The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-24
~.,,,u.i Labor Congress.
az rIsHr.HoUR SYSTEM AND POLL
w. TYrII VIEW.

,r ~ xloHr-HoUR SYSTEM AND POLL
N''" TICAL VIEW.
A. lanes Hyland, Of Baltimore, chair
M ,Lc Committee on Reducing the
ma" w. ~ Physical Labor, to which was
''..~~,~g,mittcd the report submitted by them
~. morning, made final report as fol-
,,-,,rcaS there comes from the ranks OF
demand for more time for moral,
!'o'' ,,,,ral, and social culture, and be-
me- me-, hat this demand is the result of
.7uIition of progress in which the
''' ..:,rmrn of this nation arc prepared
"..lr step higher in the scale Of moral
sa,cllcctual life;
All whereas the history and legislation
,,rr past has demonstrated the fact that
.'I.rcndcncc whatever can be- placed on
a., .irigrs or professions of the repre-
...,t.vc> of either existing political party,
far 4, the interests OF the industrial
.,,,,, are concerned; therefore
Rl,ovCd, That the time has come when
80. wurkiugmen of the United States
.,,,l cut themselves aloof from the party
80, and predictions, and organize them
,lyr> into National Labor Party" the
.1s,,, of which shall be 10 secure the en-
,..mrut of "A law making eight hours legal
law, work lay our national Congress ana
S.r.ral state Legislatures, and the election
, men plcdgcd to sustain and represent
.,.t..r,>t Of the industrial classes.
p..alr3, That the most available means
,.,urc the desired result is by SYSTEM
.... ,r.ta,ion. establishment of eight hour
I',r,.7,, the aid and labor of the public
,,.,> and public speakers; and this Con-
,.o,.,n recommend to the several dele
Gates the necessity Of immediate organiza-
tin.
ain, and objects of the above resolutions
~. recommend to every friend Of the
...yr,ncnt TO vote for no candidate not tn
,,uIyuc.lly pledged to vote for Il law ma
hin. eight hours legal days work, and
,.,,r All measures Of labor reform.
E,>hcd, That where a workingman is
,urt available for any office, the pre-
r-.ncc should invariably be given to such
;ec>oo.
The question being taken on the adop-
ton # the report,
Nr. Roberts, of Pennsylvania, opposed
the adoption Of the report. lie prophesied
tia, the political measures recommended
.li prove failure, and they would be-
come the laughing stock of the country if
,hrv attempted TO form national labor
i4.:y.
VIZ. Cameron advocated the report. He
,.t no faith in professional politicians. He
looked Ia the future. They must send
men 10 represent them from the ranks Of
hhoy, AVID not, as they have hitherto done,
from the ranks of capital. That is why
TIE interests OF labor have always been be-
uayrd. He would not say that labor and
rnfal are antagonistic, but that they have
fr!rrlo been cannot be denied. He spoke
rtwn hundred thousand mechanics and
hborors in Illinois; and they are in favor
81 cutting loose from all existing political
examinations. The labor movement is yet
in its infancy, but they will not have long
i, wait before it ism the ascendant.
The subject was farther discussed by
NJ. Read, Of New York, and Mr.. Francis,
Of the District of Columbia, in favor Of the
report.
Nr. Stewart said an active minority can
achieve more than a conservative, passive
majority. He favored the report.
Mr.. Baldwin, Of New York, opposed the
!cport.
Nr. Harding said he knew when he got
tic report rccommittcd that II would
iti0s ont the sentiments of delegates.
Ills Congress had met for the purpose OF
sending out this thundcrbolt TO make the
wornincmcn stand up to their duty. We
Iropo>c now to lcgiSlatc for ourselves as
o,hrr interests in legislative halls now
consult their own interests. He referred
L. the action of the Massachusetts Assem-
bly,, to which the labor party had iiity-two
men elected on the workingmcn's eight
hour ticket. They have to use their party
power as "A wcdgc-to divide other parties
who combine against them. If they are
not successful at first they will he in the
future.
Mr.. Troup said they might as well take
their stand to-day as at any other time.
lie favored an independent ticket.
Mr.. liinchclilic said the workingmen
had been always caioled on both sides.
Contrndng parties had made use Of them
is long rs they were Of service, and then
threw them aside. They have the hume
lical strength, and, if properly organized,
they would be successful in less than two
years.
EJonathan C. Fincher spoke at length,
aud denounced the report as recommend
ing an impracticable object. The forma-
ton Of an independent national labor party
was an absurdity. They had not the
means to put in operation the machinery
Of 4 great party movement. 1t would re-
suit in a war OF labor against capital. If
they attempted to carry it out, the present
labor movement would PROVE failure, and
there will not be another convention for
twenty-five years.
McSSrS. Thomas OF New York, A. J.
Judge, and others, spoke in favor of the
report, and the entire discussion was very
earnest and able. Finally the previous
question was called, and the report was
adopted by yeas, 80; nays, "a.