St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-01
THE TRADES ASSEMBLY.

The trades and labor assembly met
Friday evening with a smaller attend
Rnce than usual. The members had
plenty of business on hand, and the de-
bate grew quite animated at times. The
grievance committee had conferred with
the State Federation council, and brought
q proof of a circular which they had
jointly framed, as follows:
TO the Honorable the Senators and Members
of the Legislature of the State of Mime
In view of the fact that there are now pend
Ing several bills affecting the railroads of Min
neSota. and in order to defeaI these measures
the railroads are using the alleged Railway
EMPLOYEES club. the State Federation of
Labor deems 1t an imperative duty to inform
the members of the legislature as to the true
nature of these clubs ana the reasons why
employees apparently aid the railroad corpo-
rationS
First The Railway Employees club is
misnomer, because it does not represent the
men employed by the railroads, nor their
sentiments regarding railway legislation.
Second-OTganiZed and Differed by the SUI
perintendents and officials of the railroads
This Employees club is forced upon the men,
ana refusal to join it usually means dismis
BAL from the service. Passes are even tele-
graphed 10 members of the club when their
presence is needed OF a meeting. The rail
roads do not usually show such anxiety to
tender transportation to employees when
holding conventions for the actual protec-
ton of their own interests.
Third-More than 1900 men are employed
by railroads in this state. The Railroad EN-
ployes club claims 10 represent the whole
number: yet the only persons known to be
members of this club are a few master me-
chHnics, railroad attorneys and hieh saIaried
officials. These do not form a one -hundredth
portion of the entire number. The average
wage worker employed by the railroads has
long ago learned that the interests of such of
fcialS are not his.
Fourth-The majority Of railway employees
do not belong to organizations Differed and
controlled by Themselves They find that the
railroads are by no means friendly to their
associations, and every year the black list of
their active members increases Actual rail
way employees organizations are represented
through their national organizations and the
State Federation of Labor
Fitlh-Employes find by experience that
wages are fixed by the law of supply and de-
mand. 1t cannot be shown that the earnings
OF railroads bear any relation 10 the wages
paid 10y Them. In the legislative investiga-
ton two years ago, il was shown that the
short lines between the Twin Cities made a
profit of 100000 a year. Yet we do not hear
of their conductors or brakemen receiving
5000 salaries which would be somewhat in
proportion to the profits.
SiXth-AnOther incident appears which
makes this shrewd scheme of the railroad
companies still more trans parent All genu-
Inc national unions OF railway employees for
providing safety appliances on trains to min
imize The enormous oss of life among rail
way employees This evil has become so gen
, eral that President Harrison. in his message
recommends such legislation Some meas.
ures of this kind have been introduced dur
ing the session. We are now told that this
alleged employees club is even opposed to
any legislation which wonld protect its OWL
assumed membership, and reduce that risk to
life and limb so prevalent upon railroads as
they are now operated.
To show. that employees are opposed tc
measures now pending. petitions are sent in
from railway employees clubs. These can
easily be estimated At their true value wher
TITS understood that these petitions were pre-
pared long before the legislature convened
They we're placed IN the hands of official,
holding prominent positions. and no alter
naive left the ordinary employees except Il
sjgu the uetiiiOug or receive their discharge
IN many cascs men are ignorant Of the rea
uatpr" If the petitions nOT do they dare tC
inquire into their object
he railroads nov profess a decidedly
friridig H.uinda t1w0rd heir employees II
tfs 9ght ~ thst treatment Of labor unions By
fsiifgads. ne rannOt reconcile the preseni
sbbsrfuf s0lieitpde for pTnrlOyes From thf
fsNt ihst mir ads ars attempting 10 use thcil
sfsytDy6s wbD AaYs 10 ODti1u ia the matt ei