St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-11
Reports Made by All Branches
of Work in the Trades
Assembly.
minneapolis Contributes the
Discussions in the Ranks
Of ToilerS.
Labor Subjects Viewed From
the Standpoint Of the
Artisan.


After roll call of officers and reading OF
minutes of previous meeting, reports of
special committees were heard. The
committee appointed to arrange for
holding a ball reported that 1t would
not be possible to hold one with any
prospect of success until late in the
winter. The report was accepted and
the cOmmitte instructed to nix date at
It's own discretion.
The delegate TO the hall board who
attended the NEE ting on the previous
Sunday and reported its affairs in a
aOurishing condition; the revenue from
ball rent during the past month was
about $50. most of which was applied
to liquidate bills for Improvements made
during the year. The report was ac-
eepted and placed on file.
A partial report of state of trade was
rs follows: ShOemakerS. dull; boiler
makers, fair; printers. dull: carpenters,
good: plaStpTers. brisk; cOrnicewOrkers,
good; eigarmakeTs. Iair: machinery
mOlders, good; statesmen, fair.
The discussion of new contract in
regard 10 early closing of all stores was
the principal discussion. The clerks
association having turned the matter
over to the trade and labor assembly, and
agree to abide by any reasonable con-
tract which the delegates might decide
upon.
A special meeting of the assembly
was held last Monday evening in order
to give the merchants an opportunity 10
state their objections TO early closing.
Seven merchants were present, two OF
whom were n favor OF the movement.
Messrs. Goldsmith, Frank and others
opposed it Oh the ground that they lost
the evening trade. and being on Sew
enth street, there was more trading done
there during the evening than the day.
at that meeting it was decided TO post
pOne the early closing n ovement until
Jan. l. 1890, and meantime endeavor 10
arrange il on such basis that it would
be satisfactory to merchants as well as
employees. This action was ratified by
the clerks at their meeting on Wednes-
day evening.
The committee appointed by the as
sembly drew up the following reSOlu-
ton: "All stores shall close at $50
every evening except Monday and Satur-
day throughout the veal, except one
week pI6CSulHG OulS dlill ltOih OCOs
Is to 81" This resolution was thor
oughIy discussed and approved by the
majority of the assembly. 1t is likely
that the new contract To be submitted
to the clothing dealers will embOdy the
main features of this resolution.
An invitation is extended to all mer-
chants to be present at the next regular
meeting of the assembly, Friday even
ing, Nov. %, and discuss the proposed
alterations in the early closing move
ment.
a delegate reported that little chill
drrn are employed in the factory of
Horne g. Danz, making tinware. and
that hardly week passes without some
child being manned either because the
machinery is insufficiently protected or
the child too small to man
age it properly. Other dele
gates corrobOrated the state
ment. a committee was appointed to
wait on Labor Commissioner John
Lamb and see if Minnesota has any law
prohibiting child labor, or if lie could
enforce the factory inspection law
passed at the last session of the legisla-
ture. The committee TO report at the
next meeting of the assembly.
The open meeting held by Assem-
bly, 1898 last Wednesday evening was
most successful one. A large crowd
gathered to hear discussion of the
place of workingmen in politics. L. FL.
Lucas opened the debate in lengthy
address setting forth the need of indie
pendent and intelligent action on the
part of the working people, urging
them to see that the laws were Soframed
that no class could grow rich at the
expense of another. An impression had
long prevailed that it was necessary to
elect lawyers in order to make laws.
This had tended to build up mass OF
statutes which were difficult of correct
Interpretation, and under which the
common, or unwritten law was lost
sight of. A recent law article of Judge
COOley's was quoted, in which was as
serted that the common law was the
best. most scientific and easiest en-
forced, because it was the result
of the customs and habits of
thought among the people" Working
men should use their political rights to
restrain rather than increase the pass
ing of new statutes, and see to it that
laws were not passed by lawyers hired
in the interests of corporations. Lawyer
Halves made short address ridiculing
the former speakers plea for indedend
ent action, saying that meant
for every voter to get canvas
wagon with striped cover, a
few tin plates, sone provision
leave his work and go down to Wash
ington to legislate for himself. Lawyers
could not control the legislatures be-
cause they were seldom in the majority,
and the people had full freedom of
choice in sending their chosen repre-
sentatives to the legislature, so ought
not to complain about the laws. L. II.
Lucas replied in witty speech, giving
a graphic account of how the three of
four lawyers in a legislature are put on
fine judiciary. thus practically cOntrOll-
ing legislation; that rich corporations
have their agents always on hand to
see that no laws are passed prejudicial
TO their interests. If working people
did get an occasional law passed in
their interest, it was likely to be set
aside by some supreme court decision.
The Retail Clerks association met
last Wednesday evening with fair at
tendance, but transacted no business of
Importance, except that mentioned in
the report of the trade and labor as
sembly.
Union No. 81. Carpenters and Joiners,
met last Monday evening in their hall
ut the corner Of Third and Exchange
streets. A large numberof applications
for membership were received as the
result of the recent open meeting. A
committee was appointed TO arrange a
date for the annual bail.
Typographical Union No, so held its
regular monthly meeting last Sunday.
The principal business was the consid-
Grafton of a scale for using type-settIng
machines. The West Publishing house
has several and offered piece price of
20 cents per 1000. The union was un-
willing to make it less than 25 cents