St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-02
FOR THOSE WHO Toll,
Comment on the Results of
the Convention Of Build
ing Eosses.
Many Labor Events Of Inter-
est Scheduled for the
Future.
Questions of Economy in
Which the Twins Are
Interested.
Events Past and to Come in
Twin City Labor Cir
eleS.

The grocers' clerks are agreeably sur
prised at the readiness with which their
employers agree to close early. The
reason is, perhaps, that the proprietors
of stores find the long hours of business
both wearisome and expensive and they
are as willing as their clerks to close
early, provided other dealers will do the
same. In Eastern cities and, even in
Minneapolis for short time, aSSOcia
tons of employers agreed to close early
and made the movement general with
out the cooperation of the clerks. The
fact that the clerks start the movement
in this city ought not to make the adj
vantageS of the movement less.
The various conventions of employ
ers in this city during the week have
been wa ched with interest by all
classes of people. The sentiment ia
VOring the abolition of the lien law was
not as strong as might have been ex
pected, many contractors being of the
opinion that a good lien law benefited
them as well as the mechanics. No ac-
ton was decided upon in that direction,
although the difficulty of getting even a
good law enforced makes the average
wage worker rather Indifferent as to
whether lien law exists or not.
Both builders and stonecutters seem
10th to put themselves on record in re-
gard to the Gight-hour question. l. is
worthy OF note that many were IN favor
of the movement because they thought
it bound to come, anyhow. The usual
number OF misStatementS were made in
regard to the work Of labor organiZa-
tiOnS. If they did all that was credited
to them the poor, helpless employer
might we'll waste his time bewailing
their existence. 1t is rather amusing
to see employers holding conventions
and showing that organization is great
benefit TO them; also that they intend
to take full advantage of the benefits
accruing from association, then gravely
assuring tile wagewOrker that he has no
right to-organize, and his organizations
work much mischief-make him dis
c0ntented-make him forget the bless
ingS of being an American workingman.
The average wage worker is not very
Intelligent. His environment forblus
that. But, in majority of cases he is
intelligent enough to see that en-
plOyerS, like the members of the
builders association. know even less of
social economy than men educated in
labor organizations. Mrs. Diaz would
say: "TheY don't know and they don't
know that they don't know" Labor
organizations at least taught working
men to know that their labor is simply
a commodity, to be bought and sold lii
the market like other commodities
Their condition as workers is only bet
tered by their own efforts Philan-
thropy is not a part of business methods
Of to-day, and the employer cannot
readily be suspected of any desire to
elevate his emplOye athiS own expense.
In fact, the patience and practical good
sense displayed by most or Eanized men
is the result of their education in econo-
mics. They regard the wage system
and present conditions simply as
phase of Industrial evolution. They
know that the general tendency of
affairs IS toward greater equity and bet
ter development. The abuses will be
swept away by the results of their own
mistakes, and so they can afford to be
amused at the frantic efforts of some
people to Justify the present state of
affairs. The statements from the build
erS' association, by their very mistakes,
will do much to aid labor organizations
by starting people to think for them
selves, a cOnSummatiOn degoutly to be
wished.