St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-08
The WORLD OF WORK,
Talk Of Sending the st. Cloud
Stone to the Worlds Fair
at Chicago.
The Railway Employees Club
to Make a EreeZe in the
Trades Assembly.
Senator Washburn'S Letter
Does Not Tickle Minneap-
oils Workers.
Industrial Information Cor
rallied From Every Twin
City Source.

Owing ITO the misunderstanding be-
tween the granite cutters union and
Supt. Meyers, of the ST. Cloud reforma-
tory, it is quite likely that an attempt
will be mfde to dispose of the granite
cut by convictS at st. Cloud to the
worlds fair directory in Chicago. Supt.
MeYers would thus place himself in
position to meet some of the objections
of the citizens OF st. Cloud and also
obviate the opposition of the labor
organizations. But it is quite possible
that the labor unions of Chicago will
make inquiries into the transaction and
the arrangement will hardly be salts
factory to the National Granite Cutters
union, which has several branches in
Minnesota and Illinois. unless the stone
is placed upon the market at the regular
market rates.
The Chicago worlds fair has been the
cause of considerable comment in St.
Paul labor circles during the past week.
1t is expected that the change of base
of the worlds tair directors regarding
the eight-hOGr question will have q
decided effect upon the municipal au-
thorities throughout the northwest.
The directors of the wOrld's fair have
conceded the justice of the eight hour
day and local labor men claim that the
main objections TO this measure have
been declared untenable and prece-
dent established for the future policy
on public work.
Unless all signs fail the next meeting
of the trade and labor assembly will
prove to be of unusual interest to the
labor organizations. 1t appears that
the circuler issued relative to the Rail
way Employees club has been the cause
of some investigation by number Of
the delegates. and as result the rail
way employees have been asked to take
part at the next meeting of the assem-
bly,. The statement made by MEM
ber of the club" said prominent labor
man, "that the trade assembly is not
competent to speak for employees of the
railroads will hardly convince the dele
gates OF their supposed wrong. The as
Sembly is the only organization quail
fed to do this work. 1t can be readily
seen that any statement made by en-
plOyeS of these corporations would re-
suit in the discharge of the men. were
they not in accord with the wishes of
the officials. The recent action of the
New York Central is an example of
what may be expected here. An in
quiry into the occupation of the leading
officers shows that four Of them hold
positions of foremen, one is a cashier in
the general Office. one an assistant mas
ter mechanic, and another a Superin-
tendcnt Of construction. This list has
been gathered from their published
constitution" Another delegate to the
trade assembly said: The trade as
sembly represents thirtyiVe labor or
CARNATIONS, among them several unions
of railroad men: and as its members
are only responsible to their respective
organizations. they are in an indepeDd
ent position to investigate grievances
without being threatened with loss of
employment, should they give express
sion TO any statement regarding the
methods of railroad corporations in op-
posing unfriendly legislation"
An example of how signatures were
secured to the petition protesting
against the passage of the Currier bill
has been reported at the labor head
quarters, and no doubt many similar
cases could be cited. One of these peti-
tiOnS was handed to prominent officer
OF the clerks union, who readily at
tached his signature. The petition was
then circulated in other establishments.
Other meIuberS of this union, seeing
the name of one of their officers at the
head of the list.never stopped to inquire
INTO the nature of the law in question,
hut quite willingly signed the petition
also. This has been done in spite of
the warning of the trade and labor as
sembly. and is no doubt fair illustra-
ton of how the 5000 signatures were
secured in st. Paul against the Currier
bill.
An important conference of the cigar
makers unions of the Twin Cities was
held Wednesday evening, which prom
ises to give new impetus to this IN
dustry. 1t appears that several firms
find it very profitable to discharge the
men in their employment, and hire wOm-
en- and children. This innovation has
caused some apprehension among the
members of the union. and they intend
to begin another agitation for home
products at fair WageS,by attempting to
induce the public to ask for blue label
cigars. The international union has
been asked for financial aid, and the
local, unions intend to carry the agita-
tiOninto the nelghboring cities. Later
on the Farmers Alliances will be Wis
tied by special speakers, and urged to
patronize blue label goods. Until re-
VeliClN tHS COultIy iIduo Has De6Ii
wholly in the hands of non-union firms,
but it's expected by the members of
the union to induce the farmers organ
izatlons to recognize the advantage of
label products.
The Alliance meeting called for next
Friday evening will endeavor to con-
solidate the industrial classes of the
cities with those on farms, and con-
lectures are being made as to the prob
able basis of this union. The ALL
ance members of. the legislature have
thus far proved themselves as willing
to vote down labor measures as the
members of other political parties. Per-
haps, however, the present demands of
the working people will be left out of
consideration, and new platform
adopted which will not include such OBJ
Jectionable features as the eight-hour
law for cities: but then the labor organ
izations will hardly embrace the new
Alliance.
COMING EVENTS.