St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-03
TO Protect LABOR.
Labor Commissioner Power
Reads an Exhaustive
Paper
On the Subject OF Legal Pro-
lection to Labor Of All
Kinds.
The Movement Traced in It's
Various Phases to the
Present Day.
Some Pointers to Legislators
Concerning necessary
Laws.

The Peoples Church lyceum met in
the assembly room as usual last night.
There was a very fair attendance, and
the programme was listened to with
great interest. Prof. Carman presided.
The programme opened with an instru-
mental duet by Miss Qnick and Mr..
Larson, followed by paper Oh "How TO
Protect Laborers," by Hon. l.. q.
Power, state commissioner of labor. Mr..
Power prefaced his paper by saying he
was glad to see so many people who are
interested in this subject, which he con-
sidered one of vital interest to the peo-
pie of this country.
The commissioner reviewed the ques-
ton of labor legislation from the year
1850, when the subject Of child labor
and its abuses, amounting to absolute
slavery in the manufacturing districts
of England, first came to the attention
of philanthropic people and resulted in
the passage of a law forbidding the en-
ployment of children under nine years
of age. This law was the first legiSla-
ton on this subject and was practically
n dead letter for years, because there
was no one whose business 1t was TO see
to these things, After while an in
spector was appointed whose business
it was TO inspect the manufactures and
see that the law was enforced, but this
still did not do, as these inspectors were
often appointed by the influence Of the
manufacturers themselves, but from
this law our OWL country got the idea of
protecting labor, and the laws of Mime
sofa, as far as they went, were the best
and most advanced of any Of tie states,
but she needs more OF them.
We need laws to prevent the employ
ment of children under sixteen years Of
age in stores or shops while the public
school is in session. Some states have
these laws already. Some allow the en-
ployment of children during this time
if they are attending school at night
Then we need laws to protect women
who are employed in factories, so that
they may not be obliged to live in UNI
sanitary rooms and work tool long hours,
and many such things. We need laws
to protect the miners in our fast develop
Ing mines, so that these men may be
able 10 work in the safest way. And
chiuery, so that laborerS are not in dan
among dangerous machines.
In answer to a gentleman who said
that accidents usually resulted from the
carelessnrss OF The workmen, Mr.. Pow
CT said that that had nothing to do
with the question. The fact was that
where the responsibility was all thrown
on the employer, il had been proven
that it was tothe employers interest in
the long run, Tor ingeElouS men were
constantly busy improving boilers, for
instance. until the danger of accident
was in6ntesimai. for each maker of
boilers would add these improvements
TO his boilers, ana 10 sell them 10
manufacturers he would say, 81 Will in
sure you against accident in using these
boilers, and they were bow so nearly
perfect that the danger had grown in
tiDiteSimal. Other methods of pro-
lection, such as insurance. were dis
cuSsed in the paper, and the Importance
of forming public opinion Oh tins sub
ject was touched upon. No laws could
be imposed except those upheld by pub
lie opinion.
The paper occasioned a spirited dis
cusSiOn, in which MeSsrS. Pierce, Me
Cree, Wilson, Williams and D. OHara
took part. Mi. O'Ilara introduced him
self as n labOring man and a member of
three labor organizations. He made a
very spirited speech, in which he
showed concusively that one working
man, mechanic, knew what he want
ed. and was not afraid TO say it. The
discussion was followed by solo from
Prof. CorydOn, "A Love Song" An
other duet for piano and violin by Miss
Quick and Mr.. Larson closed the meet
Ing.