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SWBSCRIPTIONi 11.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCB. Vol. 12. No. 40. UKi NEW CHIEF OPPDSESUP LABOR Progressive Southern Governor Sounds Voice of Warning to State Legislature. Deplores Number of Negroes in State, But Says Scum of Europe Would Be Ahorse. The Associated Press did not say much about the message of the new governor of Alabama to the state leg islature at its opening last month, but It Is so full of rich thoughts that it is gradually finding its way northward. Among other good things Governor B. B. Comer touched on immigration. What he said under that head was so interesting and to the point, as re gards the future welfare of our entire citizenship, that we cail not forbear to quote a few extracts as follows: The curse of Alabama has been cheap labor. More than 40 per cent of our population are negroes, from the very nature of the case furnishing a low order of labor. I under stand that there will be a bill before the Assembly empowering the State to establish an Immigration Bureau and send agents abroad to secure la bor, with the stated broadness of field reaching from the Baltic to the Medi terranean, and the apparent purpose of going to that congested section bor dering the Mediterranean and bring ing here the lowest class of labor that comes to the American shores, and against which the whole United States is crying out today. I would caution you of the danger of bring ing into our State and amalgamating a great horde of cheap labor from that section. What law we make should be so restrictive as to make those who come here fit associates for our own people. Alabama is Just emerging from the impoverished condition of low-priced labor, and for the first time we are approaching the standard of price paid by Northern States, and it would be a calamity to throw an un derlying quicksand foundation of this lowest class of labor from the con gested. districts on the Mediterranean shore. It will be a calamity to put In competition with, and push out, those who are here by substitut ing a mass of this low-priced stuff which this bill proposes to introduce. tfrmt The first effect of this flood of cheap labor would be a deadly blow to the white labor in our midst. Why not secure immigrants through your Agricultural and State Depart ments, to »end with the seal of the Alabama should not be among those clamoring for low-priced and peonage labor. The present scarcity of labor is accomplishing the very thing we have hoped for, prayed for that is, high-price production and high-price product. It is true that this scarcity of labor will hurt a few men, but the Introduction of the low class labor contemplated in the bill will hurt two millions of people, which is the population Of our State, and our first duty is to guard the interests of the millions, and not of the few." As we intimated in the opening paragraph, the remarks of Governor Comer on immigration and cheap la bor are peculiarly applicable to the whole country at this time. What with unrestricted immigration from Japan, Korea and other Asiastlc jcoun tries, and from the least civilized sec tions of Europe, there is imminent danger that our present standard of Anglo-Saxon civilization will suffer a setback that may require generations to overcome. Add to this the unin termittent efforts of a crowd of well meaning but short-sighted, sentimen tal theorists to have the Chinese Ex clusion Act repealed or modified, and one may well admit that there is cause for apprehension for the future of this country on the part of those citizens who are capable of reasoning straight from cause to effect, or vice versa. hawserlaid' reiTj, AID FOR NORWAY'S POOR. Aged Scandinavian Leaves Half of Estate to Charity, NEVADA, Iowa, Feb. 13._"T0 MB Eli KPT HEIR II BBEffl LIE Wages of Labor, No Matter How High They May Be, Never Above Actual Needs. Southern City Bids For Indus tries on the Fact That it Has Much Cheap Labor. The thinker has long maintained that the wages of the laborer are al ways near the bread line—that is, he is paid only as much wages as It requires to reproduce himself in good working order, the employer well knowing that he must keep 'his work man supplied with food, shelter and rainment sufficient to protect him and his family and allow reproduction in order to keep the mines, factories, farms and so forth running. I say the thinking man has long recognized the above as a fact, says a writer in the Chicago Record-Herald. I 'have before me a prospectus is sued by the board of trade of a Southern city that ought to convince any one of the above contentions^ if any proof were necessary. This pros pectus is ssued for the benefit of the business interests of that city. It is sent to different manufacturers throughout the country to induce them to locate there. The prospectus is well got up it shows skill and taste in Its arangement. It has a number of fine cuts of the principal features of the city and surrounding country, giving in detail all that one might reasonably want to know in such cases. But what strikes the writer as being so cold blooded Is its article headed "Labor," of which the following are the exact words: "Labor at reasonable cost Is the boast of this city. The source of the labor supply is the native white pop ulation surrounding the city, the most prolific in family production in the United States. The laborer is capable and contented. Strikes are unknown. The low cost of living and the mild climate, making the cost of fuel and clothing less than in many other cities and permitting of outdoor work every day in the year, render It possible to maintain a lower wage scale than pre vails in like Industries in the north." As an example of some of the wages paid the folewlng Is quoted: Com mon laborers, from $1 to $1.50 per day carpenters, $2.50 to $3 printers, $2.75 to $4 painters, $2 plumbers, $2 to $4 paperhangers, $2.50 to $3 brick ma sons, $4.50 to $5 plasterers, 35 cents an hour teamsters,$l per' day ,texr 4 .'-wSS tlVUl «tCCIIIIi Brltalnsnd Qeiinanfva»deom»' otMr station* that ~W could h&ne. "Immigrants we want, yes but we do not want them for the purpose of reducing the price of labor we want them for citizenship. The introduction of a low class of labor under the general labor conditions of the State today would tend to level our present laborers and their pay to that class. you could strike no deadlier blow at their welfare than to introduce a system of immigration that would tend to reduce the earning capacity of labor, on the farm, or in the office, or factory, or elsewhere. I would caution you not to be led against the best interests of our people and the future of our State by the clamor of those who, to promote some present enterprise, would lead you in to the false position of introducing In to our state a class of people that would hurt our best interests, instead of amalgamating with our present citizenship and Improving the future of the State. ^e miU iand* the poor people of my native land Nor way, do I bequeath one-half of mv property and estate." is the Queer phrase which Is contained in the last will and testament of Andrew D. John son, an eccentric old Norwegian who recently died at Story City. The will has been offered for probate but It will be contested by the sons and daughters upon the grounds of un justnesi. Smoke Puradora Cigar, Clear Havana Union Label and Home Made. one/of the lat)ge*t cotton thills iHrtttie south and also the. largest woolen mill in the. world, hence the quotation of textile mills hands at 50 cents a day and up. What does the above convey to the reader? Only this—that whatever advantages nature has given the la borer in that city are taken from him by the manufacturer. If the climate is rigorous, he is paid sufficient wages to purchase fuel and clothing. If these are unnecessary, they are not furnish ed in wages by the employer. In other words, the laborer is not allowed any benefits that his location make for him by the reason of his living in a mild climate, but they are absorbed by the employer. If some wizard of an Edison should discover a food the value of 10 cents worth of which would be sufficient to maintain the laborer In working con dition, do you not know that the wages would at once fall to the bread line? Of course they would, and wages have remained a,nd always will remain near the bread line, sometimes below. So long as this present system is in vogue the above conditions will prevail. You will note in the wages quoted in the prospectus that those trades* which are best organized receive the highest wages and that those unor ganized receive the lowest. THE SHIPS' DEAD OF A YEAR. Of all the ships of all nations which sailed from Atlantic ports in 1906 nine teen were lost, with 257 men. Pour vessels in the Pacific trade went out of reckoning, with eighty-eight souls on board. On the Great Lakes, as has been previously reported 126 lives were lost during the season. The total num* ber of dead thus far accounted for is 471, and they were under six different flags. On the railroads of the United States alone during this same year of report, more than 4,200 passengers, employees and other people were killed and mote than 55,000 Injured. The lives set down as lost by water bear some ratio to the number of hands busy and passengers carried in the com mercial navies of the world. What that ratio is can not be accurately stated, but it must be greatly smaller than the propotion between persons carried and persons killed or maimed, on the railroads in America. "They that go down to the sea In ships" may Indeed "mount up to the Heaven" and go down again to the depths," also "reel to and fro. and stag ger like a drunken man." But on the whole they are proportionately safer than their brethren who merely go down to the railway station. EPIDBBIIC AT SALT LAKE. SALT LAKE, Utah, Feb. 13.—The city has, since the first of the year, been in the grip of an epidemic of cef^ ebro spinal meningitis.. Since Jan. 1 there have been 24 deaths' and of theft eight have been since the 1st of Feb ruary. Mr. Union Man:—Notify your print' er that the Bell Those Is Unfair. Congressman Wharton of the Stock Yards District in Chi cago, Who Was Defeated By a Union Labor Man, Bitterly Denounces President of Fed eration of Labor. Says That Gompers is an Arch Enemy of the People—Is an Arch Demagogue and Liar— Biting Under Defeat He Pours His Venom Against the Great Labor Champion. Gompers is Undismayed—Says Wharton Has Not the Cour age to Utter This in His Presence—Proves By Con gressional Record that Wharton is Really a Liar. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 14.— Samuel Gompers of the American Fed eration of Labor was in Cuba for the benefit of his health when Congressman Wharton made a cowardly attack upon him In the course of a debate In the House of Representatives. The press of the country gave much prominence to his remarks, and as Mir. Gompers could not be reached tils reply was awaited with eagerness by his host of friends in and out of the labor move ment. Congressman Littlefleld has previ ously delivered himself, of a tirade against Mir. Gompers behind closed doors at a meeting of the organized opponents of union labor. Prior to speakjnqr he asked that the reporters be removed from the room. This speech was not made known until stenographic reports of it were secured from friendly sources, and it was found that tlje humiliated Congressman had not only abused Gompers but -he con demned his fellow congressman In a most cowardly manner. Mr. Gompers Replies. ..Upon Mr. Gomper's return ho lost no time In giving publlfcity to the fol lowing in answer to the accusations of labor's opponents: "Since the close of the last political campaign in which organized labor took a conspicuous part, and by which several. Congressmen were sent Into deserved political oblivion and others hadtl^ir wings sevefftiy singe^a few -ff) who stand- out conspiciously and ?he boid relief. They are Hon. Charles & Wharton of the Fourth Dlstriot of Illi nolse, and Hon. Charles E. Littlefleld, of the Second District of Maine. Mr. Wharton,was defeated by a conscien tious, intelligent man, Mr. McDermott, a member in good standing of the Or der of Commercial Telegraphers, an organization in full affiliation with the American Federation of Labor. Wharton's Cowardly Attaok 'A few weeks ago, when a bill (Mr. Littlefleld's) was pending in the House ior the abolition of compulsory pilot age, Mr. Wharton made a speech of two minutes duration. In the" course of which he took occasion to say that Samuel Gompers was "An arch enemy of the people that arch demagogue and liar." We do not know what else the honorable gentleman had in mind to say, but we doubt very much that he would have had the temerity to ut ter the above, or anything else dero-, gatory to.us In our presence, or where' opportunity presented Itself for reply. Gomper's Defense Unnecessary. "We feel sure that it will not be nec essary for us to make a defense to any such charge, as that which Mr. Whar ton makes against us of being an enemy of the people, or playing the role of demagogue. The work of a lifetime to endeavor to help the great lhass of the America wornkmen, and that implies with it the improvement in the condition of all our people, must stand as our best answer to the foul aspersion. Then, too, has been one of our great purposes in life to be absolutely truthful, it being recognized that upon the veracity of a man must depend largely his capacity for useful service. Wharton's Attaok Not Justified. But, let us for & moment see whethet CHILD LABOR LEGISLATION NOT BRIGHT IN CONGRESS President Samuel Gompers Believes Beveridge Bill is Ingenious!/ Drawn. In the current issue of the Federa tionlst, Mr.Gompers refers as follows to the matter of child labor legislation as itris attempted in Congress. "A number of bills have been in troduced in Congress for the regula tion and limitation of child labor. Senator Beveridge's bill S. 6562* subsequently offered as an amendment to H. R. 17838. prohibits carriers' of Interstate commerce from accepting for transportation from any one state or territory to any other, state or territory, or the District of Columbia, the products of labor where children under the age of 14 are em ployed or. permitted to work. The bill is Ingeniously devised, and if enacted, will unquestionably help to make child labor legislation effective.. The penalty clause of the, bill,...however, makes it necessary to prove that the officer or agent of a carrier of interstate com .merce^who. violates the law, did so' "knowingly.'' This, of course, is a most dlffloult procedure, as' the history of devoted to the industrial welfare of tme head of the lakes. DULUTH AND SUPEBIOB, SATDBlXAY, TB&. 16, 1907. LABOR'S FIRST EXPERIENCE HAS MOST SALUTARY EFFECT The after effect of labor's cam paign in politics to now being felt at Washington, Heretofore ^dif ferent friends are aow I lying them selves with the champions of labor legislation... The defeat of Little field'* pet measure fbr the abolition of compulsory jilfctage, whioh was hotly opposed by fail marine work Ingmen, was badly, beaten in.the House, thus destifcyhig Littlefleld's influence in the ruftioh'S law making body. Humiliated Congressmen are attempting to di*bredit President Gompers of the Amerioan Federa tion of Labor for not having the oourage to oppose their re-election. They hold Gompers wholly responsi ble for their political shaking up. As a matter of fact Mr. Gompers is but the instrument.. .The whole Amerioan labor ..movement is behind him. ..As a servant of the union working people of America he was but doing his duty,. As a result of labor's first ad vent in polities the effect, has been most salutary ppo* the judgment and course of the members of Con 9re®**- .Some favorable legislation Is expected be for* the next elec tion comes around. there be any ground/upon which Mr. Wharton has justification for his in vective. It will be remembered that by direction of the organized labor movement of opr country several let ters were sent to congressmen last spring asking their attitude upon measures and bills in Which the toil ers were vitally interested. Among answers received was one from Mr. Wharton, in which he s^, that "I voted against tlje proviso exempting the eight hour law from application on the Panama Canal/' Our editorial comment upon that statement was as follows: "The Congressional Record (January 27. page 1«8) records Mr. WTiarton as not voting upon the propo sition to annul the e|ght hour law on the Panama Canal."| Now here is a direct conflict of statements. Our au thority is the off!elal|jjournal of the Hons* of Repr^entatfves. This Jttr. Then, *r-£ -a*- -"TEf wurvww stated/ifr. Whist oil's bitterness occa sioned by his dfcfeat "has^ beyond doubt, pervertedhirmlnd, so that he is in capable of^ discriminating between the true and the false. Labor Could Not Support Him. The slum total of our offending has been, that Labor could not support the Congressman for re-election. He comes from the district of Chicago In which the stockyards are located, and during his term of office:]»., never ut tered one word, or cast otievote that in the slightest degree might tend to the amelioration of conditions of the men and women and children of that "Jungle." In his district he is gener ally regarded as one of those strip ling pettifoggers—the errand boy of the masters of Packingtown. It was our privilege, as well as our duty, to go into that district and to urge the election of Mr. MJcDermott, a bright young American, an enthusiastic, lib erty-loving and sympathetic union man. Under the sobering influence of political retirement, Mr. Wharton may come to reason with himself, if his hide and mentality are not too impen etrable, and some time repent of his ignorant, vicious and malious asper sions toward those of whom he now has not the faintest appreciation or understanding. Littlefleld la Saucy. But, after all, Mk\ Wharton's. attack only on a par with that of the Hon. Charles E» Littlefleld, who denounced "that man Gompers" as a "coward, a Jesse James, and highwayman." Since the election Mr. Littlefleld, has, upon every occasion, undertaken to con vince people that, despite his loss of nearly-5 000 votes in his district, yet 'to' use his own language, "Gompers helped-me." In an address at a meet- other legislation has frequently de monstrated. The prima facie fact of the employment of children under the age limit should be sufficient proof. The employers or carriers have facil ities for their own protection by pro per inquiry. "Senator Gallinger, of New Hamp shire, introduced a bill for the limita tion 'of child labor in the District of Columbia, but excludes from the provi sions of his bill those children em-, ployed by the Senate and House of Representatives, or those who are learning a trade. "Senator Piles, of Washington,. of fered an amendment excluding chil dren from the operations of the bill who are the sole support of a dis abled father or a widowed mother, or a younger brother or sister, or wholly depiendent upon theiriselves. In connection with this-it is strange how1 some men would reverse the or der of nature $y requiring the younger to support their elders. After ^11 should the state be eliminated from all responsibility for the/disabled and the young? "Senatdr Ixdge, of (Massachusetts, as an amendment to H. R. 17888,) in troduosd a blU prohibiting A, tb« ,m» Littlefield Too, in an Attempt to Save Bfomself From a Po litical Grave Yard Delivers Himself to a Tirade Aga&Uftt President (tampers Behind Closed Doors. When He Accused Gompers of Being a Coward He ladled to Measure the Capacity of His Man—Facing Little field on Threshold of His Own Home is Not Cowardice When Littlefield's Pet Meas ure for the Abolition of Pil ot's on the New England Qoast Came up for Vote in Congress It Was Terribly Showed Under. ing in Washington, D. C., he discovered reporters present and refused to con tinue until the newspaper representa tives were ordered from the hall. It so happened that several stenogra phers Were present who took down J£r. Littlefleld's speech, In which in the vilest terms he denounced, not-only the President of the American Federation of Labor, but his (Mr. Littlefield's) colleagues on various committees of which he is a member, as well as the entire membership of the House of Representatives, stigmatizing them as "cowards." Stenographic, copies of this speech are now to be had for the asking, and Mr. Littlefleld has quite a time of it to "explain" to his .collea gues. But members of congress need not depend upon the accuracy of the report of that speech, nor upon Mr. Littlefleld's denials. Similar Abuse Before. He gave "vent to' similar abuse upon the public platform during the cam paign in Maine. In those speeches he denounced every member of congress who voted favorably'upon, any of the bills in which Labor was interested, stigmatizing them as cowards and knaves. We feel sure it will not be necessary for us to pay serious atten tion to Mr. Littlefleld's denunciation of us as "a highwayman ,or as "a Jesse James." These genteel terms are only .'coiped by one of such a, mind as the fcentlefnan froii^ the District of abteristics, .we could ehjoy a term of greater repose and safety by' remain ing at the American federationJ of La bor's headquarters duMng the cam paign in Maine, instea'd* of going into his distriot in an effort to'secure the gentleman's political scalp. Mr. L.ttle iBeld mpy think of pg as running, but we beg to offer him our distinguished consideration, and the assurance that, when we are running, we are not run ning away from, but after an enemy to t(he ihierests of labor, and of the common people. Minds of Both 8uroharged With 8pite. We have referred to the expressions of Congressman Wharton and Little field here, riot from any particular de sire to make a personal defense, for we verily believe that the people of our country will take such attacks at their true value, as the outpouring from minds surcharged with bitterness of defeat in the one case and chagrin, humiliation in the other. In any event Messrs. Wharton and Littlefleld should bear in mind that misrepresentation, vituperation, an abuse does not constitute either a de fense or justification of 'their own in difference.and antagonism toward the real interest of labor and the people generally. As a whole, the campaign in wh Labor engaged last summer and fall has already had a most salutary,effect upon the judgment and the course of the members of congress. If the toll ers, will be but true to themselves be faithful to each of her, strong in their devotion for the. right and for human ity* and upright in the conduct of our movement, we shall witness, day by day, a better understanding of oyr mo tives and a greater willingness to con cede to the workers fairer and better conditions. ployment of. children under 14 years during the' hours when public schools are in -sesion, or before six o'clock In the morning or after seven o'clock in the evening. "Congressman Brumm, of the ljth district of Pennsylvania, introduced a bill ingeniously devised for the aboli tion of child labpr. by invoking the taxing power of the United States for that' purpose. His bill proposes that the -tax-of 50 'oehts per-,day be paid into the United States Treasury for every 'such child employed,.'requiring also, t^e employer of children .under 14 years of. age. to obtain. a Hcpnse for the same frome the federal, gov ernment The bill also'provides a' cer tain per cent ad valorem' tfpon the ptOflucts upon which children 14 yiiars of age 'shall, have been employ ed. The ad valorem .tax..to be based Upon the amount and value of such products "Surely, out of all of these multl farious bills and ingenious (Jevices to remedy an all-prevadlfcig evil,,some specific,'effective and humane nrjteasvtre should become a law at an early dste." :—WpWy your milk llr. Union Man":—Wp(lfy your milk iMWr tftal ,tli%'-mM Vjraial* 1 t* POOR SU FRMGI PEOPLE ME STUEO I, 1 Unfortunates Suffer While Relief Committees Juggles With Many Millions. Money Donated by Sympathe tice World, is Held up While People Are in Want. San FranciBco, Feb. 14.—One of the piost absurd situations and at the same time heart rending, exists here. With about $4,000,000 of relief money on hand the traders into whose hands it has fallen are keeping it. True to their instincts they are striving to in increase this store at the cost of awful sufferings to refugees of the earth quake disaster. The members of the committee, land holders and traders, cannot bear to spend the money given by a sympa* thetic world. They are comfortable and they are afraid that the expendi ture of the mortey In-real relief work will "pauperize" the poor. Falls Into Hands of Millionaires. After t$ie earthquake here, people all over the United States sent money for the Immediate relief of the refugees and the maintenance of those made homeless through th® quake. This money has ultimately fallen into the hands of a body of'millionaires who have organized under the name of the Relief Corporation. In distributing this money these m^n considered the refugees as paupers, and felt like they were giving money, out of their own pockets, instead of giving money to the real owners. In the $^t .^jpi^iigGposed by many ofc the .people ^tlf^ California has no bad weather. The truth is that the "golden climate" is purely a myth in the winter time. If ^you have to sleep in a tent here'in the rainy season you ca.n suffer as much as you can in Du luth when the temperature is down below zero. Here is the absurd"features of this thing. While and men. too, complain do not have enough clothing to keep them warm or enough to eat, the Relief Corpora tion has $4,000,000 on hand. The millionaires appear to be some what embarassed as to what to do with this money. They have spent some of it in^nfldiRg little shacks. Their idea In building them was a purely business one, Just as muoh of an investment as if some outside corporation had done It. The Absurdity of -It, that I Ultimately these houses woidd rilore than pay ior themselves.. T^he people here have watched this thing from the beginning .and have become sort of accustomed/ to it and don't realise the exact absurdity of the sit* uation. The $4,000,000 will probably be spent for a. hospital which Is to be modern, particularly from an architec tural standpoint. Hundreds of persons are still liv ing in tents, arid the cold winter rains make life miserable for them. In contrast to the desire of the re lief corporations to spend the $4,000, 000 of the refugees for a great hospi tal, are the stories of suffering and dire want heard every day. Mary Kelly's 8tory. Mary Kelly, an aged refugee, who lost her home in the flre. Is one of the many who hav«Ke*|di^ained of outran eous treatment." *r"*• '1 was refused food and medicine by the Relief Committee," declared Mrs. Kelly. "They handle the refugees' money as if it were their own private funds, and you a pauper." Shortly after the earthquake Mrs. Kelly was given a shack to live in. It was rainproof, at least, and was near ttoe site of here fftttner home. How ever, the Relief Committee decided that she must go to Ingleside, the home of the aged people. Mrd. Kelly refused to vacate and the little build ing was torn down while she was in side. "They wanted to move he out there," said Mrs. Kelly, "because I'm trying to make my friends understand that they have been cheated: out of money that is rightfully theirs. That money was sent to the fire refugees, to make them comfortable, to build them decent shelter, to clothe and feed them. I'm not the only one who has been wrong ed." Pay Rent fbr 8hacks. "Every day I hear of some poor wo man who is turned out of her shack because she hasn't the money to pay her rent. They want us to pay rent rent for these little cottages that are gifts' of our friends In other cities, and while there are still $4,000,000 of that money yet to1 be spent." At Ingleside racetrack 500 old peo ple are living and sleeping in cold, unheated" stables. On account of no warmth, ihany of them are suffering severely with rheumatism. They are well fed At Ingleside, but that is all the good that can be said of the man agement of tha home. The little stalls,- Whitewashed Inside and out, are furnished with old second hand furniture. But Captain Kilian, the man in charge, says he is trying to run the place at. the' leaiit expense. Generally, the conditions atnong the reiNigees. in San Francispo are deplor able.. The, sanitary conditions about thcpe camps are anything but good lflinffielent food and cjothlng are fur nished to those who hadjiy need them the refugees are shivering in unheated shacks. V- And yet. there is a surplus of $4,000, 0001 -v A ft. fl! ^flS i-v*-- a r- -•A ONLY LAMR PAPER NORTHERNMINNESOTA, MM llll^ FIVE GENTS. MESABJ fflUGE STEM Several Organizations in' Range Towns. To Abolish Bonus Plan, Unions Elect Business Agent Who Will Furnish All De siring Employers with Hen. The Steam Shovel men on the Me saba flange are among the best organ* ised vorkingmen in Miinnesota. They have several strong and progressive local 8, are receiving good wages, and hav^ complete control- of the situation. Atnong several of this Stripping rcom« parses they are having disputes over the.! bonus plan inaugurated by the' con tractors. The bonus Is optional With tho companies to pay at the end of the year. The union is trying to abolish this system and desire a minimum wage scale of $150.00 for engineers, and: $125.00 for cranesmen. Business Agent at Hibbing. Fred Brennon, who has been running a steam shovel for the Mahoney Min ing company at Hibbing for the past ten years, has been eleQted secretary-, treasurer of Local No. 6, and will act as representative on the Mesaba range for the International Brotherhood of Steam Shovel and Dredge men, with headquarters at Hibbing, where rail road companies, mining companies and contractors can secure steam shovfl engineers and cranesmen on short no tice. Dredgemen in Conference. Secretary T. F. Dolan of the Inter national union is in conference with the dredge owners this week. It is the annual conference of the employers: and employes on the dredges in the. harbors along the chain of lakes. The meeting is being held In Detroit, and there seems to be no question about making an agreement. C. E. Newell of Buffalo, first vice president of the Brotherhood is also in attendance. Under the executive, order issued by President Roosevelt some time ago the eight-hour law must be observed by contractors doing government work, whether being done by contract or Bay labor. When negotiating for the last wage agreement a year ago the dredge men made a. stand for an eight-hour day, but finally were forced to yield It In consideration for other conces sions. ROBERT HUNTER A SOCIALIST. Famous Author of "Poverty" Joins th«v Socialist Party. fensii certain periodtlme,^ &r>.'TYS woUid Robert Hi&ter. thet Kfe# 3fefcjfc.'iretttement .wqdeer who .married the sister of J. G. Phelps Stokes, an nounces his ,decision to join the So cialist party In this country.' Hte says that he thus places himself in! direct-J opposition "to the most fundamental cause of our social distresses, namely, capitalism itself." Every day he sees that so long as the capitalist class ex ists, poverty, wage slavery and all the miseries which well-intentioned men desire to relieve must continue. Mr. Hunter thinks that capitalism will soon go the way of "other class systems." "Lawson," he. says, "sees robbery of the widows and orphans Hearst sees its political treachery, Steffens sees its political perfidy, Miss Tarbell its soul of dishonor and hypo crisy, Robert DeForest Its murderous tenements, Felix Adler the slavery of the children, Roosevelt Its poisonous food products." Mr. Hunter sees all these things at once, and the sight has driven him tp join those who demand "the social ownership of the Instru ments of production." ®®r. ITnlon Man —Kotlfy vour barber that the Bell 'PhOne i* Unfair. SWEET-ORR COMPANY DO RIGHT THING FOR LABQR The International Association of Lithographers has had a strike on for several months, and It is now under going some trouble with Arms that re fuse to use their label. Among these Arms which have taken their work from non-union lithograph-1 ers is the Sweet-Orr Company,' makers of union-made overalls. The firm em ploys union garment workers, and has been regarded as one of the fairest in stitutions towards union labor in t{ie country. Its friendship and respect for the rights of labor is fittingly shown by tl^e following letter sent out under the seal of the general office of the International Association of Litho graphers: "We desire to make It known thaitr the flrtn of Sweet-Orr & Co., manufa'c turers of trousers and overalls, after being notified that a strike existed'in the lithographic trade and upon re quest of our organisation toi demand the lithographers', union label- upon Its poster work and other advertising mat ter, withdrew their large contracts from firms who are now unfair, nn| placed them with establishments who are falr to thls organisatlpn. "Sweet-Qrr & Cp., are large employ* ers of union labor, whose products aire °»e best, on the market, bearing the Garment- Workers' Union Label, there* 1 fore, in appreciation, of these facts, the Lithographers'- Asociatlon feel that the good feeling expressed by these man- ufaoturers merits "the patronage of or* I ganized. l^hor in general, and we pleasure in recommending their pro ducts to organized labor, and Litho* g^aphers eUpefctaily. Tours fraternally. HanMlton, General President, Jasi J. McCaffertjr, General Secretary Treasurer."..:' -Jf Mr, Union Min."-—Notify your rental agent that the Bell 'Phone Is Utttkiiw