The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-10-09
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The result Of the county option election ii ennepn
County last Monday was no surprise to persons who
have been making close observation Of the bitter
pa'gn between the ''wets'' and drys In Minnesotas
largest city Union labor played important part In
the election. With few exceptions labor OPP
posed to county prohibition. It unpleasant
paign in which to launch the organizations Of labor
Trade union officials generally recognize that
are evils connected with sale and Of intoxca
Ing liquors which felt severely by laborers
their families. They know something Of the curse Ct
drink and how much the commercialzed drinking place
has contributed to the downfall of thousands Of
and women but workngmen generally and particularly
the union men, look with suspicion the attempt of
those who never helped them to raise their wages,
shorten their hours, improve their working condi
tions to force prohibition them This s not true
in all for there many pronounced prohibition
lists among acquantances, who have shown sincere
interest In labors welfare in number of instances.
In Minneapolis almost every employer opposed to
union labor pronounced advocate Of county pro-
hibiton This fact, more than any other; influenced
the votes of thousands of aborers Then organized
labor believe in the efficacy Of education Trade
unions make men self-rel1ant They are wonderful
character builders Experience has demonstrated to
them that wherever wages have been increased hours
of labor shortened sanitary conditions of employ
ment improved, intemperance among the workers has
been proportionatey diminished. Union men have not
lost faith in the ability of their movement to ultimately
solve the problem of intemperance without force and
by improved economic conditions better educa-
ton of the workers.
is said that the passage of the county option law
in Hennepin County would have directly affected the
employment of 1000 workingmen. Most of these men
are affiliated with organized labor They are nte-
grail part of the labor they demanded the
support of their fellow trade unonists The result of
the election indicates that they received without STINT
There is, however element of danger organized
labor taking part in prohibition fights. The whose
bread and butter at stake from the passage of
sumptuary laws not showing considerable regard for
some Of the ideals of the labor movement. Since the
labor organizations becoming actively engaged in
fundamental issues which is the initiative and
the referendum.
The convention of the Minnesota State Federation Of
Labor by strong vote recently refused to declare for
woman suffrage in spite of the fact that the political
platform of the Federation has contained plank this
subject for number Of years The assumption that
union labor is becoming indifferent to the initiative and
referendum and opposed to women suffrage for fear
that the enactment Of such will make easier
to pass prohibition law. They should bear in mind
the fact that the county option law passed by the
Minnesota legislature without the initiative and refer
endum and without woman suffrage. They should re7
member too, that it is within the the legis
lature to pass statewide prohibition law the same
way as the county option law was passed.;
This phase of the subject is the considerable
worry to many of organized abors best friends The
time s at hand for the Of labor IN Minnesota to re-
direct the activities of the in that direction
which has made it tremendous power in the state for
promoting democratic ideals 1897