The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-12-06
q ....s NJ. r---SUPERIOSS- ~ -, =.
UNIONS MI IN !: = SS;.A|IL
LEADER SS7AND
Superjor Publication Taken I: to
j. Task for Misep|Ies 'eld!ing
; Labor Organizations, !: j:

published in the Superior Leader with
reference to organizeds Labor's pro-
posed activities in connection with the
city election next spring. The Leader
was duly taken to task for its misrep- |
reservations, and the article issued by
the committee appeared Friday in the F.!
local evening paper
There is, however, an interesting
story connected with the previous re-
lations between the Leader and the
labor organizations, which, might be
recorded here
The Leader, which up to about a
year ago carried the. suffiH Clarion
was for many years the personal prop
terty and especial organ Of Joseph S.
konkel, erstwhlc mayor of this city.
twas the medium through which MIR.
konkel issued his orders to the popu-
lace, as long as he was the dominant
man in Superior politics, and after
the people decided to take matters
into their own hands, konkel used it
for scolding those who did not wish
to dance after his music,
Never Popular.
At no time has the publication suf-
fered from excess popularity, as it was
sent only to small list of subscribers,
mostly dead-heads, and it has lived
off official publications. 1t has also
held the distinction always to be in
the wrong, and the voters have learned
to watch the paper during political
campaigns and cast their ballots con-
trary to the advice or orders of the
Leader. N
Two wears ago organized labor took
a stand in politics. asking certain re-
forms. The Leader assaled the lead
ers Of the unions and told the public
that the self appointed leaders did
not represent union men," The real
by unionists, those who knew anything,
would stand by Mayor Konkel.
The influence was shown in the pri-
mary election, when the eader editor
ran fifth out of five candidates, while
the man supported by the union lead
4 ers had three times as many votes as
ssss+the strongest opponent. At the gen
eral ELECTION the result was the same.
as Mayor Bakers opponent, who re-
-ceived the unqualified endorsement of
the Leader, failed to get to first base.
In the fall of 1918, on the special
election on tho purchase. of the public
utilities, the Leader came out strong
for the utilities corpora ton and dis
tributed> free copies over. the entire
city: The result was inevitable-the
Leader being defeated by vote of
three to one. The same publica ton
suffered still stronger rebuke at the
camouflaged RECALL Of Mayor Baxter,
when= that official WIS endorsed by a
vote of nearly four to one.
80 Jacobs Voice, Esau's Hands.
:: The good book tells us Of the fraud
: perpetrated on Isaac, when Jacob
drew furs over his hands The Leader
has changed hands during the past
year. but it's editorial policies have
not changed. The publication is still
>, the official organ Cor the wide-open
element which has been a curse to
1the city ever since it was first settled
and 1T is consistent in it's enmity to
the organized labor movement.
IN It's ;plXiety to break up the union
ranks it attempts ut times to pick out
Union man for the organizations to
support A short time ago the Leader
came out flat-footed for one John
boosted him for city commissioner so
strongly that today he could not get
the backing Of a corporal's guard.
But the Leader is always anxious to
oppose James 4. Campbell, one of
the strongest men in the organized la
Dor movement Of Superior, and to this
end that publication last week came
out with strong article for Bernard
Strong, business agent of the Ship
builders unin.
Ihls article was strongly resented
by the union men, because Mr.. Strong
Is true blue unionist who has been
favorably mentioned for the office OF
city commissioner. In fact, Campbell
: and Strong are considered to be the
. two leading men for the union men to
/ choose between, and organized labor
! resents having his chances impaired
by the obnoxious support of the anti
I labor publication.
+ AS previously stated, labor will Sc
& .lect its candidate by a referendum
~;K2te of all union mon. Strong is toe
We4 known within the union ranks tc
come under suspicion by the Leader
support; but many union men NAV
=, change their votes from him., fearing
that he will lose strength with other
; good citizens, who would never vote
!, for anything supported by the Leader
E The Statement.
7 the statement published in the Su.
Z perlor. klegran reads as follows:
4 :" The Superior Trades and Labor
= assembly. takes exception. to;~the. Su.
= perior' Leader, in its continued refer.
ence to the committee elected by the
assembly to select candidate for the
! spring election.
Z I'VE have no objection to a true
and correct statement Of facts but We
:: do deny that any one man 81 body OF
:: men are holding a whip Hand over
organized la bor.' z&s:
:, I'VE are not following the practice
Of the petty larceny politicians or in.
dulging in the mud singing tactics sc
popular with them. Neither are we
debating the policy of the paper, We
areronly' asking that they publish the
.talth.
ffSsa'"If the Leader is of the opinion thai
n: this is a one man committed we will
n invite their representative to mee1
with and fhn % III SC.