The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-11-29
SUPERIOR
SUPERIOR
SUPERIOR UNIONS
TAKE UP POLITICS
Trades and Labor Assembly Per,
mjtS Political Discussion IT,
To Enter City Campaign

Organized labor of Superior have
begun to realize the value of collective
political action as we'll as collective
bargaining for hours, wages and work.
ing conditions. This realization has
come to the members gradually, and
it has been no small effort to overcome
the old dogmatic rule that politics
should be barred from all meetings
of labor unions.
The beginning was made in a small
way years ago, when city officials,
realizing the desirability of currying
favor with the labor organiza tons, re-
quested the Trades and Labor assem-
bly, to recommend a man for appoint
ment to a, minor office. This the as
sembly accepted as sign of friend
ship and a man was named. He still
occupies the position and has dis
charged his duties with credit to him.
self and the organizations that recon-
mended him.
But from this small beginning to a
decided action to elect one Of the rep
resentatives of organized labor to fill
an elective city office has been a long
step, which at times has appeared al
most insurmountable. Nevertheless
the change has been made, and today
the assembly has a, committee, con-
sisting of James B. Campbell, Bernard
Strong, Thomas Horner, Roy M. Bas-
ton and Al Brothers, working on pro-
gram for collective political activity
in the coming election.
During the transitory period the
friends of political action have been
forced to fight two factions, the one
contending that the labor movement
should be purged Of politics, and the
other that the only way for labor to
act politically was through the Social
list party. Both sides have now been
Won over to union labor political activ-
ity, however.
The first political action resulting in
success for organized labor in Superior
was that of electing Fred A. Baxter
mayor in the spring of 1918. Mr.. Bax-
ter was not a union man and the sup
port was not entirely based on union
principles; but he had always been fair
to organized labor and the union mer
had become enraged over the action
of ex-Mayor Joseph S. Konkel who
had spurned the efforts of the Trades
and Labor assembly for needed re.
forms.
In the fall of 1918 labor again waged
successful campaign. this time 70,
the purpose of the public utilities oil
the city. Last snring this decision
only for the purchase of each utilit,
separately, was endorsed by still
larger majority, largely through thu
efforts Of the union men, and last Sep.
tembe organized labor again DISPLAYED
its superiority by frustrating a move
| to change the form Of city government
which was recognized as camou.
tagged attempt to recall Mayor Baxter
Next spring city commissioner will
be elected for a term of three year,
and organized labor believes that 8
union man will be the best representa-
tive of the majority of the citizens anl
that it is not only privilege but :
duty to work for the greatest GOO
OF the greatest number. Hence thi:
committee has been appointed and i
IS considering the best means to carr,
on campaign. What recomn enda
tons will be made has not been an
nounced, and perhaps it will not b,
until the committee is ready for action
But the fact remains that the Trade
and Labor assembly no longer tabooe
political discussions or endeavors t
avoid collective political action.