Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-01-04

tiles and the candidates for Drainage
Commissioners have worked on public
hours will receive an amount of consid-
Grafton that it could not before have
commanded.
Before long there will be an organiza-
tion similar to the
EIGHT HOUR ASSOCIATION
of 1886, which will issue appeals
to the public, setting forth and defend
ing the demands of the workers, and
this may later develop into political
factor.
Some time ago the Trade and Labor
Assembly appointed a committee to co.
operate with the Central Labor Union
for the purpose of creating economic
ward clubs. 1t was argued that such
clubs would bring into the organizations
many who would not otherwise join,
since all living in the same locality they
could come together independent of
their trades and with little loss of time.
Furthermore, these clubs could influence
the storekeepers and other small busi-
ness men in their vicinity, either by tel
ling them that since they lived on the
necessities of the toilers they should
assist them or by showing them that the
eight-hour day meant a reduction to
them in the hours of keeping open their
stores. The clubs could form nucleus
for an independent party.
OBJECTS OF WARD CLUBS.
The Central Labor Union called a
meeting of representatives of all Ger
man trade unions at No. 81 West Lake
street last Sunday, at which the plan
was discussed. The result was. that a
committee Of fifteen was appointed, five
from the North Side and ten from the
West Side, to cooperate with the
Trades Assembly in the organization Of
ward clubs. 1t is probable that these
clubs will take an active part in the
aldermanic elections next spring.
OPINION OF THE PRESS
1t is significant fact that the Chi
cago press does not even affect to treat
the movement with contempt. In its
report of the foregoing facts leading
organ of capitalism observes:
"Organized labor in Chicago stands
to-day stronger and more united than
ever before. This statement is not often
heard and still less frequently believed.
But it is true. There has been litt.sl
heard from the camp Of organized labor
for the last eighteen months. Outside of
an occasional appearance in politics
there has been an apparent stagnation
of the movement
"Ihe fact that SO little has been heard
from it is an evidence of strength to all
who are familiar with the conditions of
organized labor in this city. Whenever
the labor organizations have made any
noise it has usually been caused by the
quarrels of rival bodies or leaders. At
present there is practically but one
organization, the American Federation
os Labor. All unions which have
sufficient membership are attached to
that body. The Knights of Labor have
been absorbed. There are but few of
their mixed assemblies left. Labor has
drifted into the form Of the trades-union
organization, In this form the individ-
uals are held together by closer and
more obvious ties of common interest
-morel narrow, it is true, than by the
broad principle of the Knights of Labor.
that San injury to one is the concern of
ALL" but for that reason more compre-
hensible to the average mind.
"This unification of organized labor
has special bearing on the eight-hour
movement In 1886 the Knights of
Labor said they were ready to make the
demand for eight hours, and they held
aloof, committing the effort of the Fed
Grafton of Labor to failure before it was
fairly under way. Since that time the
Federation of Labor has grown with
remarkable speed and stands to-day as
the greatest labor organization this
country ever saw. There will be no
split in the movement, and if the
Knights of Labor keep out of it they
will drive the last nail in their coffin.
Such is the sentiment of organized labor
in this community"