New-York tribune., 1890-04-29
LABOR FORCES MASSING.
STRONG FOR AN EIGHT HOUR woRKDAY
GOOD ADVICE FROM SAMUEL GoMPEhs-A

GENERAL STRIKE DEfhEOAAA@'
TIERS TO MAKE THE FIRST FIGHT
An ;mnortant meeting of the Executive Coun-
oil 4 tho American Federation of Labor was held
a. No 81 CIinton Place yesterday. at which the
situation. conditions and possibilities OF organized
labor were thoroughly discussed. Those present
werc Samuel Gompers, president; +. j. Mc"ulrc
and William Martini vice-presldcnts: Henry En-
rich treasurer and Christopher Evans, secretary.
Mr. Gompers said that he was well-Satlsncd WIN
the outlook for workday OF elSht hours' ana
that he hoped and believed that worklngmeh
would follow the advice given IN the Following
circnlar. which the Executive Council issued last
night:
To the Toilers Of America
Cree,Thc The manifestation Of determination on your
~ - hold the banner OF tho cghthour movement aloit
a 90 carry Il along until victory shall have been achieved
[ hone encouragement and rejoicing to the lowers OF
roeress I'm our country and finds hearty ann re-
sponsve chord in the hopes anu aspr"'i"is vi '"o ~
trodden tolers of Europe -,
,l,dv we see emperors kings, autocrats and all
other enemies to the Of labor and progress Iaseu
and naralvzed with Of the growing power ana inc
noblo purposes of the masses . .
about 10 be concentrated antagonze the ntroduc'
ton of the simple. beneficial and essential lnno'e"e'
CONSEQUENT upon a reduction In the hours OF iaDor pu'
70 seek 70 provoke you into furious contest.
rho ancourapenent our movement has implanted among
r follow working people. and the corresponding antag'
onsm manifested on the part OF our ."c"l,''
should convince us more uah 'uB"'
the nolicy We thus far pursued Is the one 'a'
ho,,d he followed without any deviation whatever.
Tbs advice and suggestions thus far given ana MADE
for the conduct of our movement havins receiV'u S
approval 1 make bold to submit others which to
NV mind will TO greater degree o SUCCESS 0h"n
could otherwise be obtained
The Executive Council Of the American Federation
of Labor having selected the United Brotherhood oi
carnenters and Joners OF America TO make the demand
for the enforcement OF the eight-hour workday ASA
Won 10 refrain from any sympathetic strikes rather remain
AZ your work and aid the carpenters and ones to win
in the contest.
To the carpenters joiners my advice is TO demand
and insist upon the eight-hour workday 1t Is not
matter Of theory positive fact that the question
cf wages and conditions Will regulate
themselves and your benefit. the eishthour
worSday has been operation. For that reason you
cannot secure the eghthour workday with other con
d,;ons then allow remain open for future ADJUST
ment.
In the demonstrations to be held May turn out in vast
numbers. and by your presence manifest your unar"oe
determination have the eghthouF worhday .hioccn
though by one time yet for all ~ the ultimate
result Allow to provoke You TO breach oi u'e
pcace Maintain order refrain from all violence ehRa~e
in no riots. Let the watchword be the enforcement o '
cight.hour workday. Firm. peaccabe and positive with
stout hearts and heads let concentrate all efforts
for victory on the carpenters and joiners
Men of labor steady along the line for the achievement
Of cght-hour wOrkday. fratcfnaly yours
SAMUEL GOMPEkS,
President OF the American Federation Of Labor
At the headquarters Of the international
Furniture Workers Union yesterday Henry
Enrich, president Of the union, SAID thai thc
furniture workers had determined to take no
part in the eghl-hOur movement Tor ihehlscl'f''
but would strike in sympathy with Tie carpenters
where they were employed in the same shop
At recent conference between oihcers OF We
international Furniture Workers mon ana mos
lolf for fn mn q r
ranging for a plan OF united action IN case "l
strikes. no agreement was made on account oi
the demands each union made.
The cigarmakcrs belonging 70 the lnfcrnailonal
Union will turn out in a body on May to at
tend the eight-hour demonstration ~ mon
Square. strike began yesterday morning III
the factory OF Lewis * Co., in Riyin2ton-s'
for an advance Of prices for picrc-work on 900
cigars. Other strikes am in tnc, shops Of Max
Adler. Kaufman q CO.. and ;. !acooy' Three
hundred men are on strike altogether.
A meeting of shirmskers was held yesterday
afternoon. at which the strike IN the factory OF
We'll Haskell * Co. settled and the en-
ploycs will rctarn 10 work To-day. The shirt
makers and nce-brecches-make viii join IN the
eight-hour demonstration in connection with the
United Hebrew Trades.
over 700 sweaters are still on strike on the
East Side in the shops OF thrtY-iivc contractors.
A committee Of the knccBreccLcs iniOh called on
the wareh0usemen' recently. and told them tney
were striking for an advance Of II per cent. NE
latter were surprised. for the contractors had tod
them the advance demanded was from 80 10 -
per cent. The contractors, according u lhc oP-
orators wished to pocket the difference meet
inc will be held tomorrow in Siccklcrs Court
by the contractors, operators and Stat" loard oi
Mediation and ArbitratlOn to make one last az
tempt TO settle the strike peacefully.
Tie knee -biccchcs-maNcr gave n hall ana en-
tertainmcnt at No. % Ilcstcr-st. on SUNDAY even
ing and while it was al lis height hVc detectives
entered and dispersed the 900 people present,
saving that the dance was against the law. ne
knee -brcechcs-maker are indignant. and say that
they now believe these men. two oi whom thrN
assert were under the influence OF liquor, were
private detectives hired by toe contractors u
break up the meeting The clothing-cuticrs nave
decided to strike in all shops where Inc knee
brccchcs-makers are on strike. Local unions have
oiven S2G2 80 70 the strikers. who say that they
are cnioying their forced vacation
The Consolidated PAYERS Union has dccldcd 70
demand 81 30 q day after May J.
The Ale and Porter Brewery EMPLOYEES Associa-
rim viii demand a worSday of eight hours on
May 3. ,,- .,,o ..oso;o ,,.,,l,
49,. =; In nrocrcss for workday Of nine hours