The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-27
THE LABOR LEADERS.
SPEECHES BY JAMES MCCONNELL
AND SAMUEL GOMPERS.
The Meeting Occurred in Old Market Hal
ApIcA fsr short iioors and Tor
Higher Wages.


4alAzci labor discussed
SIR James IS. BouEncrty president OF
the Clear-Makcrs Union. presided over
sAe meeting. and after "a few nrei re-
marks introduced Mr.. James Mc'oh"'',
president OF the National Association OF
Machiuista. who addressed the audience
in reply TO the speech Of Mr. Joseph
Bryan. recently made at thc meeting oil
business mon m the Chamber OF COM
Hsfce.
SIR. Mcconnell said. in reference TO
rff Byan's remarks in feEafd TO Won
done hy the laborcrs at me h..hi'o,.'
Locomotive and Machine WORKS thd' t''
rrurcs given by ar Bryan were moor
rcrt Tho strike. said the speaker was
.ot made hv ORGANIZED labor ana "heh
conference was asked for, l"a' ,'' W.
mowers and employees might reaeh some
satisfactory terms The employees N'io "''
given the advantage OF nearing
,rbc sneaker ihon tried 10 give DDS near
,r4 Information ass 20 Mr.. Bryan posi-
zion Iu his epeeoh above rciciieu TO-
AIR Rrvan had tried Go leave the impress
sion uron his hearers That aoot ois"h'-
cations wore at the bottom OF inc Io,S'
Strikes. and strifcs ecncI"iiy among 'ie
people. These Strikes "i" ''.'',' 49,
Usually led by mon whose motives were
selfish who tried hard 20 gain promi-
r.nrc. through Che newspapers and olhei-
wise by promoting and encouraging Ihcac
pfrulc-oua means.
Air pryan claimed that The discOrd be-
tween employers and employees, said the
sneaker WAS largely brought about ~
these narrow minded schemes Of organ
lied labor.
Reforming 90 the strike az the Locomo-
i've Works bv the now system. said the
sneaker. wages had been reduced from
am average of $3.50 TO So.
JuT NEw sYsrlM
Bv the scheme now in operation. the
s,sfcu boosted Of bv Mr. Bryan. as De-
ing "a help. ana a promonve means 10
Southern mechanics, there had hceh lu-
troduced plan OF competition boy Wi"eh
a skilled mechanic was required 10 take
charge Of a machine which an apprentice
hov had left Wages hal been greatly
reduced and the system Of doing away
with tho apprentice boy was dragging
down tho skilled laboror 20 "a s-aIN"'-on
plane 10 making tools of men, II" lea'h-
ing mon 20 become slaves, with 40
rrosnorfs of promotion, and 90 grinding
Them down 20 "a level that rs unworthy
Of tho training and skill of the artisan
Tho principles of organized labor sail
Mr. Mcconnell, were 20 have ln"'"ai
understanding between all parties coz
corncd. Organised labor was opposed 10
strikes aud riots. They wanted peace
ana harmony between tho masters OF
their trade aud the heads OF factories
wye mike mistakes said the speaker
chat IS human. I'm glad 10 see chat Mr.
Rryau himself acknowledged that hc was
liable 20 mistakes. colleges themselves
make mistakes. The Students i"D',
Thaf does not indicate that the colleges
ehould ho closed What organized labor
demands IS simply fair and honest uh-
d.retaudiur between the lahoring man
and thA employer hy which each may
be benefited. and the skilled artisan re-
cciyc compensation for a long ana care
ful training
SIR. GoMPTEe.
Nir. Doulherfy then introduced ar.
SAINT 81 Gomucrs cN-pre5ldfnl OF t,''
American Federation of Labor. as INC
Labor Lion of America" ana that gen
ffnrnon addressed his hearers. lic sara ne
had "a rcrfect right fla Richmond, when
was "a uart of Gods footsiooL III ANYONE
dlraerced with him, why they couu
a. fee 90 disagree IL the akl'duo" On ~
i.h,r question. tho struggle Tor the Ia
boring mans rights was becoming
nrofeesion. DE wanted 10 enter lne
school al once, SO That he might gel 1-l9
diploma early. 49,, ,
The labor question was but mo voice
or The poor, ground-doWn l"'oIlnh i""l',
fhe moor factory girl for ai euucauou
fhe vote. of the people At large. All
science. religion, politics, ana govern
mont had ifs basis upon the labor ques-
lion. 10 was the hope ana struggle oi
the man who produces wealth TO on,ain
"a larger portion of That wealth.. wen
might the lahoring man say. fortlNe
them. for they Know Hot WAL wv
Nf.n I'm the North. South Fest. and
West had tccn branded and punished
severely for agitaung the rights OF t.e
lahorine man. Tho iaboring man heia
the industrial and governmental powers
rosnorsihlo for their errors.
The uooplc had Co so hungry ana WITH
ont clothes because there was an over
PRODUCTION OF grain and wool ana COZ
ION said the speaker Wasn't IL hnel
on Gods Word 10 say that there was
an over production of these commodities
when the people were suffering Tor the
want of them.
LoNGiNG TOR WORK
GLOW sp,endidiy clevating 10 isl said
Mr.. Gomners. "for a man TO read the
declaration that IL ne had the right OF Ire
liberty. and the pursuit of happiness
when mel are longing for work, willing
20 work. and can lind none. That pro
vision does not mean the right 10 hve
l,ut the right 20 au opportunity TO main
tain that life. I plead for and demand
fhc opportunity 20 work SO as 10 secure
Che comforts as well as the necessities of
ufc."
The speaker then quoted from Shake
er4nrD and Carlyle. anu declared thdt lht
professors of political economy had the
least claim 20 the title scientists than
any other men.
kfrFR POLITICIANS.
lie poured a volley into the politicians,
Statesmen. and hnancicrs of the country.
and n trying "tO hold the mirror up
10 nature" as Dec said reflected some
iamentahle shadows about The rounded
edges of hts speech. An of the modern
IDEAS OF The commercial and industrial
thinkers and writer's We're wrong. de-
elatcd the speaker d. the low wages
ana Ione hours were the basis of indus
trial prosperity China ought to be the
most prosperous country in the world.
The economist, politician, tnancicr au-
thor. and the rest OF the leaders in
thought had failed 20 strike the keynote
of the trouble.
The only remedy for the trouble said
ne was 10 give the working classes an
opportunity go produce and consume what
they produced. and short hours and heavy
wages were AN that was needed TO cs-
tabush harmony and peace among the
people The laboriug man ought 10 have
ar extra room where he could read at
leisure hours. He should have softer
chairs. and an organ or possibly a piano
20 produce comfort and happiness. The
laboror who observed long hours had
no chance TO enjoy these home COM
forts.