The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-08

ALL COMBINE TO DEFEAT
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY
Evident That Labor's Only Sal
walton in Future Rests in
Political Action. {
(Rv w. f.. eMcEWEN.1

(By W. f.. sMcEWEN.)
ST. PAUL, April 6.-(Special Cor
respondence)-As< the legislative ses-
sion draws to an end it becomes more
evident each day that little, if any,
constructive progressive legislation is
to be enacted into law. The house
spends most Of its time pickering
over trivial matters, with now and
then some gingery proceedings en-
gendered into it's deliberation.
Representatives Klemer and Stone
filed their charges on Tuesday, in
which they alleged that the import
ant committees of the house were
packed to head off all legislation Of
real import to the people of the state.
The resolution conveying the charge
asked for a committee of seven to
make an investigation, but it is gem
orally supposed that the majority of
the members of the house will defeat
the resolution. ~.
Legislature on Trial.
However, the Indictment has at
last been made, and in view of the
fact that nothing has been passed
by this legislature the next ten days
will show whether or not the charges
of Messrs. Stone and Klemer are well
grounded.
All legislation on employers la
bility seems doomed for defeat. The
employers are still floating the mem
bers with letters in opposition to any
legislation of this character at this
session, and there seems to be dis
position on the part of the members
to comply with the request.
! Labor is Discouraged.
Labor is badly discouraged, and the
! threat is being made about the cap
itol, that If this legislature adjourns
without enacting any legislation on
employers nabfsffty there Is but one:
course left for labor to follow, and
that is for the workingmen to enter
the class struggle started by the en-
ployers, cut. loose from both of the
old parties, and wage a political con-
test of their own at the next election.
Lobbyists for employers liability
companies are busily on the job. They
permit nothing to escape their no.
tice, and If by chance anything gets
away from them they exert sufficient
influence to have the matter again
referred to a committee.
How Labor Is Fooled.
AS an illustration-at my request
Senator Rockne introduced bill for
a constitutional amendment author
izing the state to create an indem-
nifty fundfor the purpose of compen-
sating all men injured at their occHa
pations. This bill was considered by
the judiciary committee Of the SEN
ate and recommended to pass.
The employers liability companies
were taken off their. feet by such
summary action on the part of such
a conservative committee. They sent
their emmisary to Senator Wilson OF
Minneapolis; and induced him to move
that the bill be referred back to the
committee to give: interested par
now bending every effort to kill the
bill. = - ;. - III
Liability Companies Strong.
The employers liability companies
present the strongest opposition, not
only to any modification of existing
laws on employers liability, but also
to the enactment of any Legislation
bearing upon workingmen's compen-
:sation. 1t is strange coincidence,
but nevertheless true, that the work
ingmen of Minnesota are obliged to
fight against the combined opposi-
ton of the personal injury attorneys,
the organized employers as repre-
sented by the Minnesota Employers
&c a No ay>I1 oss1E l@e,5
bility companies. - g z IS:
No men or institutions that now
thrive on employers liability will
agree to a change Of existing cOndf-
tions. They do not want their whole
some profits disturbed. In the mean
time, while the legislature is sold
iering on the subject, the working
men must suffer. Does not this sit
uation warrant labor in taking up the
class struggle in its own interests
against the classes, parasitical and
otherwise, which are now allied
against it s$3 !, i
When the state insurance bill was
introduced in the house Speaker Dunn
referred the measure to the commit
tee on labor. This committee. as 6
have frequently said in these col
umns, is decidedly friendly to labor
legislation, SO It lost no time in res
porting out the bill. When it was
placed on general orders, the insur-
ance companies got busy again. Rep
resentative Fowler Of Minneapolis,
attempted to have the bill referred 4
to the Judiciary committee OF the
house the morgue for this kind OF
bills but by a decisive vote the
friends OF labor succeeded In having
the bill kept In the house.
Representative Burnquist Of ct
;T8 Contin ued On PagIs NJ