The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-03-24
MINNESOTA MAKES HISTORY TOO

MINNESOTA MAKES HISTORY TOO
The forces which make for real progress and
human liberty asserted themselves in the Minne-
sofa Legislature this week. The committee on labor
IN the house of representatives presented it's
on the I. w. W. investigation, the sum and substance
of which endorsement of the principle of
collective bargaining and a condemnation of the
of private police in labor strikes The CON-
mittee hit the nail squarey on the head when it
asserted:
"Your committee believes that the principle of
collective bargaining should not be discouraged by
employers Of labor since the denial of this right will
eventually lead to misunderstanding, suspicion
and consequent disorder and violence The failure
to recognize this right of collective bargaining was,
III the Judgment of your committee, responsible for
the labor disturbances in Northern Minnesota to a
great extent.
The committee night have added that no strike
would have occurred and the I. w. W. would not
have been heard OF in this portion of the state hac
the mine owners permitted their men to organize
under the banner Of such an organization as the
American Federation Of Labor.
Referring to the proposition to provide counties
with state aid to suppress disorder and lawessness
the report contains the following timely objection
to the use OF private police:
eve recommend that if said legislation provide
for the appointment Of deputy shcriffs that it be
further provided that such deputy sheriffs shall not
be under the control supervision of any person
corporation for private purposes, and such deputy
sherffs must be bona fide residents of the county
wherein they are appointed"
Now the legislature should go one step further
and prohibit the employment Of private police at
all times The police authority of the state should
never be delegated to private interests. There is
danger in it. Private police protect only the life
and property they paid to protect. They admin,
4Io1ro
the people. They relic of feudaism and have
no place in this day.
The mining interests and other large employers,
following their usual bent, will give no heed to
the recommendations of the committee on labor.
They without visions unless they are led
hence by the lure Of profits They relatively in
the same position as was the Gar of Russia They
cannot see the Handwriting the wall.' They
hold deaf to the cry of labor for Freedom They
attempt to satisfy themselves with giving comfort;
able homes, club and model cities to their en-
poyes in lieu Of the recognition of the principle of
collective bargaining, which means the granting of
industrial freedom They have been in the habit of
making all the rules and all the regulations for so
long, that they nothing but complete surrender
in recognizing the right of laborers to organize and
to be represented by committees Of their own choos.
ing IN making contracts with employers as to the
wages that shall be paid, the hours of labor to be
employed, and the general working conditions that
shall obtain
Because they do this and continue to do so we
have such militant reckless and daring organiza-
tlons as the [. w. w. to contend with. And further
because. they dos the constructive trade union
leaders of the country are forced to sit idly by and
watch events while wild and irresponsible 1. w W
agitators play havoc with the workers.
Extreme meets extreme The pendulum swung
tar out one way is sure to swing all the way back
1t Is upon this principle the Gear of Russia was
forced to abdicate his throne and at time when he
believed it was most safe: What is true in govern.
ment Is equally true in industry. While the situa
ton is as it is the employing interests of America
tthat are attempting to conduct twentieth century
business with eighteenth century methods in their
relationship with labor should take warning. lest
theytoo wilt be forced to abdicate and face the un
oera1n'y OF industrial revolution, a-revoution as
much dreaded by trade unionists as bv emnovors
ana which we are earnestly trying to mitipato
through constructive evolutionary educationa1
PROCESS. ''"''ol1o'