St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-22
LABOR ENTERS A KICK
Because the Legislature Does
Not Seem Built Its Own
Style.
No Legislation Yet for the
Special Benefit Of Him
Who Tolls.
An Important EARLY Closing
Meeting Scheduled This
Week.
Much Industrial Information
Cleaned From Twin City
Sources. n

"But little labor legislation will be
even considered this winter" remarked
a prominent member of the State FEEDER
alton yesterday, "that is, if the treat
ment of measures already offered is an
indication of the spirit in which the leg
islatGre intends to carry on its work.
This opinion is gaining ground every day
among the large class of organized wage
workers in this community. Every
labor measure offered has been treated
with contempt and ridicule. Indeed.
one member of the energetic minority
which seems to rule the house. gravely
remarked the other day that the work
ing people didn't want any legislation.
This may be the proper course to pur-
sue, but remarks like these appear III
strange contrast with those made be-
tore election. What makes the situa-
ton still more interesting is the fact
that the minority. which has eontlol OF
no committees, has succeeded on every
important vote in inducing the majority
of members to vote with them. Such a
course may have been expected in
former legislatures, but. at this time.
when the reform elements have sue
ceeded in organizing and controlling
both houses, it causes the working
people to inquire how much the politi-
cal revolution of last fall has done for
them, 1t may be, however, that the
majority in the house has not yet dis
covered that the weIl-organiZed minor
ity is bound to prevent any legislation
that NAV tend to improve the conditions
of the industrial classes. Some OF the
labor men are beginning to realize that
it is partly due to their having no one to
champion their cause that 1t receives
but scant courtesy. But they also rec
ogniZe the danger to which the farmer
members are thus exposed, as 1T is only.
logical to suppose that what is denied to
workers IN fhe cities will hardly be
granted to those Oh farms. Another
strange coincidence appears IN that
those who have ever been ready to
eSpouSe the cause of the poor railroads
and similar pauper corporations are the
same members that nave thus far been
able to prevent the passage OF measures
put forward by the entire strength of
labor organizations throughout the
state. There are jn the house of repre-
SentativeS few noteworthy exceptions
to the general rule, but they are indeed
few. In fact, the members from the
larger cities, who are in position to
know the needs of working people,
have been eloquently silent during
the discussion of labor measures,
except those of them who take delight in
abusing any demand that bears the in
dorsement of labor organization. The
executive council of the State Fedora
ton of Labor. which meets this after
noon, will outline some plan whereby
labor legislation will receive at least
more favorable consideration. 1t is not
unlikely that they will proceed to con-
denim their own bills that are now in
troduced. and thus perhaps by the law
of contralres cause them to be
more favorablv received" The repre-
sentative of organized labor stalked
away thoroughly disgdsted with the
present legislative situation.