The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-04
Engineers Resent 1t.

To the Editor Of the Globe:
In the Pioneer Press Of March % N. P
Langford, a member of the board of con-
troll, made a statement of what he calls
1acts" in connection with the trouble
between the Engineers union and the
board OF control. Instead of facts" his
assertions are so unjust and untruthful
that in justice to our union, we wish to
cau attention to some of his inaccurate
statements. Mr.. Langford states 1.-THE
experience of the board of control with
union engineers has been very unsatis-
factory, one Of them was found in a.
eomatose condition as a result of Excess
slVe drinking. The only union engineer
employed at the city hospital was John
Murphy, who was compelled to resign
lew months ago to create a vacancy for
a Minneapolis engineer When our
grievance committee called on the board
OF control to protest against going to
Minneapolis for an engineer. while we
had st. Paul men unemployed, our COM
mittee was told by DR.. Arcker that he
had nothing to say against Mr.. Murphy's
sobriety or ability. st. Paul local No.
S6, International Union of Steam En-
glneers was organized June 1, 1900 or
about five days prior to the date on
which Mr.. Murphy was hired as chief
engineer at the CITY hospital. The
trouble between Dr. Ancker and the
numerous engineers which preceded Mr.
Murphy, is of no concern of this union,
as 1t was previous to its existence The
men to which Mr.. Langford referred (Mr.
Murphy excepted are non-union en-
gineers, so his statement that union
engineers were drunkards, used vile and
obscene language" is malicious false
hood, and does a great injustice to or,
ganized labor This union wishes it thor
oushly understood that it will not toler-
ate intemperance and our constitution
provides that any member who is a
drunkard must be expelled. Even mod
crate drinking is discouraged by our
union, on account of the dangerous
nature of our occupation and if some of
our members take a drink now and then,
under the delusion it serves their health,
we say take it as you take medicine
in small doses-the smaller the dose the
bcttef-and let there be a good lorg in
terTal between each dose; the longer the
interval the better. Believe that the
smaller the dose and the longer the in
terval the better, and you may come
around at last to the opinion of the poet
about the use of homeopathic medicine
eff It's SO good because it is so small
Tt would better were it none at ALL
The Engineers union was organized to
better the condition of members of our
craft who are unfortunate enough to
have to work for the board of control and
similar unfair concerns, that are only too
willing to take advantage of our weak
ness. The night engineer at the city hos
pital works twelve hours a day and sew
en- days week for $50 per month; the fire
man puts in the same number of hours
for $50 per month, or about cents an
hour. If either Of these men has a fam
lily to support, 1t would be interesting to
know how it can be done, or how such a
f1T Nv 4,
affairs at the city hospital 1t is little
wonder there Is trouble in the engine
room, and still less wonder there is a
growing demand for an Investigation of
that institution. There are other condi-
tons existing at the city hospital that
are more serious than the menace to the
health and life of the patients through q
boiler explosion. This union wishes to
see this question discussed, believing that
the short-sighted policy pursued by the
board of control and some CT the other
boards, through which the government of
this city is conducted, is In great meas
ure responsible for the reputation which
our city bears all over the county as Il
"cheap town" and good place tt keep
away from. Compare the conditions of
engineers and f1remen In the city hospi-
tai or our city hall with sirnilar institu-
lions in our more progressive sister city
up the river. In the Minneapolis city hos
pital the men are receiving living wages
and their treatment is such that the same
men have worked there for years The
same is true of their city hall.
In our city hall the only man employ
ed In that line is the junk man, TO whom
the plant has recently been Sold The en-
gineers believe st. Paul all right, and If
certain departments of her city govern
ment were placed in the hands of pro-
grcssive men that were in touch with the
age in which they live, our city would
again equal or surpass our sister city up
the river
Officers Of Steam Engineers Union.