The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-11
WORKMBu'S CONGRESS
To Be Convened for Mutual.
Interest and Benefit, Not
for Partisan Pur-
poses.
STATE FEDERATION OF TRADES.
Call Issued by the Executive Com
mittee-Report on Labor
Legislation.

The executive Committee of the
Federation of Trade aud Labor Unions
of New Jersey is actively preparing for
fifteenth annual congress of that body.
which will take place at Holstein's Hail,
First and Bloomfield streets. Hoboken,
August 81. Over $50 labor organizations
will be represented. The call, after Civ
ing the basis of representation and an
outline of the business to be transacted.
closes with these words:-
H PRESENT NECESSITY OF AGGEEs.
sIvENEss.
Never before IN the history of organ-
lied labor in New Jersey did n necessity
like the present exist for united aud ag-
gressive action on the part of the wag g
eRrners. Danger confronrs us in our
shops, and can only be averted by intel
ligent, bold aud determined united
action. The maintenance of the rate of
wages now paid, and the increase OF
wages as we'll as the reductions of worK-
ing hours depends solely upon u own
| efforts. It is for us to say whether the
legislature will repeal laws passed for
the good OF the working people and de-
| feat measures offered in their interest.
Tue organized w~orkingmen of New Jer-
sey hold the political balance of Dowsr.
and if they fail to use it well and wisely
they viii! deserve all the misery that their
folly Will bring upon Them"
The congress Will be In session but one
day. but the importance OF their work
| may necessitate another day.
BJECT OF THE FEDERATION.
The objects of the Federation ares
First. The encouragemen 1T aud forma-
tion of local trades aud wage-labor
unions, aud the closer federation of such
societies through the organization OF
| central trade and labor unions in every
city, and the further combination of sucu
bodies in the State Federation of Trades
and Labor Unions.
"Second. The establishment aud pro-
motion of national and international
| trades unions based upon a strict recog-
milton of the autonomy of each trade.
Third. The federation of all national
and international trades unions to ai(
aud assist each other. and, furthermore
| to secure State and National Legislation
In the interests OF the wage-wor kers, ant
influence public opinion by peaceful aud
legal methods in favor Of organized
labor.
Fourth. To aid and the
labor press"
ONLY A CONVENTION Of WAGE WORKERS.
An important extract from the cali Is
the following
1Aa "a b. III 49, oAN
purely n convention of wage workers.
convene for their mutual interest and
benefit. II in. no sense for partisan pur
poses, the Federation declares tn at n,
resolution of a partisan character tend
ing to indorse any political party shall bs
entertained, received or acted upon bJ
the congress-.
'The Executive Committee most earn
estly urges all trades and labor unions d
once to elect their best men az delegate
men who are above intrigue nj whose
hearts are entirely with the aims aud as
plrations of the great labor movement Of
the world. The people of New Jersey
and OF other States will have their eyer
upon our congress, and it ls, therefore
important that it shall be composed oil
honorable and able mon who have nc
personal aims and whose wisdom u in
telligence will create harmony and lead
to success"
The Executive Committee consists 0
J. P. Mcdonnell, Paterson; Thomas Nc.
Govern. Hautson: ID. Elwell Cook. Tren
ton; J. E. Mears. Newark; Hugh Clark
this city: a. Silverston, Newark; S.. Holt
Paterson; l. L. Reed. Trenton, and e
Prizes. Paterson.
LABOR LEGISLATION.
The following address on labor leRiSla
ton, signed by President Mcdonnell and
Secretary Mears, has been Issued
"A full report OF the efforts made t.
pass bills in the interest of wage labor b.
the Executive Board of the New Jersey
Federation OF Trades and Labor Union
at the late session of the Legislature
will he made at the fifteenth annua
Congress in Hoboken on Monday. Angus
81, 1898. IL is to he hoped that all trad
and labor organizations In New j erse
will in the meantime affiliate with tn,
Federation 30 that they may be repre-
caofa1 fv n a1forofoS at the Gop1r0ac I'm
annual c%apitation tax of Is cents pc
member of zach organization Is insIgnifl
cant while the advantages TO be derivet
by labor, organized and unorganized. al.
ipfiinitesimal.
"For the information, however, of af1lf
ated unions / will now briefly state tn
results of our efforts. The folloWin.
bills were introduced
IAN eight our work dav for ali pub
lie employees at not less b q So a day
No. 20S.
INCREASING the powers Of the Stat
Board of Arbitration. No. 100.
providing for the payment Of wage
every two weeks. No. 98.
Against the sweating system. No
1871.
For the licensing aud examination c
Engineers. Nc. So.
"Abolisning the contract system c
State printing. No. 205.
Making 1t unlawful Tor employers I
demand or receive written or verba
pledges from workinen not TO belong t
trade or labor unions. No. 90.
FOR The publication of legal ADVERT!
ing in LABOR papers. No. 156.
For the observance OF all legal holi
days. No. ISL
.Of the foregoing bills only two passet
namely, Senate bill No. 81 and Hous
bill No. 16l, and only the latter has b,
come law. These important measure
would PROBABLY not have pas sed were
rot for The persistent efforts of your IsI
resenratives, and it is very likely tn,
some Of the defeated measures woul
have passed IL the working people ha
given aid either by moral suasion {
financial contribution.
DEFEAT OF Il FIFTY FIVE HOUR RE
PEALER
1.-THE greatest victory of the session wa!
the defeat of the bill for the repeal CT TIL,
Ftfiy-tive Hour law. This bill was MOI