Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-23

The LABOR MovEMENT.-On Mon
day last we were enabled to hear
family perhaps, yet distinctly, the
roar of the great wave that echoes
round the world. known as the ''la-
Dor movement" In our last issue
we announced that the Machinists
and Blacksmith's Union, of this city,
and the working men generally, would
meet on the 18th, in order to take in
to consideration certain recommends
/ tions and resolutions lately passed at
a meeting of the Industrial Congress
of the United States. In conformity
with this notice a large aud inteli-
gent audience met at. the Court
House on Monday night, aud was or
ganized for the transaction of bust
ness, by the election Of Mr.. Jno. Nc
Kay, ST., as chairman, and of Mr.. w.
A. Ulrich as secretary. The inten-
ton of the meeting was then very
clearly announced by Mr.. NJ. He
said that the objects sought by the
Industrial Congress were before it
for approval or rejection. He then
read the resolutions passed by the
Congress, and afterwards read them
in order, putting each one to sepa-
rate vote. These resolutions looked
to the union and the elevation of the
working classes; the reservation of
the public lands for the use of actual
settlers; the abrogation of all laws
that do not bear equally upon capital
and labor; the enactment of laws to
compel chartered corporations to pay
their employees at least once in every
month; the enactment of law giving
the mechanic and laborer the first
lien upon their work; the substitution
of arbitration for strikes; the enact
ment of equitable apprentice laws;
the reduction of the hours of labor to
eight per day, IN order that the labor
ers may have more time for social en-
joyment and intellectual improve
ment, and be enabled to reap the adj
vantages conferred by laboring ma
chinery, which their brains have ere
ated; and lastly the sense of the meet
ing on the financial question was
made manifest in the following reso-
luton, which we publish entire:
Resolved, That it is the duty of the
Government to establish just stan
dard of distribution to capital and Ia
Dor, by providing purely national
circulating medium, based on the
faith and resources of the nation, is
sued directly 10 the people, without
the intervention OF any system of
banking corporations, which money
shall be a legal-tender in the payment
of all debts, public and private, and
interchangeable at the option of the
holder for Government bonds, bear
ing rate of interest not to exceed
65-lOO per cent, subject to future leg
islatien by Congress
Afterwards a resolution condemna-
tory of Architect Mullet, for endeav-
oring to nuIlIfy the eight hour law
now in force, was adopted, and the
meeting adjourned.
From first to last it was character
lied by good order and good sense.
Those who compose it are evidently
serious and conservative men. Their
habits of thought are not agrarian or
revolutionary. They impressed the
locker on with the idea that they
were honest, correct citizens, who felt
that they were being wronged, and
who in the proper way were trying
to find relief. They seemed to under
stand fully that labor was the funda-
mental law-that in the country it
was called agriculture, in stores and
offices, business; in shops and on the
streets, toll or mechanism. They
properly regarded themselves as a
part of one division of the great ar
my of labor, and were looking foE as
sistance from all others who toiled,
no matter whether it was at the forge,
at the ledger, or in the field. In
speaking for instance of the eight
AACAAA Ia IL was GAAAACLAANNNA A42GN l4lln
law was not to be carried into the
country-that the day light Law was
the only law for the farmer. The
days were heightened in the Summer
for a wise purpose. In wet weather
men had to remain in doors, and lose
time. In shops they could work in
all waather v-Orl- NV Ia,,,,, I;<~L+ -
and the rule there could properly be
a different one from that in the eouR-
try.
Thus it was throughout, and the
meeting was productive Of much
good. The aims OF the working men
in our midst have been misunder-
stood, but this can no longer be the
case. The President Of the body.
= a II