The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-15
WHAT OTHER PAPERS SAY
LABOR PROVES ITS DEMOCRACY.

mass convention OF 81. raul ana MlH"
neapolis organized labor not only
proved that an injury to one member
Of organized labor is the concern of
all, but it proved that organized labor
believes in the democracy which it
advocates.
The most serious problem which
has ever confronted the unions of the
Twin Cities was to be met. No few
leaders took it upon themselves to
solve the matter and mark out a pol
icy. The Judgment Of the many is
considered by organized labor to be
better than the judgment OF the few
and SO every member of organized
labor in the Twin Cities was asked to
come and voice their opinions and
make suggestions concerning the mat,
ter in hand.
Some $1,000 attended the conven-
ton, and no one was denied the right
to express himself. 1t was one of the
grandest illustrations Of true democ-
racy at work which has occurred in
this or any other nation.
And the result proved that the judg-
ment of the rank and file is sound and
logical. 1t shows that the rank and
file have at heart the best interests
of the nation. 1t shows that the peo-
pie are always to be trusted. 1t was
an object lesson in democracy which
may be studied to advantage by Gov
ernor Burnquist and his autocratic
commission.
A little more confidence in the peo-
pie on the part Of the governor, by
the appointment of some Of the work.
ing people on the commission, would
have prevented the arising of this
serious situation
In taking the part of organized la
Dor the Federal government proves
that President Wilson meant every
word Of what he said at the American
Federation of Labor convention. IF
you are with me, I will be with you.''
PUT THE FARMER ON THE JOB.
Cincinnati Chronicle: Perhaps real
service could come from having one
or two leading farmers on every food
conservation board throughout the
country. Within the ranks of farm
ers there are many men who know
what it is to so up against ware
housemen, shippers, food brokers and
commission dealers.
TO the average lay mind there
comes the thought that thousands Of
representative farmers might be act
lively engaged in showing the theoreti-
cal city man how to get the food from
the farm to the urban centers at the
least possible cost, and cutting out all
middlemen.
We have known farmers who have
absolutely refused to sell produce to
spectators, on the ground that the
price offered and the difference at
which it was sold to the ultimate con-
sumner was so great that the farmer
had rather feed his produce to cattle
or even let it rot in the field or
ground.
Millions Of dollars could be saved
to the householder and the govern
ment were practical farmers placed in
a position where they could show the
people that from the farm to the city
home is no far distance.
~
The Mesaba Ore: For years and
years the good people of St. Paul and
Minneapolis have damned the Twin
City Rapid Transit company for its
grasping ways and utter disregard of
the rights of the people, but the
powers-that-b have held the hungry
monopoly safely in it's place.
The people, those who make pos
sible the mighty dividends on the
watered stock Of the concern, have
never had an opportunity to assert
themselves until now, and today they
are lending all aid to the striking
street car employees. and the Twin
Cities are facing a crisis that makes
them tremble.
1t is no part of the policy of the
street car company to treat fairly with
its employees, any more than it is to
treat fairly with the public, and the
employees have at last revolted.
AS usual in such cases, the COM
pany has invoked the law, but it
doesn't seem to come so easily as in
former years, which would seem to
indicate that the greater public SEN
>timent favors the strikers and that
the street car plutocrats will eventual
ly have to give in.
Unionism is strong in the Twin
Cities and it is evident that the street
car men have all of the unions solidly
behind them, and a general tie up of
all Twin City enterprises will be no
surprise to those who have Watched
the course of events.
REACHING STACKER ACRES.