Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-10
LABOR AND ~RADIcALISM.

Two meetings OF laboring men have been held
within the past few days i'll Grand Forks, both OF
them called according to announcement, for the
discussion of the workmcn's compensation law
and the minimum wage law. At the first meeting,
only 25 persons were present, and because Of the
small attendance the address for which arrange
n1ents had been made on that occasion was not
given. At the second meeting on Sunday after
noon there were present Sc persons, and while the
attendance was not greatly in excessfof that Of the
former meeting. the speaker, F. 3. Feethan, deliver
ed his address in which he took occasion to- remind
members OF labor organizations of some of the
things which had impaired the standing Of their
organizations before the public and lost for them a
measure of public confidence. Among these things
were enumerated the attitude, sometimes sympa-
thetic and sometimes indifferent, toward radical ac-
tivities and acts Of agitation. Mention was made Of
the fact that within a short time a labor meeting
in Grand Forks had listened without audible pro-
test to a speaker who had used up the time assign
ed him in setting forth the desirability of the Rus
sian soviet form of government over that in the
United States, and of the conditions in Russia as
compared with those in this country. Mr.. Feetha1n
emphasized the fact that if labor organizations are
to command the support and the confidence of the
public they must take a positive stand on such
questions as those involved in discussions of this
character, and must make it known not only that
they are not sympathetic toward seditious agi-
tators but that they are enphatically and aggres-
sively opposed to them and all of their activities.
IN i1lSStiAS VI Suiiudy Was CdIiSu CSI6nSlDly
for. the purpose of discussing certain labor legjsla-
ton. AS a matter of fact this program was not car
ricd out. The legislation for which the meeting was
ostensibly called was practically ignored except that
those in attendance were invited to sign. protests
against the removal of S. S. Mcdonald from his
position on the workmen's compensation board. 1t
is not at all unlikely that the smallness of attend.
ance at these two meetings may be accounted for by
this fact. The management of the meetings is of 4
character which is known to lean strongly towad
radicalism and radicals, and it was expected that
the calling of these meetings was in the interest Of
a movement of the support of Mr.. Mcdonald. The
fact of the matter IS that MIR. McDonald's activities
in the past have not won for him any great measure
OF confidence among Grand Forks working people
who know him we'll. His tendencies have always
been those of the agitator, and the castigation ad-
nninistered by Mr.. Feetham to radicalism and radi-
Gals applies with particular aptness to Mr.. Nc
Donald. We suggest therefore, that working peo-
pie remained away from these meetings knowing
that they were called in the interest of a Mcdonald
movement. and themselves feeling no particular in
terest in McDonald's retention in his present sal
aried position. That, we assume, accounts very
largely for the smallness of attendance, and the lack
OF interest shown is a striking commentary on the
standing Of this alleged labor leader among the real
working people of Grand Forks.