The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-19
To the 9th Convention, Minne-
sofa State Federation of
Labor.
RIGHTEOUS LIVING THE
PURPOSE OF UNIONISM
Its Philosophy Transforms Wage
Farmers From Human Machines
Into Human Beings.

RED WING, June 17.-(Special to
Labor World.)-The following is the
full text of President George B. How
leys report to the Minnesota State
Federation Of Labor convention:
To the officers and delegates to the
twenty seventh convention Of the Min
nesota State Federation of Labor,
Greeting:
For the twenty-seventh time We are
assembled in annual convention and in
obedience to our laws and usages 1
submit to you report briefly setting
forth few of the important matters
that have engaged our attention since
our meeting one year ago. together
with such suggestions and recommen-
dations as I believe should receive at
your hands earnest consideration and
action.
A. F. Of l.. Convention.
I attended, as your accredited dele
gate, a meeting Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor convention last No
vember and participated in the pro-
ceedings of that body. The deliver
ances of that convention have been
duly published and you are all Of you
no doubt familiar with them, and I
need not therefore dwell specifically
upon any. But I must state that to
adequately realize the magnitude OF
the organized labor movement and the
vital Importance Of the multitude Of
questions involved, one must attend an
American Federation Of Labor meet
ing. One comes in contact there with
leaders who are men of great d1st1nc-
ton in the various walks Of life in
their respective states and localities
and one would have to be very opaque
inded did he not In such g place, ac-
quire much Information that would BE
of immense advantage to him In his
home state. It was deliberattve body
whose methods Of procedure would do
honor to the highest legislative body
in this nation. I could not help but
feel impressed with the fact that the
cause Of unionism is the instinct OF
self-preservation. progress and right
eous living and that this instinct
reaches it's highest state of develop
ment In the men in the movement who
possess the highest degree of intelli-
gence. In sucl, endeavors man devel-
ops strength, courage, perseverance
and all the best and ennobling traits
Of the human heart and mind, while
the cunning and liberty destroying
tactics of the enemies of unionism de-
velop naught but selfshness and those
ignoble traits that debase and degrade
and which not only make their pos.
SCISSOR a wretched being, but also tenc
to increase the misery of all mankind
because the heartless selfishness Of
such beings is ever urging them te
ride on to success over the ruins Of
their fellow men. Let us be thankful
that the philosophy of the Trades
Union Movement is uplifting and en-.
nobling and believes in the doctrine Of
Transforming wage-earners from hu-
man machines into human beings.
It would be manifestly impossible
for me at this time to do justice to any
number Of the great questions that
were considered at the convention anc
I much prefer to urge upon you a
careful perusal of its published pro.
ceedings.
Work I'm State.
Our work in the state during thu
past year having been apportioned by
congressional districts and havins
been reported in full at the regular
quarterly meetings. OF our executive
council. a detailed statement thereof
will be contained in the report of tn,
executive council Of this year and
need not therefore trespass upon you
time by repetition Of It here; sufiic
it to say that Trades Unionism to
day IN Minnesota stands for purity
strength and more determined thai
ever to fulfill its mission and emanci
pate the toilers from the mutinou
treachery that stony hearted gree
ever stands ready to impose. Trade
unionism in Minnesota is most pro
gressive institution. It is composed O
men Of stout hearts and steady nerve
and who are imbued with an optimism
that is constantly quickened by tn
accommodating power Of associate eff
forts and the righteousness of it
cause, and looks complacently forwar
to time in the near future when TIL
goal of it's ambition shall be realized
Political Activity.
Let us remember that the wor
politics as interpreted by us in tn
Minnesota State Federation of Labor
not synonym Of partsanship and tha
our political activity means the sup
port OF such men and measures a
square with the policy promulgate
by the American Federation of Labor
SO far as the executive council OF thi
federation concerned itself with polit
ical affairs during the last natona
campaign, it was with the end indi
Gated In View, and I am happy to an
nounce that while our efforts did NO
everywhere obtain to the extent tha
we wished, yet our success as Who'll
was most gratifying. Labor. as yo
favors;: all that labor wants is .tustic
and we have no hesitancy in commit
ting ourselves to the support Of sue
men, regardless of their political af
flliations, as are willing to give til
toiltng millions of our land a sa,1ar
I deal In legislation. Probably no mat
) ter OF greater moment to-. organize
tCeatiaued on Pasre e.) So