St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-28

Of the Crafts.
The carpenters union holds an open
Meeting Oh Tuesday evening at their
hall OH the corner of Third and EX-
change streets. All members of the
craft and workingmen in general are
invited to attend. Addresses on various
phases of the labor question will be
given by well known speakers.
The board of directors of the Wage
Farmers Cooperative Home association
seem to be quite popular with the real
estate dealers at present. A most cor
daily worded circular and free tickets
were issued by one firm to enable all to
attend a sort of surveying party and
picnic to North st. Paul yesterday aft
ernoon. That suburb of the city has
certainly all the advantages of a pretty
location, and the wage earners ought to
be able to enjoy that sort of thing, If
only from the variety of the occasion on
which they get an opportunity to do So
The ladies' beneficiary department
held its regular open meeting last Sun
day afternoon to much smaller audi
ence than usual. Several visitors were
present from Minneapolis, and made
short speeches. The warm weather
probably caused the falling off in at
tendance, and the ladies hope to arrange
for a series of meetings during the fall
months, at which the programme will
be of sufficient interest to attract the
large and attentive audiences who have
formerly attended these open meetings.
The State Eight Hour league meets
next Sunday. Aug. q, at labor headquar-
tiers at 2:30 p. m. All delegates are re-
quested to be present and aid the prac-
teal eight-hour work which is under
way in both cities.
MINNEAPOLIS INDUSTRIAL.
Nothing of great interest has occurred
in the labor circles of Minneapolis this
week. There has been strike, lock-
out, and the usual quota of meetings
and socials. The eight-hour agitation
is being pushed in the different wards.
The street railway problem and Satur-
day half-holiday seems to be the princi
pal topics of general interest. The
Saturday half-holiday movement is
gaining strength in this city. If vote
of employers were taken it would be
almost unanimously in favor of the hol-
iday, even if that involved losing pay
for the half day. A year or two ago
employers would have resented the idea
as senseless innovation, but now many
of them are faVoring it. and several
are putting it into practical operation.
and keeps open Monday evening to
p,al-a nm for Inct tirnn Annnn thnco
interviewed were several who are
willing to close at noon, if
all the others do. Those who
have the plan in practical operation
complain of no loss of trade. 1t may not
he possible for all retail dealers to close
on Saturday afternoon, but the manu-
facturerS and wholesale dealers could
do so without much Inconvenience.
Those who are not accustomed to work
ing steadily ten hours a day can hardly
realize the sense of freedom and rest
which even half holiday week gives
the laborer. Like the early closing
movement, this holiday movement will
require some agitation in order to
familiarize the public with its benefits.
The employees who want it ought to be
able to do something towards obtaining
it for themselves. In this they are sure
of the support and aid of all labor organ
nations. In fact, the early closing GUS
tom was gained wholly by labor organi-
cations having no direct interest in the
matter. instead of by the employees
themselves. 1t remains to be seen if
they will be obliged to do similar work
in order to obtain the weekly half holt
day.
The Ladies' Protective association
held the first of its series of open meet
ings at the Labor Temple last Wednes-
day evening. The meeting was open to
ladies only and conducted for the bene
fit of working girls from all branches of
labor. Notwithstanding the warm
weather large number were present.
miIlinerS. dOmeStics and employees from
laundries, bakeries, confectioners and
manufacturing establishments. Sew
eral members of the Aurora association
also were present. The programme
consisted of short essays and addresses
on the condition of working girls and
what steps should be taken for mutual
education and Improvement. The repre-
SentativeS of different branches of work
gave some interesting facts about their
hours of work and time for recreation
and amusement. Several selections of
vocal and instrumental music varied
the programme. 1t was decided to hold
a similar meeting on the fourth
Wednesday in August, and endeavor to
have large number of working girls
take an active interest in the work of
the association. The Aurora asSocIa-
ton will probably outline similar
work for the north side of the city.
The eight-hour meeting in the Third
ward Friday evening was largely at
tended and somewhat of surprise to
the many citizens who had not before
attended an eight-hour discussion.
Messrs. Ledgerwood. Seary, Farley,
McGurk and Martin gave addresses eX-
planning the object and aims of the
eight-hOur movement. Another meet
ing will be held in the Sixth ward next
Saturday evening.
The Stevens Library association give
a social and dance in the library rooms
next Wednesday evening. Several
members of Ladies' Protective aSsoci-
alton are on the committee of arrange
ments and are sure to see that all the
guests have a pleasant time.
The granite cutters of this city are
figuring out puzzle more interesting
than pigs in the clover. There are quite
anumber of that craft in this city. Re-
Gently they formed union. Mr.. Bax-
ter, their employer. thought he should
have been consulted before they took
such step and told them they could
hunt another employer. in which occu-
patton they are now industriously en-
gagged. One of their number says:
ave are only newly organized and have
not given the question much study, but
it does puzzle us to know why an en-
ployer thinks he has any right to inter-
fere with our membership in labor OF
ganiZation any more than he would die
tate what church we should attend or
what style of clothes we should wear"
The granite cutters are not the only
ones who ask the same question and are
unable to get satisfactory answer. 1t
was that which caused the strike of the
street railway employees OF the Twin
Cities.
The stonemasons who struck on the
church in st. Stephens parish feel as