The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-23
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
With the organization of new
political party in view and a fight
against President George Howley
and Secretary-Treasurer William Nc
Even, the Minnesota State Fedora
ton of Labor convened at the A. o.
U. w. hall at ten o'clock this morn
ing. "This will be one of the most
important conventions in the history
of the federation" declared one of
the prominent delegates just before
the convention was called to order.
Eve are here to take a stand in
favor of a new order of things. In
my opinion organized labor will bid
farewell to the old political parties,
and branch out with a platform and
candidates of its own making. Sec
rotary McEwen in his report to the
convention advocated the appoint
ment of a committee to formulate
plan of action, the laying of the
groundwork for a new party, this
committee to report year hence.
Opening of Convention.
Over 300 elegates-perhaps $50
from all the principal cities of Min
nesota and the border line of the
Dakotas were in their seats in the
A. o. U. w. hall this forenoon when
the goth annual meeting of the Min
nesota State Federation of Labor
was called to order 1t was an in
telligent appearing body of men, rep
resenting all branches of toll, and
among them were half a dozen or
more women delegates.
The convention is the largest that
the federation has yet held in the
state, and promises to be the live
Hest and in many ways the most
important.
c. E. Keith of this city called the
convention to order, for the local
committee of arrangements, and said
that the committee had done the
best that it could with it's limited
means. The convention should not
hold the committee responsible for
inefficiency of the railroad train ser.
vice or of the hotel accommodations,
or for the rapacity of any hotelkeep-
err The committee had done all
it could.
Rev. William N. Jameson said that
he had served his four years in
a shop and had become an accredit-
ed journeyman before entering the
ministry. Labor unions were not
widespread then, and if there had
been one he probably would have
joined it, as he. had the fighting
Qualities. The cause was one that
could be commended to Almighty
God and He can be looked to for the
poise necessary for successful agi-
tation. What the labor unions seek
of capital and the legislatures has
the spirit of righteousness back of
it. The speaker then gave a bene-
diction directed particularly to la
Dor.
Welcomed BY the Mayor.
Mayor Charles T. Taylor heartily
welcomed the convention to the city,
on behalf of the city. He was glad
" nave Tic uSltSdJcS DEeSc1J, duu
hoped that they would have a pleas
ant and prosperous visit. Mankato
was the first city in the state to adopt
the commission form of government,
and although the time has been
short, the charter is believed to be
good one. The city is prosperous
and a great deal of building is be-
ing done, among the larger buildings
being the lately completed 100000
Elks club building, the 100000 Lu-
theran ladies seminary, the mother
house of the Sisters of Notre Dame,
to cost over 100000, the $4,000. 10y,
ola club house, the 100000 new high
school building, and the city has let
contracts for street paving to the
amount of more than 100000. The
mayor extended the freedom of the
city to the delegates
Response BY President Howley.
President Howley thanked the
speakers on behalf of the delegates
for their kind words and welcome
He was sure that the conduct of the