Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
ESPECIAL rnLreRAM 70 THE D1srArcH.I


Labor Union discussed for three hours to-
day proposition to contribute $50 toward
the big eight-hour meeting in Cooper Union
tomorrow night. It appeared from their
talk that large number of the delegates
were opposed to work day of eight honrs
because, they say, it would be impossible
for them to get it. They said that they did
not believe that any other workingmen could
| get it, either. 1t was finally decided to give
the $50 and attend the mass meeting.
The subject of the Inauguration of the
eight-hour day is now the all-absorbing one
in labor circles Samuel Gompers, Presi-
dent of the American Federation of Labor,
was visited by The DISPATCH correspond
| ent and questioned as to the outlook. He
| said:
ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS.
''I think the prospects are very encour-
| aging indeed. From letters coming to the
Office from all the trades, there is evidently
decided intention among working peo-
pie to demand a reduction of the
hours of labor on May 1, and in several
trades there will be reduction to eight
hours day. The policy of the Federation
has been to name the trade and the locality
trades and localities will not take their turn
until the eight-hour work day shall be the
rule in this country, as it has been in Aus
| tralia for the last % years. do not wish
TO be understood to say that if there are
other trades in the Federation that desire to
| make the demand, thev will be held back or
discouraged. But there will be one trade
selected by the Federation to make that de-
mand, and the trade so selected will receive
the first financial assistance of the Fedora
tion, now comprising over 600. 900 members.
Our entire influence and power will first be
concentrated on this one trade and locality.
have reason to believe that the eight-hour
work day will not have to meet the opposi-
tion that many persons have feared. I have
received many letters from men of affairs
and public men in favor of this movement.
It was a remarkable fact that so influential
body as the Association of Builders which
recently met at st. Paul was not unfavor-
able to it.
NO GENERAL STRIKE PROBABLE.
"Do you think there will be general
strike on the 1st of May?"
mo. 1 believe that all that will be nec-
essarY will be for the demand to be made in
proper form and it will be granted. 1t may
be that there will be cessation of work to
ployers are brimful of the old-fashioned
ideas as to the effect of a reduction of the
hours OF labor. They look upon it as sur
render of the control of their business TO
the working people"
DO you think it possible to establish the
elght-hour work day uniformly, notwith-
standing that in some occupations the phys
ical exertion and the amount of skill re-
quired is much greater than in others?
Compare, for instance, the waiter and the
carpenter, the cab driver and the machinist.
Is it feasible to make the hours of labor the
same in all trades and occupations?"
81 believe that the eight-hour working
day should prevail in all occupations. The
question OF the different amounts of exer-
tion and skill required relates to the COM
pensation that should be paid for the days
work.
"Has the Federation decided upon which
trade it will concentrate its forces on
May 1?''
THE SELECTION NOT MADE.
''It has not. Last November a circular
was issued to the various organizations all
over the country asking for information as
to the stand they would take and what re-
quirements they should have in case a de-
mand was made. This action was based on
the action of the convention with reference
to the determination of the selection of one
trade. Since the meeting of the convention
there has been extensive correspondence
with the various organizations, and there
have been some conferences between them
and our committee. At the last meeting of
the council. on February Z. it was deter
mined to issue a circular calling for the
latest information, in order to decide which
trade should begin the demand for eight
wka on j. al
SExecutive Committee will be in a position
TO come to definite conclusion"
''Do you think strikes are increasing or
diminishing in number"
''They are diminishing, and will continue
to dimish. They will be used only on ex-
tkaordinary occasions. The fact is that
labor organizations are getting stronger all
the time. They have accumulated funds to
be used in time of need. The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor Is composed of
trades unions that prefer to get along with
out strikes. They have learned by bitter
experience that the only means to prevent
strikes is thorough organization and full
treasHries of the unions. This alone will
control the unfair employer, who will hesi-
tate be fore he provokes strike among
those VI no are thoroughly prepared to op-
pose him.
"On khe other hand, the unions that |
have full treasures will be more careful of |
enteringl into strike than those who have |
no treasury and nothing to lose. Wedo not |
want to eat capitalist at every meal, but |
we do want to have some potent method OF |
Iour just demands. People are
getting to understand that the workers, as
the producers of the wealth of the world,
are entitled to receive, and will insist upon
receiving, q fair share of the products of
their labor, and larger share than they |
have received heretofore. The worker1
have noticed that although the application
of electricity and steam and other forces to
the improvement OF the industrial wealth of
the world have been going on, the burden
of the laborer has become more onerous and
large numbers have been thrown out of
employment. We believe that the reduc-
ton of the hours of labor will furnish en-
ployment to some of these men,"
"How about the numbers of unem-
ployed?"
'fIn 1885, Commissioner Wright reported
the number of unemployed at nearly mil
lion. The number has certainly not de-
creased since that time. Surely to make
room for these, to give employment to meh
who are walking the streets, seems to be
worthy the best efforts OF the working people
and of the consideration OF the employing
class.
THE coNTRAcF LABOR Law.
"Our condition would be very different if
he alien contract law should be enforced as
he tariff laws are enforced. There would
hen be no more difficulty in excluding
aborers who come over here by contract
han there would be to (prevent smuggling
If dutiable goods Look |Rt the child labor
dill. Is there any attempt to enforce it as it