Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-10-01

the East consider the steel strike an
event of first magnitude. The whole
world of eastern industry holds its
breath over the possible outcome. In
a special sense It is struggle between
the old order and the new.
The great steel trust broke up the
unions Of American workers over a
generation ago. Native labor was
gradually replaced by workers lured
from the farms and towns of southern
Europe. With this raw material the
trust has been able to exercise an
autocracy over the livelihood Of its
employees comparable to nothing
found In nero political forms. At the
same time the trust fastens its ten.
tacles on the federal government and
the government of every state where
1t operates, from Pennsylvania to Min
nesotA.
Rapidly increasing costs Of living
have forced these ordinarily docile
employees to challenge this old order,
as the farmers Of Minnesota have
challenged it with q tonnage tax on
iron ore. They have tried to organ
tze, and now they strike first for the
right to organize and bargain collec-
lively and beyond that for better con-
ditions.
The organization has followed ira
dltional federation Of labor methods
Consequently observers see in It Z test
Of these methods and the sprinsing up
Of different types Of labor organiza,
tons TN case Of failure. Labor partic-
ipation In politics will grow: so also
will the one big union sentiment n
preached by the I. w. W.
Private Warfare Allowed.
Dispatches from Wilson's special
train declare he has decided not to act,
feeling that he has done everything
possible to prevent the break. The
fact that the United States Constitu-
Ion, however, Is being violated In
Pennsylvania by refusal to allow work
men the right of assemblage and by
brutal assaults of gunner on Vnarm-
| ed workers, would indicate that the
administration is not so neutral as
| supposed. It is not enough to put the
responsibility on state authorities. II
workingmen were rioting it would not
take the federal government long to
see that the law was upheld, as in the
case of the Chicago riots in 1892.
II, on the other hand, the workers
had voted for men of their own kind
instead of old-party politicians, their
ballots would not now be coming back
| m - 70 NJ 11o1ho hill 70
and suspension of law. 1t almost
passes understanding that even old
party ohceholders can allow private
warfare to be waged by the great cor
porations.
capltaI-Labor Conference.
| What will come of President Will
sons Industrial conference, which has
been called to meet here on October
Is?
Speculation in this rich field Is
warming up, as big business men and
leaders Of the more powerful labor
unions mysteriously come and 60
from their conferences with Bernard
Baruch, the man who has the affair In
charge for the president.
The first guess of four-fifth of the
| observers is that the men picked to
comprise this conference will put
through resolution declaring that
the senate should Immediately ratify
the Paris treaty in it's present form,
without amendment or reservations,
in order that industrial peace may be
secured.
! Beyond that point the estimates
vary widely. Some very well-inform-
ed men declare that the administra-
ton has determined to insist upon a
nationwide reorganization Of indus.
try upon profit-sharing basis, as one
possible safeguard against the spread
of the public-ownership idea contained
in the Plumb plan for the railroads.
Others maintain that Mr.. Wilson has
in mind only an appeal to the con-
science of the big employers to per-
nit the complete organization OF their
workers, and the recognition of col.
lective bargaining.
| One thing seems to be clear-that
the conference will have little direct
relation to the farmers of the West.
1t is chiefly an emergency meeting of
the big business spokesman with the
chiefs Of the labor movement, at
which the administration is to propose
a compromise of the struggle that
threatens to tie up the big industries
railroads, mines, factories of many
sorts, etc. There are men who be-
lieve that the fact that the steel strike
was not held off is due to the desire
of Judge Gary to impress this con-
ference with the need for strong"
policy toward labor on the part of the
government.
1t will be of more value to big
capital than to labor in spite Of the
rhetoric of freedom certain to pour
forth at the conferences.
| Plumb Plan Affects Congress.
Despite the fact that probably 80
per cent of the present congress is
hostile to the Plumb plan of democrat
ic control of the railroads, there is no
certainty, as yet, that the railroads
will be returned to private manage
ment on December 81 4 compromise
whereby the present scheme OF con-
troll may be extended three or five
! years is possible. One of the first
effects of the campaign of the Plumb
olan league>haI been to make large
lumbers of n,en,ksrs of the house eau
| NOTICE.
As we have sold out our business,
we wish all persons, knowing them.
selves indebted to US, to call at the
! First National Bank and settle their