The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-06-27
GREAT LABOR MEETING s43.
HELD Az GRAND FORKS
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lions as affecting the early closing Of
stores; showing that 1t was to the
best interests of: ill that the stores
close early. In closing Mr.. McEwen
made an appeal for unionissnn and its
support BY the public. ..::;2 .s.<
Senator 81, G. Hansbroueh. -, 49,
The last speaker ,of the evening was
Senator Hansbrougll who was given
an enthusiastic reception. He said:&
''I was greatly relieved the other
day when the%chairman Of the COM
mtttee on arrangements for this meet
ing came to invite me to be here to-
night. and assured me that would
not be expected to speak, for more
than five or ten minutes. Now, If
cannot bring my remarks within five
minutes, promise you not to exceed
ten minutes and authorize any ono
here with a stop watch to hold It on
me. i :,
Il have been greatly impressed here
this evening In listening to the re-
marks made by the visiting gentle
men who have spoken on teh subject
OF labor. have been impressed be-
cause of the great contrast between
the condition OF; labor at q time when
I had the great honor to belong to an
organization OF labor in San Francisco
and the cndition Of labor today, and
l think 1t Is btu just-because know
1t Is the truth--to say that labor owes
to itself It's enhanced importance
in human affairs today. IN other
words, my friends. through organize
tlcn American labor has. reached the
high standard that it now occupies.
recall when I was youth-and was
rot so very young either, because !
was then working with my hands ana
had occasion to study these questions
to some extent-the average laborine
man was scarcely considered to be
respectable person. That condition
doubtless came about largely in corr
sequence Of the existence Of African
slavery. but with the abolition Of slav-
cry the condition Of the white work.
Ing man commence dto improve and
It has continued to improve down to
the present time, and 1 hope it wilt
contineu to improve until the end Of
all time.
Great Benefits.
1T is through the organization Of
labor that the greater benefits IT,
society generally may be expected.
have watched the progress of the work
of organizing the toile-s Of the country
with great interest, because during
the last eighteen or twenty years, it
has been my duty to pass upon legis-
| lative matters pertaining, not only to
labor, but to all lines of industry, and
naturally legislator is interested IN
| matters Of that kind. may conf
IDENTIFY say here tonight that although
the American congress has been de-e-
| lict In it's duty with respect, not only
to legislation pertaining to organized
labor, but with respect to other mat
tiers as well, that our greatest legis-
lative body is now more favorable 10
the institution of labor than ever :,e,
fore. It has been my observation that
the great interests Of the country have
constantly striven to secure for them
selves the greatest amount of advan-
tage at the hands Of the federal, con-
eress. That Is perfectly natural. The
trusts have been there, the combina-
t1ors, the monopolies, and corporations
Of all kinds have been. constantly at
| the doors Of congress. So has labor
been at the doors Of congress, but I
regret to say that congress on the
whole has listened more intently to
the knock Of the corporation than Il
| has to the rap Of labor, and yet, I
| believe that congress has in the lasi
few years awakened to it's duty and 7
| earnestly hope and confidently believe
that the time is not far distant when
labor will be heard much more readily
and much more effectively than the
corporations. That is my hope and
that is my belief.
| Nov am sure my ten minutes is
almost up. Permit me to say in q
| few closing words that meetings OF
this kind are very beneficial. There
ought to be more meetings Of this
kind. There should be more Of the
business men of the city Of Grand
Forks in these seats tonight. Meet
ings of this kind cannot be otherwise
than beneficial Let the employer and
employed get together. Let them look
at each other as men. not as the en-
p]oye and the other as the paymaster.
Teh two elements should become bet
ter acquainted. In this way labor
would be further ennobled, this is the
thtnG that ennobles any class or con-
ditlon. And so hope there Will be
other labor meetings in Grand Forks
and elsewhere in the state of North
| Dakota, and I trust no man will be-
! able to say that such a. movement
would be tor political effect. There
! are higher motives than politics In the
breasts OF men, notwithstA nding the
caIring critics who cast asp ersions up
on the efforts of the gentlemen who
come here to address you on the great