The times., 1891-02-20
THE COMING FIGHT.
a Gigantic Labor Strike Prepar'
ing for May.
MINE WORKERS GETTING IN LINE.

Hands at Columbus, GA Dramatic
Scene of Reconciliation - Gompers
Makes an Address Calling on the Men
to Close Up for Eight Hours - Day
A Movement That VIII Involve !. al, 900
Workmen.
COLUMBUS, o., Feb 11.-High above the
stage of the City hall, in evergreen letters
foot long, hangs the motto: Eight
Hours Per Day" Elsewhere upon the
walls of the spacious room are other mot
toes having n similar import. They ex.
future demands of the United Mine
Workers Of America, whose first annual
convention began here yesterday morning.
The American federation, it is known,
has selected the giant miners organiza-
tion to make the next great national
struggle for eight hours Thousands Of
workmen, with an almost perfect organi-
cation and backed by millions Of dollars,
will engage in the battle against aggre-
gated capital.
Prominent Men Present.
At this mine workers. annual conven-
tion it is expected that much of the pre-
liminary detail of the impending battle
will be arranged. For this reason the ses-
sion is attracting national interest from
other than the mining interests. Besides
the general officers of the mine workers,
many distinguished labor leaders are pres
ent, among whom are Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fedora
tion of Labor; Secretary and Treasurer
Hayes, of the Knights of Labor general
assembly; A. w. Wright, member of the
general executive board Knights of La.
Dor; Hugh j. Kavanaugh, general worthy
foreman, Kni yhts of Labor and Hon. John
Mcbride, Ohio state commissioner Of la
Dor statistics.
Hands Across n Chasm.
At the morning session committees on
credentials and on rules having been ap-
pointed committee was sent to escort
President Gompers and the other distin.
guished gentlemen to the hall. When
they appeared upon the stage a dramatic
scene ensued. President John B. Rae, of
the United Mine workers, stepped for
ward to the front of the platform, holding
in his own the hands of Mr.. Gompers, of
the American Federation, and Mr..
Wright, of the Knights of Labor. The
resonant cheers which q moment before
had beat against the castellated roof of
the vast hall were for a moment hushed
into stiffness profound. Said President
Rae, in tones of triumph and civilizations:
"Tnese clasped hands are indicative of the
true spirit of fraternity of feeling which
joins and cements the interests of these
three giant labor organizations"
Gompers Delivers an Address.
Then again great volumes of sound
broke the stiffness. Cheer upon cheer
from the lusty throats of brawny miners
rose 30 the ceiling and were echoed back
only to be caught and returned upon an
advancing wave of renewed applause.
President Gompers then addressed the
convention, his remarks treating princi-
pally of the eight-hour movement. He
said, substantially:
think the very happy incident Just given
by your president indicates the feeling between
the labor organizations of the country.
think it would be apropos to speak of the eight
hour movement. The American Federation of
Labor decided that there shall be a successive
movement Of national trades for the establish.
ment of the eight hour work day.
Advantages of Eight Hours.
We believe, or rather the history of tho labor
OTRstulIttlOHS luuSJTdJcS budU u TeuuCLlOn In
the hours of labor has been invariably followed
by an increase in wages; also q betterment of
the condition OF the wage-workers. It gives
them that most important factor in lifetime;
time that commences with our first breath and
ends only when we die; time to cultivate our
minds, our bodies; time to devote to our fami
lies; to raise our children as they should be
raised; to promote the fraternal feeling among
men, There is no one question so far-reaching
that promises so great results and to accom-
plish our emancipation rs to reduce the hours
Of labor.
Successes of the Past.
May J. $780, witnessed and passed over q blood
less revolution. The carpenters selected by the
A. +. Of l.. not only reduced the hours of labor
but thousands of others reduced their hours of
labor. While there were quito large number
who did not succeed they came out of the con-
test with flying colors; numerically, financially
and in every way better than when they en-
tered. Movements of labor for reform are re-
warded by an amount Of success in the same
degree that there is spirit of valor on the one
hand, a spirit of aggressiveness on the other
ought to be tolerated. We must go at it deter
minedly and not take step backward.
Work Before the Convention.
Irecognize the representative character of
this convention, and its power to do good work
You not only are required to carry out the in
etructionS OF previous conventions of miners,
but come fresh from your constituents know
ing their wants and feelings, and you are in a
position to legislate positively their wishes.
You also have the wishes of other trades to car
ry out, that you insist on the enforcement of
the eight-hour work-day. fApplausel May !,
1880, must witness the inauguration for the
miners of the country OF an eight-hour work.
day. You will meet in conference in n few
months with the operators. Let them under
stand that the United Mine Workers are a
unit on at least one question, that is, eight
hours; that you are standing as q solid pha.
lanx from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from gulf
to gulf, for an eighthour-worl day
A Plea for United Action.
There must be peIfcct accord and frankness
with up. All through the working forces OF
the country there is n pulse-beat, a common
impulse for the success of the movement The
impetus obtained by the miners this year will
give the employers such an idea that suspen.
sion will not be necessary in the other trades TO
secure eight hours. hope they will show tho
good sense to concede you eight hours.
A Contest Settled.
At the afternoon session there was a
long and animated contest as to the cre-
dentials of John Costello and Charles Nc
Donald, of Pittsburg. Each claimed to be
entitled to seat in the convention. Both
were finally admitted upon the tacit un-
derstanding that they would pay certain
dues which had formed the bone of con-