Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-02-07
MEASURE SEEMS
SURE OF DEFEAT
Bin Appropriating $4,000 to
Help Big Employers.
WAS AIMED At THE |. W. W.
But Testimony at Hearings Brings Out
Facts Not Creditable to lum-
Der and Mining Companies.

TACtS NOT NreoltapIe 10 eu""
Der and Mining Companies.
st. Observation-Disclosures pop
ular opinion, the interests, or to use
a more up-to-date title, big Business"
is tho bane of good legislation, but
bless you, dear reader, big Business"
is responsible for more good legisla'
ton designed to curb its activities
than any other known agency. It
spends millions to head off, and then
lays the foundation on which the very
structure it has been fighting is
erected. Perhaps there is no better
illustration of this than the hearing
the house has been conducting pre-.
liminary to the consideration of the
senate bill empowering the unlimited
employment of deputy sheriffs in the
handling Of strikes and other disturb
ances and the appropriation of $50, 900,
subject to executive disbursement, for
the payment Of expenses incident to
LILO SuppA OSSAOA VI SuNA OASOA OO4 dA0
tho enforcement of the law. Though
it's object was carefully concealed the
bill was really a creation of the big
lumber companies and other large en-
ployers of labor and was directed
mainly 1T the operations of the I. w.
W., which popular opinion is wont to
associate with gun play and other
lines Of disorder. Taking the public
prints for what they are worth and
the representations of the lumber COM
panies this particular organization was
melting to riot and preventing peace
full labor from working. The senate
passed the bill, but in the house a
Minneapolis representative, w. D.
Washburn-a name long associated
with big things-evidently figuring on
giving his colleagues an insight into
the 1niquitous workings of the I. w.
W., demanded a committee of investi-
cation and got it. Well, this particu-
lar investigation has been on a week
and instead of helping the senate bill
1t has sounded it's death knell. If the
legislature does pass the measure it
will be without the $4,000 appropria-
ton, and that appropriation repre-
resented it's teeth. Further, it has
brought to light needed sanitary and
other reforms in the lumber camps and
legislation designed to provide such is
sure to follow.
j. !. \
This is no brief for the l. W. w.
Many of those representing the organ
ization, who danced attendance at
the hearing, were not Of the kind to
inspire confidence in or respect for the
movement, but they had crafty and
shrewd leaders and the very testimony
offered by the lumbermen and mine
owners was used by them in support of
their own cause. Persecution was their
keynote, and their entire line of ques-
tioning was directed at showing that
the prosecuting officials were mostly
tools and in the pay of the lumber
men. Joseph Ettor, a man small of
stature and with an appearance that
could hardly be said to be progresses
ing, was the chief representative Of
tho I W. W., and brought out many
damaging things with his adroit ques-
| tioning. That there was a turn in the
tide was noticeable the first day of
the hearing. Most of the Investigate
ing committee showed sympathies that
were unmistakable. Squabbles were
frequent and clashes numerous. The
senate bill on which the hearing Is
based Is nothing more than an act to
relieve the big employers of labor of
the expense incident to the hiring o!
numerous deputy sheriffs in time OF
trouble. Though such are provided
by the various counties where out.
breaks occur the counties make the
employers pay the bill. That some
thing should be done to rid the state
of such an intolerable condition IS
generally agreed, but am afraid that
the relief sought will not be supplied
through the medium Of the senate act
i. !. !.
Well, as far as the house is con
cerned, the people of Minnesota two
years hence will have an opportunity
| " pass upOA IAC NuCoL1Ou VI d uIy VI
wet Minnesota and there is every in
dication that the senate will add it's
approval The overwhelming victory
for the drys in the house seems tC
presage such and there is nothing tc
offer in the shape of possible mixup
When my last letter was written the
drys of the house, aided by the Anti
Saloon league, were involved in a con
troversy as to what kind of dry
constitutional amendment to offer
which finally ended in the presenta
ton of an act designed to prevent thu
manufacture and sale of intoxicants IL
the state, but permitted it's shipment
into Minnesota. It was manifestly un
fair and as the days grew it's defeat
seemed certain. but the drys, unable