The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-01-24
WHEN THE HERALD STARTED ITS
LABOR DEPARTMENT.

LABOR DEPARTMENT.
Saturday, April %, 1893, the Duluth
Evening Herald editorially said:
"The Herald today sets apart sew.
eral columns for labor department.
Hereafter, this will be a regular fea-
ture of the Saturday edition and it is
believed that it will be read with in
terest by the industrial classes in Du-
luth.
"The Herald has very large cir
culation among the workingmen of the
lakes and it is but right that they
should be provided with special de-
partment in the paper, which will deal
with all that happens in labor circles,
both at home and abroad.
can effort will be made to present,
each Saturday, all the labor news that
occurs in Duluth and the surrounding
country during the week and, in addi-
ton, there will be large amount of
other original articles dealing with the
leading questions arising in the world
Of labor, which will be under the edi-
torial supervision of Joseph R. Blu
chanan, who is favorably known in
labor circles all over the country. The
new department is not as complete to-
day as it will be made in the future
It may be we'll to state that Joseph
R. Buchanan's editorial work came to
the Herald in the form of stereotyped
plates, commonly known as "boiler
plate,' costing about Sc a page, all
ready for insertion in the forms and
then the printing press.
In April, 1893, John L. Morrison,
now editor of the Rip-saw, was in the
seventh month of his service as a news
paper writer on the Herald.
ct wish to see you few minutes"
said A. G. Weiss to the reporter one
afternoon.
"What is it," queried Morrison,
who was trembling with fear that his
salary was about to be raised.
eve are going to start department
in the Herald in the interests of organ
lied labor" said Mr.. Weiss, "and we
wish you to take charge Of the local
field. We wish you to become the reg
ular editor and to attend all labor
meetings possible, especially the Trades
Assembly. Your method of treatment
should be such as to cause the union
men to feel that the department is for
their full benefit and so as to popular
re the Herald with them"
Morrison accepted the assignment
willingly and proceeded to do his task
with care, conscience and deep per-
sonal interest. His work made hit
with the Union men and strengthened
the Herald greatly. While Joseph R.
suchanan's writings came in "boiler
plate" form, Morrison's work was
handmade, laboriously ground out on
white paper with pencil, the Herald
not yet having installed typewriters.
The national event Of the week the
Herald first presented its labor depart
ment was the walk-out Of every union
machinist on the Union Pacific Rail
and confident Of success, although op-
posed by the leaders Of the Knights
Of Labor.
In Duluth at that time organized Ia
Dor was making no clamor and having
no serious troubles. All the unions
then in running order were affiliated
with the Trades Assembly. All the
crafts were in healthy condition with
perfect organizations.
The retail clerks union then was
strong, active and jealous. AS re-
suit of it's influence, aided by the
Trades Assembly, Sunday closing was
highly a fact and, following January
l, 1898, early closing had been accept
ed by all the leading stores. At re-
cent meeting of the union seven clerks
had been admitted to membership and