Huntsville gazette., 1893-12-16

than Three Millions Out of Employment
The Remedy.
CHICAGO, Dec. 12.-The annual ad-
dress of President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor is
lengthy document, and in its entirety
would fill nearly ID page of a 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
erai 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.
1t 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-
pirate, so that we may be better en-
abled to so frame our legislation that it
may tend to
A PROPER SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM
depended upon the wage workers for
solution. From the time industry be-
gan to emerge from the panic of 1873
20 there began the introduction Of vast
~ improved machinery, tools and
methods of production. The inventions
in electricity, the general application
of this force as well as steam to indus
try, was, indeed, 'displacing labor
faster than new industries could be
founded. Production, production, pro-
duction, faster, greater, was the i'm
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
Germ that from conditions abn OF mol
and abominable industrial stagnatiop
must ensue? We, the representatives
of the organized toiling masses of the
country, offered the only reasonab bic,
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.
1t is unnecessary to repeat the lament
able incident which frustrated the
eight-hour movement of 1885. But in
1890, the Federation of Labor, true to
its 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 1898 would have been averted, de-
ferred and certainly rendered less in
tense. The only method by which a
practical, just and safe equilibrium
can be preserved in the industrial
world for the fast and ever-increasing
introduction of machinery is a COM
mensurate
REDUCTION OF THE HOURS OF LABOR.
/ am very sure that if employers
were to substitute a division of the
work required among all their work
ers, instead of the discharge of num-
Der, we would much sooner emerge
from the present industrial and COM
mercial stagna ton.
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-
gress and in the legislatures whenever
and wherever the opportunity offers.
| Let us never be recreant to our trust,
and regardless Of political affiliations
or predictions, always vote against
| those whose
| INTERESTS ARE INIMICAL TO LABOR
There is still too great division and
| lack of cohesive action among the toll
| ing masses of our country, not only on
political lines, but on economic lines
also. The greatest factor in antago-
nizing the demands of labor is the
large number of unorganized workers
IN 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
to the unorganized wage earners-that
is to say on political lines. Should the
wage earners Of our country act more
| in harmony with each other in this
field of their duties we would rest
more assured that legislation sought in
| the interest of labor would be more
readily forthcoming, and we would
have less, if any, necessity to oppose
and resist legislation repressive or
| ANTAGoNIsTIC TO ITS CHARACTER.
Let rs devoutly hope that as the final
result of our efforts TO organize, edu.
cate and secure concessions for the toll.