Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-25
UNIONS REFUSE
TO PURCHASE
]. D|lA1|lKl|''!OTABONDS
Frazier Informed That A. F.
of =. is Not in Bond Buy
ing Business.
(By Harry c. Stevens In The Minnc-
apOlis JouEnal.)

apOlis Journal.)
Washington. Feb. 35.-Failing to
enlist the support of the, American
Federation of Labor in marketing
North Dakota state bonds after
strenuous efforts with members of the
federation council here this week,
Governor Lynn j. Frazier is on his
way home today. He was aided ii
his drive here by Sturgeon Odell, fis-
cal agent Of the Bank of North Da-
kota. Mr.. Odell was fresh from an
UNSUCCESSFUL campaign among New
York financial interests. Both men
urged labor's support for North Da-
kota's industrial program on the
ground that there is an "open shop"
fight or their state. ~
Governor Frazier and Mr.. Odell ap-
peared before the executive commit
tee of the federation and asked the
federation to recommend the purchase
Of state bonds, to its members
through the local unions.
"a. r. Of L. Not in Bond Business"
The executive committee informed
the North Dakota executive and fiscal
agent that ''the American Federation
of Labor is not in the bond business"
They also were told that it was out
side the field. of the federati, MS ac-
~tivities to buy bonds, or to recommend
the purchase of bonds. If any mem
bers of the federation individually
wanted to invest their surplus moneys
in North Dakota bonds, they could do
it on their W responsibility, but the
enterprise would not have the back
ing of the federation or any of it's ma
tional officers, o of the executive
committee.
The conference. yesterday adopted
- ne0 ,,<;1n 1Sn~1,:-- .-oz%l,,
toward the government and III peo-
pie of North Dakota and recommend
ed that the labor organizations give
friendly consideration to the bond is
sue of the state owned Bank of North
Dakota"
This action was taken after Odcll
had asked labor's "moral and fnan-
cial support Tor the bonds"
Representatives of the bank. it was
announced, will be furnished with a
list of all international unions, state,
American Federation Of Labor, to
which they may make direct appeal
Each union organization will deter.
mine for itself whether it wishes tc
invest in the bonds of the bank or de.
post surplus funds in the institution
Having been turned down by the
executive committee, Governor Fraz.
Ter asked request before the council
which met Wednesday, in order thai
he (the governor) should have an op.
p%ortunity to place the matter before
the members Of the council and gel
their judgment on it. 1t was intend
ed that this request should be placed
before the council Wednesday, blu
other matters occupied the attention
of the council until a late hour ant
no action was taken.
Convention Flooded With Circulars.
Agents OF the Nonpartisan leagu,
placed a pile of circulars on a tabl,
in the anteroom of the hall in which
the council met, What North Da
kota Can Do for Organized Labor,
was the title on one side of the sheet
On the other side the caption wa
What North Dakota Has Done TO
/. Organized Labor"
The things North Dakota has Tor
for labor were enumerated as fol
lows: The an~ti-injunction law; tn
union label law, requiring MO label
on all state issued documents; tn
compensation law; the mine inspec