The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-11-15
LABOR FORWR ARD,
Movement Successful In Mime
apoIiS and St. Paul.
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

The trade union men of Minnesota
shrewdly recognized the possibilities Of
the method employed by the religion
forward movement and adapted the
idea to their own needs. The result
was the labor forward movement Of
Minneapolis and ST Paul, carried on
from April 81 to May 4, 1912.
The Trades and Labor assembly Of
Minneapolis appointed a large commit
tee, representing all the unions in the
city, to work up interest among local
trade unionists and to secure speakers
from the national and international Or
CARNATIONS. The expense of the cam
paign for literature and halls was met
by the sale of labor forward buttons
at 10 cents apiece. Besides selling
these to the workers, flying squad
ron was formed to visit the business
men to dispose of all the 10000 buttons
The city was divided into districts so
that meetings could be held over all
the city at the same time. This en-
abled all to attend easily and was an
additional means of advertising through
exchange of information in CONVERSE
ton on the cars and in the shops or
other places of work. These district
meetings We're sometimes mass meet
ings, sometimes intended for some sin
gle trade. Expenses were cut down by
securing the free use of school build
ings, churches and municipal halls
Carrying the meeting out among the
people enabled the trade unionists to
interest and inform people not other
wise accessible. One feature of the
campaign was the close cooperation
with the churches In Minneapolis
one Sunday evening twenty-five pull
pits were occupied at evening meetings
by representative labor men. This en-
abled the trade unionists to reach a
class of people Indifferent or misin-
formed as to their aims.
The aim of the campaign was three
fold-to increase the numerical strength
of the trade union movement; to
serve a revival function by arous-
ing the members to renewed and in
creased activity and zeal and by de-
veloping a more militant enthusiasm;
to disseminate more widely informa-
ton of the principles of unionism
among citizens. How well they sue
ceeded may be judged from the follow
lowing: Forty national representa-
tives from all parts Of the country
were in Minneapolis. From five to ten
daily meetings were held in various
parts of the city, in public assembly
halls, churches, the Y. NJ. G. A. build
ing, the courthouse, schoolhouses and
trade union rooms. That six unions
We're formed in Minneapolis alone as
the result of the campaign is the state
ment of e. G. Hall. president of the
State Federation of Labor. The sue
cess of the educational end may be
gagged by the scope Of the discussions
and the wide range of people reached.
Trade union principles were presented
to individual locals, to mass meetings
of locals, to general audiences in
schools and churches. to fr9terual or
CARNATIONS, to the Young Mems Chris
tian association, to mems clubs, to the
Neighborhood Civic club, etc. Some
of the topics discussed before large an
diences We're: The union shop versus
the nonunion shop; woman and child
labor; organized labor-its struggles;
what does union labor want? the trade
unions of today; convict labor; the
union label; compulsory and industrial
education; the shorter workday; wages
and mortality; health, safety and SAM
tation in factories; compensation to
workmen for injuries received in EN-
ployment.
So successful was the campaign in
Minneapolis and st. Paul that Duluth
took up the plan. This method opens
up rich possibilities and seems most
feasible. The results from the enthu-
siasm reused. the fraternal and social
spirit developed by the mingling of all
the members Of organized labor, one
with the other, the revaluation Of the
purposes and aims of organized labor,
wider and deeper knowledge of our
struggles and successes, will be Of in
calculable value in our progress. Con.
structive work must accompany the
campaign to utilize the enthusiasm
stimulated and to give it a proper out
let. with organizers and the members
of the local unions putting forth every
effort during the revival and follow
ing it members can be added to locals
already organized and new locals can
be formed. Unorganized workers can
be reused to the practical value of
united action. Yet 1t must be ever
held in mind that emOtionalism and
sentiment alone will not serve the pur-
pose. The trade union movement must
stand on firm and strong foundation
A labor forward movement was dis
cussed by the executive council at its
May meeting. and ut was decided that
. plan for a labor forward movement
te prepared and submitted to the next
meeting Of the executive council"
The influences Of a movement of this
kind for the North American continent
would give a treEendous impetus to
the organization Of the workers. The
sweep and the scope Of a work move
ment would carry an incalculable chain
of Influences and results. both psychic
and material - Sampel Gompers in
American Federationist