The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-06-21

to this principle. AS this movement
for state regulation Of public utilities
will have some bearing upon the fu-
ture of municipal ownership in this
state, I would recommend that the
convention take up and consider the
question from every angle, from the
standpoints Of state regulation. city
regulation and the effect upon the
prospects for municipal ownership.
The laws Of other states on this
subject involve questions of rates to
be charged for service and the rate
Of dividends to be received by owners.
but no power is given to regulate the
wages to be paid, the hours of la
Dor to be employed, nor other con-
ditions Of toll. We should see to It
that If any attempt is made to pass al
public utilities bill In Minnesota that
the interests Of the employees of pub
lie service utilities are fully and am
ply protected. However, personally
I am jealous of any attempt to re-
store to the state powers that the
people Of the cities now enjoy.
Organization.
A year ago and two years ago I
called the attention of conventions
to the necessity of doing something
to organize the unskilled workers.
particularly of the migratory kind, Of
which there are so many in Minne-
sofa and throughout the northwest
The several trade unions will find it
difficult to materially raise their
wages until we reach down and help
the poor fellows who are struggling
along at a wage slightly above that
! for which they toiled 20 years ago.
During the past year, In spite Of
| the opposition of the various asso-
citations of employers, the labor
| movement has steadily marched for
| ward. There never was a time in
the whole history Of labor when such
an opportunity for organization work
presented itself. Neither has there
been a. time when the necessity was
greater.
The enactment Of the eight, nine
and ten hour laws for women is one
Of it's most beneficial achievements.
as on the material we'll being of
wonnankind rests the future ma
| teria1 best interests of the human
family. No other country in the
world has achieved more success
along the line of legislation protect
ing women than has the American
! trade union movement.
Conclusion.
| I was but lad when my fellow
workers called me to serve them as
secretary treasurer Of this fedora
tion-a> happy, care-free. almost ir-
responsible boy, Vust merging into
manhood.
Whatever I have been able to do
for the Federation has been twice
blessed in its effect upon my own
soul. I can remember so we'll how
proud and pleased I was. I turn the
pages of memory and there comes to
me the evening of the day of my Ee-
lection, and I cannot see, as that
night I saw the clear light Of the
stars that shown upon me as J. lay
In my bed, and I said to myself. II
will be true to my trust as you are
true to me-
No words of mine can tell you Of
my strength Of interest in this move
ment Of ours, in you, in your ambi-
!tion and all that goes to make our
common interest. No tongue, however,
car frame in fitting fashion the SEN
tin1ent that thrills my spirit and fills
my eyes as I look back into your
faces and realize that any outward
and visible tie binding US should be
severed.
Be sure Of this. however, these
years, years that have seen US grow
from weak and feeble body to a
strong and powerful Federation, these
years that have been so much to us
all. have been even more to me. The
ties that time and mutual confidence
have knit---even though they lack the
outward and visible symbol Of tenure
Of office-will continue all my life
to bind me more and more closely to
You and to our common cause.