The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
LAB0R'S MAYDAY BATTLE
PRESIDENT GOMPBRS ON THE
COMING EIGHT HOUR FIGHT.
how the Long Campaign OF Agitation
and Preparation Has Been Con-
ducted-The Federation Confident
of Winning.

NCOpNftqGt, loyO.1
NEW YORK, April 26.-Public interest
all over the union is awakened to the i'm
portance OF the great movement now in
progress for an eight-hour work-day. At
its convention held in st. Louis in Decem-
Der, 1883, the American Federation of La
Dor, representing a membership of over
500, 900 workers, decided to take the initia-
tive in inaugurating this movement of the
working people of the United States on May
1, 1890. 1t was directed by the convention
that books, pamphlets, circulars, papers and
other documents should be printed and dis
trlbuted throughout the country to en-
tighten the public mind upon this question
and to prepare the way for the general
adoption of the movement
A consensus of opinion was obtained from
the leading minds and the business men of
the country upon the advisability and prac-
ticability of enforcing the eight-hour work
day by agreement with the employers. A
great majority of the gentlemen responded
and extracts from their replies were pub
lished in the daily newspapers at the time.
The next step in the agitation was series
of simultaneous mass meetings throughout
| the country. These were held on Feb. %,
July and Labor day, 1889.
The convention of the federation held in
| Boston last December ratified the decision
of tho st. Louis convention as to the plan
| of action, and instructed and authorized the
executive council of the federation to select
| a trade to make the demand on May /, 1890,
| for the enforcement of the eight-hour day.
| The last of the series of simultaneous mass
meetings, held on Feb. %, 1890, practically
closed the agitation. There have been other
| meetings held since then, and meetings will
4 IN ha M 1
| but these are more preparatory than agita-
| tlve The next step was the selection by the
| executive council in accordance with the
| instructions of the Boston convention, of
a trade to make the demand, and after
some consultation the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners of America were
chosen. 1t was also decided that as soon
as the movement in that trade for the eight
hour day was concluded the United
| Mine Workers of America should
| be the second trade to make
the demand, and 50 on, taking
| each trade in succession until the movement
embraced the entire Industrial field. Trades
were selected In order according to their
| degree of preparation. In each instance the
| injunction was to concentrate the united
efforts of all with view 10 securing a vic
| tory for the trade which should at that time
be the only actively engaged in the move
ment.
The entire staff of vice presidents of the
| United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners have been selected to visit the
principal cities and towns of the country
which are expected to make the eight-hour
demand. In addition to these men George
Z. Mcneil, of Boston; p. j. Mcguire, secre-
tary of the United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners, of Philadelphia; Henry
Lloyd, of Toronto; Henry Enrich, of New
York; William J. Dillon, of Pittsburg;
John Mcbride, of Masslon, O.; David
Ross, of Oglesby, Ill; Frank K Foster,
of Boaton F. G. Kilgallon. OF Wildwood,
Pa; F. NJ. Shafer, of McKeesport, Pa. I;
William II. Kiiber, of Grand Crossing, Ill. !;
| p. T. Fitzpatrick, of Cincinnati. O. John s.
Kirchner, of Philadelphia; Edward l..
Daley, Of Lynn, Mass; j. ii. Burt, Of
| Wheeling, w. Va; Paul Grottkau, Of Mil
waukee, Wis; II. J. Skifington of Charles
| town, Mass. George Gunton, of New York I;
J. II. Bates, of Duluth, Mimi, and myself
will take the field in the same line of pre-
paratory addresses at various meetings
until the day for the movement has arrived
Last week spoke at meetings-on April Is
at Pittsburg, 10th at Columbus, 18th
at Cincinnati, 10Th at Indianapolis, Doth at
Chicago; and during the coming week |
will have meetings in Milwaukee on the
2.st, again at Chicago on the 22d, when a
large mass meeting will be held; Detroit on
the 23d, Cleveland on the Oath, Buffalo on
| the 25th, Syracuse on tho 10Th, Yonkers on
the 9th, and Louisville on May l. | men
ton these matters to illustrate the energy
end thoroughness with which the work of
agitation and preparation for tho culmina-
ton of this great movement has necessarily
been conducted.
CHANGING over the field, think the move
ment thus far, comes up to my expecta-
| tions. We nave not INDUCED in idle boasts.
Our course has been open and above board.
We have endeavored TO enlighten the pub
lie mind and have frankly and honestly
stated our intention to inaugurate the eight
hour movement on May l. We propose,
buncombe. l feel greatly encour-
aged by the general tenor Of the cor
respondence received and the promises
of aid from the organizations towards help
ing those trades that have been selected to
act as the vanguard, TO substantial success.
| am in receipt of communications from all
over the couptry foreshadowing success for
the eight hour movement. Mr.. Menche. a
leading member Of the federation of labor
in Denver, writes me that has never yet
seen, in the history of the movement, such
enthusiasm and spirit as now prevail. This
is the feeling find everywhere.
The strike in Chicago is directly in line
of our movement and 50 is that of the car
penters and joiners in New York This
was the trade selected to take the initiatory
step. When the question of accepting the
task was submitted to the carpenters and
Joiners, they voted upon it and practically
voted unanimously. At their recent meet.
ing, when the final vote was taken, there
was small minority against it; but find
ing the question overwhelmingly decided in
favor Of eight hours, they agreed tc
make the resolution to take the step unan-
imous.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners has membership of 1900
In all Likelihood, many of the kindred trades
will be affected by the action of this union
but how many it is Impossible to tell al
present. There Is q number of other trades
that will make the eignt-hour demand for
the purpose of aiding the selected trades.
There are others that since the Boston con
vention, have already succeeded In estab-
fishing the eight-hour day, the arrange
ment being that it will take effect on
May /. Among those who have
done so are the plasterers, the
cigarmakers and the German printers. be-
sides few others. In all pro ability the
movement will reach the English compos-
itors of the International Typographical
Chion. have reason to believe that some
newspaper establishments in New York
city will adopt the new work-day on May 1,
and that several papers will put the eight
hour rule into effect in their mechanical
departments on that date. These indica-
| tione ara encouraging but thew are no more