The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-07-08
MINING INTERESTS S0WED THE WIND:
ARE NOW REAPING THE WHlRLWlND

The United States Steel corporation has sowed the
wind and has reaped the whirlwind
1t has ignored the advance civilization the prog
of humanity and insists upon adhering to prac-
tices which have long been outlawed in modern So
ciety.
Nearly As representatives selected by the employers
employees and the public months ago testified
fore the Commission Industrial Relations They
almost unanimous in the opinion that under
the present social system, "collective bargaining
absolutely necessary.
Only two of these representatives dissented from
this view. One representative of the employers
and the other representative of Industrial Work.
of the World Tie latter organization has time
for collective bargaining
In this respect sssasInited States Steel corporation
and the Industrial Workers of the World agree,
due to the fact that both organizations repudiate
sound economic principle that the deplorable conditions
obtain on the iron range.
Much is being said about the Industrial Workers of
the World, and most of what is being said untrue.
For instance it is sought to- lay the responsibility
all that is taking place the at the door of this
much-maligned organization. But we adhere to the
belief which have oftmes expressed, that neither
the Industrial workers of the World any other
ganizaton would be able to to bring strike such
magnitude unless there was something wrong with
working conditions.
We have said that the United States Steel corpora
tion has sowed the wind and has reaped whirwnd
1t has ignored human progress: 1t has granted a
wages,
the corporation reported at $3.50 100000.
Had the Minnesota State Federation of Labor at
tempted to organize the iron Miners it would have
with the reception from the United States
corporation officials that the Industrial Workers
World now receive Likewise, the public press that
jumps when the steel trust pulls the strings would
demn the American Federation Labor as they con-
denim the Industrial Workers of the World. The steel
trust would fight any attempts at organizing by re-
sponsibe labor organization as it fights the l. w. w.
today.
AS it is they content to condemn the foreigners
here let us ask question: ..
Who brought these foreigners here and for
what purpose were they brought?
In 907 there similar strike the Iron Range.
At that time there responsible labor organization
supporting the strike This organization was the Fed
Grafton of Miners, affiliated with the United Mine
Workers of America. Were not the same arguments
used in 1907 being used in 1916? Did not the
press condemn the Western Federation Miners as it
condemn the Industrial Workers of the World today?
In other words the steel corporation come the
people of St. Louis County with clean hands? Have
they met the miners the Iron Range halfway in this
matter? Has this giant corporation been fair with the
people Of St. Louis County in view of the that they
have opposed any kind of organization among their
workers in these times when every thinking and
woman recognizes the necessity of kind organ
zaton in order to and maintain the common
rights of American workers?