The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-20
BANQUET AT ASSEMBLY HALL.
MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION
FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND PROM
INENT POLITICIANS.
EVERYBODY PRESENT TALKED.
Speeches by Mayor DOran 0nd 9th
ers Who Assisted in Passing
the Barber Bill.

banquet boards at Assembly hall last
night. They assembled to commemr
crate the anniversary Of the organiza-
ton Of the BARRIERS Union OF st. Paul,
and also to celebrate the passage by
the legislature Of the bill which requires
the would-be barber to pass an exam
ination before he is eligible to become
a member Of that ancient profession.
Not only were delegates from the Min
neapolis union present, but the Ramsey
county delegation which supported the
measure, were in attendance. So was
Bill, Erwin 1t was sociable affair
from the very beginning It was ban
quet Of BARRIERS and the conversation
could scarcely be expected to lag. But
when the time for speechmaking ar
rived some lawyers and newspaper
men on the programme, wreaked their
revenge ON the BARRIERS, who, realizing
that the joke was on them, took it
good-naturedly and applauded the
speakers to the echo.
F. w. Martin, the president Of the
local union, off1ciated as toastmaster.
After the conversations accompanying
the discussion Of the menu, Mr.. Martin
introduced Mayor Doran, who respond
ed to some Of the sentiments suggest
ed by the subject, est. Paul."
Mayor Doran said he was admonished
that he had better not display his
poor oratorical abilities when he saw
so many orators Of repute about him.
The mayor remarked that he saw pres
ent one Of the most noted members Of
the craft, who although not a gradu-
ate OF a school. was nevertheless one
OF the most celebrated shavsrs in the
country. In thus referring to Mr. Erwin,
the mayor paid him a tribute for his
labors In behalf Of the union In securing
beneficial legislation for the craft. The
mayor told the BARRIERS why they should
feel proud of st. Paul. It had q dog
muzzltng ordinance. daughter). It also
had health department, devoted to
controlling wild and domestic rabies.
The mayor took the opportunity to
explain how the deficiency in the school
fund resulted from the reduction Of the
assessed valuation of city property.
whdle the az mills rate Of taxation for
school purposes was not increased pro-
poTtionateEy as it should have been.
That was all there was to it, and there
was no foundation for the report that
st. Paul could not support it's schools.
Hon. HI. r. Stevens responded to the
toast, Red White and Blue" Mr.
marks would be relevant to his text.
He began with a reference to the am
cient Roman, who always kept his face
clean. shaven, while the men from the
North, who wore full boards were
called "barbarious." Therefore the bar
North, who :Wore full boards, were
civihzing agents. Mr.. Stevens told a
political story on William Erwin, and
closed with an explanation Of the origin
of the barber pole device. In the old
days, the barber was a surgeon as well
as a barber and the red and white
stripes were significant Of the blood
stained bandages that protected the
wounds, but as time advanced and sur
geons began to slaughter their patients.
the BARRIERS left the butchering to the
surgeons and devoted their entire at
tention to the humane side Of their
calling. Gaughter)
Mr. Stevens paid Mr.. Erwin a tribute
for his valuable services in behalf Of
organized labor. Mr. Stevens declared
his belief in organized labor, because
it was in compliance with law and be-
cause 1t was In sympathy with law
and order and opposed to anarchy.
No man who enjoyed it's confidence
ever found organized labor treacherous
in an emergency. Mr.. Stevens remind
ed his hearers that the BARRIERS asso-
citation enjoyed the distinction Of be-
ing an antique institution. The bar
bers organized in England under the
reign of Edward II, before America
was thought of, before the lawyers
ever organized a bar association.
In the absence of Mayor Pratt, of
Minneapolis, who was down for all
address, President Martin read letter
of regret from the mayor.
Representative Henry Johns, who
was introduced as the father Of our
license SYSTEM" discussed the bar
bers license law" Mr.. Johns said
in reality "Bill Erwin's BILL" The
bill, Mr.. Johns said, had some humor-
Gus phases 1t was laughed at by
everybody at first, but the laughter
soon faded away and the legislature
became serious over it. After patient
and repeated efforts the bill was final
ly placed. Mr.. Johns considered that
the passage of the bill dignified the
BARRIERS vocation. He added that in
times gone by the BARRIERS used to
bleed people for all kinds Of diseases,
until the lawyers organized and they
started in to do the bleeding and had
been doing it ever since. daughter)
secretary of the state association spoke Of
the BARRIERS of Minnesota Mr.. Robinson
told of the time-not over two years ago
when the BARRIERS Of the state feeling that
state association, and did so at conven-
tion held in Wfnona- The BARRIERS Of Min
nesota~had since been active In securing re-
form n all matters pertaining to the craft
They we're not led. but took the lead. Mr..
Robinson believed that the BARRIERS bill was
the forerunner Of the increasing prosperity
promised for the next four years. The bar
bers of Minnesota had occasion to congratu-
late themselves on the passage of the law.
G. F. Morrow sang a bass solo and re-
sponded to an encore, and Master Harry
one Of the pioneer BARRIERS of Minnesota, en-
tertained the BARRIERS with two harmonfca
solos.
Labor" was the broad and inspiring theme
that John ]. Ryder responded to In brief
and spirited address.
Mr.. Ryder said that the passage Of the bar
hers bill was the greatest victory that labor
had ever achieved in legislative body. Mr.
RYDER assured his hearers that only those
who were familiar with legislators and legis-
fative methods could appreciate how diff
cult it was to secure the passage Of such a
bill. Adverting to the nature of the bar
bers' profession, Mr.. Ryder wanted to know
where an exhibition of greater confidence could
be seen than in the spectacle of a man seating
himself in a barber's chair and committing |
his life to the barber. Uaughter)
ooh have been hurt, and so have many
men, by the expressions OF those who do not
know what labor means said Mr Ryder.
labor organizations broadens mans ma,
ture and renders him truer to himself and
his fellow man., Npplause.)
In conclusion Mr.. Ryder recited, with fine
dramatic spirit, "The Dandy 5th.''
NJ. 8. Murray was the next speaker. Mr.:
Murray told his hears .'Why We Celebrate"
He paid tribute to the legislature and the
governor for posing and signing the bar
6ers' bill. In behalf Of the BARRIERS union Of
St. Paul, Mr. Murray said that the mem
bers had labored Loyalty for the advancement
Of the craft, and they were glad to say that
all the time, labor and money expended by
the BARRIERS of Minnesota had not been ex-
pended in vain. The BARRIERS OF Minnesota had
set q mace for the BARRIERS Of all other states
mr. n MoAfurohx r,aanoniied briefly to the