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MR MERCHANT HAS it occurred to you tbtt this paper |oe* into the bomea of the beat paid working* men in Dulutb and turrounding territory? It it carefully peruied by every adult mem* ber of the household. There it no better ad vertising medium anywhere.. VOL.28 NO. 18. UNION LABOR TAKES STEPS TO CPiS Federated Trades Assembly at Special misting Hears Street Railway Issue Discussed and A ppoints Committee to Contest Action of City Council Believes Charter Is Violated. Can It Be Done? "The whole question is, can the company do these things on a five cent fare? Every city but two in the north in Duluth's class has granted higher fares to traction companies, running f^m 6 to 10 cents. I believe it is the duty of the people to come to the relief of the company which is not making any money on a five-cent fare." When Mr. Cheadle concluded Com missioner P. G. Phillips was invited to address the assembly. "The pro posed six-cent ordinance," declared Mr. Phillips, "is a tax on wage earners end their wives and children. I don't believe the company needs the money. They have never come clean to the city. They are always holding some thing back. Where's That Report? "What became of the report of the experts they employed some months ago to go over their books?" asked Mr. Jphillips. "The city has never heard from them. We haven't any au thentic information on the finances or condition of the company. Its of ficers say that they need more than five cents. Its president declares six cents is not enough. All we have is their word for it. If they "were on the level they would lay all their cards cn the table, and we would be fair enough to give them a square deal. "They are and have been holding cut on the city. Over in Wisconsin this company is doing business. Its rates may be changed by the state railroad commission. Why is it, if the company has such a good case, that the Wisconsin commission has not au thorized the six-cent fare in Supe rior? Took All the Fat. "I'll tell vou why. This company in 10 years has paid more than the amount of its capital stock in divi dends. It took all of the fat when 'business was good and now when earnings are lean they want us to pay them more money. "During those fat years the city asked the company to issue six tickets for a quarter. It wanted school chil dren carried for half fare. It was pay ing good'dividends in those days, but it refused the request of the city, hold ing that the franchise would not per mit them to carry people for lesathan five cent#. It was then held that the franchise could not be amended. "Now it is different. Oh yes, the franchise can be amended now in the interest of the company, but it could not have been in the interest of the city. If there is any attempt to in vestigate the financial condition of the street railway company I am in favor of going over its books from the beginning. The Federated Trades assembly has by unanimous vote declared against the six-cent ordinance. "The delegates are convinced that provisions of the city charter dealing with franchises and the referendum have been ignored and violated by the city council. A committee of 10, consisting of John E. Jensen, Henry Perreault, Elling Munkeby, Henry L. Morin, George B. Cooke, John A. Barron, Ernest R. Rickard, A. G. Catlin, P. F. Demtee and W. E. McEwen will co: suit attorneys on a proposition to carry the case into the courts id test the legality of the call for the election. T1 was decided upon at a special meeting of the assembly held, at Ow hall Wednesday evening. It was one of the largest meetings of the assembly held in recent years, more than 100 delegates and vis itors bing in attendance. President John E. Jensen presided. H. W. Cheadle Speaks in Favor of Ordinance. H. W. Cheadle of the Duluth Realtors' association was present and addressed the delegates and visitors in behalf of the ordinance. He was given respectful attention. It was due him. Mr. Cheadle as a state senator was a mighty good friend of labor. At the conclusion of the meeting he was given a rising vote of thanks for the fair and frank manner in which he presented the side of the street railway company. "The Real Estate exchange," said Mr. Cheadle, "is interested in the passage of the six-cent ordinance because we believe the city's growth and prosperity depend upon good street car service and the building of extensions. "The Real Estate exchange is bound to no special interest. We inaugurated the fight against the steel interests for the abolition of the 'Pittsburg Plus' system of basing steel prices. We began the deep waterway movement. We believe that good street railway service is necessary to the city. '11 have looked into this question very thoroughly and I am con vinced the street railway company cannot function on a five-cent fare. I sat in on the draft of this ordinance and I believe it to be a fair and equitable to the company and® the city. It doea not remain in force. longer than two years. It provides for the regulation of service and for mak ing neoessary public improvements. In Bad With People. "And finally, the company is in bad •with the people. It has had every thing its own way for so long that it does not know how to please them now. Mr. Warren, the manager, is out Of touch with the people. If he were out of the way and a more sympa thetic man was put in his place 90 per cent of the grievances against the company would fade away." W. E. McEwen was the nejct speaker! He attach ®d the validity of .the' sricial election. The substance (CoBtiiwd o* Fife Iw») •**,, i- -1"• «*».wJ?'. ON LIVING WAGE Better Wages and High Food Standards Lessen Death From Pellagra. WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—That pel lagra varies inversely with the family income in the cotton mill villages of South Carolina is the conclusion drawn after a. three-year study by the United States puDlic health service. This is the first reported study in which the long-suspected relation of poverty and pellagra is definitely measured. As the income fell the disease was found to increase and to affect more and more other\nembers of the same family. As the income rose, the dis ease decreased vand Was rarely found in families that enjoyed the highest incomes, even-though this highest was still quite low. Differences among families with the same incomes are attributed by the report to differences in the expendi tures for food, intelligence of the housewife, and ownership of cows, gardens, etc. x)ifferences-among vil lages which were economically similar are attributed to differences in the availability and condition of food in local markets. A recent statement by one of the largest life insurance companies in the United States indicates that the food standards of southern wage earners must have improved remarkably of late, for the death rate from pellagra has fallen from 6,7 per 100,000 in 1915 to 2.3 in 1919. The- foundations of American or ganized labor are being subjected to day to the severest strains they have .undergone in many years. Here, in a word, are some of the developments of recent weeks that are putting amal gamated workers to the supreme test: 1. Curtailment of industryf with the laying off of thousands of em ployes and rehiring of men at re duced wages. 2. Flat wage seal* reduction orders in many industries. 3. Nation-wide propaganda de signed to restore the open shop. 4. Direct and effective eqorts by big steel interests represented In the National Erectors' association to f^rce open shop policies in construction work involving fabricated steel. This has ramifications in many different trades, that are strongly unionized. 5. Sudden and unexpected passage by the Unitejl States senate of the Polndexter anti-strike bill. 6. .The 'United .. states supreme1 court is preparing decision on a. Hartford Valley, Ark.^/^rs* strikfr suit whicri involves the ^destion oj EX-SERVICEMEN WARN THUGS TO Union Glgapkers at Tampa, Veterans of (Jte War, Refuse to stand for Lawlessness^ TAlilPA, Fla., tec. 29.—The 1,500 union o^ar "makers who took part in the world war and are now resist ing the attempt of cigar manufactur ers to deunioriize this Industry, have given notice to these employers and other business men tliat their bluff and coercion will not be tolerated. The ex-service men are members of the Cigar Makers' union. In an attempt to drive back to work the 12,000 cigar makers a committee of self*appointed business men called at strike headquarters and attempted to intimidate officials in charge. In an open letter to these thugs the ex-service men call attention to the principles they fought for in France. "We are just as loyal to these prin ciples now as we were then, and cer tainly we do not propose to desert our leaders in a flight for a .just cause as a result of threats and bulldozing intimidation of a handful of men act ing for .the manufacturers under the guise of the citizen's committee.' "We also want to Inform you that when you attempt to carry into exe cution your threat against certain members of the unions and their in ternational representative you will And these 1,500 ex-service men as persistent in their opposition as they were in their defense of Just princi ples ip France. "We do not seek trouble, indus trially or otherwise, hut. upon the contrary, will endeavor to promote peace, harmony and progress upon all. Occasions and it is upon this basis that we now pledge our best efforts against such illegal and' disturbing elements as 'the citizens' committee.*" WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—Railroad owners have been handed additional millions of dollars as a result of leg islation that was quietly rushed through congress with no debate and no publicity. -The bill postpones the law effective January 1 next which prohibits- rail roads from dealing with concerns that are, connected, through interlocking directorates, with the railroads. This law was passed to stop the grafting of millions of dollars which stock holders lost, but the loss has been shifted to the treasury of the United States, which is called upon, under the Cummins-Esch act, to guarantee dividends to stockholders. Now railroad owners may enter Into any contract they see fit with con cerns that are controllecTby them. They may abolish reDair shops, for instance, and turn this work over to privately owned- companies in which they are interested. These companies have a free hand in making charges to the railroad for their work, and if the railroad has a deficit, the govern /ment comes to the rescue, and pays fr per cent to stockholders. POLISHERS RAISE WAGES. WESTFIEL/D, .Mass., Dec. 29.— Metal polishers and buffers employed by the Westfleld Manufacturing com-? pany have raised wages' to 90 cents an hour. The old rate was 72% cehts. whether labor organizations come un der the. jurisdiction of the Sherman anti-trust law *$s it. provides for dam ages from action in restraint of trade. ,7. Evidence revealed in state housing probe hearing here .indicating that labor/ leaders were profiteering on organize^ labor to the expense of contractors and the public. /The developments have thoroughly aroused labor. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, stated Friday that the work ers %uit accept the challenge." *!they capnbt drive back the Amer ican labor xnovement," said the old leader with characteristic vehemence. "Those fighting us today represent a new awakening of the old idea of master and servant, master and slave. In reply, we challenge them on the principle* nt «uM«"*,$ignty, freedom and manhood." There is no great fear among labor leaders' as .ar result of the senate's action on the fPelndexter* bill. They believe it wii*b$ deffmtedl upon prom ised reeonsic^raiioii ppid that even IF MAN'S LABOR IS NO LONGER AN ARTICLE OF COMMERE COR I Congress Grants Railroads Ex tension of Time to Have Work Done By Controlled Firms. SSSC DTJLTJTH AND SUPEBI0B, JANUABY 1,1921, WASHINGTON MMMUM WAGE OF 518 UPHELD BY HIGH STATE COURT OEYMPIA, Wash^Bec. 20*—The $18 mfaimnm wagersjp for women employed in the hotalflhd restaur ant industry, ordered* by the state Industrial welfare omlngdsslon, baa been upheld by the state supreme court. The court reaffirmed a for mer decision sustaining the legality of the act itself. HqUl men were also defeated in their attempt to annul the six-day order of the com mission.' "The statute," said the court, "provides the commission specify a minimum wake and. stan dard conditions of fgborfor women and this provision Isdearly broad enough to justify the commission." Bankers, Merchants, Growers to Launch Hup Cotton Strike Next Year. MEMPHIS, Tenn., pec. 29.—Busi ness men who continually denounce strikes by workers, and demand the passage of "can't-strike" legislation, have agreed with cotton grow&s to launch a huge cotton ^trike next year. At a conference of southern bank ers, merchants and farmers in this city, a cut in 1921 cotton production was agreed to. The conference declared that no farmer shall plant to cotton the com ing year more than 33 1-3 per cent of his lands under actual cultivation in order that a 50 .pe*f cent reduction' in yield may be made effective. Com jliance with the strike decision will be mzde effective mainly by bankers and m«i*chants, who will'-^efuse^redlt to any farmers who refuse to strike State vexecutive committees will organ ize the various cotton states with vot ing or school districts as the unit. Land owners are asked to share In whatever crops may be raised on their lands on a percentage basis and not require any fixed sum or pounds of icotton for rent. Thp public press, law makers and publicists treat this general strike of cotton growers in a manner that con trasts with a strike of wage earners who are forced to suspend work that their living or working standards may not be reduced. In the case of the# cotton farmers there is no hue and*cry for legisla tion to compel them to work against their will, even though the farmers announce that their strike is for the purpose of increasing" the price they will receive for their product. STREET RAILWAY HAS P/HD 100 PER CENT IN 10 YEARS According to Commissioner P. G. Phillips the Duluth Street Hallway company has paid dividends to its stockholders in 10 years, $1,271,000, which Is more than 100 per cent on the capital stock of the company al lotted to the Duluth system. The Duluth Street Railway com pany is capitalized for $1,800,000 of which $600,000 is chargeable to the Superior system. Its bonded indebted ness is $3,500,00, of which $1,00,000 is charged to Superior. CALlL for production. CINCINNATI, Dec. 29.—"We now demand," says Editor Atherton of the Metal Polishers' Journal, "that the manufacturers remove the limit and cease restricting the output in or der to maintain their exorbitant -prices." YEAR 1921 OPENS WITH IRION LABOR FAOIHG MOST SERIOUS CRISIS it went to the president, which they believe wholly unlikely, 'it would be vetoed. In the steel industry .movement and in th£ possibility of an adverse de cision of the United States supreme court on the Arkansas case, they are distinctly concerned, however. The steel interests not only directly af feet .a 'huge bulk of workers, but in driving to force open shop policies on construction work, they indirectly af fect a great many trades. That such policies are now being pursued under rtanket "resolutloni adhered to by many steel manijfacturers has been developed in testimony before the New York housing probe committee. Next to the open shop movement, perhaps the most-Striking threat at the foundations of organized labor is Involved in the suit of the A'. F. of L. versus the /Coronado Coal company, et al., now awaiting decision,'of the Un^ed Elates supreme court ..The last, forme# msktogt October Evans Htfghee FARMERS OPPOSE NO-STRIKE PLAN' Condemn fob- dexter Act to Handcuff Rail- WASHINGTON, Dec. 2#.—The Polndexter anti-strike bilL that was railroaded through the senate, is op posed by representative farmers' or ganizations. The national board of farm organizations, at a meeting in St. Louis, condemned the attempt to handcuff labor and the farmers' na tional council has taken the same po sition. In a public statement, Director George P. Hampton of the latter body said: "Farmers, I believe, as a body, do not like strikes, recognizing that they interrupt production, but farmers do not blind themselves to the self-evi dent fact that trader our present-day industrial organization strikes, even on railroads after due notice has been given and negotiations have been held, may be necessary to protect labor, and to enable labor to secure its just Tights. ^Strikes should be a last resort, hut last resorts sometimes have to be re sorted to, and it is un-American and contrary to sound public policy to make striking a felony under any and all conditions. "Farmers realize also that if strik ing toy. labor is made a felony the faext .step logically would be to have the curtailing of acreage or the commod ity marketing of farm .staples, which is necessary to secure fair prices for farmers, made a felony as well. This would result in enforced labor on the part of farmers and render them help less under the exploitation of mon opoly intereqtSt" Professional Antl-Untonists Held In Contempt By New York Investigating Committee. NEW YORK, Dec. 29.—Walter Drew, attorney for the National Erectors' association and other anti union organizations, was thrown out of the committee room at which the hearings against the building trust were being held. Drew instated on interrupting proceedings that"showed the workings of these anti-union em ployers. Later W. W. Corlett, attor ney for the anti-union American •Bridge company, and A. L. Davis, an official of the steel trust, were evicted for attempting to prompt witnesses. Captain Robert J. Foster, head of a strike-breaking bureau, was ad judged in contempt for his refusal to produce reports of his secret agents in the steel industry and union or ganizations. "v Charles E. Cheney, secretary of the National Erectors' association, ad mitted that-Attorney Drew instructed him to omit from -the minutes any reference to a meeting of the asso ciation which discussed relations with the steel trust. MODEL LANDLORD, TR&LY. HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 29.—P. H. Vaughn, "model landlord," who re fused to raise rents during the war, in his will set aside ten of his houses where families of worthy blind may live rent free. organization. The case grew but of a miners' strike in the Hartford valley. Dyna miting, burning and killing featured the progress ot the strike in andv about the mines. Strike breakers were in frequent clashes with the union miners and'scores of non^unidh workers were driven from the lo cality. Jl loss estimated at many thou sands of dollars by the Coronado Coal, company and eight associate. com panies. was made the subject of's jmit in the lower courtk by the coal companies against the A.' F. on the ground t^at under the Sher man anti-trust law damages ^Incurred from action in restraint of trade ean be collected from the offenders sever afrfold. The Immediate question, therefore. Is whether labor organisations are amenable %o Section 7 of that law, which define "personi^' that may be guilty of violations. law!. istlpU"' lates those amenable as persons or ^uinent ^oMhe jwrporatioti* r»4*«ociaUon* niSTOimAl sociect/ social Down on Necessities. WASHINGTON, Dec, 29. The wage reductions in unorganized plants that are based on reduced food costs are. not justified according to figures made public by the United States bu reau of labor statistics. Newspapers are creating a public thought that prices have been, sub stantially reduced, but the bureau ishows that during the year period, No vember, 1917, to November. 1920, prices in somo cities have actually in creased. The greatest decrease was 7 per cent in Memphis and Seattle, with a 3 per cent decrease in Birmingham, Dallas, Denver, Little Rock, Louis ville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Mobile, Omaha and Portland, Ore. There was a 2 per cent decrease in Atlanta, Charleston, Indianapolis and St Louis, and 1 per cent decrease in Kansas City and St. Paul. In Chicago, Columbus, Detroit and Jacksonville the boasted reduced prices for food was less than five tenths of 1 per ceVt. During the year food prices in creased. 6 per cent in Boston, 5 per cent in Scranton, 4 per cent in' Buf falo, Fall River, Los Angeles/ aqd Manchester, 3 percent in Bridgeport, Newark, New Haven, Portland (Me.), Providence, San Francisco^ and Spring field 2 per cent in Butte, Cincinnati and Rochester, 1 per cent in Balti more, Cleveland, New Orleans, New York,»Norfolk, Peoria and, Pittsburgh, and less thai tive-tenths of 1 per cent increase in -Philadelphia and Wash ington. under or authorized by the laws of the United States or any state,'' an4 the court will' decide whether organ ized 'labor, a voluntary Institution, comes undfcr this heading. Labor, 'in its contention, held' that the Clayton kct speclfloaily exempted it. TJie goal companies contended that- the fact that la.bor was Recog nized as an institution in provisions of the Clayton act,'proves that It Is recognized as "existing under the laws of the tJnited States," and, therefore, is covered in the Sherman act's defini tion of persons amenable to violations of that law. Tremendous damatgesr amounting to* scores of thousands of dollars were awarded the coal companies by the. lower courts and" the case is now be fore the supreme ctturt on *»peal of labor. If -organised labor Is held to be amenable, to the' Sherman act it nathrally would suffer not bnly a staggering financial 4low, btit w$ul4 W itself open to scores of other wiits that might be. awaiting the oo 'dedalsni.'' MR. WPRHNGMAN "THIS Uk jroor papar. It publishes sutler partainiiic to your lila and welfare. It wants and naeda TOO* anpport. It cannot. «dat withoat it Yot Output of Productive Legislation During Year Shows Gains De spite Small lumber of States Holding Legislative Sessions Social Insurance Leads Liberal Compensation Granted, -i NEW YORK, Dec. 31.—The output of protective labor legisla tion ia 1920, particularly in the field of social insurance, shows con tinued advances despite the small number qmim wpuld be weak indeed without a labor taper to champion it. Baeome a reader actf atmolber. FIVIJ CENTS. xof legislative sessions during the year and scattering setbacks due to "a" wave of.reaction," according to a summary of the year's labor laws by* congress and eleven states issued last night by the American Asso ciation for Labor Legislation. "With the adoption of workmen's compensation this year by Georgia," says Secretary John B. Andrews, "there is now a total of forty-two states having compensation laws, in addition to Porto Bico, Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the federal government with a model act for its half million civilian employees. The six stetes still remain- ing without this form of social insurance are largely in the non-indus trial south. One more chapter was added to the shame of Missouri when that state in a referendum at the recent election overturned the compen sation law. This adverse action is credited to the activities of ambu lance-chasing lawyers who succeeded in holding down the vote in industrial centers despite the joint efforts of the organized employers of the state and the federation of labor in support of the law. More Liberal Compensation Is Provided For. "The trend among the states," he continues, "is steadily toward more liberal cash 'payments and adequate medical care for injured workers. Bapid progress has been made by the states in providing for the vocational rehabilitation of industrial cripples through federal state co-operation under the law recently enacted by congress. The movement for old age assistance laws in the states was given an im petus through the enactment this year by congress of a law for com pulsory, contributory old age and disability insurance for the govern ment's 300,000 employees in the classified civil service:—a significant extension of states holding regular^ insurance legislation. New York* came into line .—.— ©with a pension system covering old employees of ^both city and state. "In the field of trade disputes. Kan sas* with an industrial .court, and. Texas, with an extraordinary- emerg ency law to prohibit interference with transportation, attempted to control strikes by mandatory legislation. Further recognition .was given by congress tb the need of protection for the increasing army of women wage earners by the creation of a women'* bureau In the department of labor. In one state, Massachusetts, advanced action was taken looking to the early adoption of a law for maternity pro tection." Social Insurance. Twelve states and congress amend ed existing compensation laws, short ening the waiting period, extending provisions for medical care and bring ing private casualty companies doing workmen's compensation business under stricter control. New York brought within the compensation law a limited number of occupational dis eases, and legislated against the evil of compensation "runners." Ken tucky and Virginia found it possible to reduoe the tax needed for admin istrative expenses. Louisiana made* accident insurance compulsory. North Carolina authorized a commission to investigate the desirability of work* men's compensation legislation. Con gress extended the principle of the federal employer's liability act for railway employees to cover actions hy injured seamen in admiralty. In line with the new developments in Workmen's compensation, a United States law offers federal aid on a. dol lar for dollar basis to states under taking to rehabilitate their industrial cripples. New York, NeW "Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia thtf year passed bills accepting the federal aet, making a total of twenty-four states that have taken action looking to such rej^abilitation, eighteen states having by legislative enactment or through proclamations of acceptance by their respective governors, accepted the provisions of the new federal law. Massachusetts authorized the ap pointment of a commission on reha^ bilitation. Further advanced action was taken by congress in the final passage of a bill providing for the retirement of superannuated employees in the fed eral civil service. New Tork estab lished pension systems for employee^ of New Tork city* New York state and state, charitable institutions. .Massachusetts and New Jersey liber alized existing pension laws. A step forward in the field of ma ternity Insurance legislation was taken by Massachusetts in authorizing a leg islative commission to investigate the problem of prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and their children. Safety and Health. Child labor restrictions were ex tended in Massachusetts by a law forbidding children under sixteen to clam or repair freight elevator*, while Virginia granted children permission to work in canneries when the schools are not in session. Oregon enacted a safety code, Maryland created a board of boiler rules and Kentucky required mines,-steel mills, foundries anh machine shops to provide wash rooms. Maryland^ Kentupky and New/York authorized the" appoint ment of commissions—In the former to. revise the industrial laws and in the two.latter to revise child welfare" legislation. Hoars and Wages. Hours of children fat factories, wotkjghojMfi and». niei$ajtile establish ents reduced from ten toeighfr ti r- -I •vl