New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-07


HISTORY or THE TES-HoUR MovEMENT-oRGANIzA-
TON OF THE CoNvENuoH-wHAT TIE LABOR
| PARTY AIMS TO DO-GEN Butler INDORsED
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEl
LOWELL, Aug 6.-The State Labor Reform Con-
vention held at the Merrimack House to-day does
not indicate any increase in the numerical OF po-
htlcai strength of the party, but shows decided
railing on since the time when Mr.. Phillips
sented To be its nominee three years ago. The most
dlsorderly and abortive Convention ever held by
the Labor Refomers of Massachusetts was in May,
during anniversary week in Boston, when it was
virtually decided not to make any nomination for
the Fall election. At that time, however, it
was voted that a convention should be
called with the avowed object of securing
the enactment Of ten-hour law, thus
deciding to concentrate the energies of the
party to carry through the Legislature measure
which would be supported by many members of
both OF the dominant parties The Labor Reform
ers have had no organization extending back fur
ther than the past FIVE or six years but Gov. Bull
lock- In his first message spoke of the hours of labor
and that part of the document was referred 10 a
JOINT special committee. There was then commits
sion on the hours of labor and since that time the
bureau OF Labor and Statistics, which made its first
| report In 1871. has been constituted There has
| Deen every year special committee Of
the Legislature on the labor question,
and it has always had referred TO it greater or less
number of petitions for the enactment of a ten
hour law, The friends of the measure got their
first report in 1869 but the House referred the bill
to the next general court Since then the Senate
has each year killed the bill which the House has
passed. This year the majority Of the committee
requested leave TO withdraw, but the bill of the
minority was substituted by a vote Of three to
and
stages without amendment. This bill, which met
the fate of it predecessors on reaching the upper
branch, forbade under penalty Of $50 the employ
ment of any minor under the age of Is or any
woman that age in the manufacture Of cotton,
WOODEN linen jute silk fabrics than 10 hours
In any one day OF 60 hours in any one week except
when necessary to make repairs to prevent the
stoppage interruption of the ordinary running
of the mill.
The Convention was called to order to-day by f.
NJ. Chamberlin, Chairman of the State Central Com
mittee and candidate for Governor in 1869. He
stated the reasons for the assembling of the COnven
ton. and urged the impossibity Of their voting for
any of the candidates Of either party. He said 1--WE
want candidate who will leave the Republican
party and help to break it up Another is now an
aspirant for the Governors chair who
does not propose to use one of the
power. The objection has been made to one of their
candidates that he engineered the salary grab, but
that is a small steal compared with what
suffering continually from the hands of organized
capital and the political parties of capital TO stop
that theft we are herep The Convention then
organized by the choice of ex-Police Judge Charles
Cowley of Lowell for Chairman with staff of Vice
Presidents and Secretaries. He referred to the
advance made in the and the steps voluntarily
taken by several manufacturers in reducing the
hours of labor, although Lowell was still in the
rear. In the last hearing their opponents had
abandoned many of the objections formerly urged.
Since the advisabiity of the measure was conceded
the course to pursue was not seek to create any
new party. 1t not 10 nominate a State ticket IN
opposition to the two political parties which now
exist but 10 make issues on the Senators and Rep
resentatiyes and TO goad both the existing parties
TO furthering distinctive labor measures more
tolerant spirit now prevailed among their opponents
and they no longer sought to sthe free discussion
He babe the farmers of the West Godspeed in their
demands for cheap transportation, urged the neces
sty of system of State insurance and Teconstruc-
ton of counties, and closed with a demand Tor q
platform built upon the living questions of the day.
upon the restoration Of our currency, the rei0rma
ton of our banks the dnfettering of our commerce.
the punishment of public thieves the suppression OF
Credit Mobler scandals the extinction of all forms
of social spoaton education Of the people and the
elevation Of labor.
The Convention was further organized by the
choice of Committee on Resolutions of which
George L. Mcneil, late assistant in the Bureau of
Labor was Chairman, but not before two or three
had been launched upon the Convention. The Com
mittee soon reported list which was fully up To
the usual length. They pledged every workingman
10 vote for no candidate not pledged III favor OF
Ten-hour law and to do everything possible to de-
feat the reelection of those who voted against It,
and declared that Gov. Washbun was deserving OF
unqualified censure for making any change IN the
Bureau of Statistics Of Labor.
On coming together again in the afternoon stare
Central Committee was appointed, and letter
was read from Gen. Oliver, late Chief OF the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. He assured them OF his
interest and good will, and his deep sympathy for
the children who could not get the education they
needed. The only thing for them was the establish
ment of half-time schools. He deprecated strikes,
and cautioned them against putting any faith
ip politicians There was the usual wrangIng over
the resolutions before they were finally adopted as
whole. An attempt TO expunge the names OF those
voting against the law from the resolution OF con-
dennation was made in vain, and there was some
plain and rather reckless talk in which certain Sen
ators were declared to be in the market and were
freely accused of having sold themselves to the cap
italists.
A resolution declaring the Salary Grab to be
clear steal and those who voted therefor pesue INC
President who lobbied for it, plunderers more
worthy Of the penitentiary than Oh Pupiio uu'''
was tabled-31 to 2. The reason for this
action did not appear until the evening
meeting. The last resolution offered was one
| Cana