The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-03-31
LABOR VIEWS ON WET AND DRY ISSUE
THE DRY SIDE
THE DRY SIDE
VETS OPPOSED To
LABOR LEGISLATION
BY Henry Dworschak Jr President Duluth
Trade Union Dry League.

BY Henry Dworschak Jr.. President Duluth
Trade Union Dry League.
The manager of the Trade Union
league, Mr.. Pereault, makes the claim
that prohibition workers throughout
the country have never assisted the
Workingmen in securing legislation
that would better their condition, but
on the contrary have INSTRUCTED all
such movements.
Mr.. Pereaut ought to be more spe-
cif1c. If he means to say that this
condition obtains in Minnesota, I
wish to submit a few facts to him.
Equal suffrage has long been a
principal demand of the American
Fe. liberation of Labor. Two years ago
there were thirty-one members of
the state senate who voted against
county option and therefore can be
elassed as vets. OF these, % voted
against equal suffrage, the principal
demand Of the American labor move
ment.
Direct legislation, through the in
1tiative and referendum, is another
demand Of the American Labor move
ment. 1t stands second in impor-
lance only to that of equal suffrage.
On the crucial test, an amendment to
the initiative and referendum bill two
years ago rendering it more difficult
to initiate a petition under the pro-
posed law. rs of the 81 vets voted
for the amendment and against the
interests of labor.
In June, 1914, the convention of
the State Federation of Labor in
dorsed certain amendments to the
present Workmen's Compensation
law. The first amendment proposed
to reduce the waiting time from two
weeks to one week. At the present
time, the injured workman does not
receive compensation for the first two
weeks Of injury. There were % votes
cast in favor of this amendment. Only
six Of these were vets while sixteen
were drys. On the second vital
amendment eighteen votes were cast
in it's favor, five of which were vets
and thirteen were drys.
The only important measure passed
by the last legislature which had the
Endorsement Of organized labor was
the semi-monthly payday bill, re-
curing every public service corpora
ton in Minnesota to pay its employees
at least twice month. Senator E. J.
Westlake of Minneapolis, chief of the
wet forces in that city, voted and
spoke against this bill.
Drys Consistent.
A review of the records Of the
mem bers of the Minnesota legislature
CHI hot roy,oJ7 !,
voted more consistently in favor of
labor legislation than have the vets.
Will Mr.. Pereault claim that the
liquor interests are more friendly to
labor legislation than are those who
advocate prohibition?
The brewery employers of Milwau-
kee were just as anxious to come in
under the protecting wings of an in
junction judge as were the employers
in any other industry.
One days rest in seven is advo-
Gated by organized labor. Have the
liquor interests ever assisted organ
lied labor in achieving this demand
The brewers work their bartenders
seven days a week, except where the
bartenders have struck or where 1egis.
lctiOn has INTERVIEWED to give them one
days rest in seven. I say the brewers
work their bartenders seven days a
week. According to a statement by
the editor Of the official organ OF
the Retail Liquor Dealers associa-
ton, in a great majority of cases the
breweries own or control the saloons
When the bill foV one days rest in
seven was before the legislature, ]
did not see the brewery interests down
at st. Paul advocating its passage.
Against Woman Suffrage.
The liquor interests are fighting
equal suffrage as strenuously as they
possibly can. Will Mr.. Pereault
point out one single instance where
the liquor interests have assisted Or
ganized labor in achieving this, its
principal political demand?
This is also true of the Initiative
and referendum. The liquor inter-
ests hate direct legislation, rule by
the people, as the devil hates holy
water.
Mr.. Pereault's assertion that the
drys are opposed to labor legislation
isinot borne out by the facts. Exam.
ination Of the records shows that the
liquor interests have been the most
powerful enemies Of labor legislation