Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-06
FOR AN EIGHTIHOUR DAY
Resolutions to Be Brought Before the
American Federation.
Proposed Effort to Educate the COun-
try-Other Questions of IN
tercst to Labor.

The all-abs orbing topic, at the present
time In the ranks of organized labor
throughout the country is as to what will be
the outcome of the national convention of
the American Federation of Labor to begin
in New York city Monday next.
A letter received in this city during the
past week relates considerable detail of the
work to be presented to the convention 1t
says that ex-President Samuel Gompers,
who will represent the Cigar Makers Inter
rational Union, will offer resolution that
the executive council be directed to Use all
honorable means in their power to procure
the passage of a law by Congress OF an Or
der from the President for the publication
CT government contracts and the particulars
of the contracts in the Labor Bulletin of the
United States. .
1t is also intended by one of the other lead
ing organizations, through It's delegate to
the convention, to ask that two men be sent
at the expense of the American Federation
of Labor for limited time TO the southern
states for the purpose # possible Of organ
izing the textile operatives.
AS might have been expected, Chicago will
make an effort to have the headquarters
permanently established at that city, in
stead of Icing at INDIANAPOLIS, the residence
of President Mcbride, where they now
located. When the convention was held in
chicago two years ago the question Of maxi
ing the headquarters in Chicago was brought
before the meeting and the chief reason it
was defeated because it is said, the
delegates from the unions in that city did
not display sufficient energy in pushing the
matter
The following is copy of the resolutions
in reference to the proposed eight-hour
day, which. as foreshadowed in The Star,
will be probably the most important mat
ter to be brought before the convention:
Whereas, We fully cognzant that
the general Introduction of machinery, the
division and subdivision of labor has large
ly qu!ckcned the methods of the produce
ton OF wealth; that the productivity of the
toilerS has been, and is, daily accelerated
and that in consequence thereof the work
of the employed has become more burden
some and enervating. and for the purpose
of securing more leisure and opportunity
for the overwOrked and remuneratiVe en-
ployment for the voorhees, workers, We
the delegates to the fifteenth annual con-
Vention of the American Federation of
Labor, demand. on economic, social. poit-
ical, hygienic and moral grounds, that the
hours Of labor of Americas workers shall
be reduced to at most eight per day; there
fore,
Resolved. That the executive council be,
and they are hereby, directed. Immediately
urun the adjournment of this convention
to issue an address to the wage-earners of
this country. urging them to join the
unions of their respective trades or call
ingS, wherever such unions exist, and to
fern unions where there are none now
with the View of securing for them all pos
s:ble advantages accruing from organiZa-
tic n, and especially to put in operation the
eiSht-hour work day.
Resolved, That the president notify the
executive officers of national and interna-
t.onal unions affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor that this convention
has authorized the executive council to Sc
lect one or more trades to make the de
nand. and if necessary, TO enter into the
struggle to attain the eght-hour work day
ard to ascertain wni.h trade or trades de-
S:rc to be 81 selected.
Other resolutions. which it has been de
cided to bring forward will be to en-
deavor to get employers to concede an
eight-nour day voluntarily, to secure the
cooperation of the press, pulpit, public
speakers and reformers generally, the hold
ing of pubic meetings throughout the
country On Washngtons birthday. Febru-
airy -. and on May 1, 1896 general
demonstration and public meetings all over
the states