St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-31
CLEvELAND'S RECORD.
His Important Services to Working
men in the Gubernatorial
Chair,
A List of Measures Which Received His Sig
nature-A Contrast.


address to the workingmen of the state.
President Thayer very clearly and with due
conservatism presents the issue in careful
and thoughtful review. Mr.. Thayer repre-
sents an organ ization which, at its last state
labor convention, showed membership of
over 125, GOO trades-union men. The adj
dress is as follows:
To the Workingmen of the State of New
York: The campaign just closing has been
an exciting one in many respects. Many
appeals have been made to the passions and
prejudiccs of the workingmen by the advo-
Gates of both presidential candidates. The
time is near at hand when labor shall decide
itself whom it shall support, In common
with all sincere believers in the advancement
and protection of wage-workers,
have watched closely the many
varied phases assumed as the
right doctrine and policy to be
pursued by labor in choosing the candidate
most likely to give labor that recognition in
national affairs which its supremacy and
power fully demand. Two years ago repre-
sentatives of all different trade organizations
OF the state honored me with the presidency of
the states trade assembly. TIE constitution
under which / was obligated bound me to
watch with Jealous care ali encroachmepts
upon our rights, and l was swern officer to
protect and insist upon every right consis-
tent with the fundamental principles of pro-
lection and advancement of labor in the en-
ioyment of security and establishment of
laws closely guarding our interests. Indeed,
it is my firm conviction that l would be
criminally unmindful of my oath of Office
and the deep interest | take in the interests
of labor if allowed the misrepresent atio u S
of facts to pass by unnoticed which are con-
stantly being made by politicians intended
only to advance the interests of their particu-
lar candidate and not labor. Every wage
worker of the state knows beneficial laws
guarding our interests become existing facts
only by slow, persistent, and urgent appeals
to legislative represen tatives and the execu-
tive of the state. 1t may be necessary for
me to say that in the last two years labor of
this state has progressed six important steps
in the advancement of its rights and recog
milton of its supremacy.
SIX STEPS GAINED BIZ LABOR.
l. The establishment Of bureau of labor
! statistics.
2. The prohibition of the manufacture of
| tenement honse cigars.
3. Prohibiting the manufacture of wooden
hats in the state prisons.
4. Making laboring men preferred credi-
tors in the assignments of estates.
3. Prohibition Of child contract labor in
the reformatories and other correctional in
situations of the state.
8. Prohibition of contract prison labor
| The value and importance of the first
named bill is known to all wage workers In
connection with this bill it might he well to
state, by way of comparison, that the national
Democratic congress passed Law establish
ing a national bureau of labor statistics; the
Republican senate dallied with the bill until
it was nearly lost, and was not rescued from
| final defeat until the wage workers through
out the country demanded of the Re-
| publican senate that il be passed.
Under the pressure the senate passed the
bill. Yet though many months
have elapsed, President Arthur has not APP
pointed the head of the bureau, though re-
peatedly urged to do so by our labor repre-
sentatives in every state of the Union. Gov.
Cleveland heartily approved and signed our
state bureau bill and appointed the head
within twenty days after the bill became a
law. Two attempts were made to secure the
second-tenement house cigar bill-but in
each instance appeals were taken to the
court of appeals and decisions rendered adj
versely to our interests and Gov Cleveland's
approval of the law was set aside. For six
years the matters of the state struggled te Sc
cure the passage Of their bill prohibiting the
manufacture of prison made hats, and in
1888 the bill passed Democratic Legislature
and WAS signed by Gov. Cleveland. The
fourth law is one of vast Importance to labor
in these days Of financial distress. 1t COM
pels the employer to recognize laboring men
as preferred creditors, thus protecting them
against loss Of wages in the settlement of es-
tates, a protection long demanded, and has
become an accomplished fact by the sigma
ture of Gov. Cleveland. The fifth is law
protecting the incOrrigible minors in the
penal institutions of the state and
| securing to them that recognf-
ton deserving of their years and physical
strength against the greed of contractors.
CONTRASTING CLEVELAND WITH BLAINE.
The sixth bill was the abolishment of con-
tract convict labor, law earnestly and per-
sistently fought for for years, and is now
upon our statute books as one of the proudest
achievements OF combined labor at the bal
lot tox and the emphatic assertion of their
rights in the halls Of legislation. Here, too,
striking contrast may be offered. In a
public speech and by his signature to a con-
tract for prison labor James G.. Blaine has
! publicly and by pen approved Of this system,
| odious and inimical to our best interests
/ The present governor of New York state
signed the bill prohibiting contract labor in
| the prisons of the state, and did cot, like ex-
/ Gov. Butler, of Massachusetts, sign new
hat contract for five years in anticipation of
the early passage of bill to reduce the num-
Der Of convicts working at any trade TO per
cent.
These six laws now on our statute books
represent many interests, and considering
that they were accomplished within two years
"a progress that has not been accomplished
in twenty previous years-I am sure the
wage workers of the state will heartily agree
with me that we have done much to make
our power and supremacy felt in the councils
of the state. Two bills passed last year did
not become laws owing to the failure of Gov
Cleveland to sign them.
1. The twelve hour car conductors and
drivers bill.
2. The mechanics lien law.
The first named bill have heretofore ex-
pressed belief that it should have been
signed. Yet it has not been disputed that
the bill contained stipulations that would
render it practically imperative had It be-
come law. Furthermore. there exists no
doubt but that the railroad companies affected
would have carried an appeal to the highest
judicial courts, and, subjected to constitu-
tional analysis, it would not have stood the
test Yet the reputation of the measure by
the president of the Car Conductors and
Drivers association, in my opinion, should
be conclusive and final, backed as 1t is BY
the resolutions of disapproval by this associ-
alton. The mechanics lien law, when Gov
Cleveland's disappearing reasons became
known, were fully approved by myself and