The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-03-13


| which is said to be a very strong one
state in it's roll of membership.
2. That a child labor law similar
| to that of Minnesota and a law making
Labor day legal holiday in the state
| were passed on the last day Of the
! late legislature.
3. Emphasizing the need of a COM
petent and resourceful lady organizer
to help the Woman's Label League in
it's work.
4. That all the unions in his dis
| trict had enjoyed gratifying prosperity
during the quarter. many of them ao
ding considerably to their membership.
5. ThatLincoln's centenary had been
flttingly observed and celebrated in
Fargo under the auspices Of the Trades
and Labor Assembly by public meet
ing Which was we'll attended.
s. That Fargo would ask for the
1910 convention Of the State Fedora
tion with a view to strengthening the
| labor movement in his state and open
ing the way to the organization of
State Federation of Labor there.
Secretary McEwen's Report.
w. E. McEwen, secretary treasurer
| of the State Federation of Labor and
| of the Council. submitted his report for
| the quarter, which was both statist-
lcal and financial. He stated that the
cause of organized labor had been Civ
en- considerable publicity during the
quarter through the activity of the
! officers and Twin City members Of
the Council in a matter of the greatest
import, covering the liability of en-
ployers and compensation to work.
1ngmen for injuries suffered in the
line of their work; that he had made
official visits to Duluth and Red Wing
In the interest Of the State Federation
and had also been busily occupied in
the same behalf in Rochester, Mime
apolis and st. Paul. He recounted the
meetings Of various kinds he had ad-
dressed in these cities, including the
Minnesota Academy of Social Science,
a class in political economy at the
| state university, mems clubs in sew
eral churches, the visitation commit
tee of the woman's clubs of the Twin
Cities and many other gatherings. Mr.
McEwen said that at all these meet
| lngs he laid great stress on the neces-
slty for organization among the work
ing people. He reported also that the
offers and Twin City members of
the Council had, pursuant to instruc-
tions, held a meeting at Federation
hall, st. Paul. on Sunday, JAM II, at
which the legislative program for the
present session of the legislature had
been discussed and agreed upon. At
this meeting, also the secretary was
directed to ask the views of all mem-
bers of the Council on the advisability
of aprropriating $3.50 from the general
fund Of the State Federation for the
purpose of employing an agent to
| watch the progress Of the labor legis-
lation in the law-making body of the
state. All the members of the Council
but one having voted in favor of the
proposition, G.. H. Becker, member
of the st. Paul BARRIERS union, was
appointed by President Howley, with
the advice and consent of the Twin
City members of the Council and he
mas ben In active service ever since.
Conference On Liability Law.
! Mr.. McEwen reported further that at
| this meeting he had invited those who
were present to confer the same after
noon in his office in the new state cap
itol with representatives Of the EN-
! ployerS association and the various
| organizations sof railroad employees, at
which members of the State Bar asso-
citation would also be present. The
invitation was accepted and the min
utes of the conference, which were at
tached to the report and made a part
| of it, were taken up and discussed at
| loto NJ I'm t.,
| addition that the per capita tax had
been coming in promptly and laid be-
fore tn eCouncil a statement Of the re-
ceipts and disbursements during the
! quarter, with a summary of the state
of the treasury at this time.
Legislative Agent Reports.
G. H. Becker, the Councils official
! legislative agent at the state capitol,
made a report of the state of labor
legislation in the present legislature,
detailing the provisions of many Of the
bills pending and the prospective fate
of the bills. He called particular at
tent1on to new bill defining vagrancy
Which had been introduced after a
former one on the subject had been
killed. This, he declared, was a covert
blow to picketing during labor strikes
and ought to be defeated. He was di-
rected to continue his opposition to it
and secure it's defeat if possible.
HcHugh at Mankato.
J. j. McHugh, who had been sent by
president Howley to take up the work
OF organization at Mankato, made a
report of his experiences there, He
said that he found labor conditions in
the city very unsatisfactory and the
union Workmen SO much discouraged
that 1t was very difficult to work up
any new enthusiasm among them; but
that with some assistance from the
State Federation and the international
organizations great good could be ac-
compl1shed and the city restored to tia
former standard Of zeal and energy in
the labor movement. Mr.. McHugh
stated that he had given special atten-
ton to the Carpenters union,~ which
was at very low ebb of vitality. and
by the aid of Vice President Rouse of
the State Federation had succeeded In
getting a host of former members of
that union to- a mass meeting and
arouslng some of the old spirit in
= l I|,zFe..,yo- C0ntiunQ6 no mo 4