The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-12-23
PRESIDENT GoMPER's REPORT

J. LII " ~
ant to the requirement of our cOnstl
tuition, we meet to day again in annual
conclave as the representatives OF the
bona fde labor organizations-the
Trade Unions Of this Continent. We
meet to review the past and to take
counsel of and with each other as to
the best course 80 be pursued, not to
bolster up or to further the purposes
of an individual or q few, but to pro
mote and advance the great cause
which engrosses the interests of the
whole wage earning class; which seeks
to make the destiny of the working
men and women brighter and their
burdens lighter, and to throw an arm
OF protection around the young and
innocent children. In endeavoIing to
carry on this work we are met by OPP
position on many sides. We have the
opposition of interested antagonists
who recognize in the success Of our
movement a diminutiOn in tleir rates
of profit or interest, a curb to their
a~varice and greed. There are those
who, faling to comprehend the econ
omic, polite and social tendencies of
TIE Trade Union movement, regard it
as entirely "toc slow" "too conserva-
tive" and desire 20 hurl it headlong
into a path which, while struggling
and hoping for the end, will leave US
stranded and losing the practical and
beneficial results of our efforts. !
maintain that the working people are
in too great a need Of immediate i'm
provement in their condition to allow
them to forego them in the ende4vor
to devote their entire energies to an
end however beautiful to contemplate.
| maintain further, that the achieve,
ment Of present practical improve
ments for the toilers places them on
so much vantage ground gained and
renders them more capable to deal
with the various problems it is their
mission to solve. In the language of
that foremost Of economic and social
thinkers, Ira Steward, "The way out
of the wage system is through higher
wages, resultant only from shorter
hours. In working upon this line it
is not necessary to oppose any school
of thought upon the labor problem,
but to carry out the solemn duties i'm
posed upon us is imperative.
At several of previous CONVEX
tions l called attention to the necessity
of avoiding as far as possible all con
%troversial questions, and to concen.
trate our whole efforts upon such as
we are most agreed. That such a
course is most calculated to achieve
the greatest success for the working
people the past year has demonstr ated
by the
EIGHT CUB MOVEMENT.
When the last convention adjourned
and the delegates returned to their re
spective homes, the great movement
outlined had 20 be put into execution.
There is no period during my more
than twenty FIVE years connection
with the labor movement that l can
remember having been inactive; but
since the Boston Convention my ener,
gies, both mental and physical, were
strained to their utmost. To combat
u avOWed and covert enemies, to
encourage the weak, to urge on the
unwilling and to secure the means to
conduct the campaign and contest,
was a task [ trust the future has no
repetition for ne, The press and
platform were utilized to the greatest
possible extent, in order to place our
position fairly and fearlessly before
the whole people. A number of special
organizers IT appointed to address
meetings all over the country. Blanks
were issued to the affiliated organiza
tons to obtain statistical information
upon their condition, and readiness to
make the demand for the enforcement
Of the eight hour workday, May lst,
1890. | called the Executive Council
together several times for consultation
and advice, and after great deliber.
alton, on March 18th, selected the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America to make the first
demand. The or y~anization in ques
ton responded with alacrity to the
Executive Councils decision, and OF
it's own accord put a number of lee.
turers in the field. The call for the
assessments was ordered, and the en-
tire machinery of the organizations
put into motion to secure the best pos.
sible results. Everything was in readi
ness for the movement to begin. and
required but the courage and the man
hood to bring ultimate victory.
Of the immediate results of the
movement l prefer to quote Secretary
Pl. McGuire's official report to the
Convention of the Brotherhood Of
Carpenters, held in Chicago las
August. Among other things he
says: GA summary of the situation
shows that the trade movement fol
shorter hours among the carpenter
this season has been successful in 49,