The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-02-08

ter of Our Civilization; If Tn
dustrial Conditions Do Not
Warrant Good Homes, and Qp-
portunities For Mental Improve
ment Society is the Sufferer. y
the fruits of Christian effort pursued
along gospel lines, frequently under
difficulties that we of today can have
but very slight conception Of after
the battle is fought and the victory
won. T. 49,. ,.et : :
=: 4. Ethical Battle Now On. :.
Mr.: McEwen spoke Of the fights for
religious and political freedom that
have been waged in the past, and said
that a fight for industrial freedom;
such as is being carried on by union
labor all over the country, was the
next step. The ethical battle is now
on, ne asserted. The speaker briefly
reviewed the history Of Duluth unions.
of the benefits that have resulted from
such unions and told Of the country
wide: opposition that has + sprung up
against organized labor, in the shape:
Of thesNat tional liManufacturers' associ-
alton. Labor expects to- win lin. the
end, he said, because justice is with
the unions He STAGED that England
had had much the same experience in
regard to labor troubles as the United
States Is now troubled with, and said
the unions had come out victorious,
although they did not win a victory
until they were forced into politics,
electing 60 members to parliament,
and eventually putting the National
Manufacturers association out Of !ex-
istence. = T..
Mistakes tho Lot Of Man. s.
He admitted that Duluth unions.
with. unions elsewhere, had made some
mistakes but said 1t was impossible
for any organization composed. Of hu- !.
man beings, and actively engaged in
any line Of; progress or work, not to !
gst alone, aftno,it some mieta Isass
any wrong HAD resulted from laese
errors, he said they were entirely un-
intenti tiona1 or hesE.partn ef labor. and
labor always stands ready TO- correct
such errors He discussed the union
shop, saying it was erroneously called
the open shop by the opposition; and
asserted that without. the union shop
principle hved up to, the unions might
as we'll go out Of existence entirely,
for they would DE useless. IT,.
"un;on shop" Rule Universal.
" Mr. McEwen brought out the fact
kI,@< 49,
United States Steel corporation, the
retail and wholesale grocers associa-
tions, the .jobbers, the board of trade.
any many other organizations Of a
similar character were working on the
union shop. principle, and cited several
examples to illustrate his meaning.
He provoked a laugh by saying only
men bearing a union card were ad-
mitted to membership in'sthe board OF
trade and that such a card could only
be obtained upon the payment Of ST.
500. The real estate men have a. mini
mum commission which may. be
be lived up to in regard to salesH Of
property and the division of-commis>
sions. He contended that union labor
had greater right than any of the
associations or organizations named to
protect itself from unjust competition,
for it has greater obstacles to contend
with. One Of these obstacles was
mentioned as being low-class foreign
labor, which can live at a fracNon OF
the cost it requires. an American me.
.chanfc to live decently. He explained
the deplorable condition that he said
would undoubtedly exist If cheap for
eign labor were allowed to bid openly
In the market against expert American
labor, unprotected by the unions. In
the list Of undesirables he did not in
clude English, Scotch, Irish. Scandina-
yians, Germans or any nationalities
from the more enlightened countries Of
the Old World. e 81 :.
-. minimum W.s. se.I.. ..s
: The speaker spoke further on the
law Of. supply and demand, explained
why, from the standpoint of union Ia.
Dor; a graduated wage scale was
wrong. and told Of the necessity Of q
minimum wage. He also dealt with
the apprentice question, and. while ad- q
mitting thei pyesent system had its
defects, said the unions were all the
time working to overcome them, but
that they would never be completely
overcome until the employer cooper
ated with the unions I'M solving the
problem. .s5,
4 He also spoke Of the advisability OF
arbitration, and suggested that the
minister's themselves should be able to-
assist in bringing about peace In the
present trouble.
spsaksr Ans~ers Questions.
Not the least interesting partSo the
meeting was the discussion which fol-
lowed the remarks OF the speaker cf
the day. Mr. McEwen was closely
questioned on points regarding the
union shop, and his answers showed as
thorough knowlsdge of the subject.
Without hqsit lon or evasion, he
snswered sall the questions put % him,
Tor; the most part ia q clear. and com