St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-12
Building Trades VIII Make
a Determined Fight for
Eight Hours.
A. j. Blethen Will Not Com
promise ON the City
Printing.
Rev. Sample Expounds the
Single Tax Theory to a
Great Crowd.
Judge Emery Imposes the
Usual Penalties on the
Prostitutes.

1t Is more than likely that May /
Will see most determined effort made
IN Minneapolis. On the part of building
trades especially, to establish eight
hours as days work. Three years ago
haif-hearted attempt was made by
labor organizations, and, although the
carpenters struck, and were encouraged
TO greater or less extent by other trade
organizations. nothing was accomplished
besides causing veXatiOus delay to con-
tractors, and considerable privation to
the men who voluntarily deprived
themselves from employment. Or
gained labor, however, as the result of
this start, gained quite a victory, the
strength of which they did not appreci-
ate at the time. Through the Demo
cratic council the worl1ingmen had the
eight-h0ur day system established in
city work. and furthermore obtained
the passage of an ordinance which gave
the days work the preference over the
the contract system. The city was thus
made to set an example which il was
intended should be followed in all de-
partments of skilled labor as soon as
possible. This much gained, the work
ing men either through carelessness or
indifference allowed themselves to be
drawn away from the Democrats, and
at the polls last election neither sup
ported the party nor the men who
had befriended them. As a result,
the Republicans carried almost their
entire city ticket. and put in men as
aldermen who quickly rescinded the
elght-houF law, although the days
work system has been practically al
lowed to stand.
The labor organizations, since they
received their back-set. have been de-
termined not only to regain lost ground,
but to take a very decisive step for
ward. This time they have gone to
work systematically, and contractors
and others who employ building trades
will find they must this time do
battle with an organized army
Instead of scattered detachment. The
has been steadily growing to staiwart
proportions. Besides taking in men,
bers from the various trades, it has
been raising funds in anticipation of
the support that will be needed for the
movement when the time comes. The
22d of this month there is to be a mass
meeting under the auspices of the
league, to be followed by weekly open
meetings, at which the desirability of
curtailing the day of labor, and making
1t uniformly eight hours, will be dis
cussed, and the agitation in this and
other ways will be continued. Further
still. many of the Minneapolis building
trades have affiliated with the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. which Is now
estimated to have membership Of
100000, and has raised by assessment
over Sl,O00,00O to be expended in sup
porting those who are compelled to
strike.
The work of organizing among the
building trades. too, has been pushed
very theoretically. The Stonecutters'
union boasts that every good workman
in the city can be found in it's ranks.
This union is the strongest in the city,
and has already secured the coveted
concession. The stOnemasons have the
large majority of the craft in their
union. The plasterers claim to have
800 men in their organization, and.
if this is true, there are very few
non-union men in the city. The
the painters have recently reorganized
and claim they will be as strong as the
others when the time comes. The car-e
penterS are the weakest, as usual, but
extraordinary efforts will be put forth
this time to have them as thoroughly or
ganized as is possible, and to back them
up. @
The demand will not be made that ten
hours pay shall be given for eight
hours work. The men will con-
sent to be paid by the hour
at the same wages they have
been receiving and will at first only in
sist upon not working over eight hours,
although raise of wages is, doubtless,
to be contended for ultimately. Stone
cutters are at present getting SO cents
an hour, and are working eight hours.
Stonemasons are making from S2.75 to
1926 day, and are working nine hours
generally. Bricklayers are getting 40
cents an hour; plumbers. 80 to 40 cents;
painters, 80 to DO cents, and are working
nine hours. The carpenters and plaster
receiving from 50 to S2.75 and the latter
s. rs as the rule