The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-19
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spiracy in restraint Of trade is a me- |
mace to the continued existence and |
usefulness Of that movement more |
serious and far reaching than any |
word at my command can portray. |
You can see this as plainly as I do.
And you can also feel as keenly as do |
the obligation that rests heavily upon !
us oil to confront and combat 1T with |
all the forces we can mass against |
It, To the full dischrge Of this obll-
cation I feel that could NOT urge you
too earnestly, if any urging We're re-
duired. But am happy in believing
from my knowledge Of you, that none
Is necessary. ~ &, ,. - ..T-.':. I
-, Personal Duty of the Hour.
My patient hearers, i must crave
your Indulgence for a few minutes
more. There are personal considera-
tions pertaining to this hour, which is
a most momentious one for me at
least, that cannot be ignored. Since
our last annual convention I have
been chosen to administer an exalted
and most impertnt trust in the state
government. that of head of the State
Labor Bureau. I need not tell you
the duties Of the office are onerous
and exacting that they are such as to
require most Of my time and energy.
Nor need I specify other elements in
the case which burden and embarrass
me-. After most thoughtful aud con-
scientious consideration Of all the fac
tors to be reckoned with in reaching
a correct decision as to my duty in
the matter, feel that exact Justice
to every interest involved requires
that no longer continue in the office
to which your generous SURFACES have
so often elected me-. With steady fl
deity to every duty and oil the ability
I possess. I have served the Mime
sofa State Federation Of Labor as
Secretary-Treasurer for period Of
thirteen years. Having thus borne
and care In this service, L now desire
nothing so much as an honorable re-
lease.
am not unmindful Of the fact that
many Of my most valued friends in
this convention--men for whose opin-
ions and Judgment entertain the
highest regard-sincerely regret my
decision TO not again be candidate.
Nor can I close my eyes to the fur
Their fact that the.A great preponder-
ance of sentiment among the delegates
/ here assembled, gives positiv assur-
| ance that on this occasion, as on many
former ones, I would be your unant-
nous choice for the position I have SO
long filled.
Fellow delegates, my sense of graft
fication at being deemed worthy of
such confluence by the Minnesota
State Federation of Labor I cannot
express in words but it will always
abide with me as an inspiration to
higher and nobler endeavors in behalf
of the toiling millions of our land.
| Although for manifest reasons, found
| ed on civic propriety, my services to
the Federation in the capacity of. Sec
retary-Trea surer are about to cease,
J let me assure you, Ione and all, that
! the principles on which orgnized labor
! is based and which find expression in
| its multiform activity, are dear to my
| heart, and I shall cherish them with
an affection and devotion that no
vicissitudes of time can efface or
| weaken. "a
| The Final Word.
| Mr.. President, and delegates to the
convention, 1 give ybu my final word.
The Labor Movement is an established
| institution. among men which no as
sault predatory wealth and privileged
class can overthrow. Post, Parry and
! Van Cleave have done their utmost to
| destroy it., and they have not even
shaken its firm foundations. Kirby,
! the new general Of their army seems
| bent on being more cruel, rapaclous
I SAASA
sors, and that is Well for U.S.. The
more unreasonable, dogmatic and vio-
lent our foes become, the more do
| they solidify public sentiment in our
favor. We are thrice armed in that
our cause is just and that we work
for the general welfare instead of in
dividual advantages; and we shall ere
long find ourselves sustained by the
sympathies and supplies of the great
Svo1 kh.~, IL.
| Moreover, our cause is a progressive
one and will go on to still higher de-
velopment and greater power. We
know there are obstacles in our path
! which to the superficial and the
! thoughtless. seem insurmountable. But
| we have traversed these quagm1res
and know that they are not impassa-
BILE. 1t is no tidings to us that time
and effort, and sacrifice, will be re-
quisite to secure what we contem-
plate. and that the grave will prob
ably close over the present genera
ton before half, that We, forsee and
| struggle for can be attained. Neither
| can failure in practical endeavor dis
! courage us, for we have had success
! s1ve and often notifying failures,
| and We anticipate others. The mad
/ equacy Of means, the absence of that
! every day wisdom which is acquired
only in the school of experience, the
| imperfectfon of men, all Unite to as
sure us on this point. But we are
upheld by an undoubting faith that
whatever of possible good has been
revealed to the understanding of men
may be rendered practical by devoted
| AMI patient exertjon.
] From it's serene elevation above the
low ambitions, the housing schemes,
the gross apprehensions of the sordid,
the labor movement can smile benign
| ly on the impotence of purblind hos
! tflity-the witling's sheer, the bigot's
scowl, the despot's bayonet, even the
courts Injunction. And, through sacri-
fices, discouragements and reverses its
great work steadily advances step by
| step to its ultimate triumph. A hum
! dred failures will not suffice to ar
! rest it; two million lives are already
pledged in this country alone, to it's
steadfast prosecution; and many mil
lions will be ready ere these are
wholly spent. This wounded, bleeding
body OF toiling humanity shall yet be
| raised up and healed. The beneficence
of God has decreed it; the silent
Transformation of the ages has pre-
! nared tho 1r,o ~ for.4it For a TINA vo+