The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-02-08
why UNIONS ARE
OPPOSED TO BILL !
Vests Too Much Power in Gov
ern0r to ThWart Liberties
Of Working People.
CONTINUED from Page ~


of the motor corps shall be the same
as that which is now, or may here
after be, prescribed for the regular
army Of the United States" and that
1t shall be at all times subject to the
call Of the governor of the state. for
use slngly Or in cooperation with
other military units. as occasion may
REQUIRE"
To make this new menace to the
liberty of the people complete, the
creation Of "a flying squadron of the
aero service" to be "attached to the
motor corps for administrative pur-
poses" is authorized by the bill, and
the sum Of $4,000 a year is appro-
priated to pay the cost of this whole
effective military aid Of "Just An Acct
dent" Burnquist in his efforts to en-
slave all the residents of Minnesota
who do not absolutely agree with him
or abjectly bow to his will.
Labor Men Emphatic.
The hearing of last Monday night
was attended by a very large crowd
Of men from all walks Of life in which
workingmen were the principal factor.
Their opposition to the bill was very
ably presented by E. G. Hall. presi-
dent, and G. w. Lawson, secretary, Of
the State Federation of Labor; Thorn
as Van Lear. ex-mayor Of Minneapo-
lis. c. H. Hitler. of the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen, and A. E. Smith
and j. F. Emme. members of st. Paul
Machinists' lodges.
These gentlemen argued that the
bill is dangerous to the whole people
of the state because Of it's Wholesale
grant of power and total lack of limi-
tation in the use Of that power. They
highly commended the work of the
volunteer motor corps in connection
with the recent cyclone and fire disas-
ters in this state. and declared en-
phatically that if the use of the new
corps were limited to use in such or
similar emergencies all organized la
Dor would approve it's creation and
maintenance.
Governor Is Sole Judge.
But they insisted that, as the bill,
in its present form, renders the new
military unit "subject at all times to
the call Of the governor cor use as &C.
casion may require" it makes him the
sole judge of the occasion and the
requirements and leaves him free to
use the force for any purpose he
chooses. It therefore gives the execu-
tive Of the state power fraught with
great peril to the liberties Of the peo-
pie and places no limitation or re-
straint upon his exercise of that
power.
The labor spokesman plead for such
| notifications of the measure as
would specifically define the purposes
for which the motor corps and flying
squadron could be used and prohibit
its use for any other purposes. Their
arguments were manifestly unanswer-
able, for the advocates of the bill
made no attempt to answer them. and
all pleas for placing more specific pro-
visions and safeguards in the bill fell
upon deaf ears or evoked only smiles
of ridicule in reply.
To Continue Fight.
Undoubtedly the committee had it's
action framed up in. advance and it's
members were ready to step in any
desired direction at the crack of the
governors whip. The hearing was
ordered to give an appearance of fair
ness to the proceedings. and some of
the friends of the vicious measure
have been chuckling with glee over
the supposed success of the trick. But
the working people of Minnesota are
not deceived. They see through the
transparent scheme and will hold ev-
cry member of the committee who
brushed their arguments aside and
voted to recommend the passage of
this odious bill to a strict accounta-
bility.
If the bill becomes law in it's pres
ent form all the armed guards the
governor can call to his assistance
will not save legislators who vote for
1t in either house from punishment by
an outraged people at the polls.