davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21

sons ear nowadays. by the simple
whisper of those magic words, and
more particularly when referring TO
the management of the pubic's bust
ness.
Our Ailments Multiply.
A commission form of government
charter has been in effect in Duluth
for almost one year, but we are still
badly afflicted with as many civic all
ments as ever possessed us, although
many are of more aggravated form.
However, it is not the fault af the
charter that we have the ailments Of
which we complain; the charter is n
good one, but the commissioners elect
ed hereunder failed. at the outset to
tune themselves to its spirit. Their
first mistake,-and it is the basis OF
all their misfortunes,-was made,
when they substituted one-man gov
ernment for commission government;
- 80, Bl,lnder After Bluntier. -
The people seem to think we have
commission government in Duluth, but
we have not. We may have some
day, but it will probably require hot
campaign of education and ,,anothe r
election to set things right. The com.
missioners have as of yet shown no
disposition to get away from their
original blunder, and there is no like
lihood that they will do So: This
blunder has resulted in setting sup; five
separate and distinct little govern
ments within the city, and each little
government is presided over by die
tator, called a commissioner, who is
the absolute master Of all things con
nected with his little government
IA Always BY Unanimous Vote.
| The city charter requires that the
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
PARCEL POST CUTS
HIGH LIVING COST
Farmers May Now Mail Garden
Truck $50 Miles in Crates As
Prepared For Express.
EXPECT NEW SYSTEM
- WILL BENEFIT CITIES
Boon to Farmer ale. h., <ers
Who Will 81 sFheir
Mark e&eaper. =,
WASHINGTON. Marc

' WASHINGTON. Marc. ~ new
regulation, intended to furth> >e> ef-
forts to reduce the cost of liVh.> ss>
means of the, advantages offered D.,
the parcel post. was issued by Post
master General Burleson today.
Henceforth farm and garden pro-
duce weighing between 20 and so
pounds may be shipped $50 miles in
the ordinary crates by express. 1t will
not be necessary to pack such articles
SO. as to permit their handling in mail
bags.
This liberalization Of the parcel
post regulations will be of great bene.
At to cities like Chicago, which are
the centers Of large truck gardening
districst. Produce may be packed
more cheaply and conveniently and
shipped at lower rates by post gener-
ally than by express.
Adds Express Advantages.
The action Of the postmaster gen.
eral obviates the necessity Of expert
menting further to produce con-
tainer for eggs suitable for handling
in mail bags.
The new system will add to the pac-
Gel post all the advantages of the ex-
press within the first two zones. An
actual express service will be per-
formed by the postal department .
parcels weighing over 20 pounds. A
statement issued by the department
today says:
POSTMASTER General Burleson has
just extended the postal laws and reg
ulations in such a manner as will
prove to be a great boon to farmers
and truckers, be able to ship their
produce by parcel post in a less ex-
pensive manner than heretofore has
been required under the old reguld-
tiOns. e"
Includes Other. Articles.
Butter, eggs, fruits, berries. vege-
tables, dressed poultry, and other ar
ticles in parcels weighinE. over 20
pounds and~up to SO pounds for ship
n1ent within the first and second
zones-approximate $50 miles-ca.1.
now be packed in boxes and crates
similar to those generally used wher,
shipping by express, as these large
parcels will now be handled outside
of mail bags.
"Packages of these articles weigh
heretofore to be, securely packed in
such manner as to be safely handled
in bags with other mail matter"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21

commissioners shall meet as city
council from time to time, just as the
old board of aldermen did. These
meetings are held at least once in
each week, and matters that cannot
be attended to by the Individual colr-
missioners are there disposed Of, usu
ally by unanimous vote. During the
year there has been a division on but
one or two matters, but. at no time ic
it of record that the council has turn
ed down the request of any commits
sioner
i How the Masters Work.
When the master Of one of the lit
tie governments wants more power in
his domain all the other commission
ers vote to grant it to- him. If they
should not grant such power the Of
tended commissioner would retaliate
the next time another commissions :.
asks for additional power in his lit
tie government. This log rolling is a
natural consequence of the one-mau
power-government the commissioners
established contrary to the charter
when they went into office.
Lets Cat Out Of the Bag.
Commissioners Merritt let the cat
out Of the bag when his opinion was
asked on the proposed ordinance of
Commissioner Hicsen TO license and
tag bartenders. Mr.: Merritt did not
discuss the ordinance, hut he "be.
heved that. if Commissioner Hicken
|. thought the ordinance was necessary
it was his duty to vote for it, Com
missioner m Murchison gave utterance
to precisely the same sentiments fo
the. editor Of The, Labor World, ''He
did not feel like voting against any.
thing, fellow Commissioners wanted
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21

any fair minded person that here is
one branch of the city government
which is delivering the goods. If 'au
departments were as efficient as this
one the commission form of govern
ment<would be fully justified.
Reduce Laborers' Wages.
The commission raised the wages
of common labor shortly after the
new. plan went into effect to s2.4o foc
the eight-hour day. In December, the
This reduction came about the time
many salaries were increased. !,
The commission is spending A,oie
money than was spent under the old
system: It was thought, and many
of us still believe. that if a sincere at
tempt was made to promote efficiency
throughout, the money saved thereby
would be sufficient to provide for the.
new and growing needs of the cts.
without any additional levy upon the
tax payers.
One Man Power Must Go.
But so long as. the present one-n1an-.
power-f1ye-little governments exist
expenses VIII go up, efficiency vii, be
lacking, log rolling will occur, econo-.
my will be ignored and all the evils
that come from lack Of restraint in
any government will pile up noun
tains high. IF FL Fl
The commissioners must change
their method of administration; they
must abolish one-man governments
and establish in their place the. true
commission plan, and il they do not
dn fh3a gflov3a al1 M n s com nj In
about the consequences to them when
by the people at the next election
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
PR|S0NCONTRACT
SYSTEM FIGHT on
Bill to Regulate Interstate Mar
keting of Convict Made Googs
Now Before Senate.
IT'S PASSAGE WILL
END PRISON GRAFT
Warden Wolfer of Minnesota
>>Testifies in Favor of Custom
o. @alled Nations Disgrace.

w. NGTON, March 2o.-The
crucial Srhement in the hundred years
war to end the evils Of prison COM
petition is at hand. The last stand
~+he prison contractors will be made
b., ore Sen. Newlands' committee on
interstate commerce of the senate.
when hearings are held Wednesday
and Thursday on the Hughes prison
labor bill
This bill which passed the house
March 4 by an Overwhelming vote
(under the name of the Booher bill)
provides in effect that 'all goods man
ufactured by convict labor. transport
ed into any state, shall, upon arrival
in such state, be subject to the op~
Grafton of the laws Of such state" il
the same manner and to the same ex-
tent as ,convict-made goods manufac-
tured within the state in question.
The bill was reported unanimously
by the subcommittee Of the interstate
commerce committee which had it in
charge, and was about to be reported
out to the senate when it struck a
mysterious snag. A demand was
made for more hearings and finally
the committee decided to reopen the
whole subject and set March 13 as
the date.
Warden WOlfer testifies.
On that day Supt. Wolfer OF the
Minnesota state prison and Ralph E.
Smith, chairman of the board Of CON
troll Of the Wisconsin prisons, appear
ed against the bill under an entire
misapprehension of it's terms. They
said that the binder twine prison in
dustry operated in their states would
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
REDUCE WAGES TO $1.28
A DAY AND MEN STRIKE

WOODBRIDGE n, j., March 90
Pressers of the Federal Terra Gotta
company declare they we're compelled
to strike because of reductions which
forced their wages as low as 1928 d
day. Working conditions, also, were a
factor in the walkOut. '
The management had refused to
meet a committee to discuss matters,
and is now employing guards to pro-
tect thein free and Independent"
workers.. President Butterworth, Of
the International Brick, Tile and Ter
ra Gotta Workers, Alliance, is in the
city and is aiding the strikers. q
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
Total bonded in
deptedness S,oo4,4S7,13S

This is what you are bonded or
that you did not vote for it and did
not know the debt was made, still
others are held to see that you pay
this debt, or interest on it every year.
It amounts in round numbers. to
5000 for every man, woman and child
in America II you have an average
size family Of five it means $1,000 for
1he family. Every child that comes
into the world comes into debt, 5000.
Every one who >emigrates from Eur
ope to this ,country finds himself on
his arrival bonded to pay 5000 or in
terest on it till he dies. This is a
surer bond than were iron collars or
ankle bracelets, of the chattle slave,
this. It follows you wherever you go.
The interest on $4,000 indebted
ness at 6 per- cent. amounts to $50
year. r. You may pay this for 16
years and then find the debt is just
as great as it was at first.
T. Are We Bonded Slaves?.:
But this isn't all. It does not
take into consideration. the, rent or
profit ::yop pay. 1T is merely the
debt you did not make. for the pay
ment Of which you are under bond
and in bondage. It Is involuntary
servitlde, as shown. from the fact
that you had nothing, to do with Gre
atink it. But even this is not all.
If you are a.; worker you have to pay
the other mans share, because it is
evident that all wealth is in the ult-
innate produced by labor, therefore,
he who produces nothing must take
his portion for the payment of this
obligation out of you. You are,
therefore, as a worker. obligated for
two or three times this amount
bonded by the trusts against your
will;
You didn't know you was paying
anything, did you? You had been
persuaded that, you were not a tax
payer. Well you pay it all. And
| because YOU must pay it. all, it is you
! that are slave-a bond slave, sold
out by the master class government
ally and industrially.
| You, are bound under bonds c1
Indebtedness. You are slave. And
you are Sampson who might break
! the thongs that bind you with just
movement of your powerful limbs
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21

in his department" ..
Those Council Meetings.
This attitude on the part of all the
commissioners makes meetings of the
council a huge joke. The people may
plead in vain, it theEcommissioner who
introduces proposition stands pat,
the other commissioners are. bound to
vote with him. And if they should
balk, woe be unto them when their
turn comes. This is the kind of CON-
mission government we have, and it
is the kind the people will be .oblige!
to upset in the very near future.
Why Boards Were Abolished.
The charter commission abolished
several very important city boards
such as the water and light, park, lib
rary, fire and board of public works.
When they did this it was not intended
that Commissioner Merritt should be
the whole water and light department,
nor that Mayor Prince should be the
park, library and public HI Welfare
boards. Neither was it intended that
Commissioner Murchison should: be
the entire board Of public works, nor
Commissioner #Hicken should be the
absolute dictator Of the police, fire
and health departments #
The Spirit Of the Charter.
+ The charter commissioners tried tt
draw a complete charter, but they
avoided making It too specific; they
did not say in exact language that The
five commissioners should sit from!
time to time as g water and ligh,
board to determine water and light
policies, nor that they should SIT as u
park board, as public safety board
or as a board Of public works to d q
eide upon, the policies Of those depart.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
ST. PAUL PLUMBERS
OPPOSED TO TAFT

The St. Paul Plumbers union does
not take kindly to the rumor widei,
circulated throughout the country IT,
the effect that President Wilson is
considering the appointment of for
mer President Taft as justice of the
United States supreme court.
AT a meeting of the union held
this week the members expressed
great indignation over the possibilit,
of such action and committee Of
three was appointed to draft for the
union a protest against the appoint
men Of Mr.. Taft, the same to be for
warded to President Wilson. The mat
ters were also voted to be brought
before the Trades and Labor AS
semb1y.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
FOR. STATE: 11SE

SACRAMENTO. March 20.-The
warden of the Folsom State Prison
has perfected preliminary plans for a
manufacturing plant at that inst1tu-
tion..' Convicts will be taught useful
trades, and the manufacture of fur
niture for use by the State In it's in
stitutions will be begun
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
ERIE CARPENTERS 49,.
WANT SHORTER DAY

ERIE, Pa, March 2O.-The Car
penters' and Joiners District Council
O. this city is preparing to present
tractors and employers. The sched-
u1e provides for 4 scents an hour and
for 4s-hour week, with time and 4
half for overtime work except on hol-
idays, when double time is asked. Is
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
BUFFALO MINE MEN -
. WANT HIGHER WAGES

=, BUFFALO, March 2o.-President.
Frank McNulty is, in the city aiding5
the Electrical Workers in their efforts
to secure new wage scale, which
calls for 81 a day, beginning the first
of May. The contractors have offer
ed to pay :s3.75 from. May. ], 1914, to
May 1, 1915, at which time they
would grant the $4-a-day scale.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
TRACTION ]. MEMS VEN PAY
DELAYED; THEY STRIKE

PITTSBURGH, March .A2O.-Charg-
ing: that the company has. not paid
them since Christmas, conductors and
motormen on the Pittsburgh Nc.
Keesport and Westmoreland Railway
company's trolley line are on strike.
The line runs from ,McKeesport to
Irwin and is now in the hands of a
receiver
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
ASBESTOS WORKERS GAIN.

TORONTO, March 2o.-The Asbes-
tos Workers of this city have signed
agreements with the leading firms
which provide for better working con-
ditions. %- #+, -. -
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21
IS sU||N|IED.STATES ] ! |
s. NATION NJ !: !. Of DEBTORS.
- .. =. 6. { - I--..a 49, Z
Bonded ebtedness Of All Kinds
! In America Said to Be Eighty
Billion Dollars.
~ ---L - -,
RENT AND PROFIT ARE
ALSO IMMENSE FACTORS
Tax On Every Man, Woman and
Child in Country Said to Be
Over $500 Annually. !.

Did, you ever figure your indebt-
edness? OF course you know to a
cent. how much you are owing this
person and that; and have laid awake
nights thinking about IT. But this
is only a small portion of what you
owe. Let us figure from the World
Almanac for 1914:
Bonded Indebtedness
of U. s. S...........$ 2,020, 0,141,S66
Bonded state debts. 234, 314, 100
Bonded county and =,
municipal debts -. 1.629,SS1,636
Industrial trust bonds 7,S75;965,62S
Railroad bonds 49,, 49,. 6,243,3Ss,s20
: Total bonded in
deptedness ..,... ....$1S.oo4,4s7,1ss
Every Family Bonded.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21

ftq most perfect government 10 one
IN which an injury to the most
mental subject Is regarded as an
insult to the whole constitution !
S01on, -. !. .f~.N - .
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-03-21

Continued on Page 2.
Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-18
STOCK GOSSIP

The New York Financial Bureau:
''The stock market may be irregular to-
day. Best stocks should be bought on
recessions."
The New York Herald 1.-THE Wall
street markets should show great power
of resistance
The New York American: Brokers
figure that the firm undertone should en-
able bankers to hold prices around the
present level until the spring movement
sets in
The Wall Street Journal: Traders
are not inclined to renew short lines, as
large interests seem ready to buy on a
scale down.
The New York Sun: THE impress
sion that the Interstate Commerce Com
missions action may prove harmful to
properties showing poor earnings or
having heavy financing In contempla-
tion finds reflections in distinct heavi-
ness in New Haven and New York Cen
trail"
The New York Post: Liquidation of
speculative accounts and heavy profes-
sional selling contribute to intensity the
markets weakness.
G. D. Potter says: while the rail-
road list may be inclined to sag on ac
count of the postponement of the rate
decision. ] believe there are many in
dustrials and specialties that will ap-
preciate in value. I favor buying Third
Avenue. Central Leather. Pittsburg Coal
and Western Union"
Kuhn, Loeb & Co are said to be
forming a syndicate to take over the
Western Union stock held by the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph Company.
Mackay Company reports that per
cent was earned on common stock in
the last fiscal year. against sos per cent
in 1912.
Continental Oil Company declares reg
ular quarterly dividend of 3 per cent.
The Fourth National Bank OF New
York will vote on reduction of capital
from S5, 900 900 to $4,000 0OO
Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-18
NEW YORK PRODUCE.

NEW YORK. Feb. 17.-Petroleum
firm; crude Pennsylvania, $50.
Turpentine easier, 4S.
Rosin steady; common. 4.2564S0
Wool firm; domestic fleece. 1ad2I;
pulled, secured basis, 34050; Texas,
secured basis 40G52.
Hides quiet; native steers, 16l5 oil;
branded steers. 16 (asked).
Coffee steady; domestic, ordinary to
prime. ga 951a
Molasses steady; New Orleans open
kettle, 35G55.
Sugar, raw. weaker: centrifugal, 3.45
(bid) muscoyado, 2.95 (bid); molasses
sugar, 2.70 (bid).
Sugar. refined, steady: fine granulated,
4.O0@4.10; cut loaf. sos; crushed, 495;
mold \, 400; cubes. 4.3004.35; pow
dered, 4.156420: diamond A. 4.10: con-
fectioners' A. $50 (asked): softs, No. l,
3.90@S.95. (No is points lower than
No. l, and Nos. TO IA are each points
lower than the preceding grade)
Potatoes active; white nearby, 2120
Els, sweets, 10000.
Beans quiet: marrow, choice, 1860
SIS; pea, choice, S.25@360; red kidney,
choice, 49565.00.
Dried fruits firm; apricots. choice to
fancy, 1874 016; apples, evaporated,
SOS. 14912; SOS to zoos, 54 qS24 /:
peaches, choice to fancy, SOS; seeded
raisins. choice to fancy, COZ.
Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-18
Futures opened quiet.
HAYWARD & cLARK's

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. E.-Consider-
ing the enormous difference of 1S0
New York in the May position, the
English market is holding remarkably
well. Futures to-day were to points
lower as due, but spot prices are only
only another instance in which the de-
preston in futures is altogether sen1-
mental on the bearish example of the
Northern market. However, the dis
count of futures under spot prices is
now so great that further bear opera
tions in futures, regardless of spot
facts, appear almost impossible.
The following press report from New
York should convince people that condi-
tions have changed and that bearish
sentiment is less entitled to control the
from all parts of the country Indicate
a general revival of business activity.
II is apparent that the settlement of
the currency and tariff question has re-
stored confidence in the present admin
istration. Manufacturers and business
men are now making preparations for
record breaking years business.
d a6oss R0sia 70 cables cent that 5aeq m
than last year. Similar news comes
generally from Europe, and shows how
strained financial conditions in the last
five months of the old year and in
creased crop views on the basis of
large receipts, due to the rapid move
ment and decline in the market, have
worked lOintlN toward Delay IN STOCK
provision. Indications are now for a
rapid change in statistics. which will
call for a revision in crop ideas. The
change seems to have begun, as Texas
port receipts for tomorrow are esti-
mated at only half of those OF last
year. Pressure and conditions gener-
ally have certainly combined toward
the rapid moving of this crop, and that
is the point We expect statistics to
show from now on.
Our market opened little easier. but
ruled very steady, with no desire to
sell. as no weakness is indicated IN
spots. However, this market is al
ready 90 points over New York on May
futures and &c on the July position,
whereas il should be about 20 points
under New York. and. therefore, pres
ent future prices here embody about all
possible independence on the differ
ences in financial strength between the
two markets.
Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-18
COTTON GOSSIP

NEW YORK. Feb. 17.-There was no
special feature TO the opening to-day.
Hentz was the leading buyer of all op
tions The selling was scattered and
light. Local traders are predicting
higher levels.-J. NJ. Anderson.
Liverpool spot house cables: "Activ-
ity in Manchester is increasing; bust
ness at increased profit margin"
February 20 Will be the first notice
day for March contracts in New Or
leans.
Liverpool cables: Spot cotton in fair
demand; prices easier. American mid
ding fair, SD; good middling, 7.41d;
middling, 7.05d; low middling, sid;
good ordinary, 5.s7d; ordinary. 5.4Sd.
The New York journal of Commerce
reports cotton goods market as a whole
steady, although Irregularities are still
noticed. The absence of large contract
business is still noted,
NEW ORLEANS. Feb. 17.-Hayward
& Clark: The weather map shows
fair over the rest of the belt no rain.
Indications are for fair in the Allan
tics, with increasing cloudiness and un-
settled weather over the rest of the
belt; rain in south and west Texas.
Moscow. Russia, cables: "Spinners'
stocks so per cent less than last year"
The New ORLEANS Times Democrat
says: Cotton continues to work out its
own salvation, as 1t doubtless ought to
do, at the present level of prices, and
indeed the need of speculative support
has pretty well passed, now that the
remnant alone remains to be dealt with.
But certain amount of boosting will
always be necessary, so long as New
York with its half-caste grades and
fixed dfferences'D is permitted TO APP
ply pressure which is all the more eff
fective for being purely artificial. The
developments Of the near future are
bound to be decisive, for the into
sight must soon show whether crop es-
Inmates of 14500,00 bales were seri-
ously wrong and Mr.. Hester's reports
of spinners' tal<ings must quickly bear
out or belle the prophecies or shrinkage
in consumption. This would be beau
tiful world If everybody could be right
forever. but the world is so arranged
that no dream can last.
Memphis pires: Most general de
mand prevailed for spots to-day than
for the past six weeks. All buyers have
orders, Expect large sales"