St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-14

to submit to it are robbed of the inalienable
right OF every human being to fair share
OF the comforts, happiness and intellectual
and social advantages which life properly
affords, and are barred from a fultillment of
the ends of life, which are by no means
summed up in food, sleep and toll.
Happily, st. Paul does not
present such illustrations of this
as are to be found elsewhere in this and
other countries, but much could be told
even here that should claim a blush from
sordid wealth and the interested efforts of
humanity. Organized labor. here as else
where, is taking this matter vigorously in
hand with the assured prospect of at least
a partial remedy. The bricklayers have
established nine hours as days work. in
stead of the heretofore universal ten, the
stonecutterS have strongest hopes of sue
ceedmg in their eight-hOur agitation, a
change is at hand for the street car drivers
and similar demonstrations will be MADE by
other trades.
The bakers of the city, who have recently
formed a union. are actively pushing a
movement for shorter hours to a conSumma-
ton. These tradesmen are among the
LONGEST WORKED CLASS
of laborerS in the city, and their occupa-
ton, though Clearly, is a very dsagreeable
do in small rooms heated to high temper
ature. Their hours of work vary from
twelve to eighteen per day and some are
compelled to board with their employers
and sleep on a cot in the bake house. Their
longest work is on Friday and some work
seven days ID week. The work isn't very
hard, but we have to work such long
hours" said barber recently to a GLOBE
reporter. I'VE get around early in the
morning and you can always get a shave
at 10 O'Clock at night. can't you?
I'VE are all here on Sunday until noon.
we work later than usual Saturday night
and generally hurry back from dinner as
quickly as we can. Our work keeps us on our
feet all the time and we are generally tired
out at night. What chance has a man in
such work got to go out anywhere evenings,
or TO enjoy the society of his family or
friends? BARRIERS here get from $40 to Sl4
per week. Eight hours day and a DAY
off? Well, you make me smile," and the
artist fairly laughed at the idea Of such a
snap.
The street car driv ers, who have long
been compelled to nip their nightly sleep off
at both ends, to watch the streams of nimble
nickelS that flow Tor eighteen hours day
into the Golfers of a gigantic corporation,
are at last promised an emancipation. Their
hours are to be reduced way down to twelve
or thirteen. This will at least give them
an opportunity to get acquainted with their
families, something that will be appreci-
ated by the wife and children at home as
highly as by the fur-coated toiler himself.
In all cases, the injustice of prolonged
hours of labor falls heavily in the family to
whose comfort, training and happiness it
should be the duty and privilege of the
labOrer TO devote portion of his time.
AS it has been, the street car drivers have
been compelled to get up at o'clock, per-
haps
GET THEIR OWN BREAKF Asst,
get about twenty minutes for dinner and
from in the morning until 10 or II at
night stand constantly on their feet with a
dozen things demanding their constant care,
attention and responsibility
Butchers are among the classes whom the
sun rarely sees idle. The extra time the
man of the long knife puts in precedes the
rising of even the milkman, and the butcher
shop is open in the evening as late as the
latest places of business.
There is a class which rarely asks, claims
or gets the interest and attention of labor
organizations, but which may properly be
mentioned in a consideration of the number
of hours of life which people mortgage to
capital. That class is large one and
though their work does not bestow the
sweat, muscle, appetite and dust and CRIME
which are generally the attendants and
badges of 'hOnest TOLL" it is nevertheless
as rule, hard, long and wearsOme, and
poorly paid. In several cities this class has
organized and steps have been taken to
affiliate with the Knights of Labor.
These are the bookkeepers and clerks that,
standing or sitting, bend for long,
weary hours over books, files, bills
and tabs, or engage in the apparently easy
occupation Of a store clerk at from SIS TO S15
per week. About o'clock in the morning