The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-24
SOME DISLIKE THE PLAN,
BEST ONE THAT CAN BE
ADOPTED.
BUT MEN SHOULD BE PAID CASH.
Lucas, Rev. S. G. Smith, II. ID.
O'Brien, and Others.

ing. The announcement stated that
the object of the gathering was in the
interests Of the unemployed. Peter
Max, who acted as chairman, reiterat-
ed the statement, but followed this by
saying that the intention was to take
steps to get rid of the contract system
both in city and state work.
He introduced as the first speaker
j. W.. Crane, who informed the audi
ence that st. Paul laboring men were
in a deplorable condition and many
men and women were suffering for the
necessities Of life. The various rail-
road companies and other corporations
were. he said, reducing the number Of
employees. Mayor Doran n h AS
ISOLATED Charities were interesting
themselves in the interests Of the I'M
employed, and it was possible that
something would be done for the bene-
fit Of the unemployed.
+. j. Geraghty explained that the
purpose Of the meeting was to assist
the unemployed and ask the legisla-
ture to abolish the contract system.
He went into a detailed statement as
to the steps taken by the council rela-
tive to the appropriation of the $40, 900
from the city treasury for the benefit
Of the unemployed. The committee
from the meeting held by the unem-
ployed had not, he said, been allowed
to confer with the council committee
having the matter in charge, owing to
the room being either too small or the
number Of charitable people being too
numerous. The result of the meeting
Of the mayor and the committee from
the council had been the announce
ment that the law dispensers Of the
city were not able to dispose of the
$4,000 without bringing in a so-called
charitable association to take charge
Of the distribution. The association,
he said, was a sectarian body and had
no more right to dispense the funds of
the city than he7 had. Any number Of
men were out Of employment, but the
committee had laid down the rule that
those who wanted work must be in
vestigated before they could have it.
The workmen, he contended, were, af-
ter doing the work, entitled to the
money they had earned. The city
fathers, however, had decided that they
u take orders instead Of money for
their labor. h same plan had been
enforced some years ago, but at that
time the David Morgan saving wood
scheme had been enforced. This time
the wood saving plan had been drop
ped and the order for groceries adopt
ed. If the city council had not the
ability to distribute the $40, 900 for
work performed, he was in favor of
their resigning their positions. He
cloSed MS talk by referring to minis
tiers who were always willing to come
IN after a victory was won, but never
engaged in the fight for the victory.
Kew. 5. G. Smith, of the PEOPLES
church, followed and he took the on
poslte ground regarding the $40, 900
which the city had appropriated to help
out the unemployed. The city, Mr..
Smith said, did not want the men to
work, as there was nothing particular
for them to do. It had appropriated all
the available money at hand for the
benefit Of those who were out of work.
The city was simply furnishing this
amount Of money in order to give en-
plcyment to a number Of men. There
were about 1,5OC men willing to work
under the rules adopted, and all this
would give each one was about 81 each.
The Associated charities, the speaker
said, was not a sectarian bOdy. It's
members included those from each de-
nomination n every church in the
city. He commended that the rules
adopted for the distribution Of the
money were right and proper. in that
it provided that only those VINO had
been six months in the city, and fami-
lies dependent upon them, should be
given work. The rule that Day should
DE In fuel n groceries, instead of
money, was, the speaker contended.
for the best interests Of the families
Of the men who were to be given work.
By paying in orders, it would insure TO
the families of the men, fuel and pro-
visions, whereas if money was Daid If
might be used in tobacco and drink
The speaker was interrupted by an
elderly man, who said he was one OF
the unemployed, and asked if he meant
to say that the unemployed were
drunkards and not competent to take
care of their w money. Replying to
this, Mr.. Smith said he did not. bur
this was a case where the city was
going into the labor market and
employing men, but was using it's funds
to give work to those who were out Of
employment. In the employment Of
labor he was always in favor of paying
WCrkmen in cash, but this was an ex-
ceptional aSe. sever hundred men
had made application and were willing
to work for 81 per day payable in
kind. Those who did not want to ac-
cept this provision need not make an
P1ISCIllOL1J ~ Lie Woo SdIlSllO1 1TO1n
what he knew, that the $40, 900 would
not go around among those who We're
willing to work and take their paw in
the n~ecessaries Of life. The settlement
of the question Of the hour, what to do
with the unemployed, could, in his opin-
ion, only be arrived at by cooperation,
industry and frugality.
Thomas Lucas, of Minneapolis, agreed
with Rev. Mr.. Smith hat Cooperation
was the right solution Of tha nroh1oro
but had ar idea that it could not be
arrived at on 81 per day, payable in
kind. The day, he said, had gone bv
when h people could fill their stom-
achs with sympathy Work must be
provided for the masses. In England
and Germany there We're thousands Of
unemployed. and the world over the
people were starving. TIC talk charity
to the labOring ma was, he said. to
insult them. Millionaires had no hT-
manity. They bought in he cheapest
and sold in the highest market. The
associated charities he characterized az
one end of a political machine and rem
resented those who were holding office.
The $10.0 900 was appropriated, first. to
allow the politicians to get votes and.
second. to give some impecunfous
store keeper a whack at the amount
He attributed the small audience to
the fact that a humber Of the unem-
ployed were afraid Of attending, fear
ing that they would lose the chance to
get work If seen at the meeting.
T. D. O'Brien said he felt that he
would be untrue to himself did he not
raise his voice in protest against the
charges made by some of the previous
speakers. He did not believe that the
men who were assisting in the distribu-
ton Of the $4,000 were e~ndeavoring to
gain political ends. The money
should 90 RI the workingTOan and those