St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-02
No General Movement for
Eight Hours Among the !
Building Trades.
DR.. Kimball Explains His Po-
sition Concerning the
G. A. R. Kick.
A Dramatic Story of the
Death Of a Well Known
Attorney.
Cuttings From the Courts and
City Departments Of Min
neapolis.

The first day of May, 1890, witnessed
no general movement on the part OF the
building trades Of Minneapolis to fix
eight hours as the standard days work.
The plumbers, in fact, constitute the
only trade that shows determination
to force employers to shorten the hours
of labor, and strike will probably begin
this morning, which is likely to be ad-
iusted without much difficulty. In the
evening there was an eight-hour demon
stration at Bridge square which. how
ever. did not attract large crowd OF
create any particular enthusiasm.
j. P. McGaughey presided. In stating
the object of the meeting he said that IN
all parts of the country similar meet
ings were being held. It had been said
that the Federation of Labor which had
for its object the shortening OF the work
day could not accomplish It's object
without a hard struggle, and which
would probably result III the loss OF life.
But the telegraph had carried the news
to Minneapolis that nowhere In this
country had there been any over tact
committed. In fact, in many Instances
the employers have recognized the just
ice of the demands made by their work
men, and have granted the request
for shorter hours of labor Rev.
q. E. Paddock was introduced,
and said that while this was his
first attempt at making a labor speech
he could do nothing else than c0ngratu-
late his fellow wOrkingmen upon what
they had already gained. and advised
cooperation and organization until the
eight-hOur movement should become
universal. He was followed by Judge
William Welsh. who made strong
speech in favor of the worklngman, and
at the same time roasted mOnOpolles.
Judge Welsh. in a clear, fOTcible man
ner, argued that the trouble with the
country was not OYer-prOduction. and
he saw a good future, should the feder-
alton of labor succeed in securing the
reduction of the hours OF labor. lie
used facts and figures to show that
a reduction in hours would give en-
plOyment to mauy men VINO
are now idle, and make every
body happy and the country more
prosperous. In speaking OF strikes, he
declared that they we're always inJur-
lous both to the employer and employe
and should be avoided. He arraIgned
corporations as opposed to the working
man and stirred up considerable en-
thusiasm. Speeches were also made by
Rev. @. A. Sussey ana II. B. Martin.
The Plumbers Strike.
The journeymen plumbers did not go
to work yesterday. They demanded
that nine hours should constitute a
days work. instead of ten, and that
eight hours should be considered days
work on Saturday. They also want
their pay to remain as it is now, $3.50
per day. The plumbers say they did
not strike, but they would not 90 back
to work until their demands were ac-
ceeded to by the bosses. A meeting OF
the Master Plumbers association was
held during the day, and committee
was appointed to confer with the jour
neymen's association. and to try ana ar
range the difficulty. Some of the mas
ter plumbers say that they are perfectly
willing to dccede to the demands Of
thor employees. The hours asked for
by the jOuTneymen are the same the
plumbers in ST. Paul have been work.
ing under for nearly three years. and
manV of the master plumbers have said
that there should be no distinction be-
tween the woTkmen in the Twin Cities.
a committee from the Master Plum
bers' association met with the journey
men last night at Labor temple. They
were willing TO give the men the nine
hours demanded with the same pay they
now receive, but they object to the
eight hours for Saturday. The journey
men conceded the extra hour, and for a
while it looked as if the matter would
be quietly adjusted. when the commit
tee wanted the jOurneymen to sign
contract agreeing to make no further
demand for eigher shorter hours or
higher wages fOa two yerrs. This the
men would not do, and general strike
was ordered. commencing today. The
journeymen will now stuck to their
original demand OF nine hours for a
days work. with eight hours for Satur-
day, the pay to be $3.50 for plumbers
and So for gastitters.