Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-09
GREAT LABOR CONGRESS.
Federation of all Workingmen Pro
posed-The Eight Hour Question.

posed-The Eight Hour Question.
The fourth national convention Of the Ameri-
can federation of labor, which now has en-
rolled 4, 200 trades unions and 600, 900 members,
meets in Boston tomorrow 1t promises to be
not only the largest representative gathering
| OF real workingmen ever held in this country,
but also of the most important in its effects
| upon the labor movement Under the presi-
| dency of Samuel Gompers, the federation OF
| labor came rapidly into prominence as the
| Knights Of Labor began to decline, and there
| seems to be practical possibility Of the FEEDER
alton soon comprising the great bulk Of the
| organized laboring men of the United States in
| all trades.
THE GENERAL PLAN
is for each trade to be organized in its separate
unions with its separate national body. Then
each trade sends its representatives to the an
nuaI convention of the federation. The basis
OF representation to the coming convention
will be one delegate for each 1000 members Of
| the international or national unions. Then
| each trades organization not connected with
any national or international body will be en-
titled to one delegate. In order to keep the
number OF delegates within manageable limits
after four delegates are allowed to one union
there Is but one delegate allowed for each ad-
dltlonal $1,000 members. The call sets forth
the object OF the convention in these words:
THE trade union, the most bitterly attacked
and denounced institution in the worlds his
tory, has successfully withstood the open as
saults of capitalists and politicians, while
calmly repelling the secret Vaccinations of
consplrators within the very Gordon of the
camp of labor. Suffice it then to say that the
workers have realized that the men who are
employed in any particular branch of industry
understand the nature of it and are better
qualified to adjust any difficulties which may
arise with their employers than men who are
unacquainted with the conditions of that busl-
ness; that reckless and so-called sympathetic
strikes are disastrous III the extreme, and gen.
orally result in the workmen going back to
work upon the employers terms; and finally,
the workers are convinced that open organize
tlon Is the best form of organization, and that
the time has now arrived to openly, calmly and
fearlessly assert the claims of labor. With
these views the st. Louis convention of the
American Federation of Labor resolved upon a
general agitation for the establishment of the
elght-hOur work day upon May /, $780, and it
now becomes the mission of the Boston conven-
ton to transform, if in the wisdom of the dele
gates there assembled it may be deemed adj
visable, the agitation, which has become world
wide, into an organized movement for its
realization"
THE EIGHT-HoUR MOVEMENT.
About the middle of last month with view
OF collecting accurate data as to the attitude of
the various branches of trade on the eight-hour
movement, President Gompers, acting for the
executive council, addressed a circular to each
Of the executive officers of national and inter-
national trade and labor unions central labor
unions, trade councils, local unions and others
affiliated with the American federation of
labor, propounding the following questions:
what are the hours prevailing in the trade?
What action does your organization propose to
take to secure the eight-hour workday, May /,
hat N tnn 1t,
organization? Will your organization require
the financial support of other organizations to
enforce the eight-hour rule? If 80, to what
extent?"
From these inquiries it was learned that of
the larger representative bodies all but one are
working over eight hours. The cigar makers
with $4,000 members are the only trade now
claiming to have succeeded in obtaining the
eight-hour concession. The brotherhood of
painters and decorators, $500 members, are
working nine hours day and are practically
willing to join the movement The national
federation of silk workers are working fifty
tive hours a week and are willing to leave the
elSht-hour question to their convention which
meets next January. The German-American
typographical union, LOO members. are work
to enforce the eight-hour plan. The harness
and saddle makers are working fifty nine hours
a week. Their action on the eight-hour move
ment depends upon the action of the trade |
The bakers, $4,000 members. report that they
are working slxty-eight and seventy hours a
week. They cannot get eight hours and would
enforce ten hours if possible. The boot and
shoe workers are working from ten to fourteen
hours a day, but have taken no action. The
journeymen tailors. $500 members, aver
taken no action. The international
sailors and firemen report that they are work.
ing seventeen hours for the sailors and eight
hours on and eight hours off for the firemen at
sea. In port they all work thirteen hours d day.
They would be content if they could get
eight hours on and eight hours off all the time.
The tin and sheet iron workers are working
ten hours a day and will take no action. The
boiler makers, $500 members, are working
nine and ten hours day and will take no
action. The granite cutters, 5000 members |
are working from eight to ten hours a day.
They will take no action yet and will get nine
hours day first. The united brotherhood of
carpenters and joiners of America, the
largest body in the federation of labor |
numbering 81, 240 members report that in 452
cities they are working eight hours a day; in
169 cities nine hours, and in about 200 cities
they work hfty-eight hours a week. The cir
cular OF the federation on the eight-hour move |
ment was submitted to the vote of this organi-
cation and about eight were in favor of 1t to
one against 1t. OF the carpenters unions 296
reported for the circular and "a against it. This
organization has s37 800 in the international
fund and $1,000 in the local treasures, and
anxious for the eight-hOur movement to
begin.
The agitation which the ST. Louis convention
recommended has been faithfully carried out
During the year there have been meetings held
IN l4O cities OF this country, at which the eight
hour movement has been advocated and the
central body has published and widely circu-
lated during the year three tracts on the SUBJ
ject.
OTHER SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED.
The eight hour question is only one of the
subjects that will be discussed at the coming
convention. Permanent officers are to be
chosen. There will be discussion as to the
canses Of idleness and crime and an effort will
be made to secure a comprehensive INQUIRY by
government on that subject. There will also
be discussion of the winter census.
The official declaration says:
Briefly stated, the object of the American
federation Of labor is to render employment
and the means of subsistence less precarious by
securing to the toilers an equitable share of
the fruits of their toll. As means to this end it
proposes-First. A free federation of all trade
and labor unions in America. Second The
establishment of self-goyerning unions of wage
workers in every trade and legitimate occupa-
ton without exception where none now exists
Third The formation Of public opinion by the
agencies OF platform. press and legislation"
Buffalo Gets Sullivan to Fight.
The newly organized Erie athletic club has