St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-06

less tnan surprising. even TO some WHO
consider themselves more than ordi-
narily well posted on the subject.
The last legislature enacted ten laws
directly affecting labor, and in addition
passed three statutes pertaining to SUBJ
jectS which have attracted great atten-
ton among organized labor. and for
which they have been earnest adyo-
Gates. 10 form fairly just estimate
of the Importance and value Of this
legislation, it must be considered in
connection with review of similar
legislation in Minnesota in the past.
That legislation may be divided into
two periods, the first Of which began
with the reception of Minnesota into
the Union as state in 1858, and ends
with 1882, a period of twenty-five years,
and the second from 1888 to the present
time.
LII the first of these periods we find
no law placed upon the statute
book at the request Of organized labor
No law enacted during those first
twenty-five years was specially in the
interest of such labor. On the contrary,
the only law enacted in that time which
gives a hint of the existence of the
labor problem in our midst was one
passed in 1865 relating to the
Intimidation Of Workmen.
This act forbids any person by HIM
self, or in combination with 9TH
erS, to threaten or use any Eeans
to intimidate any workman in the EN-
plOy, or DESTROYS to entering into the
employ Of any other person, persons or
corporation in this state, with intent
thereby to cause such workman to leave
such employ or to prevent him from
entering therein. This was the fore
runner of the later provisions of the
penal code OF 1885 against conspiracy
and coercion. 1t was aimed to prevent
strikes and the accompanying efforts OF
the strikers to win their cause. This
restrictive legislation of Minnesota
antedateS by nearly,i not twenty years,
the enactment of any positive measure
formally championed by organized
labor in the state.
Along with this act of 1865 against in
timidatiOn, the first twenty-five years of
Minnesota saw the enactment OF two
laws for the regulation of labor. but
neither was due to action of union
workmen, although both would now be
approved by such Workmen. The first
of these laws Was passed in 1858 at the
session of the first legislature. 1t was
all act regulating the hours of women
and children in factories, and making
ten hours the legal days work. This
law was placed upon the stat
ute book as the result of the
first discussion of the evils of
at its passage in advance of the laws OF
Massachusetts or England, and its en-
actment at the time was alone rendered
possible by the absence in Minnesota of
any appreciable amount Of the labor of
women or children i'll the factories of
the state. This early law upon the stat
ute books is far i'll advance of the legiS-
lation upon the subject i'll the average
American state.
The Second Law
for the regulation of labor enacted in
Minnesota was one passed in 1879, as
the outcome of an agitation begun by
Anthony ComStock and the movement
which he represents. 1t aims to pre-
vent the employment of children under
fourteen III theater5. dance houses and
kIndered places where their health
may be endangered, their lives
or limbs imperriled, or their
morals contaminated. Mr.. ComStock
and his associates secured the
enactment of similar laws in very many
states in the Union about the date OF its
passage in Minnesota. This early law
as that passed i'll 1858 for the general
regulation Of labor has, for number of
reasons, been practically a dead letter.
1t has been unknown to the world of or
ganiZed labor, and takes its value for
| them from its relation to some amend
mentS passed during this last session.
In addition to the two acts above re-
ferred to for the regulation of labor ana
the act for preventing intimidation of
workingmen, the legislation of Mime
| sofa for the first twenty-five years, that
may be classed as labor enactments, all
practically fails under one of two
| general heads. 1t belongs to laws
| giving people exemption and stays
| from execution from debts, or
TO laws giving them liens
! for labor and materials. The first legis-
| lature passed homestead act, with eX-
emption from debts. for farm used as
| homestead and quite large exemptions
in the shape of personal property. This
| early exemption law expressly excepted
| sums due for wages of servants, labor
ers and others. No property was ex
| empt from execution for debt for such
services. That first legislature also
passed very comprehensive
System of Lien Laws.
Nearly every legislature which has
met in Minnesota since the first one, in
| 1858, has placed upon the statute book
some modification of or addition to those
first exemption and lien laws. An in
teresting article could readily be made
by tracing the changes of thirty-five
years in those laws. The greatest
changes were, however, made from
| 1876 to 1873, when the general
| lien and exemption laws were
modified quite a considerable in
the interest of the working classes.
J These changes doubtless mark the