The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
union" IDEA
MEETS DEFEAT IN
LABOR GATHERING
Minnesota Federation Of Labor
Determined TO Down Plans For
One Big Organization.
Wednesdays Session.

With President Hall continually
pounding for order and with the con-
vention in uproar with charges and
counter-charges. the delegates to the
thirty-eighth annual convention of
the Minnesota Federation of Labor
Wednesday morning decisively de-
feated a proposal to go on record
in favor of close industrial organ
ization, commonly called One Big
Union, and turned a deaf ear to the
resolution Of Alderman Scott Of Min
neapolis, imploring the heads Of the
state federation to inaugurate a
movement among the various inter-
nationals to organize on an indus
trial basis. The resolution, which
received but little consideration, de-
clared that present craft organiza-
tions were "obsolete and pitifully
handicapped"
So determined was the convention
against one big union that even the
substitute resolution of Julius Emme,
St. Paul, providing for the appoint
ment of a committee of five to study
the form of organization as an in
| dustrial basis, and to present a re-
port at the convention next year, was
defeated on roll call by the close
vote Of 219 to 215. The majority Of
the delegates even refused to stand
for committee, appointed by the
president to investigate.
The demand for roll call was made
by c. B. Uncapher, Minneapolis
butcher, and was the first of the:
convention. At it's conclusion several
delegates changed mo" votes to
yes but the number was not large
enough to swing the tide.
Julius Emme~ declared himself as
| against the one big union, but he be-
lieved in a closer affiliation in basic
| industries of men employees therein:
William E. Baker, Minneapolis,
opposed industrial organization Of
any kind and advocated perfecting
the American Federation Of Labor.
One delegate said the lone. big
union" is good for only two things,
"goed for nothing and not good for
anything
| At one time debate on the question
was so furious that President Hall
futlly pounded for order and shouted
III you want to fight there are miles
of streets outside" -
The delegates also voted in favor
Of legislation opening the prison
doors to the rent profiteers of Min
nesota." The resolution adopted is as
follows: whereas, while profiteering
in other fields is cutting off the food
supply Of the workers and gradually
reducing their standard of living, the
organized landlords are, through ex-
orbitant rents, forcing the toilers to
resort more and more to the slums
and congested districts of the indus-
trial centers in order to exist on the
starvation wages paid by the open
shop advocates. Therefore, be it re-
solved, that this convention instruct
! the legislative committee to prepare
a bill for presentation to the next
session Of the legislature that shall
open the prison doors to the rent
profiteers."
Resolutions were passed calling
for legislation to limit the weight
that women may carry, while at
work, to rs pounds emphasizing the
urgent need for reform regarding the
) rights and privileges of governme ent
employees; requesting senators and
representatives from Minnesota in
congress to use influence to secure
a higher wage scale: for postal serv-
ice employees, and time and a half
for over eight hours work; and alb
Continued on P00e T1D0.