The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
RIGHT TO WORK.
Federation OF Labor Says 1t ls the
Right to Live.
Plushmakcrs' Union, of Bridgeport, Ct,
Asks Ala to Prevent Reduction of Wages
Favor Government Ownership and
Control of the Telegraph System.

CHICAGO, Dec. 15--W. b. Prescott, OF
Indianapolis, president of the Interna-
tional Typographical unioIl called the
fourth days session of the Americun
Federation to order Thursday morning.
A communicati from the Plush
workers union, of Bridgeport, CT. asks
ing the aid of the federation to pre-
vent reduction of wages was present
ed by Secretary Evans.
1t says that the wages had been re-
duceA twice, and in some departments
th,ee times, and that it Is now pro-
posed to reduce the tariff five per cent,
and still another cut is contemplated.
The convention was not in humor to
take up the subject, and so the COM
munication went to the table, while an
invitation from the Business Mems
League, of Augusta, Ga. went on file.
Chairman Thomas Morgan, of the
committee on resolutions then loomed
up with big batch of favorable re-
ports, one of these declaring in favor
of government ownership and control
of the telegraph system of the country,
and instructing the officers of the fed
Grafton to inaugurate an energetic
campaign in favor of it. Their project
was unanimously adopted.
BY u majority vote it was decided to
invite John Burns, the English labor
leader, to visit the United States and
deliver series of addresses, with the
view of securing greater unity of eff
fort in the direction. of ameliorating
the condition of the laboring people.
1t was decided to petition congress
to raise the wages of United States sea-
men to $40 per month, and the resolu-
ton declaring in favor of the election
of senators by popular vote, was
adopted by acclamation.
So was resolution of request to con-
gress to speedy enactment of a law
establishing postal savings banks. 1t
was further declared that evening
schools should be established through
out the country in connection with day
schools.
1t was resolved that, while the con-
vention applauded the humane effort
that prompted private relief for the
unemployed, yet insisted that it was
the province and duty of the city, state
and national government to afford ade-
quate relief
Another resolution was read as fol-
lows:
'"rhe system of society which denies
the willing man opportunity to work,
treats him as an outcast and Furnishes
him as felon, is by this convention
condemned as iuhuman and destructive
to the liberties of the race. Therefore
Resolved, That the right to work is
the right of life; that to deny the one
is to deny the other; that when the pri-
vate employer can not or will not give
work, the municipality, state or nation
must"
The political programme to which
the federation was asked to pledge
itself was as follows:
1, compulsory education; 2, direct
legislation; 8, a legal eight-hour work
day; 4, sanitary inspection of work
shop, mine and home; 5, liability OF
employers for injury to health body or
life; 6, abolition of the contract sys-
TEN in all public works; Z, abolition OF
the sweating system; 8, municipal own
ership of street cars, gas and electric
plants; Q, naturalization of telegraph,
telephone, railroads and mines.