Telegram-herald., 1889-12-25
CAN THEY WIN?
TIA Tc1sEs Preparing tor rhs
EzLE-HO.r Movement
HEIOBEBlCCCRlIED I. is9a
Leaders Conn4~at Haas Ens-F fregscs
U14 Bs C.rrisd ~ saecsss- Better
Gzx.alzs8 EhAa Ey~r-Ihs So
uzEioa ~ Ch4<SEo.


CrucAeo. Dee - -Iners a.l be nc
further meetsuEs of tte AUer-cal te1-
Grafton n Labor before tae oatr-e for
the eight-hour d. Begins o. Nay b
It aill 5e = pitched battle and a zsat -
tie huish. Itall BE- commenced a. all
the large lud lstrl4l eeuters ~ l1e oo-n-
~. Chicago ala oe IA the Ih--a OF The
hght. being tae biggest labor center
outside " New YORK. W-ta the
strongest organiza atoms of labor. and
with strong leaders ot pronounced opln-
ions Leader, of the labor faction give
negative reply ro lle question ~ III
there be a repetition ~ the riots II
1882 WLi the battle end. As u then
did. IN defeat and suffering for the Ia
boring population
Organza i lab0r in Chicago stands TO-
day stronger and more united than ever
before Ihls statement u nOt often
heard and still less frequently believed.
Bat II Is true. There has been little
heard from The camp OF organized labor
for the last eighteen months. Outside
of an occasional appearance In politics
there has been an apparent stagnation
Of the movement
The fact that SO little has been heard
from il is an evidence Of strength 20 all
who are familiar with the conditions of
organized labor in this city. Whenever
the labor organizations have made any
noise 10 has usually been caused by tho
quarrels OF rival bodies or leaders. At
present there is practically bat one or
ganizauon the American Federation OF
Labor. All unions which have sum
cient mem bership are attached 20 that
body The Knights OF Labor have been
absorbed. There are but few of their
mixed assemblies left Labor has drift
ed into the form Of the trades-union or
ganization.
This unifcation Of organized labor has
a special bearing on the eight-hOur
movement. In 1856 tho Knights Of
Labor said they were not ready to make
the demand for eight hours, and they
held aloof, committing the effort of the
Federation of Labor 20 failure before it
was fairly under way. Since that time
the Federation Of Labor has grown with
remarkable speed and stands to-day as
the greatest labor organization this
country ever saw There Will be no split
in the movement
The general impression is that Chica-
20 viii not confne itself 10 the pro-
graume recently outlined by the FEEDER
alton OF Labor at Boston. That body
decided to concentrate its efforts in MAY,
1890, 70 gaining the eight-hour d.y
for the building trades, leaving the
others 10 follow later A strike assess
ment OF two cents per capita a
week was decreed against an
the unions represented in the
federation. The building trades were
selected 70 start the movement as be-
ing the most perfect Of the so-called
nOn-competitive trades, tho idea boing
that there could be no competition be-
tween different cities in these branches,
and, therefore, the argument that il
was impossible to adopt the eight-hour
system al one place unless it was in
troduced universally could not DO used.
But in Chicago the building trades
have virtually had the eight-hour day
for two years. So have the cigar makers
all over the country. The Chicago la
Dor leaders do not feel disposed 70 ac-
quiesce in the decision of the Fedora
tion OF Labor and will probably go on
and make their demand on other indus
tries as well. Conditions will bs re-
versed in Chicago. The building trades
will assess themselves 10 assist the other
trades in this city instead of taking their
assistance 70 obtain what they slresd y
have.
What industries will make the de-
maud is not yet known, since the action
OF the federation has upset the eKpects-
tion that there would be a universal
movement. As FAR as the sentiment has
crystallized It is proposed 70 have the
men make no demand for an increase OF
wages. but be satisfied with a reduction
propOrtionate 70 the reduction OF
hours. and where practicable 70 ask
for the Introduction Of payment by the
piece or by the hour, so that the reduc-
tion In wages may be made IN proper
ton 70 the hours and the EN- Ployers
utilize The time lost by emp Toying
other men on the hour or piece plan IL.
however. the plan Of the Federation oi
Labor is carried out there viii be no
disturbance q industries in Chicago
NAY !. 1900.
The laborites believe that the situ-
ation ia much more favorable 20 thsnl
than it was In 1885. Since that time
there has been a great deal Of discussion
on he eiVht-hour question and kindred
topics. and people who at that time saw
no reason FOR tho existence % trsdss
organizations and did not know Of az '
difference between capital and labor
have conc uenced 20 think about ths
mater.