The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-02-19
CAUSE OF FIGHT ON
ARMORY ORDINANCE
w. E. McEWen Defines His Posi-
ton On Referendum to Trades
Assembly Delegates.

tor OF Inc LABOR world, was asked
to speak on the referendum petition.
Mr.. McEwen stated that he was not
responsible for the sudden bitterness
infected into. the campaign and that
he would do his best to keep the con-
est on high plane.
II am not making the fight for my
self in attempting to save the Armory
for the peoples use," he said. There
will be no personal glory in it for me.
It is no pleasure to antagonize such
a splendid organization at the Shrin-
ers on such a proposition. presume
if considered only my personal in
terest could have sat supinely by and
permitted the Armory to be sold with
out offering any protest. There are
plenty of others who have the same
view as I have who are abundently
able to take up the fight.
However, I have an ideal, I want
the Armory to be saved for great
public forum and civic center. From
my experience. in the past I know
that it would be impossible to induce
the city commissioners to appropriate
money to purchase a lot and construct
building for these purposes, and so
while we have the Armory want it
kept by the city to be used for almost
the same purposes that the Shriners
propose to use it for. II the Armory
is suitable for q club for private
organization 1t should be suitable for
the same use for all the people.
~ considerable number Of large
employers Of labor throughout the
country have created welfare DEPART
ments for the use Of their employees
The Lake Carriers association has an
excellent institution in this city as has
the Duluth Street Railway company.
A civic center owned by the people
would serve every purpose that en-
ployers have aimed to serve through
their welfare plans, except in addi-
ton thereto 1t would be a democratic
institution owned and controlled by all
the people.
1T has been said that / want the
Armory saved by the city to be used
as a workingmen's club. This is only
an incident. I have in mind many
different uses to which the building
may be put, such as public baths, a
gymnasium and many other, all of
which have to do with civic better
ment.
There is an endless chain of mi !.
gratory workers passing in and out Of
Duluth and their only place Of habit
alton which here Is in the lodging
houses. Their: rooms are close and
stuffy. These men are accustomed to
live and work in the open air. When
they leave their room there is only
one place for them to go where they
are welcome, and that is the saloon.
After forcing them into the saloon do
you blame them for getting drunk?
II they get too drunk we take care of
them at our public welfare institu-
ton, the work farm. Under our pres
ent method we force them down the
ladder of life and when they get near
the depth we attempt to raise them
up through the medium of work
farms and such.
When the saloons are closed these
migratory workers seek shelter in the
union depot, the police station of the
lobby of. the post: office. How much
better it would be If we had an in
stitution in the Armory that would be
open for them at all hours where they
would be. welcome. Here could be
kept good reading matter, numerous
games and prominent men could from
time to time give them lectures on
topics of interest to them. We are
all creatures of our environment and
I propose to assist in creating a more
helpful environment for the. large
number Of men society has treated so
cruelty. 1t is folly to state that space
for such an institution: could be re-
served in the city hall. These men
would not be long there as has been
the experience: in other cities.
II am sorry there has been any bit
terness injected into this fight. /
have nothing. personally against City
Clerk Bergen, City Attorney Samuel
son, or any other public city. official.
I. have not express myself in inter-
views against any Of them. have
merely taken issue with their attitude
and ruling On the referendum" i
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