Newspaper Page Text
JJEWTEflflip-
TO P]l|Ho]l.
THE FINE NEW HOME OF THE
; ■•SNEW YORK CLEARING
HOUSE.
A VAULT FOR TONS OF GOLD.
A VAULT FOR:JONS OF GOLD.
MAGNIFICENT MAKni.l* PALACE
MAGNIFICENT MARRLE PALACE
WHICH IS SOON TO HE OC-
CUPIED.
A STRONG HON IN MID All*.
Holds a Hundred Millions in Gold
—Will Stand Dyna-
mite.
Special Correspondence of the Globe.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14.— A veritable j
temple of Mammon has been erected *
fin New York city and is soon to be ■
occupied. It was built for that asso- !
ciation of banks known as the New '
York clearing house, which is the j
financial heart of the great Western
world. The building, which is now
almost finished, is an ornate palace
of white marble, beautiful in design,
rich in carving and withal very sub
sitantial. I
The business which is to be trans
acted in this fine structure is one
which is little understood. Every
banker can tell you the whole
scheme, but the average merchant
has rather a hazy conception of tSie
details, while the rest of the general
public know nothing at all about it.
Yet it is all simple enough.
THE* NEW YORK CLEARING HOUSE.
The clearing House is just a place ,
where the representatives of banks j
meet to exchange checks and settle { '
balances. That its. all. The clearing'
house Is an association of banks. M I
engages in no other. business, is ndt j
chartered and .Is not responsible to |
anybody or any organization. There
are no laws in tihe statutes govern
ing its operations. It neither bor
rows nor lends, pays interest or de
clares dividends.'
If a butcher owes a grocer $10 and
the grocer owes the 'butcher $8, the
grocer says: '
"Meet me on the corner ait 10
o'clock and we'll settle up."
"All right, says the butcher.
They mat. The butcher gives the j
grocer $2 and a receipted .bill for $8. j
The grocer hands over a receipted i
bill for $1". yy J
That is the business In outline |
whiich is carried on at a clearing j
house. In the latter case the men j
who meet are bank representatives j
instead of butchers and bakers, and [
they meet in a big hall. Instead of j
exchanging bills they exchange j
checks. .-. .'..-.- j
For example, the Hanover Nation- j
al bank received from Brown & Co.,
a depositor, a 'cheek for $500. This!
check was given Brown & Co. by ■,
John Jones, who has money deposit- i
ed at the Chemical bank. The check I
is drawn, therefore, on the Chemical
bank. The Hanover bank sends i
Jones' $500 check to the clearing
house, along with hundreds of other !
checks. Perhaps the Hanover bank I
has a dozen checks against the ;
Chemical bank. They are all put in
an envelope. The : checks against j
other banks are also put in separate i
envelopes. The messenger for the !
Hanover bank meets the representa- I
tive of the Chemical bank, hands him |
the checks drawn against his bank
and receives from the Chemical bank
checks which have been deposited
there and which were drawn against
accounts in the Hanover bank.
HOW MILLIONS ARE EX-
CHANGED.
The balance is settled through the
clearing house. It is found that the
checks held by the Hanover bank
against the Chemical bank amount
to $1,500 more than those held by the
Chemical against the Hanover. Then
the Chemical bank owes the Hanover
bank that amount.
But there are sixty-five banks, In-
eluding the United States, subtreasury,
comprised In the clearing house asso
ciation. Both the Hanover and the
Chemical bring" checks against, part or
all of these banks, which In turn have
brought checks against other banks.
Instead of each bank settling Its bal
ances individually with the other sixty-
four hanks it simply exchanges checks.
Then tho .whole amount which the
Chemical bank owes the other banks is
added up; also the whole amount which
other banks o*ve the Chemical. -
If the Chemical bank has sent $3,000,
- in. cheks to bo collected and only
$--,090,000 in. checks 'has -'been brought
in against it, then. the Clearing House
pays the Chemical bank the balance,
$1,000,000. if the figures were reversed,
the Chemical bank pays into the Clear-
ing House 51.W.000, -which would in
tv:rn be paid to the banks who sent
cheeks to a larger aineuut than had
been received .••.K-el-ist it.
i: i'_ \7el\3. mil for the clearing house,
THE SAINT PAUL DAILY GLOBE: SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 17, 1895.— TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.
the messengers of each bank would.
have to go to every other bank and
exchange checks. Thin used to be done
forty years or more ago. Thqjt methods,
was found to be. too, cumbersome. It
the old system were in vogue today,-"
It would take about 5,000 men from
one to two days to do the business
which is now done by 135 men in about
an hour.
The amount of business. -^Jcbjipaa*.
be done, as represented In figures, in
so short a time, Is almost beyond be
lief. The writer of this article was
present at the New York Clearing
house the other morning when Jill.-*
000,000 in check? were exchanged. 'The
words give one a little better idea "of
the magnitude of these transactions
than do the figures. This was not an
unusual day, either. There"have' been
days when the total exchanges amount
ed to $130,000,000.
The time required for the actual ex
change of this vast sum \wa*r exactly.
ten minutes. A& •< i - '- *• -
The total balance on this occasion
was $5,000,000. That represents the sum
which the debtor banks- paid: Into the
clearing house, and which was, in turn*
paid out to the creditor banks. When
the transaction was completed, not a
single penny remained, in .the; clearing
house. The appropriateness of -the
name Is clear.
EXCHANGE OF VAST SUMS.
While the actual transfer of checks
occupied only ten minutes, of course
the entire time required to complete
the business was somewhat longer.
The scene of It all is a hall some 50
feet long, in which are three tows. of
desks. At these desks sit 66 bank rep
resentatives, known as settling clerks.
They are sent by the various banks.
Each settling clerk is accompanied by
a messenger or porter who carries a
leather bag. In this bag are envelopes
filled wi?h checks, an envelope for
every bank.
Exactly at 10 o'clock each workday
morning these men are In their places,
the settling clerks at their desks and
the messengers standing In front of
the desks. At the sound of a bell the
messengers move forward In three
lines, which practically form one long
line. At each desk they leave a pack
age of checks and receive one in return.
When they have made the circuit twice
they have practically visited" each of
the sixty-five other banks and ex
changed checks. Then the messengers
go back to their banks. y.
The settling clerks have been keep
ing a list of figures representing the
totals on the envelopes. . By adding up
this long column of figures they ascer
tain to what amount checks against
their banks have been turned in. By
comparing this with the amount repre
sented by the checks against other
banks which their bank sent they can
find whether their bank owes the
clearing house, or vice versa.'
This process takes from twenty to
thirty-five minutes. It involves the
adding by sixty-six clerks of separate
series of figures whose totals are in six
figures. No blunder In mathematics Is
wanted here. In spite of the fact that
each of these sixty-six clerks Is an
expert at his business, the chances for
making an error are so many that sel
dom Is the day's business finished
without an inacuracy being found. The
system Is so complete, however, that
the cause of the difference Is rarely
ever hidden more than ten or fifteen
minutes. On the day above mentioned
the manager -announced, "The differ
ence is $23.50."
Again the clerks went over their
figures, and in a few moments some
one found an error.
"The difference is now $5," announced
the manager.
Once more sharp eyes were turned on
the long rows of numbers, and quick
ly came the third announcement, "The
difference Is one cent."
Not a smile, not a chuckle, not an
expression of astonishment or amuse-
ment was to be seen. - These men who
had been reckoning numbers that ran
into the hundred thousands and into
the millions went to work and hunted
for that one cent with as much earnest-
ness as if it had been for a king's ran-
som. And they found it. Then came
i the welcome call of the manager: .'••-. -
j "The proof has been made." y'..r * .'.'.
j This meant that totals of each bank's
' transactions, as added up by the offi
cial clerk of the clearing house, had
j been found correct. This ended the
i work of the settling clerks. They put
! on their coats and went to their re
! spective banks. They had begun work
'at the stroke of 10 o'clock. At 10:45
I not one of them remained in the room.
j During that time they had transacted
; business to the extent of $111,000,000.
! The balance on this day was $5,000,
- By Ip. m. each bank which owed
the clearing house had deposited the
amount of Its Indebtedness. The banks
pay In cash. The money Is sent largely
in $10,000 gold certificates and in small-
er bills and coins, even down to pen-
nies, as the amount calls* for. This
money is sent by trusted bank mes
sengers, guarded by private detectives.
The messengers usually come in cabs,
and are heavily armed, as well as
their guards. '..■-. ;-
WHERE CHECKS COME FROM.
himitk fiwl bhc.kl JCshr .. shrhrhrh
From 1:30 until 3 p. m. the banks
which have a balance in their favor
J send their messengers, protected In a
similar manner, to collect what- Is due
' them. By 3 o'clock the clearing house
I has finished its business and shut up
I shop. .yy:. . .'. ... .-.. *
! "But where," you may be asking, "do
i so many checks come from?** '.-.
• -From every point and corner In this
i great land. Vast as is the magnitude
| of business carried on by New • York
!. merchants, they would not themselves'
1 exchange checks to the amount of over
j $100,000,000 every day. These cheeks rep
. rft?cnt what New Yorkers pay for the.
! products of the country. y,;- .; y.
--' Aln. est every mfciuio of . the y3»jr.'
,] soma big ship laden to the rails with
1] cargo, or some long train filled with
■"■ freight, disgorges Into the warehouses
.. .and stores of New - York merchants.-
'Mountains of coal from the fields' of
* ! Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia,
more mountains of beet and flour from
j the far West, tons on tons of cloth
! and shoes and hats from New England.
! and a - bewildering variety of other
things which man needs are dumped
' down there. Almost Invariably checks
j are sent In payment. They go out by
I the thousands In every - mail. And
I they all come. back. They are drawn
5 against money deposited in New York
* banks. The St. Louis banks, for in-
'■ stance, take them on deposit from
their patrons and send them back to
j New York for. collection.
I THE NEW CLEARING HOUSE.
For several years the home of the
- New York clearing house has been in
Ja dull, plain looking brown stone
•building on the corner of Pine and
THE STRONGEST VAULT IN THE WORLD.
Nassau ' streets, just a block ' from
; where the wild tide of speculation
! surges to and fro in Wall street and
i right in the heart of the banking dis
trict. The new clearing house Is only
one block farther away from Wall
street, on Cedar street, 'me building
is not a skyscraper, as is nearly every
new building In that part .of the city.
It has only three stories, but these
are of palatial hlghth, the first being
20 feet, the second 25 and the third 20.
j Besides this there Is a dome rising 30
feet above all, making the total height
about 100 feet. This dome forms the
! ceiling for the big exchange hall, giv-
ing plenty of light for the clerks to
work by. Under : It is a hall eighty
feet In length. In this hall will be
room for 100 desks.
The administrative offices of the
Clearing House association are on the
second floor. As these are for the use
of the bank presidents they will be fur-
nished In most luxurious style. In fact,
there has been no attempt to economize
in any directions The bankers are
even going to. indulge in the luxury of
light rooms. They have had their
building built as none has been con-
structed in this section of the city for
many years, with a space on each side
separating it from the next building.
Their only tenant, a bank, will occupy
the first floor.
But the chief feature of the new
clearing house Is to be Its strong box.
Deep down under the sidewalk has
been contsructed * a vault which Is
probably the safest place in which to
keep money that the Ingenuity of man
has ever devised.
." In this vault will be stored some-
thing like 200 tons of gold, or enough
of the precious metal to build a good-
sized house, if it were made into bricks.
This gold will be deposited by the as-
sociate banks, and clearing house cer
tificates to the amount of $10,000 each
will be Issued against it.
These certificates are used simply for
the sake of convenience. When a bank
wants to pay another bank $4,000,000 or
so In a lump. It takes some time to
count out 4,000 dollar bills. At present
the clearing house stores its gold in the
vaults of the subtreasury. which is
just across the street.
VAULT TO HOLD TONS OF GOLD.
When the new vault is occupied, the
gold will be even safer than it Is now.
It is virtually a strong box suspended
in i mid-air, for it is supported by brick
piers underneath, and the other sides
of the cube are wholly exposed. More
than this, it is surrounded by a moat
several feet wide, which in turn is pro
tected by a fence or cage built of great
iron bars. ■ -' m ■ -
The walls of the strong box itself are.
built of layers of soft Iron and chrome
steel. This latter is hardened to such a
degree that a diamond hardly scratch
es it. The whole box is set on a floor
of steel rails which forms the bed of
the island.
There Is a complicated system of time
locks which control the 'big vault
doors. Then there will be watchmen
who will have all sides of the big box.
Including the top and bottom, constant
ly under their eyes. He would be an
anthuslastlc burglar Indeed who would
attempt to get at the shining millions
which are thus guarded.
But not against burglars alone have
"all these precautions been taken. It
was with the possible assaults of an
armed mob In view that this strong
hold was designed. -The makers say
that It would even be difficult to get
Into the vault with dynamite once the
big doors were locked. -.-
Not even the bank presidents them
selves are trusted . to go at will Into
these rooms where $100,000,000 |in gold
coin are stored.
Not a dollar of gold can be got into
the Inner vaults or out of them wlth
■■ oufi' there being two separate sets of
officials present. The officers of the
clearing house themselves would be as
helpless In getting at the money under
their care as a rank outsider. They
will have the combinations to the outer
doors, keys to the closets In the veetl-
bures and one key to each of the sev
enty treasure closets In each of the
vaults, but the combinations of the
locks of the inner doors and a key to
a second lock on each treasure closet
will be the secret and property of the
members of the bank committee of the
united banks.
When the tons of gold begin to ar-
rive to go Into the vaults, the clearance
house officers will receive It at the ele
vator, count and weigh It at the count-
ing table, and when it Is ready to put
away send for the banking committee.
When the bank committee arrives the
doors will be opened and the gold put
ln The same process will be repeated
when any gold goes out. ,!.*-„
Thus it will be seen that an impecu
nious bank president would have no
opportunity to sneak into the clearing
house vault after hours and pocket a
few bags of gold. Some people might
think the fact that a bag of gold
eagles containing $150,000 weighs about
185 pounds would be a sufficient check
on avaricious bankers, but It is cvi-
dent that they do not trust each other
even under those conditions.
No doubt the new clearing house is
one of the most splendid buildings of
the kind In the world. It has the saf
est strong box that was ever built,
and It transacts business of greater
magnitude than any other Institution
in any country on the face of the globe.
PEOPLE CRY FOR HIM.
Schlatter, the «Healer,W Receives
an Offer From Omaha,
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. Omaha sent
a committee of! business men to Denver
to have Schaltter, the so-called "heal
er," come to Omaha The chairman, Jo
seph Connor, returned today and says
Schlatter will come soon and that his
whereabouts are known to two Denver
citizens. Connor had great difficulty in
gaining an audience with Schlatter and
only did so by making himself agree
able to, two policemen who stood guard
over Schlatter at the entrance to the
grounds of Fox's restaurant, where
Schlatter stopped while In the city.
There were 3,000 people hi front of the
theater and on the other side of the
fence, but at his back were only a corps
of police to keep people from getting
over the fence. Connor obtained a five
minutes' interview with Schlatter. The
healer said his mission was not to dis
cuss doctrine, but to aid suffering hu
manity. Mr. Connor asked him to come
to Omaha and help the poor and suf
fering. The healer's answer was that
he only went where the Messiah re
vealed to Mm to} go, and that he would
give him an answer at 9 o'clock the
following day. Eut in the meantime
; Schlatter was gone. A visit to the
house of Fox showed the healer'B bed
to have been untouched. Connor be
lieves that he has ,It so fixed that
Schlatter will yet come to Omaha. .
. '■-'; Novelties
Arriving dally at Gelst's, 66 East Sev
enth street.
mm ikbhide Wlfl
THK QUESTION". THAT AGITATES 1*
FEUEKATION OP *
j . LABOR. y
I ■ 'r" '.
A LITTLE SPECULATION.
j 'MHT& >'Ti • ■-;-•"-:•:•• "VIU;
POSSIBILITY THAT SAMUEL GOM
POSSIBILITY THAT. SAMUEL GOM-
'. PERS WILL AGAIN BECOME
v- ■> t.~,- <. »»*•■ \ ■■•••» ■ ...isCr
LEADER.
-».-:,,.- •-•«>-• •--'.*--• &
M'GUIRE IS ALSO -TALKED OP.
;jv? .-..ry. V— , '♦'<■
Wl 11 lit iiY PreHcott, ot the Interna
"William Prewcoit, of the Interna
tional Typoirrnpliienl Union, •
. .?.; } \iY* «> • - ..' .'. .-,.'.■■■ . 'rr.
Almo Mentioned.
Special Correspondence of the Globe.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14.— Lalbor cir
cles are lining to discuss the comr
ing convention of the American Fed
eration of Labor, which is to begin
in 'the city of New York on. Dec. 9.
Time was, and not so many years
ago either, when the general assem
bly of the Kmiighits of Labor was far
and away the "most important labor
gathering of the year, but nowadays
the lead is 'taken by the convention
of the federation, the membership of
the unions affiliated with it being not
less than a million, while from one
cause and another the membership
of the Knights of Labor "has been
greatly reduced.
' The coming convention Is sure to
be .a* spirited • one. • Many questions
are coming up, the disposition . of
which will have much to do with the
future of (the organization. Possibly
nothing more important will need to
be considered than -the choice of pres
ident. Last year at Denver John Mc-
Bride, who for years had been head
of the organized miners, was chosen
in place of Samuel Gompers, who was
the first president of the federation as
at pressint organized, amd had served
continuously until that time.
The first convention of the federa
tion was held in Pittsburg, in No
vember, 1881,. when the title of "The
Federation of the Organized Trades
,TOHH:M' BRIDE.
and Labor .* Unions of . the United
States and Canada" was taken!l?
Knights -. of-. Labor assemblies and
trade unions were equally represent-*
ed, and it was understood that both*.
forms' of organization should be pre
served, and that should work
hand in hand for 'the perfection of
unity among labor organizations.
About 260,000 workers were repre
sented, and since 'that time conven
tions have been held annually.
For a while, however, the federa
tion did not increase rapidly in
strength. This is no doubt due
to the booming growth of the
Knights of Labor. . Since the knights
began to decline the federation has
increased yearly with great rapidity.
The points of difference between the
knights and the unions affiliated
with the federation, though not gen
erally understood, are many and rad
ical. All of these need not be en
tered into here, but one of the most
striking lies in the fact that whl^e
the general assembly of the knights
is a strictly secret meeting, the con
vention of the federation is open to
spectators. Another point is that
while the chief purpose of the knights
is ostensibly the revolution of econ
omic conditions, that of the federa
tion's unions is the gradual chang
ing of conditions along evolutionary
instead of revolutionary lines, while
the immediate object of the organ
ization is the securing; of better
wages, shorter hours and other ma
terial advantages for the working
people. Between the knights and
the federation a decided antagonism
exists, - and more than one contest
between workingmen and their em-
ployers has resulted in disaster to
the men through this" antagonism. -
No doubt the bad feeling is. much
fostered by: the somewhat pro
nounced socialistic tendencies mani
fested of late. by the Knights of La
bor which are not indorsed by the
federation.
Another important point of dif
ference in addition to those named is
this: The Knights of Labor is a*
highly centralized organization. The ,
various trade - and local assemblies
of the knights are generally sup
posed to obey orders of the general
executive board, issued through the
general master workman. It is not
so with the unions making up the •
American federation. They are not
bound to obey any one, but each acts
for itself. In fact, the federation is
what its name implies — banding
together or federation of a number of
national, international and other
unions for the common good, each"
union being entirely autonomous in
the conduct of its own affairs, but co
operating with the other unions for'
the benefit of all. The relation of
the several unions to one another is
almost exactly similar to the relation
of the different commonwealths mak-
ing up the union of states. The pres
ident of the American federation
does not order strikes. He and the
other chief officers who form the ex
ecutive council may be and frequent
ly are asked to give advice when
strikes are proposed. But what they
have to say is simply advisory and
in nowise binding, while it is often
disregarded. But whenever a strike
is approved by the executive council,
as' soon as it is ordered by the union
directly interested, all the affiliated
unions join in supporting it by money
considerations and otherwise. -
The . ekecutlive. council . may lay a
boycott when asked to do so by an
affiliated union, but before doing this
must investigate the. cause of the re
quest and may -refuse at discretion.
It is expected that all unions will r«-
dpect a boycott when ordered, but
\ there is no penalty for failure to do
so, sinoe to force obedience in thftt
matter would be to disregard 'the '<***•*(;
feraitlon's fundamental -principle. It
.Should be added,'- -however, that ft
union would hesitate before
elding .to disregard -*-. request. for co-
operation in a il^oyco^t,' Jfilnqe.3®ui&h Ac*.
tion would "render, lit liable to lack of
support :by other unkms in case It
ishould ask .- for assistance. "-''
' )' Hhe failure" of Samuej^pi^pers'rto:
•A-ln re-election last year ait the Den*;,
convention was unquestionably'
a great surprise both to him and the
maioHty; of his supporters.'.
•IjkKi Shad been developed, it id -true; M
previous conventions, but he had al-
ways been too strong for his oppon
; ents, and It was supposed that ■%)£&'
' Would continue so at Denver! Those
Who were against .him ; previous
years had generally been of the more
radical . element whloh.-jbaeri not al-
ways been satisfied with his,l course,
and had Mr. Gompers* and his friends
understood r that certain circum-
stances other elements than the radr.
. icall ones would combine .with tlhem;
against: him tftiey might have. so ar
. ranged matters to ire-elect him after
, all. It should be stated "to the credit
of Gompers and ,hils friends that they
.accepted defeat im good part; that
they are as good federationists now
as ever, and that they have suppo.L-
ed President Moßride during the past
year with perfect loyalty/; ,j| 'l
,". Whether Mr.Gompers will be unan
imously supported for election to his
old place by those who have sup
ported him in the past It is hard to
say, but there is no doubt of there
being a lively contest for the presi
dency. Mcßride "will have some very
strong support for re-election, as a
matter of course, and there will prob
ably be several candidates in the
field. -••*." yy A:
\'l In the American Federation of La-
bor, as in the United States generally,
locality has something to do with
sentiment. Thus, the West is more
radical than the East, and it Is
claimed by those who oppose the
election of Mr. Mcßride that had the
convention been held elsewhere than
in a far Western city last year the
result of the balloting would have
been different. As the convention
will be held in New York, the very
center of the conservative element,
for the first time this year, it is be-
lieved by those making up that ele
ment that they will stand a much
better chance of winning than they
did last year. - ' - * ": s . '
" The candidates who have been talked
of Include men from both East and the
West. The name of Mr.; Gompers Is, of
course, a prominent one, In all. discus
sions of the federation's . presidency,;
but there are some who hold that P.
J. McGuire, of the carpenters," a Phila-
'delphia man, who has built up his own
organization in masterly fashion, would
make an excellent president. ! The car
penters would back him solidly, and
they have 290 votes In a total, of about
3,500. Mr. MoGulre is a clear and forc
ible speaker, and is well., known in la
bor' circles generally. ' Some there are
who favor Joseph Vallentlne, of the
.IrOil molders, and he would probably
be a strong candidate, since, although
he is acceptable to many Easterners,
he now lives in San Francisco, and is
therefore popular in the West. The
iron molders have 150 votes in the con
vention. Another man who is highly
spoken of is William Prescott, of the
International Typographical union, who
is .nbw serving his fourth term as presi
dent of that organization, and is the
• first of its presidents to be elected be-
yond, the second term. The printers
have 350 votes in the convention. Mr.
Prescott lives in Indianapolis. August
• Mc6raith, of Boston, another printer,
is .likewise spoken of with great favor,
arid; In the opinion Of many, J. B. Len-
non, secretary of the Journeymen Tail-
ors'. International union, would make
a good president. He Is now treasurer
of the federation,, and although his
union is not so large as the unions rep
resented by other possible candidates
mentioned above, he stands extremely
well with ail as a safe and fair-minded
man, who has passed through' a varied
and extensive experience in- the labor
', movement. Mr. Lennon now lives In
New York, but as the headquarters of
the tailors are likely to be removed to
the West, and as he was originally
from Denver, he may properly be con-
sidered a Western man. Still one more
candidate who stands well with every
one is Daniel Harris, of the clgarmak
ers, now president of * the New York
State Federation of Labor, whose
[union has 300 votes in the convention.
- — M. I. Dexter. .
i '-' LOCAL LABOR FIELD. ~
'News of the Week, in ' Brief Para-
graphs,
gi The meeting of the cigarmakers'
union Thursday evening drew out a-
| large attendance, ; the Important busi
ness .before the meeting being amend
ments to the constitution submitted to
the referendum by Boston and Omaha
unions. The Boston proposition, known
as No. 77, was defeated, while that of
the Omaha union was favorably re
ceived. The proposition ; as ; submitted
'makes it optional with local unions to
■use. a state stamp In order to show in
* what state cigars are made. A num-
s ber of other matters J were also con
sidered, and the label committee made
an excellent report regarding agitation
of the "blue label." :: •.,*'- * ■■• •; ■';.
j- ■);;..: ... *:*.*■-••• ■;;." ■.:.-•.' .':•■-
■ - Edward Christopherson, the popular
delegate to the trades and labor assem
bly from the tin, sheet iron and cor-
nice workers' union, has several boxes
of cigars on tap at Assembly hall*?. It's
a, girl.
• * *
A large numeber of non-union boiler-
'. makers attended an open meeting of
the bollermakers' union Monday, even-
ing and listened to arguments ad-
vanced by a number of the members
favoring trade unionism. As a result
; eight new applications were received
and a number of others signified their
willingness to join as soon as conven
ient The union will give its annual
ball at Westmoreland hall New Tear's
eve, but the appointment of a commit-
tee on arrangements was deferred to
' the next meeting. .
" i 5; y y * * •
' The meeting of the barbers' union
Monday was well attended, and con-
siderable routine business was trans-
acted. The members discussed the
.advisability of forming a state organi
sation, and will send delegates to the
,' convention at Winona. Selection of
c delegates was deferred to the next
; meeting of the union. •';•*. lyr
•« i .1. ■-.- ■ ■ • • ••*■
*' The members of organized labors are
i highly pleased with . the selection of
, Richard S. McNamee as a member, of
the board of education. "Dick" is well
thought of by union men, and is him-
self a charter member of Typographical
.Union No. 30, of this city, yy *':*' ■;■'
7,*y ..-y-'-.y • •'• .-.:
'- Paul Chapel, the genial secretary of
the plumbers' union, returned . last
evening from a two weeks' hunting trip
to the wilds of Wisconsin. Paul reports
having had excellent sport and a fine
time. * y-*'-. **-" •■*;". "''-"'•''.
• , . _•••.. ■ ...r. ~
M. E. Murray, president of the Inter-
national Barbers' union, has called a
meeting of all the barbers of Winona
for Nov. 25, when he expects to form
an organization. Mr. Murray has been
selected by the -state federation of la-
bor executive council to make all t ne
cessary arrangements for the . conven
tion, and will attend to this in connec
tion with other business while in Wi-
nona. . V" v
"7 i.- ■ • * • *
'. iv The executive board of the allied
': printing trades council held a meeting
Thursday evening and transacted rou
•v_tlne matters. The board discussed the
.difficulty between the German printers
and the Volkszeltung, but nothing was
' given out for publication.
\y< <"-_'.■ •** * • •
"The Truth" is the name of a paper
being published by the members of Ger-
man Typographla No. 13, which recites
the Y difficulties , existing between the
members of the union 'and the Volks
-,'zeltung, of this city. .; ■-/—'-; yy
... . . . ». . • . • • • ••
'^ * ■.....•■.:
Gen. Kelly, of Coxey army fame, Is
quite a favorite with the socialists of
the city, and will again address a Joint
".meeting of the Scandinavian and Ger-
man sections at Assembly halls , this
afternoon.
* » *
A committee of the St. Paul Typo
• A committee of the St. Paul Typo-
thetate, composed. of Messrs.! Treacy,
Harnlck, Rich, Randall and Colllns,and
the executive board of Typographical
Union ; No. . 30, - will hold . a conference
during the week and discuss the' propo
sition of the typographical union rela
tive to an Increase in the present scale
of wages from 26 2-3 per hour to 30
cents per hour. ** ,7 y.;
. ■ ■■>. '.-'». • •
A large membership was present at
the meeting of the plumbers' union
Tuesday evening. The ! entertainment
to be given Nov. 30 at Assembly halls
was the principal topic of conversation,
and the arrangements committee was
Instructed to Issue Invitations to broth-
er members In Minneapolis and Dv-
luth. The committee reported that an
excellent programme was being consid
ered, and those attending will be en-
tertained in a royal manner. Only those
receiving Invitations will be admitted.
■y. -.y.'' • * •
Charles Relchers, general secretary
of the United Garment Workers of
America, will be in the city about Nov.
20 for the purpose of consulting with
several firms of the city relative to the
use of the label and perfecting the local
organization.
-y < y.r- "•"•■.* •- * : * :.-■
The Retail Feed Dealers' association
held a meeting at Assembly halls Tues-
day evening and transacted routine
business.
* • *
About twenty hack and cab drivers
attended a meeting called at Assembly
halls last Sunday evening for the pur-
pose of forming an organization. Noth-
ing definite was decided upon and an.
other meeting will be held this evening,
when it is expected that an organiza
tion will be perfected.
» • « -
The brewery workers' union will give
Its third annual ball at Assembly halls
next Saturday evening, and the com-
mittee announce that all arrangements
have been perfected.
» » » v**-'.;
The bricklayers' union transacted
routine business Thursday evening.
Business is reported dull, and the busi-
ness of the union will be light for sev
eral weeks.
» * •
Tickets will be placed on sale during
the coming week for the vaudeville en-
tertainment to be given under the au-
spices of the trustees of Assembly
halls, for the purpose of purchasing a
piano. The entertainment will be given
Dec. 2.
• > •
Excelsior Educational union will hold
Excelsior Educational union will hold
an adjourned mettlng at Assembly
halls next Sunday afternoon. Frank
Valesh, deputy state labor commission-
er, will read a paper on the "Ethical
Workings of a Trade Union." Frank
is well posted on trades unions, and
the paper will undoubtedly be an In-
teresting one. The executive board will
issue a number of invitations.
.--.'.*-*.' * ■• '
A large number of machinists em-
ployed by the Minnesota Iron company
at Tower, Minn., are. on a strike. . They
N demand :; ah; Increase ,:ln> wages of 25
cents per 'day. — * '
*..» ».'.-..
- meeting of the Retail Clerks'
association was well attended Wednes-
day evening, and the members trans-
acted considerable business. One new
member was initiated and four new
applications were received. The com-
mittee having charge of the annual
ball announced that all necessary ar
rangements had been made, having se-
cured Central hall, over Yerxa's gro
cery store. The ball will be given next
Thursday evening, and is an invitation
affair.
.'*♦**
The national organization of the K.
of L. have been In session at Washing-
ton, D. C, during the past week, but
little Information of general Interest
has been given out.
« * »
The entertainment given at the Peo
ple's church Friday evening for the
benefit of the Garment Workers' union
was not as well patronized as the ex-
cellent programme rendered would
•warrant, which consisted of vocal solos
by Percy B. Churchill, duet by the
Misses Frances and . Katy Dwelly,
solos by Mrs. Charles K. Harman, an
. address by Col. W. H. Plumber, and
several humorous selections by Press
Woodruff, the Arkansas humorist.
Mr. Woodruff is broad, good-natured
and lucid. He Is an open-hearted
mimic,' brimming over with fun, and
certainly won the admiration of all
present. Col; Pulmber discussed labor
organizations and their necessity, des
pite the wrongs or errors which they
sometimes made. He called special at-
tention of the workingmen to the neces
sity of paying closer attention to th?
ballot box, and hoped there would
never be any necessity to resort to
force to right the wrongs imposed on
labor, but predicted revolution if the
growing evils reached beyond a certain
line. The entire programme was well
received and all responded to numerous
encores.
■ * •'•..*.":'
: American Railway Union No. 180
transacted routine business Friday
evening and initiated several new
members.
* * *
The following organizations are
scheduled) to meet at Assembly halls
during the week:
■ Scandinavian and German
sections S. L. P., Gen. Kelly.
Monday— Sons of Denmark, A. R. U.
No. 214. , . .
Tuesday— Stage employes, carpenters
union, waiters' union. <?
Wednesday— Tin, sheet iron and cor-
nice workers' union. *■' ;:
Thursday— Pressfeeders union, ori* k
layers' union, garment workers' union.
Friday— Trades and labor assembly.
Saturday— lron moulders' union, ba
kers' union, brewery workers' ball.
To California Wltliont Chang*
via «The Milwaukee.**'
On every Saturday during the winter.
an elegant Pullman Tourist Sleeper
will leave Minneapolis (8:25 a. m.), St.
Paul (8:35 a. m.), and arrive Los An
geles, California, at 6:30 p. m. follow-
ing Wednesday. -
Via "The Milwaukee's" famous "Hed
rlck Route" to Kansas City, thence via
the A., T. & S. F. Ry. through South
ern California. .. ;,..'.. .:' ■"■•■■
A most delightful winter route to tno
coast. ■ . cQyyPiyyy. .:-
Quicker time is made via. this ro'.iU
between St. Paul and Minneapolis and
California than via any other line.
Rate per double berth, $6.* through
from St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Leave St. Paul and Minneapolia every
Saturday morning, arriving Los An
geles every Wednesday afternoon.
- For berths, complete Information,
and lowest rates, apply to 'The Mil-
waukee" agents, St Paul or Minneap
olis, or address ' : ~y
—J. T. Cenlcy, .
Am't Gen'l Pans. Agt..
%y. ' . .'. St. Paul, Minn.
Just a Little Bit yfl }
# ■ Of time spent in considering the price of these Household ad-
0 juncts will" result in saving* you a great big lot of money. Espec
# ially if you take the advantage of the offerings and hurry them
0 from our Store to your house. v"-'- ■' If | § J-J ***
* PARLOR ROCKER. A c, ~ . i f
5 a a . Onyx Stand and Lamp
l&MftMiJ " ! 9 W Brass and Onyx,'s Central
!♦ f^^^^^s^H? Draft Burner, "' larga Silk
J fe^^^SSl^*^/ I)r;ift Burner, large Silk
£ IW^^^^^^^^l Shade; wor*h $13.50.
;*" * " ;,; ll^^^mj our Pr'ce, $7.50.'
i ri^mmmU our Price' $7-50
--1 11/lffl///// D|nnerSet.
!| "■ I mllll I Dinner Set;^
# '-■ * '^__. .ll 111 iillllll /# Handsomely Decorated 100
4 •-"--■•" /fsiy*~jJ Ifllllr^Tft/*- pieces English Ware; .worth..
£ n ill I ulllllmWr Oar Price, $7.50.
I c^j-^^^pPf Sideboard.
i! cj^^^^^H Sideboard.
p /jy " — 71 ■ ~r*y Solid Oak, pretty carving,
4 1/ "' jj T-l 1 1 double top, large drawers,
5;, /|r_^^J|| Up « - veiy stylish; worth §22.00.
mW)^^^^j^^Wjf Our Price, $11.50.
\.^^tkmX\^^K^^r Mantel Folding Bed,
| (km^^^W Mantel Folding Bed,
0 l££gj@jor Antique finish, very heavy,
A ' Solid Oak, Cobbler Seat, nicely all the improvements; worth
i carved, strong and comfortable; $18.00.
? woru. 85.00. oiirpr.ce $235_ Our Price, $11.50.
J ° Our price, $2.35. ®UV *?**£&, $11.50.
\ dining chairs. Extension Table.
\ dining chairs. Extension Table.
A . Solid Oak.Cane Seat, High Arm; Polish finish, heavily carved,
A worth $1.50. • well made, strong and perfect;
A Our price 95 Cents each, worth $12.50. Our prices 6-75.
f ALL-WOOL INGRAIN CARPETS-The best bargain In the city. Only 40
A Cents Per Yard.
A The most complete assortment of Heating Stoves ever shown In the city.
i Prices never duplicated. -'
W A large lot of slightly used Stoves at Half-Price to close them out.
■r \l/a-| I Dl r^/VI Furniture & Carpet Co.
a W/TLLIc>l-W/TI 400 & 402 Jackson Si.
l^i%i%^*^i%t%i%i%&%im>wirt^%^%^^%^*l-&%^,^%,+
QUALITY IS HIGH I
§ y PRI6&S ARE LOW !
You've heard that phrase before, maybe. We know it's
common— -more' common in the saying than in the doing. .
We've been not only saying it but doing it for the last forty
years. If you don't believe it ask any one of the 'thousands of
our customers in St. Paul, Minneapolis and the Northwest.
Ask them if our Furs aren't ': ;A~:.yA'A' ■,
• J THE FURS THAT FIT! L
A 4 THE FURS THAT WEAR! %. i™
•[ THE FURS WITH ST C
Hear if they don't every one say "YES!"
E. ALBRECHT & SON,
20 EAST SEVENTH ST.,
20 EAST SEVENTH ST.j
TttE ST. PflrUL FURRIERS.
We are the Only Authorized Agents for the Genuine
BARNEY & BERRY CLUB SKATES !
yy The BARNEY & BERRY CLU3 SKATES ire the best in the world, nighest
award World's Fair, also at Vienna. Paris aud Philadelphia. Our stock is thi largest in the
country. Our prices cannot be matched.
SEE OUR SPECIAL OFFER :
Barney & Berry All Clamp All Steel Skates for 30 CENTS PER PAIR.
DON'T MISS THIS SALE.-; ;. ~
Catalogue Free Showing 50 Styles and Grades of Finish.
ST. P^liL ttffcßDWftßt Co
SEVENTH AND MINNESOTA STREETS.
it IT is op X
§NO USE m
JC To say that there is JC
If To say that there is JC
0 "Something Just as A
€p Good as Ripans Tab- 0
y ules fop disorders of Jr
5C *he stomach and liv- A
X ere" It is not so. This A
<& standard remedy will €1
V .relieve and cure you. jf
If One Tabule gives re- iC
18
