St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-14
(COntributed.)


To speak of a union as 1.-The union"
meaning something apart from our
selves, is a miSnomer, says a writer
in the American Federationist "Our
union" is more to the point 1t is as
we make it, and it. cannot rise higher
than its units. But yet we have
fashioned it fairly well. Our union,
like any other human agency, occa-
Sionally makes mistakes, but in COM
parison it will show advantageously
with any institution of the kind,
either benevolent, religious or So
cial. Its road has been a rocky one,
but it has grown all the stronger
and healthier for the knocks it has
received. In it's early days, derided
by press and pulpit, prosecuted by
monopoly, laughed at by politicians
and buffeted now by panicky gales
or bayoneted again by militia, our
union has marched Serenely on,
bringing down it's tormentors, MAX
ing supplicants of it's enemies. In
the past decade, thanks to the vet
Grams who have gone on before, I'M
written and unSung, our union has
seen mighty change. The columns
OF the press thrown open, searching,
competing for its dOings; academic
1anS, science, art, espouSing it's
cause; the church rapping at the
door for admission; popular maya
zines, dramatiSts, noveliSts, adopt
ing its role, counting it's favor. Our
union today is a determining factor
in all social functions, main artery
of the pulse of trade, of commerce,
OF society. 1t raises wages, prevents
reductions and checks strikes and
lock-outs from the mere fact that it
is. 1t promotes fraternity, sociabil-
1ty, 1T fosters temperance and liber-
ality. Above all, it is an educational
force. Our union is out on sectional
ism; it is the embodiment of democ-
racy; it knows neither class nor
creed rank or title. 1t SCOTS at the
cheap snobbery of wealth, and re-
jects it's charity; for the self-styled
sets" and upper tens" it has a
healthy contempt, and upon the tin
sci and brass Of their striped defend
ers it bestoWs its scorn. Our union
is of the people. We glory in its
achievements, we love its principles
and we defy it's traducers.
The trades and labor assembly
held a busy meeting Friday even
ing and transacted business of con-
siderable public Importance. New
81 TO
Tailors' union, K. H. Beckjord, S.
P. Rosenquist; cigarmakers' union,
j. F. Krieger, Frank Hoffman, John
Fisher, Henry sGieSe Jr. and Ernest
Seidlitz; saddle and harness makers
union, George n. Giles, T. A. Harvey;
bricklayers' union, John Elliott, An
ton Steiner; BARRIERS union, Harry
Waters, F. c. Kueppers. A commun-
lcation was read from the bricklay-
ers' union, protesting against the
Ryan-Butler Contracting company
building public school buildings, or
any other public work, that firm be-
ing represented as bitter opponents
of fair wages and organized trades
men. The grievance was referred to
the executive committee, and will no
doubt be brought to the attention of
the school board.
The system pursued by the water
board-that of letting out work to
contractors - was severely con-
.demned by the assembly because the
contractors work the laborers ten
hours a day and pay them low
wages, besides having the task sys-
tenn in operation. The sentiment of
the assembly was that the water
board should do the owrk itself and
pay the regular wage. scale in vogue
on municipal work at eight hours
per day. The argument was adj
vanced that none other than the
contractors benefited from the con-
tract system, while the laborers suf-
fered, which the assembly believed
was contrary to the desires of the
taxpayers.
The excellent example set by
Field, Mailer & Co. in establishing
the Saturday half-holiday was rec
ognized by the assembly passing a
resolution of thanks for the humane
consideration shown by the firm to
its employees.
The secretary of the International
Garment Workers union, New York, !
notified the assembly that sweat |
shop clothing had been shipped to |
two st. Paul clothing firms, and that |
the cutters of a large clothing firm, |
with headquarters in New York, were |
on strike, said firm having branch |
store in st. Paul. The information |
was placed in the hands of the ex- :
ecutive committee to take appropri- !
ate action.
A delegation was present from /
the newly organized truckmens's !
union requesting the assembly to |
indorse a petition which it proposes |
to present to the council next Tues |
day evening, asking for the abolition |
of the present license fee, and the !
substitution therefor of a simple !
registration system, the expense of |
which should be nominal-$1 being |
mentioned as an appropriate |
amount. The petition was heartily |
Endorsed, the general license system |
at present in vogue and IS at present !