The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-19
ANNUAL REPORT or u
PRESIDENT HoWLEY
(oCntinued from Page ~

: f.. ,.t
labor has ever been proposed in this
state than the law passed last winter
by the legislature. providing for the
appointment of commission on the
subject Of employers Liability" AS
the secretary and treasurer OF this
federation Is one OF the members Of
that commission, <and more familiar
with it than I am, as we'll as 3 more
competent to discuss the measure, I
shall assume that he will cover 1t in
his report and therefore leave the dis
cussion of that question entirely to
him. I will say. however, that I am
in thorough sympathy with the move
ment and feel fully justified in con-
graduating the members of organized
labor in this state that solution Of
the much vexed problem Of Employers
Liability is so near at hand. =,
Question Of Dues.
An old adage says: I'm, times of
Peace, prepare for War" I am not
quoting the adage to approve it's sem
timent, but it is certainly wise thing
to have our actions in the present
reckon somewhat with the possibil1-
ties Of the future, and I have for some
time entertained the thought that our
low system of dues are not in accord
with good, sound philosophy Of self
protection. So long as the manufac
turers' association, its agents, sup
porters and advocates maintain such
an attitude Of hostility towards the
cause Of labor, we might just as we'll
realize the fact that we cannot always
escape occasions Of trouble, and when
these troubles do come, we ought to be
financially equipped to meet them.
The churches, representing the gospel
of peace, humanity and good will
amongst men, cannot successfully con-
duct their work without sufficient
funds being provided therefor, and
labor organizations cannot expect to
maintain their ground and success
fully resist the attacks Of the enemy
unless they. are. financially strong
enough to Withstand protracted
such an advance in the regular dues
of all our Unions as the best judgment
OF the members may deem adequate.
Child Labor.
This is an evil that almost con-
stantly confronts organized labor and
our efforts for its abolition must not
be lessened but Increased. Children
are being robbed of the pleasures of
childhood and no amount OF recon-
pense in later years can atone for the
transgression. It Is tnhuman even to
permit children to work before their
early childhood has ceased: it deprives
them of an education, stunts their
physical development and their mental
growth, decreases vital energy, in
many instances corrupts their morals,
and these evils would be enough in
themselves surely, to condemn the
practice; but 1t is more far reaching
than that. It deprives the adult work.
er or an opportunity to. earn a liveli-
mood for those dependent upon him
TOT support. The contention that it is
necessary to have children work be-
cause the work they do cannot be
done by men nor women has no foun-
dation whatever in fact. This is ap-
parent when we find adults employed
to do the work which in other in
stances Is done by children. The
naked truth is, as everyone knows.
1T is inevitable and necessary. but
because 1T Is cheap. It is crime
against the we'll being and perpetuity
OF society, and the great work which
our organizatton! ID sdoihxoi IN ramelior-
at1ng and seeking to abolish the crime,
surely merits the support and ap-
sproval Of all good citizens, and 1t is
gratifying to note that many leading
statesmen and best thinkers OF our
land are with us in SO noble an en-
deavor. -
Union Label.
I am persuaded that there is no
service which we can render the
Trades Union movement that requires
less effort and expense and brings
larger and more satisfactory results
than the inskstent demand for the label
on goods that we purchase, and it Is
source Of great satisfaction to me to
be able to announce at this time. that
the demand for products bearing the
union label is steadily increasing in
this state. There is no phase Of the
Trades Union movement that presents
better opportunities for advancing the
principles than rlushing the little em-
blem to the front; an emblem that
typifies the union shop and attests
that the product bearing it was manu-
featured under fair Industrial condi-
lions. It is an emblem Of purity and
guaranty against child labor evils
and the sweat shop iniquity. It stands
for fair wages and a decently proper
toned workday and certainly deserves
the patronage of all men and women
who are interested in the welfare Of
society. One thing that the label does
Is that partisan judges in desiring to
accommodate their decisions to the
demands Of our enemies, can not en-
join us from declining to accept or
purchase articles that do not bear the
| union label. Branches Of women's in
ternational union label leagues are
| now being established in the principal
cities of the state and the work ac-
| complished by these good womep
| merits all praise. Although am per-
| sonally resident Of the Twin cities,
| I would be untrue to my convictions
did I neglect to compliment the good
labor women of Duluth on their eff
forts in this line. That they deserve
! to be thus specially mentioned is evil
denced by the fact Of their having
| present at this convention no less
than three delegates from the local
| label league.
While have not dwelt thousandth
! part upon the many subjects that
could probably be referred to in this
communication, yet I feel that I have
taken up enough of your time, but
cannot conclude this report without
according to my able and congenial
] members of the executive board, the
i