Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17

mand- respect. and are getting to the point Of
having their forces concentrated. and with such
things their efforts must be successiui.
The Chairman then introduced German
gentleman, who addressed the meeting IN MS
native language. He wished his identity re-
tained. General Secretary Robert Watchorn
next spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen:
1 understood that the first speake. was 70
give a sort of preliminary report, wnlcn wouIo
go before the more substantial meal which 5 tnS
distinguished gentleman (Mr. Hysel;l: VINO VIII
presently follow, is to furnish. In TINS event l
have to express my pity for them, and 70 trust
that their patience would outllve thelr capacl-
ty. will not anyhow. take up much OF your
time. This afternoon was dedicated TO the dis
cussion of eight hours. The fact WAS tnere
was already too much talking about II ana not
enough action. think it was horace Greeley
who said that the "best way to resume is to re-
sumo"
THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
The best way to work eight hours is to work
eight hours, and your organization has 1t in its
power to say what time you shall work as well
as any trade in the country. 1t is very certain
that you will never get eight hours by talking
about it, or listening TO other people talking
about It And more especially will you not get
eight hours if you give ear to what your en-
ployers say on the question. For downright
rascality there are no employers in this country
who can compare with the coal parons OF TINS
continent. They are apt with their excuses TO
keep you and your family down to the greatest
degree they can. They say they have competi-
tion with gas here, electric light there, and II
you take their word for the conditions of the
business you will have improved your position
lust about the time when Gabriel is preparing
TO blow the last trumpet We, as craft, have
ments and to work out our own salvation.
There are certain conditions under which this
can be done.
The first is you must have thorough conf
cause am an official of your organization, but
because / too well recognize that unless you
have that confidence in the integrity, unselfsh-
ness and determination of your leaders to work
for your interests, you will never get eight
hours. Let us, on the contrary, have full and
complete confidence in one another, and can
safely promise you that before the leaves are
green again you will be IN the enjoyment OF an
eight-hour working day. There must be an
united bond between us, and we must get up
early and go to bed late. and hustle to the best
of our ability to achieve this You must pre-
pare yourselves to suffer Inconvenience you
have not SO far had to, before you accomplish
your purpose; but. then, is it not well worm
striving for? You must see what these ease
loving gentlemen who go down 20 Harrisburg
TO represent you are doing. You must see
whether they go down there altogether in your
interests, or whether they do not regard your
business and your interests as capable of look
ing after themselves. The last Legislature
passed a measure to prevent coal barons in the
anthracite regions from employing any man as
a miner who was not capable of taking care of
himself and his fellows. They can't now go to
Castle Garden and employ any chance stranger
who comes along. Why cannot that measure
be enforced in the bituIninous regions? Are not
our lives as precious as the lives of those who
are protected by law in the anthracite regiousS
When you go to the polls ask your candidates
the question: How are you going to voter and
according to the answer you will know how to
"a hal thing IN
do is to get this law applied to Western Penn
sylvania and when you have done this you will
have accomplished more than 1000 meetings
such as this. You will have prevented instances
like Punxsutawney and Irwin from occurring.
where poor delu6ed wretches, who one moment
were grinding organs on the streets of New
their own danger and that Of every man around
them.
OPPOSITION CERTAIN.
You must look for opposition from your em-
ployers. They will always antagonize you.
But you can get even with them by looking to
your organization. Look within your own
numbers. You have among you many
men who are only good union men when the
band plays Men who pander to the boss and
court his smile. He is our enemy, and his own,
for the smile of the boss won't feed him or his
children. Better let such men stand in hon
estly with their fellows, contribute their mite
to the eight-hour movement; think for
themselves, act for themselves. and in time
they will be earning fair remuneration, as do
the miners of other lands, and maintain their
character as American citizens, American
mechanics. and freemen.
General Organizer Peter Wise delivered
an earnest address in German on the advan-
tages of organizing, paying attention to legis-
tive matters, and advising Germans to nat
uralize for the benefits derived frem the
privileges OF citizenship.
The Hon. N R. Hysell, who followed,
begged to be excused from making a lengthy
address as the present condition of his
health debarred him from the effort. The
speaker said that politics used to be consid-
cred the science of government, and proper
government that which afforded the greatest
good to the greatest number. But nowadays
is considered to mean that which will
produce the greatest good to the individual
who addressed them. As he had nothing to
expect from the people of Pennsylvania, his
would be taken as without any in
dividual bearing. He agreed with Mr..
Watchorn that those who had ballots to cast
in the fall should have full and complete |
with those gentlemen who |
expected to imbody their views in the Legis- |
ature. They had a right to exact the |
greatest amount of labor from their repre-
and they had the power to re- !
urn men VINO WOulu carry OUT J0elr views. |
Mr.. Hysell said he did not believe any i
nan would deny the constitutionality of a |
aw enforcing eight hours as working day. |
t might be termed bad law, but none who |
will say it is not within the Constitution. |
The last time he addressed them he extended
hope that all coal miners would soon be /
ound fighting under the same banner, and |
le was glad to-day to thank God it was SO
t last. Mr.. Hysell went over the ground
f the physical condition of the miner and
lis mental inactivity, due to long working |
lours, and concluded by saying that they re-
uired to pull together for eight hours day,
light hours for play and eight hours for any
hing else they wanted.
Mr.. McQuald moved the speakers vote of
hanks, which was passed with acclamation.
President Gompers wrote regretting his ina
,iIity to be present, as did Vice President
William Martin, both of the American Fed
ration OF Labor.