St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-23

polls. He was neither a Republican nor q
Democrat, but was glad TO see man elected
whom in his five years experience
in Minnesota he had never known TO be
wanting when an opportunity was presented
for him TO speak or act for labor No reason
able man should undertake TO contradict that
the eight hours will be productive OF good.
He predicted that after that after the reduc-
ton had been universally adopted men would
get more pay for eight hours than
now for ten hours. He did not believe in
speaking with uncertain sound upon ques-
ton of so much moment He believed that the
workingmen have a right TO comfortable
homes, the luxuries of life, healthy children
and wives, and having that right should OBJ
tain its fulnlment.
j. p. M'GAUGHEY
was greeted with cheers and applause. which
lasted several minutes when he came for
ward.
He congratulated those present upon the
rapid progress of the labor movement in the
past few years, and reminded them
that it was only little while
ago when 1t was necessary TO
meet in secret for the consideration of move
ments for the benefit of labor. On the eight
hour question he said that he thought the
vast majority of people would be In its favor
did they clearly understand IT, Ii was no
movem ent I'm favor of class legislation, as IL
producers, the worlxinFmen and they are the
very ones who will be helped out. Idleness
is what produces poverty and crime.
Shorten the hours, give more
men employment and the cost of maintaining
prisons, asylums and almshouses will be les
sened, so that from another standpoint the
reduction will benefit in financial sense.
The men who were sent to the North pole
with tho Greedy expedition were carefully
selected, but when food gave out ate each
like dogs. BE careful that the workingmen
are not pressed too far. Don't give them so
little that they barely exist
COL. GLENN.
The chairman introduced Col. NJ. W.
Glenn as the father of the eight-hOur
movement" Mr.. Glenn said he hardly felt
in position TO talk as candidly as he de-
sired. Many would consider that he spoke
from political motives. He did not and
never intended to occupy any Office. He
then went on TO give the men what he
called an ''old-faShioned talk" He
said they allowed jealousy often
TO divide them, and would almost
invariably support capitalist for Office
rather than elevate one of their own num-
Der. He said they constituted the majority
and were alone TO blame because they al
lowed men to be elected to Office who passed
laws that Cypress them. John Swift was the
last speaker and for few minutes longer
amused the people by one of his character
istic speeches. John Lamb, the secretary.
then read the following resolutions, which
We're adopted as one voice:
Whereas, The rapid development of inn
proved machinery and methods has increased
the productive power of man so enormously
that he is now enabled 10 create with the same
amount of labor from five TO one hundred
times as much as be could during the past
generation; and,
Whereas, BY reason Of the fact that
the idle few have obtained con-
troll of the means by which
production can be carried on, they are ena-
bled, by taking advantage of the competition
between laborers, TO arrogate TO themselves
the whole of the vast production, except
barely enough to supply the laborer with the
scantiest necessaries of life; and,
Whereas. The effect of this monopolization
of products is to create an apparent overpro-
duction, which is nothing more than a
surplus quantity of products in the hands of
those who do not need 1t and 8 deficiency of
products in the hands of those who do: and,
Whereas, Instead of leSsening the hours of
toll to curtail production and raising the pay
of laborers to increase the consumption, the
silly and ruinous policy is adopted of
discharging the laborer, thereby forcing mill
ions of men into idleneSs, destroying their
utility as factor in consumption, and aggra-
waiting to an unbearable extent the very evil
it is intended to cure; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the true way of curtailing
production Is to reduce the hours of labor;
that the true way of increasing consumption
is TO raise the pay of labor; that the state and
municipality owe il as duty to its citi-
zens to take the initiative in establishing
these reforms, whether private employers
do or not, and in furtherance of
this object we earnestly request the city
council of Minneapolis TO have all public
work done by days labor when practic-
able, to limit the hours of labor TO eight
hours per day and TO pay not less than Sl.50
per day to all laborers in the employ of the
city.