Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-02
THE PLAN FOR ACTION
President Gompers Talks About the
Move for an Eight-Hour Day..
SETTLEMENT OF A GLASS STRIKE.
Four More New Lodges Added to the
Amalgamated Association.
SOME STRAY SHOTS FROM LABOR LIFE

| President Samuel Gompers, of the Ameri.
can Federation of Labor, passed through the
city yesterday on his way to Toledo, where
he will address mass meeting in reference
to the eight-hour movement. He stopped
about half an hour in the Union station,
where he ate breakfast. Mr.. William j.
| Dillon, Secretary of the American Flints,
met him and accompanied him, and will CO.
operate with Mr.. Gompers in the eight-hour
| agitation. Mr.. Dillon has gone at the invi-
tation of the Central Labor Union, OF Toledo,
| which they extended to him few weeks
| ago.
Mr.. Gompers, in speaking of the progress
| of the movement for shorter hours, expressed
himself very sanguine of its success, and
said that over 500 meetings were held to dis
| cuss the question in different parts of the
country on Washington's birthday. The
reports from them received at headquarters,
he said, were very encouraging. the meet
ing at fremont Temple, Boston, was very
encouraging. according to the gentleman S
statement He thinks that the system will
be generally adopted in the New England
States.
SOON TO BE SETTLED.
Mr.. Gompers would not say in what place
the movement would commence, or in what
wav it will be pushed, but he stated that
/ the Executive Council of the American
Federation will meet on next Friday, March
Z and they will decide then upon the ques-
| tion. He likewise remarked, when spoken
to in reference to the subject, that
he was perfectly satisfied with
the resolution of the master builders to pay
eight hours wages for eight hours work.
He said that he felt confident that within
two weeks after the eight-hour day is put in
practical operation the wages will be ad-
vanced to the old ten-hour rate. There will
be no strikes ordered unless the request for
eight hours is blankly refused.
From the tone of Mr.. Com pers' conversa-
ton it was evident that wise measures
would be adopted and that in the effort to
secure the short day the lines will rot be too
closely drawn.
The matter of deciding just what trades
will make the attempt has been left in the
hands of the executive board, which will,
as the gentleman said, meet next Friday.
No union will be asked to enter the fight
against its will, but the council will inves-
tigate the condition of the various organiza-
tions and those which they conclude to be
in favorable condition for the enforcement
of the rule will be advised, not demanded,
to make the effort.
LEFT TO THEMSELVES.
Any labor union, likewise, has the au-
thority to make the effort itself. if it thinks
proper, and will receive the moral and fnan-
cial support of the Federation, as will also
those which attempt it on the advice of the
Executive Council.
Alter the Council comes to an agreement,
its decision will be made public. Should
any union be compelled to 90 on a strike
the Federation will levy the 2 per cent as
sessment to support the strikers.
Several labor leaders are beginning to in
quire why the Federation is not taking some
definite step. The members of the carpen-
ters' unions, who were expected to be among
those TO make the first move, say that they
have received no intimation, as yet, that
they will be required to make the attempt.
1t is rule of their organization, agreed
upon by both employer and employees,
that notice of any change must be submitted
on or before February Is of each year; all
proposed changes to go into effect May I.
That time has now gone by, and they are at
a loss to know how an eight-hour law can
be demanded without breaking their agree
ment in reference TO giving proper notice.
It is pretty we'll known that master
builders, who expect a demand to be made,
have inserted clause in their contracts
providing for one-eighth of an increase in
price in case they are compelled to concede
eight hours.
Mr.. Gompers is expected to visit other
cities before he returns home.
Mr.. Dillon is one of the most fluent
speakers among those who have been selected
to do the talking for the Federation. He
expects to make a tour of some of the Ohio
glass factories before he returns.