The Forrest City times., 1893-12-15
..n-slOENT GOMPEhS

than Three Millions Out of Employ ynent
 The temedy.
 CHICAGO, Dec. 12-The annual ad- dress of President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor Is a lengthy document, and in its entirety would fill nearly page of metro politan newspaper. 1t deals with the industrial depression. its effect upon labor organizations, the necessity for harmony, child labor, political action, the organization of new unions. fed eral labor legislation and kindred topics. Says he on this topic;
 THE INDUSTRIAL DEPRESSION.
 Since August of this year we have been in the greatest industrial depres- sion this country has ever witnessed. It is no exaggeration to say that more than three millions of our fellow toilers throughout the country are without employment and have been so since the time named. This lamentable in dustrial condition is attributed by many to various causes, and it seems to me that the accurate statement of them here is both requisite and appro- priate. so that we may be better en- abled to so frame our legislation that it may tend to
 4 PROPER SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM depended upon the wage workers for solution. from the time industry be- gan to emerge from the panic of 1s73- @ there began the introduction of vast lv improved machinery. tools and methods of production. The inventions in electricity, the general application of this force as we'll as steam to indus try. was, indeed. 'displacing labor faster than new industries could be founded Production, production, pro- duction. faster, greater, was the im- pulse, the thought and motive of the capitalist class. That in the end the greater body of workers comprise those that must of necessity consume the production was given no considera- ton whatever by
 OUR CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
 As result the great store-houses are glutted with the very articles required by the people, without their ability or rather their opportunity to obtain to consume them. Does it require more than ordinary observation to dis cern that from conditions so abnormal and abominable industrial stagnation must ensue? We. the representatives of the organized toiling masses of the country, offered the only reasonable practicable and tangible solution to meet
 THE CHANGED CONDITIONS OF INDUSTRY.
 The federation early foresaw the great difficulty which confronted the people, and in 1884 declared for the movement to reduce the hours of labor. It is unnecessary to repeat the lament able incident which frustrated the eight-hour movement of 1886. But in 1890. the Federation of Labor, true to it's mission, resolved to engage in the movement to gradually enforce the eight-hour work day in which we were partially successful Had we been met by less
 ANTAGONIST OF THE CAPITALIST CLASS and by those who should have been our friends, it is safe to say that the panic of 1903 would have been averted, de- ferred and certainly rendered less in- tense. The only method by which practical, just and safe equilibrium can be preserved in the industrial world for the fast and ever-incre sing introduction of machinery is a com mensurate
 REDUCTION OF THE HOURS OF LABOR.
 l am very sure that if employers were to substitute division of the work required among all their work CTS. instead of tine discharge of num- ber we would much sooner emerge I,~ 1rAt al r,I nercial stagnation."
 AN INTELLIGENT USE OF THE BALLOT by the toilers must largely contribute to tighten the burdens of our economic struggles. Let us elect men from the ranks of labor to represent us in con- t-ress and in the legislatures whenever and wherever the opportunity offers. Let us never be recreant to our trust, and regardless of political affiliations ar predilections, always vote against those whose
 INTERESTS AgH fSfMfcAL TO LABOR.
 There is still too great division and lack Of cohesive action among the toil- ing masses of our country, not only on political lines, but on economic hnes also. The greatest factor in antago- nizino the demands of labor is the large numbe of unorganized workers. Tn economic disputes with employers or in the controversies arising there from in the courts or in the legislative halls, this factor is used to the detri- ment of
 THE ENTIRE BODY OF WAGE WORKERS. Nor is this cause of complaint confined .o tho ,porranizad yyape earnerS-that