The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-06-22
IS
NEEDED BY LABOR
Secretary McEwen Asks Union
Men to Select Legislature
Members Carefully.

= In submitting MS annual report,
Secretary w. r. McEwen made a
strong plea for defense fund for
Beum and Mooney, the two men un-
der indictment in connection with the
Indianapolis dynamiting- plots. He
stated that organized labor believes
them innocent
The speaker went into the cases of
the Mcnamara brothers fully and
stated that laber unions generally
should not be judged by the action OF
these two black sheep.
Mr. McEWen urged fair working
mans, compensation act. advocated
the Initiative. referendum and recall,
Went deeply into the matter Of or
san1zation among women and cau-
toned union men to take more inter-
est In politics, sending to the state
legislature men who have the inter-
ests of labor at heart.
The report is too long for completes
publication, but it follows in part:
1T has been a trying year for the
american @ can labor movement probably the,
most trying in it's experience. The at
tacks upon its efficacy by its enemies
from within, and the terrific assaults
dealt by its foes from without were
sufficient in force to crush into atoms
best fortified of institutions among
men. But the American Federation Of
Labor and its long list of affiliated
unions stood their ground well, and
ther- beaten. they are with character
1st1c v1gor still pressing the claims of
the working classes for higher wages,
shorter hours of labor, improved shop
dustrial freedom in manner that COM
mands for them at least the respect
OF their enemies and the admiration OF
their friends.
which we are engaged it is to be ex-
pected that skirmishes and battles and
even series of battles shall frequently
be lost, but the war goes In. irresistible
go on until all men shall get their
rights; until the hand of toll shall 5e
given its full share of its own earn
ings, until no person on this earth, be
strike the back of labor with the lash
of injustice -, .,-s.--.,
The. men who toll with their hands,.
who clear forests, who build roads.
churches, they are the men who make
civilization possible Others are use-
full indeed, but the laborer Is indfspen-i
sable. Therefore, he must have Justice.
AT this session of Congress in the
fact of the most powerful legislative
lobby OF anti-union employers ever ap-5
pear1ng In Washington more laws are.
being enacted In the interest of labor,
than at any other time In the history
of our cOun try. -
Woman of labor and Woman,s I,extsIa.
..1t :. indeed Sro4;fv,na tlo4; ;, as.on,
the recent and growing development
Of sentiment in: opposition to the old
Imitless order OF exploiting the wage
working women and children Of Ameri-.
1T is needless hero to dwol1> ~, tb.s
evils of woman and child labor We
trade unionists, while the world was
sium bering, endeavored to awaken it
and to call attention to the manner by
which modern industry was exploiting.
American womanhood and Children
were being robbed of their playtime,
We are all fully familiar with the
men by women and later of women by
children, and of the reduced wage.
scale attending, each displacement, and
we know, too, that beneath it a sordid
greed was drawing upon all that we
hold near and dear to us to satisfy its
Unsuitable desire for profit.
The men of labor learned many
slow process of the law. and the help
of government to bring about any
degree of social betterment The re-
cognition of this fact was the very
Every time union labor achieves a
victory it not only raises the status
of union labor but on non-union labor
as well, for non-union labor gets the
benefit of all that union labor achieves.
The average working woman recog-
nizes that her employment is but tem-s
porary. When she is asked to join a
trade union she does not consider II
there is a labor problem but she does
not care to make any sacrifices for its
solution, She is perfectly willing to
permit those who may follow her bear
the burden. @E-1-s
There are several million working
women who look at the question wtoi-
ly from the Individual standpoint, for
getting that some contribution in or
are engaged in industry would make
lighter the burdens of millions Of other
women who are to take their places.
TN several industries the women
49, CONTINUED ON PAGE 81