Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-10-14
rae Annual Convention to be Held as s..
Louis ID, cfrnber IL
AMBRI AN FEDERATION CT LAB7R,{

Louis d. cfrnber IL
ANBRI AN FEDERATION CT LhB1R,
NEW YORK, oct S. lSsS- /.
To all Local. National anu International TIa:e
Unions in America:
GREETING-Fha mex auDu.l conyan-
ton of the American Federation of Labor
will convene at ST. Lonis, Mo, on Tues
Gay, December IL, 1888. Tie delegates
will assemble at Central Turner hell,
corner @: Tenth and Market streets, st
| noon precisely.
In issulug this call 1t msy not be iu-
appropriate TO stsle that the American
Federation Of Lsocr h8s for its ultimate
object the establishment OF 81 improved
and normal condition CT the working
c!ess throughout this vast continent. A.
means TO this end IL proposes thoroue h
federation OF 81 trade and labor uni0ns
tee establishment Of unions Of wage
workers IN every trade and legttim ate
occupation, without exception, where 70
union now sxists; and the formation OF q
healthy public opinion on the subiect Cf
the organization Of labor. By the exerciie
of the sgenciSs EXISTING il municipal,
pE0viL cisi, state aid patioDsl Legisli-
lures, and by the development OF the
Labor press.
In the srduou5 task of organizing the
grand coDcensus CT labor the iseueIs Ct
this call have ever been faithful to the
dsep-rooted Traditions Of the American
working class, and have most emph.t-
icElly Iepudiated tie vulgsr ambition
which seeks to impose rigid uDi.CrD
rule, regardless OF ,he different stages Of
development Of the VARIOUS UNIONS and
hn ~ Al
trades Ard Ceilings. And moreover nave
by defending the principle Of au.oDOmg,
the right Of sell government, msGe II
possible for the humolest no less than for
the strongest ard proudest union to pre-
serve It's individuality while widening its
scope Of seton, thus enabling eEco SO
freely cooperate with slI il everything
Concerning the common welfare OF COR
cl.ss.
Tie American Federation CT Ls5or,
with it's constituent local unions which
now number more tnsn 5000 with men
bersbip exceeding h&lf a million Is fully
rec5gn,Z. d as tie agent anG represents
live of more than twenty years Of nEre-
hitting Effort for the emarcipltioh Of t1e
American working people. We need l2ok
but casually az the proud pcaition ;he
wcrk,Ug class form of oIgsnlZ ,tiCn-.Ae
Trade Untor-Sas STAINED 10 day, apd
compare Ii with tie conlemp. ana ridi-
cule with which svowed enemies and
pseudo friends once regarded 1t. To-Day
sill recognize its power and influence IN
securing improved conditions for the
| toilirg masses Of our country.
While we are proud CT our psstachleve-
ments. and can hold them up to tae sCIu.
Ting and criticism Of an enlightened pub
| lie opinion We are not COM ent 20 rest
upon the lsurelS gained, bus recognize
| the necessity CT battling, and are ready
to battle, for Wha ever remains unc0n-
quered in the contest for cur lawful and
natural rights.
On sill sides We see the employing and
speculstirg clsss organizing their forces
to control the markets, though the
whole people are robbed thereby.
When We learn to more thoroughly
organize and concentrate our forces We
shall be in the position to control the
labor "market" in the interest OF the
working pc 1ple. Whatever conduces 10
the improvement Of the toilets condition
exer.s . berefcsnt influence upon the
Whole human family.
| In 1856 the grand movement for the re-
duclion Of the nouns OF labor 10 eight per
dey was only partially successful. But
that the bouss OF iaoor have been re-.
ducad ell must admit. The forces which
prompted the eight hour movement Of
| 1886, viz: the IMPROVEMENTS II the
methods CT production, which tend to
throw large numbers Of our fellow WORK
ers cut CT employment and thus reduce
and keep our wages dowr, are Still in
operstior ana with greater intensity than
ever before. Now, il we are alive 20 the
| mcmentus question al Cur present intel
est end future welfare, we Will corcen-
| lrEte cur thoughts GDd devote our etorls
to the simultaneous Inauguration OF the
eight hour workdsy.
Holding, as we 40, thoI material re-
duction OF the hours OF labor is necessary
to the welfare of the working CLASS, the
Forthcoming convention will be called
| upon TO etate time, not later than June
l, 1890, when the eight hour workdsy
shall be put in force; the same TO be SUB
mitted to al international, national aud
local trade unions In America for ap-
provsl, q two-thiIGs vote being ecessary
to adopt.
| The bseis Of representation in the con.
vention Is from national ana International
unions, for less than 1000 members, one
| delegate; 1000 or more, two delegates;
5000 or more, three delegates; 5000 or
more, four delegates; 81. 600 or more, five
delegates, and SO on; and from esch local
or district trades organization or feder-
sted body, not connected With, or having
9 national or international head, affiliated
with this federation, one delegate.
State Assemblies or Federstions, local
Central Labor U0ions, Trade Assemblies
| or Councils, will be only required to pay
q delegate tax Of s25 per snnum instead
Of the regulsr per capits tax OF one-fourth
cent per month for each member.
In the sacred name and purposes OF