The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-17

=. n. SOVEREIGN.
,nent from this date perhaps. but tne
limits OF this article will not permit il.
Enough has been given to show that sixty
odd years ago the working people Of the
United States had already begun the
agitation that has been in progress ever
since, and which, year by year, il tax
ing up more and moro Of the attention
of the entire public and the lawmaking
branches Of the national and state gov.
ernments.
The Organizations OF Today.
During the six decades that have
elapsed since the period of which have
written great strides have been made.
The old days Of 10 and ID hours have
given place in the majority Of oocupa-
tions to the 10 hour day, and the agita-
tion is now for the day of eight hours
In every state laws have been enacted
for the protection Of workingmen such
as were only dreamed Of then. Impris-
onment for debt has practically ceased,
great strides have been made in the di.
rection OF the abolition of contract con-
vict labor, and in many states boards of
arbitration have been created, and in
many ways the law now takes cogni.
Eance Of matters that are of vital interest
10 workingmen. No matter how indi-
vidual opinions may differ as to the val
ne of labor organisations, there is no
doubt that without their aid the men
would never have won the victories
which they prize 30 highly, and despite
their defeats, which have been many
and sometimes believed to be crushing,
the organization idea is gaining ground
every day
There are two great divisions among
the labor organizations Of the United
States. In tho first may be classed the
great railroad brotherhoods, the unions
affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor and the international and ma
tional trades unions. In the second may
be classed the assemblies of the knights
of Labor and the American Railway
union. The basic difference between
the two types may be summed up in
the statement that each union of the
first class possesses autonomy as to its
own local affairs. 1t orders its own
strikes and directs its own local policy,
whereas the assemblies of the Knights
or Labor are to q much greater extent
governed by the general officers Of the
order, as are the local unions Of the A.
r. u. by the general officers of that or
der The unions affiliated with the Fed
Grafton OF Labor, for instance. bear
about the same relation to that organi-
zation that the states OF the republic
bear to the federal government, all local
laws and rules being made by each un-
ion, while the X. of l.. assemblies are
by rules laid down by the gen.
eral assembly.
Many efforts have been made looking
to closer unity between the different or
and three harmony con-
ferences" Of national scope have been
held within the last year. Samuel
Gompers, head of the federation; Gen /
eral Master Sovereign of the knights Of I
Labor; p M. Arthur, chief of the Broth.
erhood of Locomotive Engineers; Frank
Sargent. chief Of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen; Eugene V. Dehs.
president of the American Railway un-
ion; John Mcbride of the United Mine
and most Of the other leaders
are all in favor of unity, but for some
reason it has 30 far failed to material.
he. Possibly the national recognition
IF Labor day as holiday may tend to
hasten its accomplishments
l. d. MARSHALL