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

The Republican party of Minnesota,
through the insertion of a plank in it's
state platform making an eight-hour
day compulsory in private manufac-
tories engaged in contract work for
ethe government, has alienated from it's
support large and influential element
in the business interests of the state.
The manufacturers and jobbers of st.
Paul do not hesitate to condemn the
plank in unequivocal terms and char
acterize the men who are responsible
for the incorporation of the plank in
the state platform as little short Of
demagogues. Men engaged in manu-
featuring and in the larger business
enterprises throughout the state un-
doubtedly are of the same opinion,
though they have not been given the
same opportunity of expression that
their fellows in st. Paul have been
rendered.
With absolute unanimity st. Paul
manufacturers and wholesale mer-
chants, seen by The Globe, pro-
nounce the eight-hour plank a prop
osition of political economics unworthy
a place in the Republican state plat
form, supposedly the work of men Of
political sagacity and business acumen.
Almost TO man the men ngaged in
the larger business operations in ST.
Paul are members of the Republican
party and they have contributed to it
IN the past not only of their time and
influence, but have given largely from
their purses to bring about it's success
at the polls.
Plank Has Aroused Many
Judging from the tone of interviews
obtained yesterday these men, while
ri oil
tional party and its policies, will re-
fuse to support either by their inf1u-
ence or by campaign contributions the
republican organization in Minnesota
In the campaign Of 1904, and their hos
tility to the state ticket is directly
traced to the incorporation of the
plank recommending an eight
day, and which says:
The Republican party Of Minnesota
recommends that eight hours may be
considered days work in all works
controlled by public authority
Inc plank is construed by the man
ufacturers and jobbers to mean a dec
laration of an eight hour day on all
work in which the government has an
interest, and to be the entering wedge
In the movement for a universal eight
hour day in the United States. AS one
9obber so clearly points out, Minnesota
Is an agricultural state; the great mass
of its producers till the soil. The es-
Establishment of an eight-hour day for
labor in manufacturers articles means
that the manufacturer must put an adj
d1tlonal price to the cost of his article.
ana that the farmer and consumer must
pay this added cost. The farmer Is
unable by any process of legislation
TO decrease his working hours, now
much longer than the man employed i'm
factory or store, and legislation is
equally ineffective in increasing the
price that his products can bring in the
open market. The farmer therefore
will have to bear the burden of the
cost If the eight-hour day becomes an
actuality, while the export trade of the
Northwest will suffer immeasurably in
the changed conditions.
Clapp Refuses to Talk
Senator Moses E. Clapp refused last
night to discuss the plank. The SEN
aoor at his home was affable, but stub
bornly refused to talk on the plank
put in the platform adopted by a con-
Venuon over which he presided.
must refuse to discuss the plank
he said in reply to an inquiry for his
position On the eight-hour pronounce
ment of his party in this state. mo. T
will not be led into an argument either
- Tor or against it. You may saw that I
shall discuss political issues when I
take the stump this fall
The inference was that then he
might have something to say pertinent
TO the plank which has caused such
a furore in Republican circles and
brought down upon its authors and
sponsors the condemnation of nearly
every man of influence in the party.
1t is known to a practical certainty
that Senator Clapp knew nothing of the
existence of such plank until State
Senator George R. Laybourn brushed
ms hlrsute curtains carefully away
scented by the committee on resolu-
uons, of which he was chairman. SEN
ator Clapp had been given a COPY of