St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-23
FOR THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY.
Minneapolis WOrkingmen Endorse AID
Gibson's Resolution.
Speeches Made by Mayor Ames, Aid.
Gibson,
Aid. Dwyer, Messrs. Grimshaw, La
fayette and Others.

Last evenings meeting held at Harmonic
hall, under the auspices of the Trades and
Labor assembly, called for Reimbursement
OF the position of Aid. Gibson in introduce
ing in the city council a resolution to con-
stitute eight hours days work for men
hired by the city. was largely attended,
every seat in the commodiOus hall being
filled, while hundreds were obliged TO stand.
The addresses were all applauded to the
echo and the sentiments uttered were of no
uncertain sound. The discussion of the
eight-hour law was not only interesting,
but elevating, land altogether the meeting
was not only one of the largest but one of
the most enthusiastic and best tempered
ever held in the city.
| MAYOR AMEs
was introduced by Con Dewan. chairman of
the committee on arrangements, and was
received with cheers.
After the recent political cyclone struck
the city of Minneapolis, he felt il a great
honor TO preside at a meeting of the dinner
pail brigade. He had been SO greatly honored
| by the workingmen that he felt under deep
which he felt deep interest, ii was in the we'll
| fare and prosperity of the laboring people.
! Under the existing circumstances he felt that
the quickest and surest method TO secure this
|
| With this conviction be had recommended in
his Inaugural address to the city
council that eight hours shall consti-
tute a days work for men employed
by the city, and he had done this at the sug-
| gestion and in behalf of the workingmen who
had placed him in his official position. After
paying graceful tribute TO Aid. Gibson, who
had introduced the eight-hour resolution in
the city council, and Aid. Dwyer, who had so
ably advocated it, Mayor Ames advised the
and act as one man and then only after ma
ture elaboration. He thought that be could
| safely predict that if the present railway
strikes should extend to Minnesota the work
ingmen of Minneapolis will coun-
| tenance no attempts at violence
or rioting. As mayor of the city he would be
| obliged 10 preserve the public peace, but he
| felt he would not be called upon TO exercise
his authority. 1t is not organized labor that
starts or sustains strikes and riots or counte-
nances any resort to bloodshed and confagra-
ton. He firmly believed in a determined and
intelligent effort to better the condition of the
| working classes, and felt a certain confidence
that money could be saved by the abolition of
the contract system and a reduction of the
| hours of labor.
AID. GIBSON
was next introduced and was enthusiastic
ally greeted. He said
1t was highly satisfactory to see so many
| workingmen who Endorsed an action of his
which was intended for their benefit. Four
months ago heskhad endeavored to introduce
| an eight-hour resolution. but had refrained at
| the request of the Trades and Labor assembly,
as il would have interfered with an equally
| important resolution Now that the coast
was clear he had again urged his motion, and
| was glad TO find the working peo-
pie standing at his back. Some
of the members of the city council claimed
that they were in favor of a reduction of the
! nf1 ahO hflf ha n
just ut the present time. They were over
| cautious-now was the time. Similar reso-
buttons would be introduced in other cities
and Minneapolis should not be backward
He believed in being cautious, and had
studied the question thoroughly before acting,
| but having concluded what was right, belived
in acting accordingly.
AID. DwYER
was next introduced, and, after eulogiZing
Mayor Ames for his stand in behalf Of
labor, went on to refer to his advocacy of
Aid. Gibson's motion in the council.
The Tribune had accused him of jumping
at an opportunity to make spread-eage
He had not intended TO speak, but
when it was moved TO refer the reso-
luton TO committe composed
chiefly of Republicans who were unfriendly
to il, he considered il his duty TO ccme to the
front then and there. He did so, and was
neither ashamed nor sorry for it. When he
| warned the aldermen that their efforts to de-
feat the resolution would be remembered at
the polls he meant what he said. As for him
| self, he meant to act with the Democrats but
whenever he found them antagonizing any
movement TO benefit the workingmen, he
would denounce them quite as quickly as the
Republicans.
W. H. GRIMsHAw
next addressed the meeting. He said:
Darwin believed in the survival of the 1T
L III.
| Donnelly in the survival of the fghtest, and
advised a spirited and determined fight on
| the part of the workingmen to obtain a recog-
milton of their right. Coming down 10 the
eight-hour question he advanced as the three
leading arguments in favor of the reduction:
First-That all men will have more time for
self culture, which is sadly needed.
Second-It will give employment to the
| idle.
Third-when universally adopted it will
have tendency TO create better times
The speaker took up each of these d.
visions of the question and gave reasons
for his assertions.
REV. d. MORGAN
was next introduced. He stated
He had passed the best part of his life as a
| workman in a rolling mill, and knew from ex-
perience what il was to get up at 8 O'Clock in
the morning and not get back until dark He
had noticed that the Tribune in opposing the
| ISuuSdOns SihuSu IudI IL was only gong 10
benefit few, and that profess
sional men often work twelve and
fifteen hours per day. Yes, but these men
| get their vacations in summer and their re-
| laxations. He thought it was a mistake TO
imagine that the reduction of the hours of
labor would lessen the production. He be-
lieved that men with shorter hours would do
| more and better work. Instead of men
| spending their extra time in saloons, he
thought they would keep away from them
more, as the craving for stimulants is dim
| finished by proper time for rest and enjoyment
He congratulated the workingmen on the
change in the city administration, which he
thought had been extravagaut and in favor
of the rich. He did not vote for Ames, and
was not Democrat but he had rejolced in
seeing n change.
AT the close Mr.. Morgan was heartily
applauded. and Mayor Ames remarked
pertinently that it would be "a good thing
| if some of the other ministers of the CITY
had received Mr.. MoIgsn's rolling-mill ex-
perience.
G. A. LAFAYETTE
of st. Paul was received with applause and
proceeded to make telling speech. He
| said
He believed in the survival of the fittest
and regarded the workingmen, or producers
as the 1ttest- He congratulated the dinner
pail brigade upon their reaent victory at the