St. Paul daily globe., 1889-05-12
E|GHT-HOUR LEAGUE.
The State Organization Will
Assemble in st. Paul
To-Day.
A Movement to Educate the
Working Masses on This
Question.
st. Paul and Minneapolis In
tereStS Of Those Who
Labor.
Notes and Comments of Sub
ieetS Now Before the
Workers.

The State Eight-Hour convention is
the principal topic of interest in st.
Paul industrial circles. Between three
and four hundred delegates are ex-
pected to attend the convention held at
labor Headquarters this afternoon.
These delegates come from every as
sembly and trade union in the state. j..
F. CrOnin and Miss Mollie Lee are the
committee on arrangements. The con-
yention will be called to order at 10:30
p. m.; roll call, receiving credentials.
and reports of standing committees Will
occupy the early portion of the session,
to be followed by a discussion of the
present industrial situation and outlook
in all parts of the state. Reports from
local leagues will form an interesting
feature of the proceedings. The prin-
cipal business of the convention will be
to outline policy for the coming three
months and devise plans for carrying
out an intelligent and constructive SyS-
TEN of agitation in regard to the eight
hour question.
The meeting will be one of special
Importance, because the recent labor
troubles in the Twin Cities, Duluth and
smaller places. has aroused consider
able thought among those not directly
connected with organizations. To di-
rect this thought in the proper channel,
and to educate those who are just be-
ginning to take an interest in these
questions, is no easy task. The eight
horr question offers the best possible
field in which to begin work. Not that
the obtaining of the eight-hour day
would be a solution of the labor ques
sion; but it is an issue upon which all
schools of thought can unite. Its ac-
compliShment will give encouragement
to those who wish to see some tangible
reform accomplished. Its agitation
among all classes of citizens will serve
Ito clear away those mistS of prejudice
and misunderstanding which often
work as much harm as actual wrongs.
This convention is a sort of training
school, from which the delegates go to
every portion of the state as educators,
and nearly all have been long enough
acquainted with some phase of the
movement to appreciate the Importance
of the work to be done.
The delegates always enjoy conven-
tion, because it gives an opportunity for
personal acquaintance with those before
known only by reputption, and an inter-
change of views is beneficial to all.
The K. of l.. assemblies throughout the
state have occasionally had Oppor-
funities for mutual acquaintance
Through their delegates, and now that
all industrial organizations have sim
filar opportunity, they get a clearer idea
of the:condition of each of the difficult
ties to be encountered and the best
means of surmounting them.
x II
-: l,oJ1 r.
first formal meeting last Sunday and
discussion of the object of the league
occupied the greater portion of the after
moon. Another meeting will be held
next Sunday to decide upon the form of
permanent organization.
-
The Trade and Labor assembly met
Friday evening and held protracted
session. A discussion in regard to the
recent street car strike formed the most
Interesting topic of the evening. Re-
ports from the different trades show
about the usual number of idle men,
although wages are pretty fair in most
skilled trades. After the transaction of
the usual routine business the assembly
adjourned until the fourth Friday of
this month.
Union printers report fair amount of
work: wages steady, and a prosperous
condition of the union.
The moulders say that it is difficult to
find work for men in their craft, but
expect brighter outlook later in the
season.
I Stonecutters are reaping their harvest
about this season of the year. Plenty of
work, short hours and good wages make
the average stonecutter cheerful sort
Of fellow while this pleasant condition
Of the craft lasts.
/ The apron and necktie party given
fby the Ladies' Protective association
last Monday evening was success in
every way. A jolly party came down
pleased with the hospitality of their st.
Paul sisters. So many tickets had been
sold that the hall was crowded with
lladies in gay aprons and cavaliers with
fneckties which couldn't be duplicated
on any fashion plate or in any furnish
ling house. But the originality of the
fgarnture seemed to constitute the chief
lcharm,a and the fellow that grumbled was
fhe who came too late to secure neck
tie. Will's orchestra furnished dance
programme, which was fully appre-
ciated. and the ladies served a dainty
lunch in the dining room.
%x*
I The Ladies' Protective association
aoldS its regular open meeting next
Sunday afternoon at labor headquarters
for the Improvement of the beneficiary
department. A musical programme has
been arranged, and good speakers will
be in attendance. All working girls
from every branch of labor are cordially
invited to attend and spend an hour or
two in manner which is both pleasant
and profitable. The ladies report that
these meetings are becoming SO popular
that they will soon be obliged to move
into the large hall in order to seat all
their guests.
I The ball given at Turner hall Friday
evening for the Denfit of blacklisted
street railway employees was largely at
tended. Will's orchestra furnished
good dancing programme of twenty-five
numbers. The following committees
looked after tie entertainment of
guests: Arrangements, j. A. Johnston,
j. White, Frank Reilly, A. W. Brown
9ey, James Fellows; floor. j. D. Cough
din, j. F. McNally, j. III. Burns, Il. Car
ney, F. Valesch, T. Cummings, j. j.
Doherty: reception, F. Rupp, T. Arm
strong, William Call, William Nevi, j.
murphy, M. Dale, P. Ash, F. Cunning
ham, NJ. J. Shelley.
xx
The Ladies' association has taken the
initiative in the matter of social enter
tainments in labor circles by sending
three or four complimentary tickets for
their socials to the secretaries of other
organizations, the tickets 10 be distrib-
uted according to their own discretion.
This had the effect of bringing together
in a social way many who would have