St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-07
THE WORLD OF WORK
Conclusions Drawn From the
Results of the Eight-Hour
Demonstration.
Organized Labor Pulling up,
Though st. Paul En-
ployers
Fail to Recognize the Assoei-
atoms or Their Very Ex-
istenee.
minneapolis Matters Of Inter
est to the Legion Of Wage
Workers.


Sunday was the only official meeting of
any Importance for the week. Still 1t
has been week of great activity for
the organized people who were patri-
Dtieally inclined. Preparations for the
eight-hOur celebration occupying the
early portion of the week, and the
natural reaction from the excitement OF
the glorious Fourth making even the
most energetic members rather indif-
ferent to any more weighty task than
that involved in keeping cool. Several
members of the circle of crude philoso-
pliers have not reported at headquarters
Since last Wednesday evening, which
gives their usual meeting place lone
some air quite foreign to its usual as
pect.
The picnic at the state fair grounds,
although now discussed in the past
tense. is none the less interesting on
that account. The people who, to the
best of their ability, diu active commit
tee work for several weeks past, have
now on hand large and varied stock
of that kind of knowledge OnlytO be ac-
Quired by actual experience. These
people say but little. The picnic is not
SO interesting to them now as many
other topics. On the other hand are
those who took no part in the work, and
perhaps did not even attend the cele-
bration, but wtlal are perfectly sure
that they would have managed the af-
fair much better, had they only cared to
try. After listening to the numerous
suggestions and criticisms, the disinter-
eSted observer wonders at the amount
of unused and unOCcupied talent which
was too modest to make known its loca
ton at a time when it could have been
utilized.
st. Paul people were conspicuous by
absence rather than attendance at the
picnic. The fact that several picnicS
from this city were not successful.
seems TO have had depressing effect
upon the organizations. making them
rather backward even when sure of the
cooperation Of organizations in other
cities.
The agitation in regard to the eight
hour picnic was not without result. The
statement comes from areiiable source
that the trades unions will endeavor to
get up a picnic Oh labor day that will
be a surprise even to the people who
know them best. There is no doubt
but that picnic on labor day will be
q success, if the unions care to under
take the hard work which is unayOida-
BILE in arranging and carrying out the
details Of such an affair. Lack of in
clination rather than of ability has
heretofore made such enterprises
rather dubious, and it seems that the
inclination is now here, and work will
begin at once. -
A glance at the roll books shows
larger attendance than is usual for this
season of the year, at the different as
Sociations. Nearly all elected Off GERS
during the past two weeks, and those
unions intending TO send delegates to
national conventions have goodly list
of candidates for such positions, dis
cuSSiOn of their respective merits keeps
the meetings from becoming dull and
unintereSting. The reports of auditing
committees and trustees, and the in
stallation Of new officers, keeps the 10
Gals in prOtracted session. Nearly all
organizations report a better financial
status than at the beginning OF the year.
The Ladies' Protective association
held its regular meeting on Friday even
ing, with a good attendance. Their
next meeting occurs Sunday afternoon,
July Is.
The Trade and Labor assembly holds
its next regular meeting on Friday,July
IL, at labor headquarters.
The stonecutterS are still holding the
fort, and getting so accustomed to the
situation, that force of habit operates
now as strongly in keeping them there,
as the sense of injustice did in the first
place.
The St. Paul merchants solemnly de-
clare that they are unaware of the eX
istence of labor organizations in this
city, and also that they can secure the
patronage of the working people with
out advertising, or in any way catering
to the tastes Of that class. These aSSer-
tons from dealers might lead one to
think that in this city employer and en-
ploye form a sort of mutual admiration
society, and having no need of the OF
ganiZatiOn of labor as a class. The fact
is, however, well established that en-
plOyerS in this city boosted Of their own
orga nization only few weeks ago, and
asserted their ability to handle their
employees and the working people in
general in a manner at least satisfactory
to the employer. Their refusal to rec
ognize the Eight-Hour league looks as
if they were satisfied with their plan.
1t may follow that the labor organiza-
tons may conclude to make their exist
ence known, and transfer their patron
age to the dealers who recognize them.
Eastern cities furnish many good exam
pies of the success with which this can
be done.
Nearly all OF the manufacturing de-
partmentS OF wholesale houses are idle,
and expect TO remain SO for four or five
weeks. This leaves between 400and 600
girls out Of employment. A large num-
Der are taking a vacation out of the city.
Others are staying at home enjoying the
agreeable contrast to shop work. With
tina exception Of these few weeks in the
summer, work continues steadily
throughout the year at fair wages for
those accustomed to the work.
A tin factory in this city is trying the
experiment of substituting girls at low
wages to manage the machines formerly
run by men. OF course there are plenty
of girls looking for work and willing to
take the places. They never think of
asking the same pay that the men re-
ceivcd for doing that work, and it
wouldn't be forthcoming if demanded.
An additional feature of the work in
this instance is that several employees
have been injured in the attempt to
manage the machines. Still nobody
complains.
The state Eight-Hour convention held
fairly attended meeting last Sunday.
Nearly the whole session was occupied
III discussing plans for the forthcoming
picnic. The convention meets next
Sunday in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS LABOR NOTES.
Minneapolis working people are pur-
suing the even tenor of their way,
mecily thankful that nothing more in
the way of patriotism will be required
of them for another year. The national
demand for eight hours will take place
before July 4 next year, and the Eight
Hour Ipapnp homes to celebrate its sue