru mis-.
management. He was the directing
spirit In the national movement for
reform legislation on life insurance,
AT that time he went as Governor
Johnson's representative and inter-
viewed President Roosevelt gaining
his hearty support It was LARGELY
because of the confidence the Mime
sofa legislature had in the fairness
and good judgment. OF the insurance
commissioner that it passed the re-
FORM program with hardly the dottine
OF an or the crossing Of a. t.
Governor johnson has done No
wiser thing in his whole public SER
vice than the selection OF T. D.
oBrien for his right hand man. The
praise bestowed by the governor In
his letter accepting Mr.. O'Brien's res
lsnat1on was fully merited. and his
leaving public office is a matter OF
regret. Attorney General Young has
filed claim on Mr.. O'Brien's services
securing him as special counsel in the
railroad rate cases, and the state Is
fortunate In having him still con-
cerned.. in the public welfare. Men
like Thomas Dillon OBrien are too
seldom found in the state service"