St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-23
LABOR'S ULTIMATUM.
The Eight-Houp Day Will Be
Fought for to the
Death.
President Gompeps Appeals
to Toilers Not to Com
plieate Issues.
Twelve Hundred Chicago Mud
Molders Walk Out Of
the Briekpards.
Railroad Troubles at Pitts
burg Assume a Threat
ening Phase.

CHICAGO, April 22.-President Sam
uel Gompers, of the Federation of
Labor. after inquiry into the status of
the preliminary strikes at Indianapolis
and Chicago, issued formal statement
tonight touching the widespread eight
hour struggle to be inaugurated by the
carpenters May l. The circular is ad-
dressed 40 the Wage-workers and SYM
pathlzers with the progress of America"
1t says: 1--WE are confronted with an
evident determination on the part of the
employing builders to antagoniZe, by
every means in their power, the intro
ductIon OF this most absolutely neces-
sary reduction of the hours of labor.
We call upon you to witness the hostile
attitudes of the boss builders of Chicago
and indianapolis as evidence of what
pect when the general demand is
made May 1. No quarter is to
be given to labor. We will have
to conquer by force of numbers,
organization, determination and discI-
pine. what is not only our just and
reasonable right, but even the slightest
concession to amellOrate the condition
OF the toiling Masses" The address,
after charging that ''it appears the
wealth, power and influence of the en-
ploylng and corporate classes of the
country are TO be concentrated to defeat
the movement" continues as follows:
''Ihose of our fellow toiIerS who con-
template taking action to secure con-
eesslons in their several trades and
calling, we
Ask to Defer Action
until this great first struggle has been
won. If we are successful in this con-
test-Which we shall be, with your aid
and co-operation-concessions will be
easier attained by all. Should you. on
the other hand, diffuse your efforts upon
various movements, it will but mean de-
feat for all; even though an advantage
be gained by you it will be but tenn
porary. 1t will surely he taken from
you and leave the Wageworkers of the
whole country in demoraliZed and
time" The address was concluded
with an appeal for contributions
to be sent to Secretary Evans, q Clin-
ton place, New York. This evening Mr.
GOmpers addressed a mass meeting at
Battery ID armory, under the auspices
OF the Central Labor union and the
trades assembly. About three thousand
worklngmen were present, and on the
platform were Judge Murray F. Tuley,
City Attorney Darrow, and number of
local labor leaders. Mr.. Gompers made
all eloquent plea for the eight-hour day,
and was warmly applauded, particu-
larly when he compared to lepers
the non-unionists who take the
places OF strikers. President Com
pers to-day held number
of conferences with prominent Chicago
trades unionists and others. Rumors
were current that men i'll other building
trades were to be called out to aid the
carpenters. but this was denied. The
conferences were stated to have result
ed in no action whatever, and TO have
been designed simply to afford oppor-
tunity for personal exchange of views
as to the status of the Chicago struggle
in its relation to the coming national
outbreak.