The labor world., 1908-02-01
Speeches at Great Armory Labor
Meeting, Were Conservative In
Tone, High Minded and En-
inently Fair. The Effect Was
TO Foster a Spirit Of Oonciia-
. ton and Desire For Fair Play
on All Sides.
The Tendency Throughout Was to
= Emphasize the Recognition Of
the Fact, That the Toilers Are
Men and Women-Not a Mere
Product to Be Bought and Sold
as Any Other Commodity in the
Markets of the World.

convened in the arrory last Friday
evening. The auditorium and gallery
were crowded to their full capacity.
Representatives Of every interest were
in attendance, and the enthusiasm
which greeted the speakers, seemed to
know no bounds, especially when the
probabilities Of peace were adverted to.
Object OF Meeting.
The meeting was held in response
obtaining in the minds of our best
citizens. that ';the prosong1ng Of the
present industrial strife does not pro-
mote the interests Of either capital or
labor, in fact Is not productive Of per-
manent good to any cne, and that
some means, honorable to both Of the
contetnding parties, should be devised
to. effect an immediate adjustment" Of
whatever difficulties or misunder-
standings may be the occasion of con-
tention between employers and en-
ployes. a.:
The attendance was unusually large
and representatives; ;Sof every line Of
business showed by their interest and
enthusiasm that they would cordially
welcome such a solution of the Dues
tions involved as would enable the In
dustrial forces Of the city to becbnne
thoroughly harmonizad, and work
along all lines be resumed in the
spirit of peace, and have our indus
tries advance to a greater and grander
prosperity than ever before: =
X Brotherhood the Watchword.
1t was very evident from the errthu-
siasm of the audience that the con-
sensus OF opinion with all present was
that the watohword Of this day and
generation should be a brotherhood Of
Y110yyora nn6 al
ing the fact they are children of the
same Father, and brothers by birth
and by community Of interest.
=, There We're present a good represen-
tation of men prominent in the labor
Moysment; aoyeIa'e n,as'.HE Among them were Geo: B.
State Federation of Labor, and per-
president OF the Aniericam Federation
of Labor; J.. J. McHugh, vice presi-
dent of the State Federation of Labor
and representative OF the st. Paul
Carpenters Union; Rev. c.. B. Board
man of Minneapolis, fraternal dele
gate from the Congregational Ministe-
rial association to the Minneapolis
E. McEwen, secretary OF the State
Federation of Labor, and editor of the
Labor World.
Attitude Of Speakers.
All Of the speakers emphasized the
necessity Of maintaining conditions Of
peace and harmony between, capital
and labor, and expressed the hope that
there soon may be developed some
plan by which the present conflict be-
tween the industrial forces Of the city
may be settled in the spirit of peace,
and the former harmonious relations
restored to the qualification Of all citi-
nd h11c mr. TO
The first speaker was President
Howley Of the State Federation:
He reviewed the cause Of the lock-
out and laid the blame for the trouble
entire entirely at the doors Of the American
tract for erecting the iron work OF the
Sellwood building. He explained how
Joseph Sellwood had offered to take
the contract off their hands. at a
trouble might be averted, and compiI-
mented Mr.. Sellwood for the spirit of
fairness he had manifested in connec-
t1on with the matter. The bridge COM
able terms offered BY the Duluth man,
and refused to get out OF the field and
take a profit. merely because of the
principle Of the thing,
they expected the unions to sacrifice
all the principles of unionism. and
work beside non union men. in viola
ton Of the laws Of organized labor.
could have gotten. away with money
A Clean Contest.
Mr.. Howley said this has been one
Of the cleanest fights between capital
and labor that he has ever witnessed,
and complim ented both the contractors
and the men locked out for the manner
in which the fight has been carried on.
There has been no violence or low
ra tn n{t ~
stated. He took the position Of labor
in the present struggle as proof Of
What has been contended for years,
that the American Federation of Labor
tactics.
He mentioned the fact that thou
sands Of men in Chicago and other
TheiF wants are such S pan' that they SS'tty; a;e
streets to emphasize their demands for for
work Snni;., and food: H. contrasted this
SWhere: y in spite Of the fact that there; here;
has been q lockout in effect for weeks,
With nearly 1000 men thrown out OF
work as result. there is no want
among the organized labor classes,
which are being cared for by their or
EaniZations.
sduced.
: An HumOrOus Speech.
r He made some humorous and effec-
tive comparisons between the struggle
OF organized labor against Injustice AT
2 the hands Of capital. and the struggle
set America for freedom and indepen-
dsnse den. The United States; he said. was
started by a. few men. who went on a
strike because they were unsatisfied
s.muei 1I1t Xdsl he sa1d q: man
tue state or Affairs fhor