The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-19

RprOD-
sscret.s Sh T. Cavis, Donald MeCathran, and
John g. Judd were appointed committee TO
make the following statement in reference to
the passage Of the eight hour law BY Congress,
to the trades, It's members, the cause, and Hon.
The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle Of I'd Sep.
TENDER contains q letter from Washington,
dated August q, addressed to "The Working
men Electors Of the Second Congressional Dis
trict,n signed by A. d. Brock, u. W. Flynn, J.
w. MAtanSy a W. mSw,snd s A ~ a.
tract Hon. Samuel +. Cary, and strip him OF
all credit for the passage OF the eight hour law
Of the last Congress-.
OF Columbia, knowing all the facts connected
with the progress and consum nation OF this
law, and the agencies employed, 10 astounded
at the assumption q this article mat AL Us sgn
titled to all merit for its reference to the At
torney General for his opinion, to overthrow
the instructions Of the Secretary OF War, who
made wages conform to the powers OF the
law.
In the face OF this bold appropriation OF the
honor of having contributed to the success OF
this measure, what are the factsl
The eight-hour movement began with the
Iron-moulders Union Of this city, who opera.
ted through the presidents upon all trade or
CARNATIONS Of this yieinase, and elected dele
gates 10 form the Workingmen's Convention.
This body projected and carried out monster
demonstration, which not only included a
torch.light parade, but public meeting at the
mechanics Of this and other cities. The whole
affair was a great success, and for largeness Of
numbers hs1 seldom been equalled In WASH
ington. .L,.... ..,
workingmen TO persevering and systematic
effort. More thorough organization was eff
fected. An address was issued to the country
In large numbers, and memorials sent out for
signature and presentation to Congressa These
were presented to Congress, with thousands
of names appended as fast as returned. A com.
ment before Tss tRs JaaarS e matt 81
House and the duty was perfor med so effect
lively, that that Committee unanimously
agreed to report the bill, though from some
cause known best to Hon. James i. Wilson,
Its chairman, the order was not obeyed. The
second session of the Thirty.Ninth Congress
only. buoyed US up for ultimate disappoint
and just prior to the Connecticut election,
Hon. N. p. Banks, of Massachusetts, sprung
An eight.hour joint resolution on the House,
and rushed i ihfSuSh
TO pass 1t In the Senate but II was at last
throttled, by being referred to the FINANCE
Committee, and no efforts OF our committee,
though numerous and importunate, could
warm the Indifference of Senators,
The depressing effect Of failure caused many
to yield the contest. Others, however, salts
fed that success was but a question OF time,
braced themselves anew and struggled on.
Regular yisitations OF trade organizations
were instituted, public meetings called In va
rious sections OF the city, and earnest efforts
made TO rouse labor to demand Justice from
legislation.
Under the inspiration of means thus exerted
fresh delegates were returned to our body,
and "moTe perfect unionn formed, under the
name OF the "Workingmen's Assembly
| Thus fortified, We renewed our suit before
Congress, through committees hst session
| was drawing to close, Hon. N. T.. Bankt
again repeated his man1ruvre OF the former
| year, and another bill was passed, This wat
| on the eve OF the Connecticut election Of 1907
This bill was tabled by the Senate, and Wig
orous campaign was begun on Senators tc
| take 1t up and pass IT,
Prior to the Esd of June, when the mcasur,
was satisfactorily disposed OF, and up to tn,
day before the passage OF the bill, COMM ttcei
and individuals, in our midst, were In almos
daily intercourse with Senators. Just At THU
time, when party hopes and fears were ex
| cited by the clanor labor was raising and evil
dcncing in conservative reactions; when for
| midablc political convention was about &c
meet, which might not pretermit the labor
platform adopted at Chicago; just at this tim'
| when the politicians necessity was our op
portunityi In this conjecture OF opposing
forces, when not to pass the measure NIGH
ALLEVIATE large numbers of labor votes through
out the country; just at this time, we say
poircr6H aid to urge upon Republican Sena
tors the absolute party necessity OF passiul
this law. As the necessity was manifest
pressing, and recognized, OF course complianc
was easily secured. A determined but fruit
less opposition was led by Senator Sherman
supported by Fessenden, Morton, Cameron
and others, but Senator Conness, with whor
our committee habitually conferred, vanguisl
cd all opposition, and tfiumphed 1t 10 thu
seen that the bill did not succeed as a part
measure, hui upon its merits; for the suppol
OF gentlemen OF both parties wrs enlisted
Its favor, and but for this 1t had failed at las
Such being a Buccinct statement of the fact
connected with the enactment OF this law,
in appropriating the honor As 1t was col
federste season." success had followed wit
equal certainty had DONKEY brdgcd.
IA tho more prominent, II not all OF thes
men were here from 1865 to 1868, during tn
long struggle for this law, why, when their il
huence was so potent, did they not mercliull
exert 1t, and end our labor and suspense-tw
OF them being members OF the assembly, al
one it's president and vice president for over
ycarl
And now, as to the enforcement of the la,
1t Ia the duty OF the President OF the Unite
States to take care that the laws are faithful
executed, and zoe have no wish to interfe
with his prerogative.
Nevertheless, as soon as the newspapers d
vcloped the facts connected with the diHreghl
OF the law at Rock Island, Illinois, II was d
termincd at the next meeting OF the assemb
to move committee to request the PresideI
| to revoke the instructions of the Secretary
War, or procure the Attorney Generals co
struction OF the law. Such action was had @
the 10Th August, and the committee discharge
. the duty on the Gath,
Our necessarily delayed action gave oppO
tunity to the Printers Grant and Colfax Gu
composed almost exclusively OF employees
i, tho Government printing office to intervene
, tho interest OF party. Consequently, on Il
: 18th they met, and sent committee to u
Secretary OF War, who refused to eountermaI
the order, They, then, as fHdividndL', waite
! on the President,
This action was simply party trick to SUI
port unfOunded claims to the gratitude
= workingmen, as II was well known that n
assembly would give attention to the matt,
at the regular meeting on the 10th, and one
, the signers to the Cincinnati letter had pr
. pared a resolution Tor the purpose, but while
, was not used, to effect the object already a
! ticipated In part by the use of his name-an
perhaps, Ms on another occasion ia anoth
plAcc-without his knowledge or consent.
And now, rs to the part played by Ho
Samuel +, Gary In this and other labor ma
teTs before Congress.
when his election was hcraldcd as the choi
OF the workingmen OF Cincinnati, the ne'
was hailed with delight In this city. His a
vent insured us An able exponent In CongreI
Thus impressed with the Importance OF b
presence In the House, the assembly held
special meeting to arrange reception, and
, his arrival thousands OF workingmen bes
= his quarters at the Seaton House, and hui
| upon his lips while he eloquently portray
the wrongs Of labor and developed his rem
y dies,
: The head and front Of that ovation was
: W. Mattingly, thenprcsidcnt OF this body, al
l General Cary afterwards than any other mel
. Der. He was cOnversant with all our NOV
= ments, and Is able, and should be willing
. vindicate the fidelity Of General Gary to Il
u principles and privileges, and stigmatize
absolutely false the allegations, specific q
I, implied, In the Cincinnati letter to which
name is appended.
i From that night to the adj ournment Gener
q Cary has been an honest, fearless and indl
{ trous tribune OF the workingmen-alwsys
> cesstDle, ready, aud earnest.
BY imperious mandate 1t is not claimed tn
. he forced the passage Of the eight-houT bill,
q do these small politicians. Their modesty on
q finds parallel In CAESARS ~ came, saw, CO