St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-29
THE LABOR LYCEUM.
The Regulation of Wages--An oh-
certain Feeling Among Builders

rTJ,a ReguIaticn of Wages.sAn IN
certaiu Feeling Among Builders.
The regular Sunday evening meetings at
Garfield Post hall. for the diseussionof
labor topics. are growing in interest and
promise to develop into permanent ana
valuable institution. The widest liberty OF
opinion is allowed. and representatives OF
every class OF workmen and the opponents
of labor movements are invited TO De pres
ent and will be accorded every
courtesy and privilege. AT the meet
inc last evening the success OF
the enterprise was further assured
nv the election of J. NJ. Minor as perna-
uent president and the arrangement OF two
addresses one to be delivered next Sunday
evening on cooperation by j. a. johnson
and one at the following meeting by Mai.
n. NJ. Newson, who will talk on wages.
G. A. Lafayette opened the proceed
ings by explaining again the objects OF
tine meetings. The question or the
regulation OF wages was talked about con-
siderablv. Mr. Rogers made few remarks
fayoring national labor commission which
should have power to fix CLASSIFIED mlnl-
mum of wages for the whole country. MAJ.
II. NJ. NewSon was present and the audi
ence enthusiastically insisted on his speak
ing. He said that the labor question WIS
more than a mere question OF wages. III
was a question of what constituted great
country and the elevation OF the human
race Conservatism ana wisdom was neces-
sarv in the movement. Strikes ana all
overt acts must be avoided except when
positively necessary. He advocated the
regulation OF wages according 10 me
Ia5orer's skill and ability. He did not
-, f.f oil
reiving the same wares, and favored the
idea of a committee in each union, whose
duty it should be to grade the wages OF Its
members according to their skill.
THE MINIMUM OF WAGES
shonld be regulated by statute and the time
would come when this would be
done The common laborer should
receive 50 a day and all labor
should be remunerated so that a comfort
able and proper living would be insured.
J. C.. Hanley, st. Paul business man, had
dropped in to see what the meeting was
like. and was called upon for few re-
marks. He responded briefly, saying that
he had experienced quite change OF
opinion recently regarding the labor agita-
ton. He spoke of Powderly's late address
as an embodiment Of solid wisdom,
and thought that such sentiments
should be the creed of every labor
organization. They should guard against
hot-headed men and ill-considered meas
ures. BY pursuing the right course they
would win the favor of public opinion,
which would prove powerful alley. Mr..
Lafayette explained the theory upon
which the uniform wages of trades unions
was based by stating that they considered
the wages which poor and highly COM
petent man would properly receive, and
establish the average as the uniform wages.
Thus the better men sacrifice a little fol
the benefit of the poorer. Mr.. Hanley sug-
gested that some OF the energy
OF the lyceum should be used
in bringing about more settled feeling in
regard to wages in the city. He said that
several hundred thousand dollars worth oil
building contracts in the city had been
shelyed, owing to the uncertainty regarding
hours and wages. Another gentleman sale
some of the trades were not yet fully organ
lied. and the question of wages could moi
be fully settled until some time in the flu
ture. William IL. Eyles advised the labor
ing element to cling together, and work TO
measures and not parties. On motion o
Mr.. Lafayette. Mr.. Eyles was elected del
egate to the Trades assembly.