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

the resolutions as originally drafted by
his appointee, United States Marshal
William III. Grimshaw, of Minneapolis,
He had approved of the resolutions
which it was proposed should be the
party declaration in Minnesota for the
campaign of 1904
But it is probable that no one was
more surprised than Senator ClapD
When Laybourn read the plank declar-
ing for an eight-hour day. Obviously
it was not the province of Clapp to
yield the chair-it is likely that in that
state convention there was no man
who was willing to risk his political
future by taking the Craftsmanship
even for a minute-and attack the
platform on the floor. The great ma
jority of the delegates were just then
Immensely more interested in the re-
suit of the balloting that was. to fol-
low for candidate for governor, ami
so the plank went with the remainder
of the platform.
But Republicans have awakened,
under the directing influence of T h g
G O b e, to the seriousness of the blum
der committed in their name, and ST.
Paul business men-and Republicans
take the initiative in denouncing it in
unmeasured terms. One prominent
manufacturer says that he is forced to
vote the Democratic state ticket for
the first time in his life. Another says
that the men who put the plank in the
platform will reap an entirely different
crop than that expected; another eX-
cuses them On the theory that "they
Know not What they do and so down
the line
Following are few samples of opin-
ION gathered yesterday at random in
the manufacturing and jobbing dis
tr1ct, and the list can be extended in
definitely:
r. A. Kirk Opposes Plank
R. A. Kirk, Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk &
Co., Wholesale Hardware am strong
ly opposed to the So-called eight hour
labor plank in the Republican state
PLATFORM. l work more than eight
hours a day myself, and expect those
who are associated with me in business
to do likewise. do not recognize any
valid reason for the employees on gov
eminent contracts working a shorter
time than other men engaged in SINH
lar work. The world has not reached
point at which eight hours labor of
the average man in ordinary labor will
produce for him and his family the
necessities of life, together with the
added comforts which the average
american citizen expects to enjoy.
The result of an eight-hour law
such as is proposed would be that gov
eminent work, which is already based
on a high scale of cost, would be con-
s1derably increased, and the laborer in
ordinary business, together with the
farmer, who works much longer hours.
and the business man, who also gives
longer hours to his business, would be
compelled to bear the additional bur-
den.
This plank in the platform was un-
doubtedly put in for political effect,
but the actual results Will be very dis
appointing to those who engineered it
through. do not know what position
the very large majority of Republican
voters, who would be the losers if such a
law were passed, will take at the polls.
am sure, however, that If a large part
OF them stand by the ticket they will
do so under a hearty protest against
such legislative folly. 1t will be a long
day ahead when business men,, farmers
and the large body of employees, who
are unfairly affected by such legisla-
ton. will consent to its having a place
on our statute books.
viii DemoraIize Business
T. A. Schulze, Foot, Schulze & Co.,
wholesale Boots and Shoes-Merchants
and farmers both will not support a
platform with any such plank in it.
pelleve that 1t was Incorporated into
the platform as deliberate plan and
that 1t means just what it says Trans
formed into law, the eight-hour plank
IN the Republican state platform would
demoralize business, and increase the
price OF manufactured articles to the
FARMERS. We are an agricultural state
primarily, and the prosperity OF this
state in large measure depends on the
prosperity and success of the farmers.
There is no law or legislative enact
ment which can arbitrarily decrease
the farmers working day or which
can leglslate an added value into his
products. He will, of course, be the
chief sufferer from such Legislation.
but, on the other hand, it will be
hard blow to our export trade. We
cannot compete in the markets of the
world with a shorter work day and the
present good prices paid American la
Dor. Speaking for myself, 1 can say
that l am only one of a large number
of st. Paul and Minneapolis iobbers
and manufacturers who have no SYM
pathy with the peanut politics which
placed that eight-hour plank in the
Republican state platform, and it will
cost its trainers good many votes.
Plank Threatens Business
Oliver Crosby, President American
-1OAH'e anu Lei lSh 90 not
apprehend that the Republican state
convention knew just what it was doing
when it passed the eight-hour plank
in its platform last week The mem
bers of the convention had for two
days been wrought up to high pitch
of excitement over the prospective
nominee of the convention, and when
the resolutions committee presented its
report it was received without thought
and without question. The delegates
were willing to vote for anything. so
long as they could reach the, to them,
important matter of naming a candi-
date.
But it Is a serious thing to attempt
to foist on the country a law which
will force the employers of labor to
give their employees an eight-hour day
without any reference to the merits of
the case. 1 think the bill now before
congress is as good as done for but
the Republicans Of Minnesota have
made grievous blunder in incorporate
ing such a MA MI in hpi yIo