The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-06-13

ssa s2s sap Wnolly ~ un aRseah & our
3oth century civilization;
short. conings and frailties' peculiar to
human, nature and at times perhaps
some OF us may for q moment be un-
enough but there }ba Is niso
tory Of our movement. where the
labor organizations so willfully per
In OF MFonf
and their paid hire1ings. They not
only refuse to cite their; grievances,
If any they have. but they absolutely
view of having an equitable adjust
ment Of grievances, If any exist. Such
course is manifestly inhuman, as
ing with the arrogant assumption Of
INSCRIPTIONS greed In years gone by,
that there is nothing to arbitrate." =
The situation In Duluth.
Among the difficult problems that
confrGnted yoTr RGTesfds1t aaring the
luth was positively the most .perplex-
ing; An aggregation calling itself the
"Citizens' AssocIia th ingtigated by
the employers of labor. in that city, to
lock out" about 1900 of their en-
poyees IN certain Of the
Building Trades Alliance! Under in
structions from President GompeEz.;
appeared upon the scene and used
conference with: the employers. After
much persuasion, the employers con-
| sented to meet in conference, the rep
resentatives of their employees, but the
members Of the so-ealled- Citizens.
Association who were not connected
| with the labor movement, either In the
capacity of employer or employe.y
S10 In
to their principles. Let me say in this
connection that I never saw a firmer
or more loyal number Of trades union
city April 9TH. and as it is the home
of our Secretary-Treasurer, L shall
leave it for him to dwell upon the
conditions there at the rpesent time
Organization Work.
strengthened by very liberal ap-
prosecution pe c =" Of ' ORGANIZATION work in
this state. efforts in that line have
been pushed with unceasing vigilance.
and I sincerely trust the results at
tained as found by the new organiza-
| tions, as well as the older ones who
affiliated with us for the first: time
shall measure up to what your expec7
tations have been on this line. Il not
only aimed to organize new unions. but
| devoted much time to strengthening
existing ones and aiding them in. in
tcreasing their membership and other
! wise placing them upon g. higher plane
of usefulness and efficiency to our
! cradle aid from the American Fedora
| ton of Labor for organization pur-
poses. particularly for money to be
used along the border lines Of our
Of Fargo and Grand Forks and now
affiliated with our State Federation,
| are the fruits of ouT- la'bors in this dr.
| rection. With all the obstacles placed
in our way throughout the country,:;I
am pleased to state that in the last
report to the American Federation of
| Labor we showed gain of 1873 new
unions, in the entire country, of which
| same report, observe that the entire
gain of new members for the United
States, and by additions old and new
! Financial Relief. !:
| I cannot at this stage, refrain from
! giving EXPRESSION to my sincere appre-
| citation of the very generous manner
in. which the members of organized
labor througao4t the state, came to the
! relief of our locked out" brethren at
Duluth. Nothing has happened during
| my incumbency, of the, office that jaas
given me as much real joy and honest
, satisfaction, as the very prompt and
| ship responded to the appeal for. f1nan-
cial relief made by me on behalf OF
the Duluth unions. The money contrib
uted did a world of good and was dis
tributed to tnose in need thereof, with
care and prudence by the relief COM
mittee having the matter in cna-gs in
that city. I do not believe that one
| penny OF the contributions failed to dc
the work for which 1t was intended
A strict account Of receipts and ex-
penditures was kept by, an expert
bookkkeeper at the office of the Sec
| retary-Treasurer and the account, was
| at all times open for the inspection Of
I persons a min
the same. It is gratifying to note thai
| no dissatisfaction whatever existed
with regard to the money received OF
the money expended In connection with
the Duluth lockout and as a specia!
precedent for future occurrences Of
| this kind, would just recommend
such keeping of accounts of receipts
and expenditures as was done in Du.
lutn, and 1 would further RECOMMEND
| that unions contributing be Furnished
written form and that the same b
also furnished to central bodies des1r
Ing 1t. II the required degree o.
secrecy be observed. such plan coult
not helP but increase the interests o.
from business point Of view.
l. Union Label Work.
Since coming into this office, I hav.
realized more than ever that the unfo1
label Is a guarantee of better condf
lions being accorded to the producer q
the article which it covers. and an
assistance can be given to our fellow
workers than by our insisting upo1
10 and BD CONVINCED THAT THE
kHn a r YAYYN n Il