The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-11
UNITED NINE WORKERS,
MEETING IN THEIR FIRST ANNUAL
COSyENTIOS.

,o,, r,ch, Hours Per Day. Their Motto
| A., r1oouent speech on the Subject by Presi-
,,.n, compers-A Dramatic Scene Uniting
two Labor Organization.
CoruMpus. o.. Feb. 10.-High above the stage
Of the city hall. in evergreens foot long,
hangs themotto, Eight Hours Only Per Day."
Elsewhere upon the walls OF the spacious
room are other notices having similar I'M
| port.
They express the sentiment and indicate
the future demands of the United Mine
Workers OF America. whose first annual con-
vention began here this morning. The
American Federation. it is known, has Sc
Iected the Giant Miners organization to
make the next great national struggle for
! eyht hours Thousands of workmen, with
! almost perfect organization, and backed by
millions OF dollars. viii DE engaged IN the BAT
| tie against aggregated capital. At THIS NINE
workers annual convention II l. expected that
much OF the preliminary battle will De ar
ranged For this reason the session attracts
national interest.
LABOR LEADERS PRESENT.
Beside the general officers If mino-workers,
| many distinguished labor leader, are present.
among whom are Samuel GOmpeis, president
of the American Federation Of Labor; Sccre-
tary Hayes of the Knights of Labor general
assembly: A. w. Wright, member Of general
executive board. Knights of Labor and editor
of the knights OF Labor journal: Hugh >.
Cayanaueh. general worthy foreman If the
Knights of Labor. and Hon John Mcbride,
Ohio State Commissioner of Labor
At the morning session committees on Gre
dentials and rules having been appointed
committee was sent To- escort President tom
pers and the other distinguished gentlemen 20
the hall.
DRAMATIC SCENE.
When they appeared on the stase dra-
matte scene cnsucd President j. b. Rae. OF
the United Mine Workers. stepped 10 the
front of the platform. holding IN his Own. the
hands of Mr. Gompers and Mr.. Wright Ihen
| cheers. which moment before .hah h'1l
AGAINST the caste'ated iron 81 On" vast hnl,
were fora moment hushed into stiffness pro-
found. Said President Rae IN tones OF
I triumph and oXu.tati0u. These clusucd
hands are iudicutlV" of true spirit of fraternity
Of feeling which Joins and ceAents the intei-
est Of these three giant labor organizations.
Then aca'n great volumes Of pandemoniac
sounds broke the stiffness. Cheer upon cheer
from the usty thr1afs 81 luwuy miners Pose
o. the ceiling and WAS echoed back. only to Dee
/ caught aud returned upon AL advancing wave
OF renewed applause.
THE FIGHT-H0UG LAW.
President GOmpers then addressed the con-
vcutiln lis remarks treating principally ot
the eight-h0ur movement. lin said. sun>tan-
TALLY. II think the happy incident Just given
10y your president indicates Tie feeling Dee
tween the labor organizations or oar country.
/ think ii would Dee apr0pos to speak az an
cight-hOur movement. The American Fed
Grafton of Labor decided that there snail be- a
succi -iye movement Irrational Trades for.he
establishment OF an cight-hour work-day. We
believe. or rather the history of the labor or
carnations illustrates, tlat reduction in the
hours Of labor has invariably been followed
by an increase in wages also hettement OK
the condition Of wage-workers.
IMPORTANT FACTOR N LIFE.
It gives them that most important factor in
lifetime Time that commences with
ont first rest, aud ends only when we die
time to cultivate our minds, our bodies time
o. devote 10 our families. % raise our chill
dren as they should bee raised, to promote the
fatcrual feeling among men. There Is no
one question SO far reaching, that promises so
great results and To accomplish our enamel
patton, rs to reduce the hours of labor.
Nav L. 1890 Witnessed and passed over q
bloOdless revolution. The carpenters selected
by the American Federation IF Labor not only
reduced the hours of labor. but thousands of
others reduced their hours of labor. While
there were quite a large number who did not
succeed they came out Ot the contest with
flying cOlors financially. and IN every way
better than when they entered. No tnnt
hoartedness in the labor movement ought %
be tolerated. We must $50 forward determin-
eddy, and not backward.
REPRESENTATIVE CHARACTER.
| recognize the representative character Of
this convention and its power 10 20 do good
work. You not only are required to carry
out instructions Of previous conventions Of
miners. but come fresh from your cOnsttu-
ents. knowing their wants and feelings. and
you are in a position 20 legslate positively
their wishes You also have the wishes OF
other trades 10 carry ont. that You insist on
the enforcement Of the cight-h0ur work day
Applause.
Nay 1. 1891, must witness the Inauguration
for the miners of tie country of an eighthour
work day. You will meet IN conference IN a
few months with the operators. Let them
understand that the united NINE WORKERS are
"a unit on 40 least one QuesuOn-tlat eight I
hours. That you are standing as solid nom |
the Atlantic 20 the Pacific, from gulf To gui' |
Tor an elght-hOur work day.
ACCORD AND FEANKNEss.
There must be perfec: accord and frankncss /
with us. I'LL through the Working torceso Of the /
country there Is pulse beat. q common hope /
for the success of this movement. The impetus /
obtained by the miners this year VIII give the /
employers such an idea that q suspension VIII /
not be necessary IN the other trades to secure |
eight hours. hope they viii show the good |
sense 10 c0ncede you eight hours.
Az the afternoon session there Was 70 lengthy |
and animated contest 90 the credentials Of /
John Costell and Charlie, Mcdonald Of Pitts |
burg. Each claimed "a seat ~ the convention. |
Both were finally admitted, upon the under |
standing that they would pay certain dues.
which had formed tie bone Of contention |
leading 20 the contest
Exercise and Health.
The disposition among professional and lit |