The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-02-09
MEASURE SEEMS
sure OF DEFEAT
Bill ApprOpriating $4,000 to
Help Big Employers.
WAS AIMED At The l. ". ".
But Testimony at Hearings Brings Out
Facts Not CreditabIe to Lum-
Der and Mining Companies.

ST.. SpeciaD-Accepting pop
ular opinion, the interests, or to use
a more up-to-date title, big Business"
is the bane of good legislation, but
bless you, dear reader big Business
is responsible for more good legisla.
tion designed to curb it's activities
than any other known agency. 1t
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 $4,000,
subject to executive disbursement, for
the payment of expenses incident to
the suppression of such disorder and
the enforcement of the law. Though
its 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 at the operations of the |. 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
Washburn-a name long associated
with big things-evidentl figuring on
giving his colleagues an insight into
the ubiquitous workings of the l. 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
it 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.
!. !. !.
This is no brief for the /. 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
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, man small of
stature and with an appearance that
could hardly be said to be progresses
ing, was the chief representative of
the | W. W., and brought out many
damaging things with his adroit ques-
tioning That there was turn in the
tide was noticeable the first day OF
the hearing. :, Most of the investigat-
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 l am afraid that
the relief sought will not be supplied
through the medium of the senate act.
= :. !.
Well, as far as the house is con-
cerned, the people of Minnesota two
years hence will have an opportunity
to pass upon the preston of dry or
wet Minnesota and there is every in
dication that the senate will add its
approval The overwhelming victor!
for the drys in the house seems to
presage such and there is nothing tt
offer in the shape of a possible mixup
When my last letter was written the
drys of the house, aided by the Anti
Saloon league, were involved in con-
troversy as to what kind of a dry
constitutional amendment to offer,
which finally ended in the presenta-
ton of an act designed to prevent the
manufacture and sale of intoxicants in
the state, but permitted its shipment
into Minnesota. It was manifestly un
fair and as the days grew it's defeat
seemed certain, but the drys, unable
to face the criticism INDUCED in, re-
Tented at the last moment and permit
ted a bone dry measure, which pre-
vailed by vote of Sc to A. All at
tempts to incorporate near dry amend
ments were rejected. While never pos
tive of victory, the vets nevertheless
were somewhat disappointed in the
vote for their cause. The reason for
the large dry majority can be ex-
planned by the fact that several, Sec
ing the passage of the amendment
certainty, decided to get on the band
wagon. The bill as passed calls for
the discrimination of the liquor traf-
fic in Minnesota on Jan. 1, 1920, but
the vets in the senate will endeavor
to have the time extended to Dec. 81
of the same year.