St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-23
Meeting the Issue.

Over twenty mechanics, boilermakers,
woodwOrkers and blacksmiths at the Min
neapolis d st. Louis Railway company's
shops, Minneapolis, were discharged on
Friday. No reason was assigned nor init
nation given of the cause for dismissal.
Recently the men held meeting and de-
cIded to ask for reduction of hours and
appointed committee to wait upon Presi-
dent Truesdell. 1t is thought that the COM
pany's action is solely due to an intention
to assume an aggressive stand against the
movement to reduce the hours of labor.
Recently seventy-five men were discharged
by the Manitoba road at its shops in St.
Paul, and it is rumored that the Milwaukee
road intends to follow suit in dis
charging its employees who seem
disposed to desire a change from their
present condition. 1t is apparent that the
railroads are acting in accordance with
preconcerted plan to resist the demands of
organized labor by taking the ''bull by the
horns,'' so to speak. Whether this policy
will prove successful remains to be seen.
The men discharged at the Minneapolis &
st. Louis shops included many of the oldest
and most efficient employees, who had given
no other offense than to proffer request
which the company did not care to grant
MINNEAPOLIS "KED.HOTs.v
The Trades and Labor assembly, which
might be called an industrial board of trade.
evidently does not enjoy being snubbed any
better than some other bodies that assume to
put on q good deal more dignity. Recently q
committee was appointed to wait on the coun-
Gil and request the appointment of p racti-
cal plumber as an inspector of plumbing
The matter was referred to O. committee of
which that fIsia of 1ohn T11,
son, is chairman. The result was, of course
that the request was contemporary ignored
and now the Trades and Labor assembly is
going to pay Aid. Johnson the compliment of
making him the subject Of an interesting
series of resolutions.
~
This illustrates the tendency of labor to as
sert itself with more prominence than for
merly. Last springs election taught the
workingmen what they could do if they
wanted to, and, conscious of their power,
they are making demands with holiness that
simply astonishes some of the old citizens.
who have heretofore regarded themselves as
the rulers, and not the servants of the people
*x*
For instance, resolution adopted by the
Trades and Labor Assembly, Friday night,
demanding that the water board shall en-
courage nome industry, ends up with, 'sWe
will watch carefully the actions of all men
connected with the work and make a record
of their movements for future reference"
These threats may accomplish much or little.
but, at any rate, the life of an alderman who
is trying to pose as firm friend of labor is
made wretched by the knowledge that he is
being carefully watched and his actions re-
corded in a book which will be opened and
read on next election day.
-
The concerted action of the railroads is
quite significant 1t evidently means that
they will endeavor to fight the labor move
ment while it is an infant, and will not wait
until it grows to manhood and has taken box
ing and wrestling lessons.