Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-08-16
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
LABOR.

Trade Matters.
The recent movement OF the Carpen-
tiers and ,Juiners to reduce the hours OF
labor has been marked by the greatest
success that has ever attended amy gen
cral movement of a similar character in
the entire history of the announcement
Of the civilized world
BY the reports it is certain that at least
fifty Thousand men of that craft have |
gained one hours leisure every day, and |
given employment to many who would |
be without it had the movement not
been made.
In a few places the movement was not
successful, and the enemies of labor
have pndeavured to make the most of It,
In all the struggles Of the human family
we have yet to learn that battle here
and there was not lost. Yet, as mat
ter of fact, even where IT," men were
defeated, the Unions have doubled and
trebled their strength, and "A spirit of
enthusiasm and energy prevails, with
the determination to conquer their de-
mands next season.
Several trades besides the carpenters
have reduced their hours Of labor to
eight per day in several cities, House
Trainers, Stone Masons, Artificial Stone
Masons. Stair Builders, plasterers, Lath
ers, Fresco Painters, Wood Caryers, and
others
The Granite Cutters National Union
has secured the general adoption of the
nine hour day throughout the country.
The German-AmeriCan Topographic
has enforced the eight hour workday in
nearly every German printing office in
America.
The Clerks and Statesmen have organ
lied in many cities, and secured the ear
" closing of the stores. They are at
work on the preIiminaries to organize "a
national union Of their calling,
In thirteen cities the members Of the
Journeymcn Taiors National Union
have restricted their hours Of labor to
ten per day, and in nearly all higher
wages and improved conditions have
been secured.
The Drllers and Quarrymen's Unions
will hold a convention at Quincy, Mass,
August It'll, to form National Union
The Bakers have generally secured {
reduction of the hours of their labor.
The Ex-Councll of the A. F. of l.. ha,
endorsed House Bill 10,25l by Mr., 81
monds, of Conn, advocated 10y The
|. T. T., known as the Internationa
Copyright Bill" tcontains provision
to prevent the importation of printed
matter in pilates, and secures the com
position of all books copyrighted in tn
United States.
All organizations report large in
creases in membership and IN the mum
Der of their local branches.
The first invitation for the lnterna
tional Labor Congress, to be held i
Chicago, Ill.,, in 1898, has been issued,
The Sailors and Firemen's luterna
tional Union is making rapid progress
and extending its field of operations
Many concessions i'll wages and treat
ment have been gained, The Bosto
Union has membership of 800.
The United Mine Workers of Americ
4, 4 10, l,.,, Il, Il {.
the eight hour workday, May !, 1891
The document announcing the decisio
is manly in tone, and is Il clear preseI
tation of the necessity for the move
ment
President Gompers has addressed tn
combined locals of all the K. Il. Brothel
hoods August /, at Louisville, Ky
upon the question of " Federation"
The spirit of fraternity with the wag'
workers of Europe is becoming MOI
marked.
At the philadelphia convention Of IL
Textile Workers, held July 4, it was IT
solved TO bring all the Unions of I'll
different branches of the trade into OF
national organization,
The Cigar Makers International Cnio
%eof America is gaining many advances
Wages all over the country for the ciga
makers. In New York City alone MOI
tVlan 10000 have had their wages raise
from 20 to 40 per cent. in the past fe
months. Every non-union cigar maxi
who becomesa member Immediately b
comes an eight hour man. The Const
tuition Furnishes overwork by fine
fifty cents day. The last finance
report shows balance in the treasul
of S1623 for each member in the Int
national Union.
The Iron Moulders' Union of Nor
America has Just closed one of the me
successful conventions in the history
that grand organization. That tried al
true co-worker, ?. +. Fitzpatrick, d
cIned a reelection, and Martin Fo