St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-30
A GREAT MASS MEETING.
MARKET HALL PACKED TO ITS UT
MOST CAPACITY.
DISCUSSION OF THE STRIKE.

Conservative Speeches Made
Throughout Suggestion of a
ference-ResoIutio Denounc-
ing the Pioneer Press and
Dispatch.
A conservative and conciliatory spirit
characterized the mass meeting at Mar
ket hall yesterday afternoon. called by
the trades and labor assembly to lay be-
fore the public the street car situation.
Some time before o'clock. the time set
for the meeting, over 1000 men gath
cred about the the market house, and as
soon as the doors were opened went in
and took seats. By 3 o'clock every seat
and foot of standing room in the hall
and gallery was filled up. A few ladies
were also in the gathering. Members
of the trades and labor assembly occu-
pied seats on the stage, filling it up.
The men were wedged into the aisles
and leaned against the stage. The
audience numbered fully 1000 people,
most of whom were working men in
their Sunday clothes. Throughout the
meeting they were attentive listeners,
and often applauded the speakers with
clapptng OF hands and cheers. The i'm
menSe audience did not seem to tire of
the talk that was kept up for two hours
and half. and darkness was coming
on before the meeting adjourned.
A few minutes after O'clock. NJ. E.
Murray, president of the trades and
labor assembly, stepped to The front of
the kstage, and the audience after
brief applause became very quiet and
listened intensely while he announced
that the meeting was called by the
trades assembly to afford an oppor-
tunity to present the street car trouble
to the public in its true light.
THE GRAND SECRETARY SPEAKS.
Samuel S. Matthews. the grand secre-
tary of the street railway association,
was introduced, and spoke in an earnest
way while presenting the facts leading
up to the present troubles. He began
by saying that he believed the people
present are among those of the city who
are struggling for livelihood and be-
A'S' v edoS viz LIZ prevail. 16
dlsclalmed any purpose of advocating
strikes or the use of violence or force in
any case, but would, on the other hand,
advise as the only course, conference
and arbitration. The company, through
the public press, had greatly misrepre-
scented the facts. and it is but just that
the street car employees should have an
opportunity to give the true state of af-
fairs to the public. Proceeding, Mr..
Matthews reviewed the history of the
contention between the company and
its employees for the past year or two
and the causes which led up to the or
ganization of union four months ago.
He stated the facts as published in the
GLOBE yesterday, and gave incidents of
how the company has locked the men
Tor large and unreasonable shortages
that did not exist except with
the company itself, trumped I'D
after the money had been turned
over 10 the collectors. He told how
one man after another had been charged
with shortages and fined 81 for failing
TO add up the cash and transfer slips on
the outside of the envelopes when the
statement of each was made on the en-
velope and both cash and slips were in
the envelopes. He told of one man who
was few minutes late ON three morn
lngs during the summer, and was de-
prlVed OF his place as a regular en-
ploye and made an extra man. He told
the foreman that his wife had been ill
for six months with a cancer, and the
loss of sleep was the cause of hardness.
The union also worked for a month and
secured petitions to have the man REIN
stated, but the company refused to con-
slider the case, and answered that dis
clpllne must be maintained at any cost.
Ansther man was suspended for seven
days because he neglected to turn In
trip sheet at the barn, although he had
turned in his cash to the collector
down town. The grievance against
the two collectors at the corner of
Wabasha and Seventh street was al
luded to. Mr.. Matthews said the men
were forced to organize last June for
mutual protection, and the company
had admitted that since that time it had
lost less money than before, and that
the service had been better. The
speaker said the company has deter
mined to break UP the union. and since
the 18th of June last has not employed
man who has not promised beforehand
that he would take car out in case of
strike. Men who were discharged
were told that there was nothing against
them except that they belonged to the
union. Others, asking why they were
let out, were reminded by the foreman
that he had notified them that the union
would do them up" In conclusion,
Mr.. Matthews said the men had acted
peaceably and conservatively, and pro-
posed to continue the same course even
If they do lose their situations.
LOWRY A TRoUBLE-MAKER.
Matthias RAM yinn oF h.
trades and labor assembly, made short
speech, in which he said he had but
few moments, as he was on his way to
Minneapolis to organize a new union.
His view was that the way the union
men had been treated by the company
was almost discouraglng, but he de-
clared that the fight must hot be given
up. He said that if the press does not
recognize the unions, the time will come
when the labor people will have papers
of their own. Mr.. Lowry was charac-
terized by the. speaker as a trouble
maker. His advice was for all the labor
organizations in the Twin Cities to tie
up all business until the street car CON-
pany gives consent to a conference.
This statement was greeted with ap-
plauSe and cries of Good" Mr.. Lowry
was spoken of as being solely response
bic for the trouble by denying he right
of employees to join the union. Mr..
Banz said that men with money are ac-
cuStOmed to defy laws when it comes to
question Of dealing with working men,
and that is true in this case, in that the
law passed by the legislature to protect
unions has been violated.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Capt. Jubert was called for by some
one in the audience, and responded
with speech in which he referred to
Col. Davidson and himself fighting in