St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-05
The FIELD OF THE Local TO|LER.
Progress of the EghHour League in St. PaulThe Stu
alton in Which Labor Is Left by the Two
Recent Strikes.
Protective Ladies of Minneapolis Take Shy at the Mayor
Showing Of the Old Car Drivers Who Are
at Work
The Proposition Establish the Herdic Company--Note
and Comment From Labor Standpoint in Both
the Twin Cities.

whether the street railway company,
under its charter, had forfeited its fran
chise, respectfully report: That we
called upon Mr. Babb' and were in
formed by that gentleman that the city
had not given. Mr.. Lowry sufficient po-
lice protection, and hence could not
claim the forfeiture of the franchise.
In view of the fact that the mayor had
the power to appoint all the special po-
licemen he deemed necessary, and, If
need be, could call in the aid OF the
county and the state, no one knows bet
ter than Mr.. Babb that his excuse for
not requiring the cars to run continu-
OnSly was but mere subter-
fuge. Mr.. Babb well knew that
if the street railway COM
pany was peremptorlly required
to run the cars on schedule time, Mr..
Lowry would be compelled to live up
to his contract with his employees OF for
felt his franchise, as he would not nave
time to import scabS from distant cities
to take the place of the strikers. With
ont the cooperation of the city govern
ment, the street railway company could
not violate its contract with its en-
ployes and further degrade them, by
compelling them to sign a contract not
to join labor organization.
Mr.. Babb said that the employees
ought to have accepted the reduction of
wages and signed the irOnclad contract;
stating that he had been wOrkingman.
and had supported wife on S14 per
month. We thought that if he had not
served his employers then, any better
than he is serving the city now, that
his services were not worth more than
s14 per month, and that his wife had
just cause of complaint.
We left the mayor fully persuaded
that Mr.. Babb, Chief Bracket and the
municipal court all belong to Mr.. Lowry,
and that under the present adminiStra-
ton the rights of the people will not be
respected. if by that means the cupid
ity of the street car monopoly can be
promoted. In spite Of the efforts of Or
ganized labor to preserve order. the in
efficiency of the city government cul-
minated in the riot in South MinneapO-
lis: and this was used to manufacture
public opinion favorable to Mr.. Lowry.
This riot furnished the preteXt for send
ing inoffending citizens to the work
house, thus cultivating in the minds
and hearts of the people feeling OF
contempt for the constituted authorl-
ties.
But the lessons of the strike will not
be lost. We have learned that under
Mr.. Babb's administration the working
people of the city may expect to live
under despotism; and let us hope that
they will remember this lesson when
they come to elect another chief magis-
trate. But, bad as Mr.. Babb'S admins
tration has proved itself to be, we do
not believe tnat it will dare to require
the police to arrest people for not riding
on the cars, even if the municipal court
would dare to send them to the work
house for such an offense.
All of which is respectively sub
mitted by your committee.
LADIES PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
Minneapolis, Mimi.