St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-14
Minneapolis Raise of Wages
Regarded as a Piece Of
Policy.
The Nero Of Nininger Is Not
in Full Confidence With
Labor Circles.
Industrial Information Gath
cred From All Twin City
Sources.

StOS W Sl.tO pei 10 oil UQ-
ditiOnal argument to those who favor
paying $3.50 for eight hours in st. Paul.
Duluth has been paying $1.75 all sum-
mer, Minneapolis. $1.65. The raise in
the latter city was made, not for pOliti-
cal purposes, but because the law of
supply and demand forces a raise of
wages in order to secure laborers. I'm
less the much quoted law of supply
and demand be very capricious in its
action, it would appear to an unpreju-
diced observer that the st. Paul council
will soon find itself with scarcity of
laborers, unless the eight-hour day can
be paid wage i'll direct proportion to
that received for ten hours in neighbor-
ing cities. 1t might also be incidentally
noted that Milwaukee and Chicago have
Instituted the eight-hOur day at $3.50 a
day this summer, and the taxpayers are
not raising the howl that was feared in
st. Paul. In fact the new regime seems
to give satisfaction wherever fairly
tried.
st. Paul tin, sheet iron and cornice
workers are warned to pay no attention
to advertisements from Chicago Offering
good wages and steady situations to
men in that craft. One of the promi-
nent members of that union, G. ID.
Wheeler. writes that the tin, sheet iron
and cornice workers there to the num-
Der OF GOO have been on strike for sew
eral weeks for eight hours and 40 cents
an hour. Their demand has been con-
ceded in most cases; all are at work ex-
cept about $50. The bosses intention
seems to be to keep these men out by
supplying their places with outsiders,
and thus prolOng the strike until the
end of the season. Then when next
season begins the ground now gained
will have been lost and the whole strug-
gle begun anew on both sides. The
striking cornice workers have plenty of
funds, and are firm in their determina-
ton 10 accept no compromise. By warn
ing all III ions through the Northwest
of the situation they hope to save union
men the trouble and expense of going
to Chicago only to be disappointed.
A Though the Labor day demonstra-
ton is now only one of the pleasant
"reminiscences of the past, yet there are
in that they were not mentioned in the
official programme nor in the papers.
They are the plasterers and machinery
molderS. Both unions have a large
membership and presented a fine ap-
pearance. The omission was an acct
dental one Oh the part of those who
made up the official programme. The
press reports were copied from that,
and the committee knew nothing of the
mistake until after the parade, so the
unions had good reason to complain, al
though the omission was by no means
intentional.
The brio klayers' international union
is satisfied that the recent discussion be-
tween their union and the 'locaE'' was
productive of good results. The
locals were very angry in that they
were refused any recognition in regard
to the Labor day parade. Since that
day the most respectable element of the
''locals" are discussing the ACCESSIBILITY
of joining the international. Two paid
heavy fine this week and are now
bOna-fide union men. Others are seek
ing admission on the same terms. 1t
appears that the ''locaP' has about $50
members, but that many of them are
not skilled workmen. The international
union will not admit the latter class
| under any consideration. They, how
ever, are pleased to see an indication
| that the bricklayers are likely to have
more efficient organization in the fut-
| ure.
The industrial parade of Friday fol-
lowing so closely that OF Labor day has
called forth some comparison between
| the observance of the two days. On
| Labor day many employees were unable
| to get Off, because that meant discharge.
| Of course they expected to lose the
| days pay, but could not afford to risk
| discharge in order to take part in the
Labor day celebration. Last Friday the
same employers closed their places of
business and forced the employees to
take day off at their own expense.
| Under the circumstances some unions
declined to parade Friday evening.
Those who like to study curious
| phases of humanity would find some
Interesting items If they could attend
the secret political meetings that are
held weekly in the alley back of the
Dispatch Office. From eight to twenty
members form the coterie. Some of
them already have history, and some
will evidently achieve a history before
the campaign is over. They belong to
that numerous class who have been
disappointed in getting any plums
from the old parties, and on ac-
count of their connection with those
membership in the Central Independ-
ent club. They, however, label them
selves independent" and for the
proper consideration will agree to de-
liver certain number of workingmen's
votes to the highest Republican or Dem
| ocraBic bidder. The Australian law, of
course, shields them from proving that
they do the promised work. and they ex-
pect to reap an abundant harvest from
the anxious officeseekers of both par
ties,