The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-06-27
Powerful Address Oh the Subject
\ by Hon. " H. Williams ':It State !
= Labos Commissioner. "
EVILS OF CHILD LABOR
MOST CLEARLYsSET FORTH,
With Abundant Schools Parents
are Without Excuse for Illit- j.,
eracy Of Their Children.

(From our Special Correspondent.)
GRAND FORKS, N. D.. June 23.-A
mass mseeting Of the citizens of Grand
Forks was held at the Metropolitan
theater last Friday evening, for this
purpose of hearing organized labor
views discussed by its most prominent
leaders. The meeting was presided
over by DR.. ]. p. Taylor, mayor of
Grand Forks. In opening the meeting
he told of the union movement In the
United States and how this wass the
day Of organization in every line OF
commercial. industry, and how this
movement had at last reached the state
Of North Dakota. He then introduced
President George B. Howley as thu
representative of organized labor who
had come to Grand Forks to look af-
ter labor's interests. lz
President HowIey's Address.
President Howley Immediately came
to the front of the platform and gave
a short address. He said that he
wanted to make it most emphatic that
this was not a POLITICAL meeting.
There had been false statements cir
culated about the city during the ev-
ening to the effect that it was such a
gathering and he denied, all Of these
point blank. The gathering had been
called in the interests of labor and
the speakers that were to follow him,
he said, would take up different phases
of present day conditions.
The speaker said that he had come
to the state some four or five weeks
ago for the purpose Of investigating
local conditions, having in view the
organization of new unions and the
building up of the old ones in Grand
Forks. The political situation was
also to be investigated with special
reference to the candidates for the ma
tional house of representatives and
senate, but that as yet they were not
IN a position to give out Statement.
meeting 1ofs-the eommittee-engased
In the work is to be held In Fargo
tonight and following it a statement
would be issued showing which men
were regarded as being the best can
didates from the standpoint of labor.
Not only would this statement be is
sued to. organized labor, but to un-
organized labor as WE'LL
The address of the evening, he said,
would not antagonize anyone, except
perhaps. officials of the NATIONAL
Manufacturers association. The speak
ers are not here to agitate strikes or
anything Of that sort, but representa-
tives Of the American Federation Of
Labor. He had been here several
weeks and expected to remain a time
longer, and he hoped that on. leaving
he would have the good will of all,
both empfoye and employer.
The speaker then told Of the scar
city of mechanics in Grand Forks. A
comparison of wages in Grand Forks
with other cities showed that here the
scale was lower, the speaker drawing
the conclusion that there was no
cause for wonder at the apparent
shortage. In illustrating his point
Mr.. Howley told Of the manner in
which Chief Runge had been brought
to Grand Forks to head the fire de,
partment because he was considered
to be the best man in the business
The speaker believed that mechanics
should be procured in the same man.
ner, that those who were the best
should receive the wages due.
He expressed thanks to the North
Dakota delegation in the nat1ona.
convention for the manner in which
1t has stood by the anti-intunction
plank adopted at Chicago The in
- junction as now issued, is wrong, be,
Ing temporary in nature, it can be
procured by the employers in the dead
of night from a judge, the only pro.
vision being that the man procuring
such an injunction must swear that
he thinks the strikes may do some
harm. This injunction Is continued
from time to time, being used to club
public sentiment into line. The in
Junction plank. as adopted at Chicago
provides that hearing be had before
an injunction is issued, thus givine
labor an opportunity of showing that
1t Is not ready to commit violence ir
case OF strike. Only a very few Of the
temporary injunctions are made per,
manent.
Hon w. n. Williams. -
Labor Commissioner for the State
s Of Minnesota, was the next speaker
i He took up the subject cof Child La
NJ Dor, laying special stress upon eivine
{ the rising generation such opportuni-
"A ties as will enable them in adult years
d; to live comformable to American
| standards. (Mr. Williams address is
Eli given In full in another column Of thi;
E paper. Editor Labor Worldly
see.- w. e. MeEwen.
@ w. p. McEwen, secretary Of the
Minnesota Federation of Labor an6
state oil inspector, was the next speak.
er introduced. He spoke on the g.
Ethics Of Labor Movement.
The cause Of labor is as old as civil.
ao1f ho3ror hor,
that the bonds Of serfdom were first
placed on man and Graded In far OF
Egypt centuries ago, the cause al
present not being much different thar
that Of the Israelites IN those days
The fight Of the Israe elites YVES no,
finished II 4a day. nor win the fight 81