The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-17
CITY ENTELLEGEN CE.
THR LABOR UNION.

rrb,. roorning at half-past o'clock the proceedings
M the Congress OF the National LabOr UNION were
resumed in the Assembly Buildings. the luI body
Of the delegates were present. ana 'he onloers OF
the Congress were in their places
'"T Sost5ont Tncker called the convention to order
Tbe first business was the reading, correction,
and approval Of the minutes OF Yesterday session
Tbo chairman then announced the following COM
Ho,,tee OF, Conolence-NIessrs H. II. Day. New
yorR. Charles Mclean, Mass. Coggswell, Illinois;
George H. Powell, Conn.,; StiarWat va; marks,
N NIe McNLahon, Md; Reed, Pa Cairs, ID. G.; Mol-
fett Tenn. Wade, Miss; Walker, Ala Johnsoh,
90 Keen Iowa; Wolf, Wis; Field, Mich; DAILY,
ohio; Cameron, Kansas; Puett, Ind, and McGuise,
Missouri. r.,,.,,,, ,,7.,.s Dtossrs A w
Phelps, Conn; Mclean, Mass. Daily, ono; west
Miss, and ShaelIer, n. Y. ,,.- ,,,,-,.
Copaatee Plattorn,-Messrs, cameron LIMOS
pa Treyellick, Mich. Cummings, Mass. Dewey, N.
y: Puett, Ind. Cameron, Kansas; west Mass;
stockton Ind; Cramer Tenn. Sharp, N. j.; Star
wall, va; c. b. johnson, Ga. /; Kun, Iowa; DeWoln,
Wis Daiy, ONO and A. w. Phelps, Conn
Ncssrs II. q. Walls, Pa Mclaughlin, Mass Kuhn,
N v Treyellick, Mich. Clark, ILL., MOlett, Tenn
isaac Myers, Ind; D. II. Jones, N. J; and Martha
the following report was then presented read,
and referred to the committee on LaoOr -.
To the National Labor UniOn:-Ihe committee on
EgSthonr Taw respectfully reports, that the law of
Congress making eight hours days work for all
emnIoyes of the Government mas, after encounter
ingp mnch oppostion. gone into practical effect
ntder nroclalnatiOn of the President OF the United
Gtat
by extraordinary Oostrucuons lhIerpOsed Dy suOor-
dinates whose duty it was to carry out the will of
Congress in its enactment lheit opposlu0h, now
ever was encouraged by two Attorneys-teneral,
and was only overcome by prerogativc usually inter-
pOsed when nsurreCtion dehes clyl; power, or when
annremr laws are to he enforced. We can therefore
indpe of the result only by the force necessary to
overcome it. We congratulate workingmen on the
success of this measure OF right and ask them 10 he
encouraged to press for further amelioratOn. They
must not suppose opposition yet overcome; that
law is reVOCabe, and enmty VIII attack
ali resorts Even now, in at least one navy yard, by
bel-ring and ro-ca eight and a haI hours attend
ance of wOrkmen is cXaCted, to make no account of
the time extracted in travelling to ana fro. In con-
nectOn with this subject, attention is called to the
fact that the Eight-hOur law took effect from ana
after lis massage, and its advantages attached at
once: vet the disbursng officers OF the Government
withheld from the wQrkmen twenty per cent OF thelr
nav and the President expressly promoted those
Officers from making good this deficiency. This
body should memOriaiZe the Congress OF the United
States to make provision Tor thGr claims, ana not
COmpel the claimants to await the slow and eXpen-
sive process of prosecuting their rights before the
departments Respectfully suoinitteG. SGI ,,,,,..
Moses w. Field of Michigan ollered the following
resolution, which was referred to the Committee on
Rcsolped, THAT the national money known as the
greenback currency is popular and satisfactory to
me working millions of the country, and experience
has fully demonstrated that the national credit is
our best basis for a sound and reliable circulating
The same delegate offered the following, which
was referred to the Committee on PatfOrm:-
ReSOlrod That the reduction OF the interest on the
public debt is a question OF urgent necessity, and
the only available and practicable plan to accom-
plish that end is to be found IN the issue OF United
States notes. called ''greenbacks,' to pay the give
twenty" bonds and all other obligations of the Gov
ernment that, by the strict letter Of the law, can
now be paid in lawful money.
ResoreJ. That Congress should provide for the
Jundng of that portion of the national debt not
ouired for circulating medium, by the issue of long
bonds bearing interest not exceeding 1868 per cent.
and that or United States currency notes, at The
ontiom of the holders should he convertible or re
1p init
The same delegate offered the following which
likewise had similar reference
Whereas, The pirce OF American labor is above tht
Whereas, The products Of the cheaper labor o
foreign countries when imported into the UnteC
States compete with the productions of American
labor in our home markets, to the manifest injury o
our workingmen, thereby decrGaSinG enterprise, in
justral independence and diversity OF employ
ments, and tending to degrade our labor and fore
down the wages Of American Workngmen to tn
level Of the ill-pad millions OF Europe; therefore
Rssolred, That we demand such adjustment of tn
Tnties on all commodities produced 10y the labor o
foreign countries will adequately protect Amer
can labor and restrain the excessive importation 0
commodities abroad which we have the raw material
the skill, and the ability to produce in our own Goun
JJohn NJ Bossong of New York. offered the follow
ny which had ike reference with the foregoing :
ResolUed, That a tax of ten cents be levied upol
each workingman represented in this NatiOna
TO the erection of a suitable monument to the me
mory OF William II. Sylvis, and the remaining fv
cents for the support anu euuCdIlOn Oh tne vile
children of our deceased President
Mr. West of Miss, offered the following
Whereas, "All political power is inherent in tn
DeOple, and all free governments are founded o.
their authority and established for their benefit;
that all freemen are equal in political rights, and en-
titled to the largest political and religious libert
compatible with good order OF society, also tn
use and enjoyment of the fruits of their labor az
talents; and "no man or set OF men are entitled
exclusive, separate public emOluments privileges
or Inmunities from the Government but in consdt
ration of public services" and any laws destruCtiy
tha Fundamental
binding force and should be repealed To do 81
however, is a difiicult work when such laws
usages are interviewer Win prlGe, prejudice, an
seldshness. Besides, experience shows that laborn
people are more than Others disposed "to suft
while evils su1ierable' than to organize for the
And loiereas, We are admonished by the impel
illed rights Of labor throughout the United State
10 organize and agitate in It's behalf with the deere
SIN the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" an
the adage that ''Ihe price OF liberty is eternal Wig
lance" enthroned in our hearts and emOlaZOned a
notices on our banners assured of success OyC
corrupt political sChemers, and the spectators an
bankers who are preying like harpies upon the fruit
of honest labor and thus restore to our political an
social systems that equilibrium of rights and ustic
80 necessary to good government and domestic trar
auillity; therefore be 1t
ResOlCed, That we organize under the name of tn
Water Valley Division OF the National Labor Ri
form party, and cordially invite all freemen to oi
us who are engaged in productive industry an
bread in the sweat of their faces; all who open u
and cultivate farms, build cities, construct railroad
erect factories toll in workshops, teach school
labor in their professions of law and medicine an
divinity or preaching the Gospel as also those ''wh
by intellectual labor extract the principles of sc
ence from the great arCana of nature, and give the
practical forms Of art and direct the hand of il
flustry"
ful industry are suffering from system of monetaI
laws which were enacted during the late war I
measures, 1t was assumed Unnecessary to the life
the natOn,' and which is now sought to he ne
petuated in the interest of bOndhOldeTs and banker
as means to subyert the Government Of onr 70 ha
and "a nn F,fVn ng,..