davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-30
War Plant Blast Injuries 9

Bridgeport. Conn, March 29.-Nine
men were injured, five probably fatal
ly, by an explosion that occurred in
an experimental and forging shop Of
the Bridgeport Brass Company this
afternoon. The cause of the accident
is not known. One of the injured, his
clothing aAame, was blown through a
window and impaled on barbed wire
fence
Company officials say all employees
are accounted for, although they were
unable to give the names of those in
jured. The company has a number Of
war contracts for cartridge blanks and
shells
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22

proved that they will serve the cause
to which they have sent forth their
sons to die, but why use measures
with women which would write the
country down as second rate if used
with men? We are boosting the SOL
dier's efficiency. Let us boost his
wife's, his mothers, his sisters, by
urging the passage of the Federal
Suffrage amendment so that this
great Yoman's question and democ-
racy's question may be settled once
and for all. And settled right.
The lower house of congress will
vote on this amendment on Thurs
day, Jan. 10. The Labor World
hopes that the congressman from
Minnesota will take their places in
the vanguard of progressive law
makers who will remove an obstacle
to woman's efficiency by voting to
place her on an equal footing with
man.
Equal SUFFRAGE is the cry of the
hour!
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
RIOTING OVER A BUTTON.

New York World: In St. Paul,
Mimi, it seems that, in time Of war
and with many people openly or Sc
cretly in sympathy with the enemy.
the street railway companies have de-
cided that it is necessary to forbid the
use by some of their employees of
union buttons. The result has been a
strike.
1t is conflicts of this kind which,
even in peace. bring down upon en-
ployers the wrath of the public. They
lose sympathy and support which later
on they may deserve when labor it.
self makes outrageous demands. They
allow their agents to provoke indus
trial strife for trivial causes, and then
they wonder why public opinion turns
upon them and finally defeats them.
With the country at war, what poss-
ible excuse can there be for such
folly? Union or non-union, button or
no button, this fight for democracy
must be won, by labor as we'll as by
warriors, and the employers in St.
Paul or elsewhere who make a riotous
issue of a trifling dispute do not differ
much from alien enemies in the harm
they do.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
THE UNPOPULAR RICH.

The Public:, The sworn statement Of
expenditures in the campaign for re-
election Of Mayor Mitchell shows the
use of a campaign fund of more than
million dollars, to which the largest
contributors were J. P. Morgan, John
d. Rockefeller, George F.. Baker, and
others of their class. That these men
were the active supporters Of Mr..
Mitchell was generally known by the
people of New York, and there is no
need to look farther for the reason of
his overwhelming defeat To be the
friend and satisfactory agent Of these
men is to be the friend of social and
economic order that is becoming in
creasingly disreputable in the popular
mind. They are not bad men, but
they are symbols and personifications
of bad order. There is saying,
popular even among reformers and
radicals, that we should not "be
against" a man merely because he is
rich. Yet that is precisely why the
people are and should be against"
these men. For Ito the extent that
any generality can be accurately to be
rich these days means to hold private
control over the community's natural
resources and it's commercial and in
dustrial processes to an extent that
1s incompatible with the freedom and
well-being of the majority Of its peo-
pie. And, whether we believe in per-
sonal devils or, not, the growing un-
popularity of men who stand az ex-
emplars of this order Of things re-
fleets changed public attitude that
u to be welcomed and encouraged.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
INVESTIGATE MILK PRICES!

The Federated Trades Assembly at
it's last meeting adopted a resolution
introduced by delegates from the
Typographical union, requesting the
Public Safety commission, and also
the local committee investigating the
high cost of living, to make a
thorough probe of the local milk sit
uation to ascertain if the prevailing
prices demanded for this commodity
are warranted.
The official bulletin of the Safety
commission for Dec. IS contained an
article pointing out the beneficial re-
suits obtained from it's investigation
of milk prices in the Twin Cities,
which resulted in a material reduc-
ton.
The significance of this matter is
that the commission has failed to
give any relief from high foodstuff
prices to the people of other sections
OF the state. 1t is only reasonable
to expect that profiteering would be
curbed if the commission extends it's
operations.
Many reasons have been submitted
tending to justify the several in
creases in local milk prices. Dis
tributers place the blame on the pro-
ducers, while the latter shift it onto
the former. The object of an inves-
tigation is to delve into the costs and
percentage of profit of all those who
handle the milk before it reaches the
consumer, and disclose any irregu-
larities or conspiracy to boost prices.
Conceding that the poor hay crops
and meat famine may have something
to do with the increased milk prices,
it is foregone conclusion that an
official probe would expose an ex-
cessive margin of profit by milk
dealers.
Organized labor has taken the lead
in the attempt to reduce milk prices
something of vital concern to every
Duluthian and which should receive
whole-hearted support.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
Jolt From The Supreme Court
(From The Mesaba Ore


The United States supreme court
has decided that it is unlawful for
union men to solicit membership for
their unions, which, perhaps, were it
not for the 1egap' atmosphere, might
be taken as evidence that our supreme
court is opposed to organized labor. :
That august body Of learned jurists
might as well say to us that it is un-
lawful for a church member to draw
the sinner within the fold, or for 4
lodge man to try to increase the men,
bership of his favorite organization.
But of course the church and the
lodge are not menaces to the Industrial
scheme like the employe who desires
to fortify HE energies against the in
vasion of Unsuitable greed, and
therefore the supreme court, the high
est tribunal in the land, comes to the
rescue of the down-trodden employer
and makes harder the lot of the la
borer.
The decision is in keeping with
that of some of the inflated persons
who make the utmost Of the brief au-
thority they possess to place their pa
,triotism on public display, and it is
not up to the standard we have the
right to expect from the court of last
resort.
The organization of labor and other
protective unions will go. right along
as they are going, notwithstanding
the supreme courts attempt to clog
the machinery Of progress. Such de-
cisions, too, may prove a high incent-
i've to the formation Of organizations
that will not be so docile and law
abiding as that Of the laborer.
The labor union has become a fixed
part Of the Industrial scheme of the
nation and it cannot be displaced at
this time, not even by the supreme
court working in conjunction with the
wiley and unscrupulous employer.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
These Are the Guilty Ones
(From Washington Trades Unionist.)

(From Washington Trades Unionist.)
Who is responsible for the increase
in the price of shoes, the increase in
the repair bills on your shoes? When
the average merchant is asked this
question, he usually replies, "Why
labor is going way up, everybody is
asking an increase in wages"
Right here the merchant should be
asked, "Have you increased the wages
of your clerks?" This is important
because that is the only wage increase
that he is certain of, He should find
out positively whether the men work.
ing in the factories have had any in
crease that could possibly account for
the big difference now paid to any
wearer.
A visit to any good retail shoe store
will prove to any wearer Of shoes that
he must pay from 81 to 81 more for
a pair of shoes this year than he did
in 1915. Shoes that retailed at $3.50,
81, IS and Sc have jumped to IS,
$3.50. IS and SO, and the very best
made shoes that fetailed at 50 and
$12 now bring SO to SIC.
The New York World says that
tanners and wholesale leather dealers
estimate that more than 100000 sole
leather hides and about 100000 hides
suitable for "uppers'' are being held
in storage warehouses in this city and
vicinity at the orders of. packers, i'm
porters and spectators who are hold
ing out "for a higher market"
Although the price for shoe leather
hides are higher today than ever
hHf0rnI kn0wn-rnoro fx1ri
high as they were in 19OS-the COM
panies dealing in hides refuse to sell
at these prices, and the tanners and
brokers who supply the shoe manufac-
turers who have orders for the United
States army are having difficulty in
filling the orders.
The leather dealers, tanners and
brokers unanimously place the blame
for present conditions on packers and
importers who, it is asserted, control
the hide market not only in this coun-
try but in South America At the
same time they are inclined to accuse
the manufacturers of holding out
themselves.
This is a question for Hoover, or
for some federal investigation COM
mittee because in the meantime union
labor is blamed for high prices, with
out sharing in the game.
And it is to be hoped this exposure
will be followed by drastic action on
the part of the government. If the
proper officials will penalize these
heartless spectators by confiscating
their stock, returning to them only
the amounts they can show receipted
bills for, it will aid in heading off fu-
ture speculation in necessities, as we'll
as inspire confidence in the people that
their interest and not that of the war
profiteers is being guarded. 1t would
also aid wonderfully in stimulating
conservation Of all products necessary
to winning this war for democracy.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
WHY IS THE PRICE OF BREAD
NOT REDUCED?

The Federal regulations affecting
the licensing Of bakeries have been
effective for some time, with H. w.
Zinsmaster as local administrator
The purpose of such regulation
was to standarize the size of bread
loaves and reduce the prices to a
level compatible with the current
price of flour.
Several months ago when flour
was quoted around s17 a barrel, a
16-ounce loaf of bread was retailed at
10 cents. At the present time, with
flour around $40 barrel, local hak-
cries are turning out the same size
loaves-but there has been no reduc-
ton in price.
The food committee of the Public
Safety commission made a compre-
hensive investigation into bread
prices in the Twin Cities and set ~
cents pound as reasonable price.
Now will some one kindly explain
this disparity-why local consumers
should be compelled. to pay 50 1-3
per cent more for bread than in the
Twin Cities?
Administrator Zinsmaster is the
head of the largest bakery in this
city, and this may have something to
do with his apathy in regard to re-
ducing bread prices.
When the price of wheat was fixed
by the government, and restrictions
placed on the baking industry, it was
intended that the consumers should
be the beneficiaries through result
tant price reductions, and not the
manufacturers and dealers.
The failure of Mr.. Zinsmaster to
order an increase in the present size
of loaves, or a reduction in price of
the 1e-ounce size, means that the
wishes of the government are not
being carried out, and that the prof.
1teering of local bakers is under the
guise of official sanction.
This negligence on the part Of the
Federal representative should re-
ceive the condemnation of an indig-
nant public, and responsible ad-
ministrator named.
Will Mr.. zinsmaster kindly throw
little light on this matter?
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
NOT TOO LATE TO BUY RED
CROSS SEALS.

"Only a few days till Christmas"
carries deeper meaning this year
than ever before. 1t is now time to
forestall regrets at not having "done
your bit" for national and for local
health by purchasing Red Cross
Christmas Seals.
Enough seals will make Christmas
a merry" one-too few seals will
not only make this but future ones
less happy. The purchase of every
seal is a "bit" but an essential part
of the campaign against national in
vasion of both our ideals and our
health. Seals are an irresistible bar
rier to all enemies of health and
every cent spent on seals means 100
per cent of usefulness.
If the Red Cross is to meet the
serious responsibilities the war has
put upon 1t, it must have three times
the money available for it's work last
year. Your part of the current prob
lem is buying seals. This buying
must be done in time to put the seals
on every piece Of mail leaving our
community from. now until the last
of the holidays. This is small sac
rifice compared to what our men are
doing cover there
Use many Red Cross Seals before
Jan. 1.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
GIVE WOMAN THE BALLOT!

The Federal Woman Suffrage
amendment was pushed far along
towards its passage by the last ses-
sion of the Sixty-fifth congress. Not
only did the senate suffrage commit
tee report it favorably, but special
woman suffrage committee was
created in the house for the sole pur-
pose of dealing with this subject.
The creation of this house COM
mittee owes much to the warm SUD-
port Of President Wilson, who urged
its creation by a personal letter to
Representative Pou, chairman of the
rules committee. The house not only
voted 1S1 to 1O7 for it, but in the
debate preceding the vote, the i'm
portance of creating such a commit
tee received strong support from rep
resentatives widely separated geo.
graphically and politically.
Some of these men, and notably
representatives of the southeastern
states, took occasion to express an
ardent advocacy of the principle of
woman suffrage itself. Women have
been enfranchised as a direct out
come of the war in Russia and Can
ada. They are about to be enfranch-
1sed in Great Britain. The great
state of New York has just voted an
overwhelming majority for woman
suffrage. The question has been on
the tongues of statesmen in France
and Italy for the past year. These
countries, hard pressed for existence,
are not stopping to hand out votes to
women like a bouquet of flowers.
Nothing less vital than woman's
need, political as we'll as industrial,
has brought this matter into prom
inence in Europe at this critical
moment. Statesmen have been
frank to say so.
Shall the United States lag behind
its allies In this, any more than in
other war measures?
The completion of the democratic
cation of this nation is necessary in
order that the patriotic work Of the
country may be unimpeded. Woman
free can help in this moment of crisis
better than woman shackled.
:, Free of shackles, women have
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
HE QUALIFIED.

A man who wished to find out for
what career in life his son was fitted
as test placed a Bible, a silver dollar
and bottle of whiskey- on q table and
awaited results. The fathers idea
was that If the son drank the whiskey
he would be a drunkard, If he took
the money he would be financier,
and II he read the Blb1ethe would be
a preacher. The son entered the room,
pocketed the dollar, drank the whisky,
placed the Bible conspicuously under
his arm and went out. The fathers
conclusion was that the only career
open to his son was that of . politt-
cian.-Exchan 1e, IN VT, Y s. $ IN sse TIA
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
A Christmas Blrssi,1g
BY Rev. DR.. Howard Duffield

May the blessing Of the light
that shown at midnight come to
the hearts that are Swallowed and
the homes that are dark.
May the blessing of the Manager
Cradle come to that innumerable
company against whom the doors
of hope and peace and rest are
shut.
May the blessing of the Holy
Child come to every one who has
forgotten that thou, o God, art his
father and that all men are
brothers.
May the blessing of the Guild
ing star come to those who wan
der in the night and oannot find
the hOmeward way.
May the blessing of the Stable
come upon all hearts, Weakening a
kindly sense of kindred with every
living thing that walks the field
and forest or wings the air or
passes along the paths Of the seas.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
WHAT OTHER PAPERS SAY
WHAT ABOUT THE WORKERS?

Milwaukee Daily News: There is a
report that the manufacturers of Pitts
burgh are considering closing their
plants from the evening of Dec. %
until the morning of Jan. 7. This
step is planned to conserve fuel. to
relieve the pressure on the railways
and prevent worse traffic conditions
than now exist.
It is, of course, true that failing to
burn coal will save it. It is also true
that two-weeks' relief from the
products of the Pittsburgh plants
would lessen the freight car demand.
What effect it would have on the gen.
eral condition of the country is a
question depending upon the orders
upon which those plants are working,
but if they are as busy as generally
believed, all orders would be thrown
two weeks back-and to judge from
complaints generally made they are
much too far behind right now.
But there is another viewpoint not
mentioned--what is to become of the
workers if these plants close? Work.
ers in such plants are paid for only
the days they work. This suggested
closing would mean that a vast num-
Der of workers would be without
earnings at the very time of year they
most need them-the Christmas and
taxpaying season and when winters
supplies are a drain upon their purses.
We are now bending every effort to
conserve the man power OF the ma
ton, to, make it more productive, to
bring to the national government a
loyal and hearty support. Would
throwing so many men and women out
of work when there is work in plenty
do any of these things?
From this distance it would seem
that with the high cost of living with
the effort these workers have made to
purchase Liberty Bonds, which was
great, added to the taxes all the peo-
pie will have to share to keep the
war funds going, there should be no
curtailing of their earnings if nOss-
ible to prevent it.
This is not season to close the in
dustries but one in which to spread
their prosperity as far as it can be
spread, this for the workers need and
the nations cause
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
MORAL COURAGE NEEDED.

Tacoma Labor Advocates: One of
the conspicuous qualities necessary to
successful work in the sphere of labor
organization is that Of moral courage.
It is the distinguishing mark of real
manhood or womanhood. Without it
no human being is really free, with
out it no individual commands re-
spect. The disappointments incident
to human effort, the heartaches and
the losses are usually attributable to
the lack of this admirable trait on the
part Of those who fail in their under
takings.
What is it that distinguishes the
successful from the unsuccessful? Why
is it that so many working people are
content to plod on in their daily rou-
tine of poorly-rewarded physical ef-
fort, while others with no more real
ability, pass on and excel in the strug-
gle for existence, achieving and win
ming where the larger number seem
content to serve and to barely exist?
The question may be answered briefly
by calling attention to the fact, appar
ent to all close observers, that rela-
lively few possess the courage of their
convictions and are willing to risk
failure by putting their convictions to
the test.
"He either fears his fate too much,
or his deserts are small, who fears to
put it to the test and win or lose it
ALL" was written by a poet who UNDER
stood frail human nature. Organized
Labor needs development of and exer-
else of moral courage. Then will it
come into it's own, and not before.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
THROUGH. THE PERISCOPE


Do something IMPLYING the true
Christmas spirit: join the local chap
ter of the Red Cross-before Christ
mas eve.
The United States Public Health
Service reported in 1916 that nearly
half OF our adult male wage-earners
had annual incomes too small to main
tain family in decency and comfort
The workers in this class have vastly
increased because Of the profiteering
which has boosted the prices of food
stuffs and necessaries of life. What
will the next report of the health
service contain in regard to this mat
ter?
The Mesaba Ore believes that
Leonidas Merritt is the man who will
lead the struggling majority Of this
city In the fight to overcome the DOM
tnation OF the Zenith City's interlock-
Ing directorate Of business monopo-
lists. Relief is imperative; the sooner
it comes the better it will be for the
victims OF "the beast in the Jungle"
Taxes Of every description are soar
ing, and yet the governor, Jealous
about the preservation of ORDER in
the Twin Cities, saw fit to call 1000
home guards into service. OF course
the matter of expenses is incidental
for that's why taxpayers exist, to pay
the bills
The elementary schools in Cleveland
will be closed for one month, exclus-
i've of the Christmas vacation, to help
In the conservation Of the coal supply.
lnefficiency >on the part of coal oper-
ators and the railroad managers
means inevitable Federal control of
the coal mines.
Since the United States declared
war, about 500 strikes or labor con-
! troversies that might have led to
strikes have been settled by Federal
mediators of the Department of Labor.
According to- newspaper accounts,
, there is general disapproval Of the
proposed plan to close schools in the
northern states during January and
February to conserve the coal supply.
Secretary Bakers annual report,
, which declared against universal mill
tary training, vindicates the stand
taken by the local Federated Trades
Assembly in resolutions adopted re-
Gently.
Congressional Rankin of Montana
has introduced bill which would re-
peal the law compelling American
women who marry aliens to relinquish
their American citizenship and marry
a foreign country also.
Frank A. Vanderlip, formerly presi-
dent Of the largest bank in the United
States, recently made a speech at Chi
cago urging the practice of economy.
He had just finished eating a $7-a-
plate dinner.
The expulsion Of Henry w. Libby
from membership in the Winona Ma
chtnists' union because of his stand in
the Twin City street car controversy
should impress; upon him the fact
that one can not1serve two masters.
It is not unreasonable to expect that
the anti-labor forces in California will
accuse the labor unions of instigat-
ing the dynamiting Of the residence
of Governor Stephens
The house will vote on the woman
suffrage constitutional amendment
Thursday, Jan. 10. Indications are
that the necessary two-thirds vote is
assured. -
OF all the volunteers for army serv-
ice in Massachusetts, GO per cent were
men who carried trade union cards.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22

Nothing can. happen in this world
which will rob a man of what he is.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22

Demand the union label on your
Christmas cigars.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22

The house will vote on the woman
suffrage constitutional amendment
Thursday, Jan. 10. Indications are
that the necessary two-thirds vote is
assured
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22

1t is not unreasonable to expect that
the anti-labor forces in California will
accuse the labor unions of instigat-
ing the dynamiting Of the residence
of Governor Stephens.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22

OF all the volunteers for army serv.
ice in Massachusetts GO per cent were
men who carried trade union cards.