The labor world., 1914-07-04
STATE. Federation | |
COMING ! | M 500 STRONG R ! \ !;
July 2o-22 Will Be Gala Days In
Duluth for Organized Labor ;.
\ of Minnesota. t..=,# &
SAMUEL, GOMPERS ~ f..:..
INVITED TO ATTEND
President Of American Fedora.
ton Of Labor May Be Here
to Address Assemblage.

Fully 500 delegates are expected In
Duluth July 20-22 to attend the: an
nual convention of the Minnesota
Federation of Labor. Local labor men
have, practically completed the pro-
gram and 800 delegates have already
ben assured. Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation, has
been invited to give an address, and
the presidents of the Michigan, Wis
consin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and
North Dakota federations will attend.
One of the most important matters
coming before the meeting will be the
report of the committe on convict
labor. At last years meeting the con-
vention appointed a committee Of ten
members with Gust Elmquist Of st.
Paul, chairman, and George w: Law
son of the same city, secretary, to
draw up a report setting forth the
views Of organized labor on this ques-
ton. =
william E. McEwen says that the
contract system will be condemned
and an effort will be made to have
convicts put to work on the highways
and in clearing state lands. For those
who are unable to do this work 1t
will be urged that they be employed
in manufacturing work. '~' - >,%~13 3s.<<
Organized labor, says Mr. McEwen,
is opposed to having convicts employ
ed in making twine for the reason
that such experience is of no value
to the worker as most of the outside
twine plants have been closed due to
prison competition. The committee
will recommend that convicts be en-
ployed at such work that the exper-
ience obtained will be OF practical
value after the prisoner has been re-
leased. ..'.' = y
Legislative Program.
Another important matter will be
the formulation Of legislative prs>-
gram in which the workman's COM
pensation act will be the. cenIral uoplc
Of consideration. The following
recommendatious- Tor changes in the
law will he made: 10 change III.
emetlaodev atforr ~ rev1ls VI
they have been found sdeticfeinit1s IN: FL.
creasinE the amounts OF compensation
wherever it has been found too small
the rates paid under the New York
law being usedssas q, model; toSsralse
the compensation for death liability
from $4,000 to $4,50o; to increase tie
liability for permanent disab ability from
$4,000 to $4,000. -
An organization will also be effected
to make an. educational campaixn
among voters in behalf Of the amend
ments for initiative referedu,a a;io re.
call. An effort will be made to Sc.
cure as large a vote as possible on
these proposed amendments. =,
-r More Supreme Judges.
It is also planned to work in behalf
OF larger supreme court, raising the
number of judges from five to seven
and to make a five-sevenths votes
necessary to declare a law unconstitu.
tional. *~ ( ',sr :: - ,::.;i )
An advertising campaign is now be.
ing pushed to make the Duluth con
Ventton the biggest ever held in the
state by the federation. Huge posters
are being prepared and will be posted
all over the state announcing the
features Of the program.
The program is almost complete
During the forenoon of the opening
session the meeting will be organized
and during the afternoon the dele.
gates will be taken for river and har.
Dor trips. In the evening reports and
speeches: will be heard. -
On Tuesday there will be, sessions
from 9 g. m. to 4: p. M Followins
the afternoon session there will be :
drive over the boulevard and a ban.
quet win be held in the evening ''SA