The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-23

thing in a civic way and he said that
the exchange had at the last election
prevented the election of a socialist
for the Office of mayor. He said that
such meetings as this taught the
builders that their competitors are
among the best friends contractor
can have, and he went on TO say that
the contractor should never fear OUT
side competition.
The exchange should work not for
itself alone. but for the good of the
entire city" said he ''and then III will
be doing its work well, for it must
learn that what benefits the whole
city will make the business of the
contractor better He advised Fargo
to erect q building for the local
organization.
Against Closed Doors.
Mr.. Young was against the closed
shop. He said that labor because Of
its make up must have organization,
but that labor had no more right to
say who should and who should not
work because of union affiliations than
church had to say that a man could
not go to heaven because he was not
q church member He believed in the
open shop and told how in Minnea-
polls the exchange had met and de-
feated a carpenters strike and now
there was scarcely such a thing as a
closed shop in the city He said there
were at least $500 carpenters in the
city and Of these not over 1000 were
in the union and the latter were glad
to work in the open shop right along
side of the non-union man. He
scored the rules of the union that
undertook to say that a boy or girl
of 16 years should not learn a trade
because the union did not allow only
so many apprentices and said that
this was the cause of many Of the
high school boys driving a laundry
wagon and doing other like work.
North Dakota for Dakotans.
w. Il. Hoover, superintendent of the
public schools of the city was the
next speaker and he had for his sub
| ject North Dakota for North Da-
kotans. He said that all human prog
ress is based on labor and sacrifices
and had been ever since time first began
and would continue until time should
be no more. AT first mans labor was
iunorganized, but as time rolled around
one man became an expert butcher,
another a baker and still another the
candlestick maker and from these
branched cut the different trades that
we see now. He said there were just
two reasons why man worked. One
was because he had to and the other
| is because he wants to. Man is at his
best when he bends all his energies
at some fruitful toll He said that
North Dakotans should stand shoulder
to shouider In work. In education
socially and in all the vocations Of life
He said that the man who has a clear
conception of his work and who fits
| himself for that work is the man that
win succeed and IS solving one Of the
most fundamental needs Of the human
race. The real valuation of a nation
or state is its men and women and
/ its boys and girls.
Contractors Have Troubles.
J.. III. Bowers, Of this city was the
next speaker. but as the hour was late
| Mr.. Bowers didn't go into his subject
Contractors and Their Troubles, to a
great extent. He said that sometimes
the contractors had more troubles
than those who built the pyramids
which Mayor Sweet seemed to know
so much about; that If some one
would introduce a bill in the city
lcouncil to erect pyramid and Mayor
Sweet didn't veto 1t he would guar
antae the Fargo contractors woulc
/, build one that would last as long as
these old timers and Mayor Sweet
who seemed to live forever would see
in 5000 years from now that this was
correct.
/ r. H. Cobb, president of the ex-
change of the twin cities was the nexi
/ speaker. and as he chose his own sub
lject he made pleasant remarks in re-
i gard to the other speakers Of the
| evening.
Col. w. p. Mccormick OF Minnea-
ipolis and Mr.. Cooke of the same city
we're also called on and made shorl
addresses.
After the stated speeches had al
Ibeen delivered the members anc
| guests repaired to the exchange rooms
| where there was a smoker and very
pleasant evening was passed. 1t was
1.-THE best session that the exchange has
Ihad and was thoroughly enjoyed ps
lall.