The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-19
kNN: STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR CONVENTION NUMBER


RED WING, june l1.-(Spec1al to
Labor World)-The 9th annual con-
vention of the Minnesota State Fed
Grafton of Labor was held, here on
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of
this week and finished it's labors last
evening. $3.50.
:: . A Large Attendance. -
y, About $50 delegates were in attend
ance and greater interest was dis:
played in this years meeting than in
any previous convention. This year
for the first time the railroad unions;
switchmen, engineers, fremens and
brakemen, were represented by duly
accredited fraternal delegates. :.
.-... Executive Council. %
On the evening preceding the open.
ing :. Of the convention, the executive:
council met at the federation head:
quarters in the st. James hotel with
President Howley5 in the chair. Mr.:
HoVley reported his official doings
for the year, giving detailed account
Of his work in the interest of the state
labor body. The report dealt mostly,
with matters heretofore made public,
but a request was made that steps be
taken to secure the cooperation of
international building trades unions
in sending organizers into Minnesota.
P. ]. Warren of Winona reported
conditions in his district pretty thor
oughly, noting that the carpenters in
his home city have secured an ad-
vance of 25 cents day in wages. The:
plumbers and sheet metal workers se-
cured the eight-hour day and condi-
tions among the railroad workmen are:
improving, Mr.. Warren said. The WI
mona unions are holding their ground,
although two unions gave up.
Joseph Maiden and A. L. Rich sent
in a big list of unions in their dis
trfct which have affiliated with the
state federation in the last year prin-
cipally through their efforts.
: B. F. Lathrope reported for the
Fargo district. He said his city need.
ed the services of the organizers bad
ly. Several new unions had been
formed and the clerks decided to at
f1liate with the federation.
f.: It was decided TO- recommend to the
incoming Officers that the governor
be requested to APPOINT new; state
board of arbitration y, :. i sf,35 B /. -
ss 7%a,-a The coH*ss,< s,<jon..ss Il a =
T., The: convention opened in the Ar
mory auditorium on Monday morning.
Never. did a brighter and more beau
tiful June day lend It's charms more
fully to any body of men than to the
upwards Of 800 delegates, men and
women, who gathered at the armory
Monday when the 9th annual con-
vention of the Minnesota State Fed
of 1o1
days session
A Notable Feature.
A notable feature of the convention
was street parade on Tuesday even
ing by all of the visitors and the local
unions. Headed by the Red Wing
! union band, the officers of the feder-
alton, the women delegates and the
visiting members and the local unions
! to the number of 500 marched through
! the principal streets, returning to the
! auditorium, where a program was car
ried out. o. M. Nordley, chairman of
| the local arrangements committee, had
| charge of the parade. -
Mayor Pierce presided at the audi
torium and Bishop Robert Mcintyre
was the principal speaker The ad-
| dress was the best thing from labor
standpoint that the federation ever
, listened to. The bishop spoke on "The
Man and the Church." and his address
4 abounded in illustrations and eli
makes. He began by recounting his
early experiences, when as boy OF
II he worked in a cotton mill in the
south, rising at and often working
until II at night; At 18 he became a
bricklayer, serving three years as an
apprentice and four years as jour.
i neyman.
1 indorses Union.
"The greatest asset of the union, u
I said he, 'is the 100000 strong, reso.
I lutte men who are in it's ranks. I be.
Heve in unions, because they are the
natural, normal thing for working
men. Independence is not found In
the cosmos. The heavens are full OF
! q. union of stars. There is not one
1 scab star in all the myriad constella
ton. I believe In unions, not only be.
cause they are necessary. They are
! Naln'RRrlI nDnu n~sa A~.~