New Ulm review., 1920-07-21
MINNESOTA LABOR
In CONVENTION
STATE FEDERATION HOLDS AN
NUAL GATHERING AT
ROCHESTER.
POLITICS is ONE OF MOST
IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
FOR DIS CUSTOM.

FOR DIS CUSTOM.
Rochester is entertaining the State
Federation during the first half of the
week. The convention is reported to
be one of the biggest in, the history of
the organization in point of attendance,
as we'll as in interest. Never before
was the number of delegates as large
as this year. Even last years conven-
tion here in New Ulm was outdone by
this gathering.
Many Important Subjects.
A number of important subjects
was taken up by the convention. Fore
most among them, of course, was the
political attitude to be taken by or
ganized labor in the state and national
election ,. campaign. No doubt, the
delegates will, declare themselves in
favor of supporting the new farmer
labor ticket which is to be set up in the
near future.
"Open Shop" Problem.
OF equal Importance is the discussion
of the "open shop problem, which Or
ganized labor at present is encountering
in the larger cities. Although labor is
we'll organized, it seems that employers
in the Twin Cities have banded them
selves together to fight the "closed
shop. They have formed an organi-
zation consisting of all employers and
are cooperating In the matter Of re-
fusing employment to men who have
quit to gain higher wages and shorter
hours. Financial powers are said to
be allied with the employers and the
whole proposition now seems to assure
a mighty struggle between capital and
labor Labor leaders point out that
the only way to combat the employers
organization is through election of
state officials favorable to organized
labor.
New Ulm Delegates.
A number. of local unions is being
represented at the convention in
Rochester. Oscar Dingler is the dele
gate of the Trades and Labor Assem-
bly,, Arnold Cordes represents the local
carpenters union, H. H. Walter the
typogra phical union and NJ. Hogen
the car repa irers.
To Re-Enter Fight.
Candidates for state offices defeated
field in the November election sup
partisan Political League of Mime
ference decided at a meeting at
news from the convention city. By
the delegates concurred in the action
+,1 w.
| ference in Minneapolis on July Z, to
! No Farmer-Labor candidates for ma
tional offices were indorsed on the
ground of lack of interest in national
Farmer-Labor ticket.
However, Eugene V. Debs, socialist
nominee for the presidency, now in
prison on a federal espionage charge,
came in for eulogy and applause.
Two Officers Reelected.
William Mahoney, St. Paul, presi-
dent, and Thomas Van Lear, Mime
apolis, secretary-t treasurer, were re-
elected. Miss Victoria McAlmon, Min
neapolis school teacher, was elected
/ vice president.
/ Those elected to the executive board
are C. z. Nelson, Minneapolis; Louis
Frank, St. Paul; F. E. Tillquist, St
I Paul; A. E. Smith, commissioner O.
public safety, ST. Paul and W. w. Roy
ster, GlenWood. Of these Tilluuis
and Royster are new members on thu
board.
Indorse Babcock Plan.
Debate on a recommendation sub
mtted by the St. Paul Trades and La
Dor association that the Babcock roa(
amendment be voted down ended in
vote indoring the Babcock plan 'pro
; viding that no bonds for road buildin,
be issued" Bond issues are made per
missible under the amendment.
Scored Forty-Eighters.
Swinburn Hale, New York attorney
explaining the third party conve ntio1
1T Chicago scored the Committee of q
for mot getting at the facts uuickl,
enough and then lauded the Thir'
party for dropping La Toilette as thei
choice for the presidential nomination
: when they found La Follette's platform
! on the negro question did not coincid
with their own. He urged the dele
gates not to operate behind close
doors. He also lauded II. Christensen
the third party choice for president
Debs was lauded bylJohn G.. Salts
e Socialist candidate for &C Congress afror
! the Tenth district in Minneapolis. II
eulogized Debss as the champion {
! labors.
! Strength Grows, Report.
!, The conference was opened BY Wi
!, liam y. Mahoney, president, and tn
: seGfetarys report ,by Thomas Van Lea
!, followed: According to this reports3O
e unions IN the state, which includ
]; $4,000 members are now in the Work
d ing Peoples league. u first test
ii the league, the Van Lear report stated
was IN the defeat Of the Minneapoli
a street railway franchise. q
y Chairman Mahoney urged all union
i and individual union men to join tn
jno 1itina1 n, oxo wants a:E.s3 t'4s .a3a 577