St. Paul daily globe., 1889-05-13
EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
Minnesota BreadWinners Fa-
vor a Reduction of the
Hours Of Labor.
Preparations for the Great
Struggle That Will Occur
Next Year.
Toilers Have No Earthly Use
for Politicians or Their
Promises.
On independence Day Wage
workers Will Jollify at the
Fair Grounds.

Merriams and your Scheffers, To them the
working people are merely the stepping
stones to power. say away with them.
The speaker was none other than the
redoubtable Thomas I'll. Lucas, of Min
neapolis, and. in uttering the above
quoted words he meant what he said.
His very actions demonstrated his deep
conviction; and the sentiment found a
ready response from his auditOrs-a
convention of labor delegates. The
convention was held at the
Labor hall, East Seventh street, and
was under the auspices OF the Alinne-
sofa Eight-Hours league. There were
present delegates from the Knights of
Labor, trades unions, brotherhood and
labor union assemblies of st. Paul.
Minneapolis, Red Wing and Saltwater.
Over one hundred assemblies in these
cities were represented. The object of
the league is to perfect the OrganiZa-
tion OF the working classes preparatory
to the final denOuement May l,
laboring people of the United States
day. Employers may probably accede
to their request. If so, there will be no
trouble. If not-well. the strikers will
be thoroughly equipped to carry on the
fight until eight hours constitute the
working day of the laborer from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from the DOmin-
ion to the Gulf.
The Minnesota Eight Hours league
was formed four weeks ago at meeting
at Minneapolis. Yesterdays was the
second meeting of the league. Presi-
dent Ledgerwo0d. of Minneapolis, was
in the chair. 1t was first decided that
great state demonstration, favorable to
the eight-hOur movement, should be
held on the Fourth of July. All We're
agreed upon this. Divergence of opin-
ion arose as to where the demonstration
should be held.
Delegate McGaughey-I say. let there be
united industrial demonstration by st. Paul
and Minneapolis labor organizations.
Delegate keech-Yes: the people to march
to grove midway between Minneapolis aud
st. Paul, where a rousing meeting could be
held.
The state fair grounds were suggested
as a suitable place for a joint demon
StratiOn, but it was stated that the
grounds would be engaged by the Twin
City races.
A Delegate--Oh! we'll, if there are to be
races on that day, we cannot have our dem
onstration at the fair grounds. The whole of
the sports of the two cities will be there, and
The delegates aversion to 1.-THE
sports of the two Cities" was hugely
enjoyed by those present; but it was
conceded that if the races were being
held at tie fair ground. the demonstra-
ton could not be held there. Other
places were uggeSted-White Bear,
Red Rock and Minnehaha; but objec-
tions were raised against all of these
places.
Delegate McGaughey-We must select a
place which will be easy Of access. Mime.
apoiis people cannot get to White Bear-that
is. we cannot get proper conveying facilities.
When the labor picnic was held there the
railroad authorities conveyed us there by
cattle trucks!
A deadlock seemed inevitable. when
with consummate tact, President Led
gerW00d suggested that committee Oh
arrangements should be appointed, and
that this committee should be in
structed to select some place for hold
ing the demonstration. if the state fair
grounds were in use on the Fourth of
July. The chairman's suggestion was
quickly acted upon, and he was in
structed to appOiut committee of nine.
He subsequently appointed the follow
ng:
st. Paul, E. c. Ives, T. Ward, Miss Lee;
Minneapolis, j. p McGaughey, T. H. Lucas,
Miss Eva Mcdonald; j. Morrison, Saltwater;
F. P. Miller, Red Wing: j. E. Loburg, Ham,
line.
Secretary Martin referred to the adj
visibility of the committee being in
structed to arrange for some speaker of
national reputation to attend the dem
OnstratiOn. The proposition carried
weight among the majority of the dele
gates. but not with Delegate Keech.
He did not see the necessity for any
speaker of national reputation. They
had quite as good speakers in the North
west. The only thing requisite was to
have their names printed in large type.
That would give the speakers all the
reputation that was required. Delegate
Ives did not see the matter quite in this
light. They must have speaker who
would draw attention; whose speech
would impress the peoples man whose
utterances would command some space
in the daily newspapers. 1t was only
by hearing such speaker that they
could get at the people outside their
unions.
Eric Olson at this point was seized
with brilliant thought, and took the
floor, saying:
Why should we go from home, when we
have Cushman K Davis. IA Taught He is
a very liberal man. and might be approached
on this matter. If he is favorable to the
eight-hour movement, why we might have
him to address us. He is sure to draw q lot
of people.
Having thus expressed himself, the
gentle Eric SuDsided into his seat, but
was suddenly upset by the onslaught
which followed. Thomas Fl. Lucas
bounded to his feet, glaring at the di-
minutiye individual who had the tcmer-
ity to utter such proposition. He
said:
In selecting speaker for such demon
stration, let me at once say; we must draw
the line at politicians and lawyers. We do
not want your Cushman X. Davis, We want
none of your politicians-yo Merriams and
your Scheffers. To them the working peo-
pie are merely the stepping stones to power.
of the working people. but directly the latter
become unrepFesented they turn their backs
upon them, and all the laws passed for their
benefit such as the garnishee law and lien
law are repealed. We must not trust these
people. Let us stand by ourselves.
Hearty applause greeted these senti-
ments, and Eric Olson found it neces-
sary to explain that. in suggesting tine
offending name of Cushman K. Davis,
he meant if that gentleman was favora-
bic to the eight-hOur working day there
could be no harm in having him address
the demonstration. However. it would
be better to draw the line at politicians
and lawyers, if it was so desired.
Eventually the committee was in
structed to secure speaker Of national
reputation. Some time was spent in
discussing how funds should be secured
for carrying on the work of the league,
distributing literature and providing
lecturers to educate the people ON the
eight-hour question. Delegates were
instructed to bring the subject before
the individual unions, and in the mean
time it was suggested to pass round the
hat. Several members kicked against