St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-05
IN MINNEAPOLIS.
Items of Interest.

The trade and labor assembly held an
interesting meeting Friday evening.
The report of the prison Investigating
committee was the principal subject of
debate. The following resolution from
the house committee of investigation
was heartily Endorsed:
We believe that whatever in the abstract
may be the advantages or disadvantages OF
the contract system under other conditions
(as 10 which we express no opinion), 1t is
not and will not be to the states advantage
to longer retain 1t under present clrcum-
stances, and therefore recommend that the
law be so changed that no new contract be
entered into after the present one shall
terminate but that the prisoners be employed
at state accounts From considerations of
like nature and from the evidence before us We
are convinced that, with the views they enter
tain, the present board of managers cannot
make a success of the prison under the state
account system, as the management seems
to lack some essential elements needed in
such an undertaking. and therefore we, with
some reluctance, and yet with belief in Its
necessity recommend that the board of man.
ayers be abolished. ana some other board of
control be substituted in its place.
The assembly did some earnest work
two years ago in trying to have the state
account system well started, and has
always held the opinion that the sys-
TEN was not getting fair trial. The
investigation by the legislature seems
to corroborate this opinion. The fol-
lowing resolution was adopted by the
aSSe mDly:
Resolved, That we extend our thanks to
the state prison investigating committee OF
the house of representatives for the thorough
and painStaking manner in which they have
opened to the light OF day the corrupt and
reasonable transactions of the state prison
ring of this state by the connivance, if not by
the direct assistance of the board of prison
managers. We consider the report a final
and conclusive argument against the con
tract system of convict labor and favor the
actual establishment of the state account
system at the prison on business basis
The killing of miners by the militia at
Mt. Pleasant, Pa, was also discussed.
Several members of the assembly from
personal experience were familiar with
the situation at the mines, and, know
ing the hard conditions under which
the miners live, thought that some dis
erection should be used before resorting
to military law.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the butchery of seven
Workingmen of Mount Pleasant, Pa, the
other day can be taken as warming to every
workingman that our demands for justice
are apt to be met by the reciprocity OF cold
lead We hope that the brutal murder of
these men VIII not be approved by the courts.
or press, or clergy.
Resolved, That we appeal 20 all patriotic
citizens to enlist in the work of so adjusting
the conditions to make strikes unnecessary;
to devise some means of stopping this dis
graceful killing of men. who, in their ignor-
ance see no other way of getting justice than
BY striking if freedom of speech and right
OF assemblage are TO be maintained, etc.
The assembly discussed the advisa-s
bility of holding a mass meeting to dis
eusS state prison affairs, but no definite
action was taken.
The wood and machine workers have
just organized fiourishing union. The
charter is on the way, and "Wednesday
evening the union will meet to make its
organization permanent and install its
officers. The meeting will be held at
PCS Central avenue.
The tin sheet iron and cornice work
ers held special meeting Friday even
ing at the Labor Temple. There seems
some foundation for the belief that the
employing cornice workers of Duluth
and the Twin Cities have formed a
combination to enforce the ten-hour
day and keep WAGES at the present rate.
At the meeting Friday evening the men
seemed all determined to resist this ac
ton on the part of employers, but
deemed it advisable to have commit
tee in each city which will try every
means of arriving at all amicable settle
ment before any extreme measures are
adopted. The men feel confident that
they will be successful.
The plumbers are not saying much. I
but the air of quiet content and salts
faction with which the journeyman
plumber goes about his duties lately
trOnh
ing. and the word strike" is not on the
cards either.
Since the visit of President Gompers,
of the a. F. of L., the retail clerks have
begun to take new interest in the matter
of organizing. movement is on foot
to organize a union attached to the
national organization recently perfected
at Detroit. Several dealers were inter
viewed, and heartily favored early clos
ing, provided the clerks will organize
and show some disposition to make the
movement permanent one. Several of
the clerks in the leading stores are dis
cussing the matter, and will probably
call meeting soon and take some
finite action.
Prof. De Leon. the national socialist
lecturer. delivered an interesting ad-
dress last Sunday evening at the social
list hall, 22S Washington avenue south.
He is a scholarly man, although not
brilliant speaker; but seems to have a
great deal of faith in socialistic rem
edies. He thought socialism would grow
yearly more popular, because it is the
true remedy for existing evils. The
address proved very interesting, and
will probably make some converts to
the socialists canse.
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