The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-10

urday, though in our foundry depart
ment the men work nine hours day
The passage of a law such as is rec
commended by the Republican state
convention would compel US, if we are
to continue in the work of government
contracts, to work all men engaged on
government work only eight hours a
day. But it is obvious that we could
not have two sets of men in the same
shop, one. working eight hours and the
others employed for the full ten hours,
such as our competitors are working
under.
do not wish to convey the idea
that am opposed to a shorter work
ing day. In fact, I am in favor of it.
l believe it is coming, and / think it
should come. I think there is plenty
OF good machinery to produce what
we need in this world without having
our men work from daylight to dark.
All of the manufacturers in the Twin
Cities are of the same opinion. AS an
evidence two years ago. without any
demand from labor union, they gen
orally agreed that in working es-
adjustments, both in foundry and ma
chine shops, to reduce the days work
from ten-hour day to ten hours five
days IN the week and five hours on
Saturdays No reduction of wages
was made on account of this change in
eAiS w VI Ming Qoy, anu Lie IIl6u were
paid the, same schedule per week for
the shorter as they had been paid for
the longer week
Naturally, | hate to be driven out Of
government work, and I don't believe
that any great number of our 500 en-
ployes want to be obliged to give up
that department of our work, the Re-
publican eight-hour plank to the con-
trary notwithstanding
Republicans Made Mistake
J. w. Cooper. Griggs, Cooper & Co.,
wholesale Grocers-I do not believe
that legislation can possibly fix the
hours OF labor The results will bear
unequally upon those most concerned,
and as rule the business interests Of
the country are willing to adopt an
eight hour day where 1T can consist
emily be done. I am sorry to see any
political party advocate measure that
VIII meet the decided opposition of so
many interests, and I believe it was O
political mistake for the Republican
leaders TO put such plank into their
platform, especially in view of the fact
that such determined opposition de-
Veloped to 1T in the national congress,
where all interests were patiently
heard.
Will Not Vote Republican Ticket
Homer P. Clark, Treasurer West
publishing Company-While I believe
tnat the adoption of the eight-hour
plank in the Republican state plat
form will not be countenanced by a
majority of the members of the party
In this state. the adoption of a plank
favor1ng legislation so deleterious to
the business interests of the country
makes it impossible for me, for the
hrst time in my life, to vote the state
republican ticket. hope that the
Democratic party will keep clear of
such platform and not force me to
vote the Prohibition ticket
Farmer to Be the Sufferer
Frank A. Kelly, Foley Bros. & Kelly,
wholesale Grocers-While I am averse
TO taking any hand in politics and
usually refuse to engage in a politica!
discussion, I am free to say that I am
wholly opposed to any such plank as
the elght-hour plank in the Republican
state platform. believe that 1t is the
entering wedge for a universal eight
hour law, and under present condj-
tons of business it would be simply
out of the question for a ST. Paul
wholesale house to handle it's business
In shorter working day. I think that
the adoption of such a law would ut
terly demoralize present conditions.
while ultimately the farmer would be
the sufferer.