Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-21

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-Alexander Kenady,
president of the Federation of Labor unions,
Washington, has addressed a communication
to the chiefs of the various labor organiza.
tons thr oughout the country, in which he
gives the substance of conversation with
Senator Blair, chairman of the senate COM
mittee on education and labor. The CON-
municatiOn Is dated the 10th, and is as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN: l casually met to- day Hon.
FL. w. Blair, chairman OF the committee on
education and labor of the senate, to which
committee has been referred the most impor-
tant question of the day, the solution of the
labor problem.
The distinguished senator impaired to me
some very mportant information and request
ed l should convey the substance to the lead
ing members of the most powerful labor
organizations throughout the Union, as facili-
ties for direct communication with those
bodies by the committee has not been perfect
ed as yet. The senator expressed the opinion
that the plan heretofore presented by the
Washington City branch of the federation,
workmen from all sections of the Union at the
capital, with duly authenticated sub COM
mlttee or directory, will prove the most
practicable method of obtaining information
r61ative to the present condition Of the work.
ing classes and their grievances, the causes
of labor strikes and practical suggestions as
to what will tend to the improvement of their
social condition.
Senator Blair remarked, also, that portion
of the public press is doing great injustice to
the senate committee 10y intimating that the
members are ignorant of the great import
ance of the vital question, submitted to them
for investigation, and lnsinuated they have
turned the affair into "junketing party at the
seashore." IL will be the aim of the
tions between capital and labor, not
hurriedly, but with due deliberatiOn. He,
therefore, hopes both capitalists and laborers
Will select representative men, i'll whose judg
ment and integrity they can place implicit re-
lance, and both parties will do the committee
justice to believe they will act honestly and
fairly according to their judgment.
In transmitting the foregoing information
at the request of the honorable chairman of
the committee, designated by the power (the
law making power) of the land TO arbitrate
between aggressive capitalists and compare
lively defenceless laborers, cannot resist the
opportunity to say as co-laborer OF the
earnest and devoted men 10 whom this
communication is respectfully addressed,
that l think it would be wise policy at this
iuncture to advise all workmen now on a
scanty store of their fellow laborers, to resume
work at an early day, at least before winter
with increased expenses sets in, upon the best
terms obtainable from their late employers,
and continue to work with as much patience
as they can command until they see what con-
gress will do in the matter next winter. If it
should transpire in this legislative inquiry
that the Industrial classes are
being juggled with by knavish tools
OF INSCRIPTIONS power, which / will not be-
lieve until lit is clearly proved, q national
strike could be inaugurated within thirty
days after the adjournment of CONGRESS next
March, by the united labor organizations of
the United States, with ten fold more effect
than the recent strikes of $50. 600 men. If the
siege is raised and hostilities cease for the
winter, the funds now devoted to sustaining
the strikes may he more effectually applied to
the economical maintenance of a central COM
mittee of vigilant and active workers at the
capital in collecting and preparing statistics
to sustain our cause before congress.
1 disclam any authority from any body Of
men for the suggestions contained in the
above, but submit it as my Individual view of
the present situation.
Very respectfully, ALEX. NJ. KENADY,
President of the Federation of Labor Unions.