The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-07-31

Six Hundred Members Of the
Brotherhood Combine Busi-
ness With Pleasure. Al:
PRACTICAL TALKS MADE /
ON TOPICS OF INTEREST.
Worlkingmen's Compensation Law
Was Discussed by Labor Com & !.
missioner McEwen. s
5 a+.

missioner McEwen. s.
= - .a.;...
/ With the view Of promoting great
er spirit Of fraternalism among the
railroad trainmen at the head Of the
lakes and vicinity. the Duluth Lodge
No. $50, Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, entertained all day Sunday.
July Is. :ahout 600 members. The
lodges represented were the Duluth
lodge, Superior No. 339 and Virginia
No. 746. "
:, Afternoon Session. y -
. In the afternoon session was held
in the X. p. hall, at which all the vis-'
itors and the members Of the Duluth
lodge were present. Four candidates
were initiated into the local brother
hood, the ceremonies being performed.
by Assistant Grand Master T" r.
Dodge, of Cleveland, Ohio. '''''
Following: this initiation. addresses
were delivered. Mr.. Dodge spoke on
the subject OF fraternalism. p. H.
Morrissey, past grand master, Of Chi
cago, also spoke on fraternalism. Mr..
Morrissey Is president Of the Railroad
Employees and Investors: association,
which has no connection with the
Minnesota Protective association or
any similar organization, as was mem
toned in an article Of recent date in
a local paper. e. L. Harrigan, gen
eral chairman Of the Northern Pacific
railway system, also delivered one on
the good of the order :,
Mr.. McEwen Speaks.
In the evening smoker was held,
and addresses delivered by Messrs.
Dodge. Morrissey ,Harrigan and VIII
liam r. McEwen, state labor commits
sioner. -. =.
Mr. McEwen confined his remarks
largely to the proposed workingmen'A
compensation law, expressing his be-
lief that such measure will be passed
during the next session of the state
legislature. He pointed out the fact
that the told negligence 3 laws, which.
are still In force In this state, are
santfquafed, and that something 1nt1st
be done to give the wcr crkingmefi bet
ter protection. The differences which
seemed to have existed between the
railroad employees and the employees Of
other trades have passed, and the
leaders in labor circles have discovered
that these differences are nothing
more than imaginary, he said. All
workingmen are concerned In the &C.
complishment Of the same purposes,
and 1t is with concerted efforts that
they are reaping results.
Mr.. McEwen emphasized the fact
that there is necessarily great waste
involved not only on the part Of the
companies but to working men and
upon society, in litigations resulting
from injuries. The companies spend
large sums Of money to protect them
selves against suits, even paying out
more to fight a suit than the damages
asked.
|. Other Addresses.
Mr.. Dodge gave an interesting &C
count Of the history OF his organi3a--
tion and its work throughout the
country, speaking of its many bene-
fits. r" 49,
Mr.. Morrissey, who has been iden-
titled with the organization for many
years, commented upon the successful
work that hts been carried on by the
S0S~O~S' AAC oPOAc III LA0 interest Oh
the home for aged and disabled train
men, which Is being erected at High
land Park, ILL.,, at a cost of $4,000. to
which all the lodges of the United
States and Canada have contributed
A collection was taken last evening for
this institution. -.
Mr.. Harrigan gave an interesting
talk on the future Of the association,
predicting that within a, few years It
Will more than double. He spoke of
the difficulties that were encountered
during the past two years, when tho
business depression was felt through
out the country and complimented the
organization upon It's success in hold
ing up the regular scale Of wages when
an EFFORT was made by ~ Of the roads
OF the country to reduce them. .s.s Fl
During the next few years more than
100, 900 miles Of railroad will be built
by different concerns In the Unitad
States and Canada. This, he stated.
| VIII mean much larger working forces
and he said that when this has been
accomplished the membership Of the
organization will be doubled.
:. He lis at the present time traveline,
throughout the northwest to organize
lodges and encourage others in their
| work. 4 n ':5ys r. :,
i tEr..a. !