The Indianapolis journal., 1896-12-15


that the tenacious adherence TO keep the
general trades-union movement out OF the
maestrom or party politics was not only
our or orsasiyao III nsaet bui would
also render our movement more potent and
influential for coed than ever. 10 stand as
tacle was sufficiently disheartening 10 see
unionists working side by side. yet antag-
i2 onaing each other poltie;a,lly;, H., and to see see
have for years advocated IN their organiza-
ton. At least the officers OF the American
Fedora ton OF Labor have kept aloof from
party political action and have sought 10
induce affiliated unions to keep this apple
OF discord from without their councils. L
feel assured, now that our fellow -unionists
can view the course pursued more calmly.
they Will agree that our movement is above
party and that our organizations are just
as essential as at any time in the history
OF labor and would be so. regardless OF
which way the political pendulum would
have swung.
There is. too. an entirely erroneous i'm
preston regarding trades-union activity
and its influences. IL Is often imagined and
sively at the ballot box. Nothing can be
further from the fact than this. There Is
not an action which the unions can take.
whether IL be an increase OF wages. an
hour more leisure secured for the toflers,
factory rule modified or even any other
condition changed and improved without
having its political effect and its political
influence. In the same degree that the
conditions and regulations under which
they are employed Will their associated
voices he heard and Needed In the halls or
legislation; their will will be the will OF the
people. the will of the Nation or the inn
portance of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES organiza-
ton, more thorough organization, so that
our will may oe enforced in all lines OF
labor's interests-let US never lose sight.
THE EIGHT-HOUR MOVEMENT.
"As per instructions, the executive coun-
Gil early set to work for the purpose of Sc
curing some concessions for an eight-hour
workday. A number of unions made the
demand. and in many instances secured IL
by strikes. A much larger number. how
ever. had the reduction conceded 10 them
without even the necessity OF ceasing their
work. Having in mind the great influences
that reduction in the hours of labor have
upon the economic. social political and
moral conditions of the workers and upon
all the people, and recognizing, too, the
great number of our brothers and sisters
who have been deprived of an opportunity
or employment, and with full knowledge
that the road to independence to a better
q nobler life. lies through the movement
of organized labor I'm its unendng and un-
conquerablc struggle for a shorter work.
day, the executive council directed your
president 10 prepare some recommendations
TO this convention as a basis for a plan Of
operations for a thorough and sys-
tematic agitation and for the enforcement
OF the eight-hour workday at as early a
responsibility thus imposed L submit the
Following FOR your consideration:
That the executive officers OF each ma
uonal or international union recommend to
the American Federation of Labor a repre-
sentative sent 4; n OF ii its Grgahcat1n % on Tho may re-
OF the American Federation OF Labor may
be located. these to constitute an advisory
board.
That these representatives hold regular
meetings at least once a month. a. such
time and place the officers OF the Fed
Grafton may provide. and that all officers
OF the Federation who can should be re-
Duct the official duties thereof.
That the conclusions Of these confer
ences shall not be binding unless approved
by the executive council of the Federation
That the president, by and with the con-
sent Of the executive council: select some
his duties-that is. In his correspondence,
In editing the American Federationist and
absence from headquarters, and TO perform
such other duties as may be required in the
interest of the movement
THAT q series OF simultaneous mass
meetings be held by the wage workers OF
the entire country. preferably on public holi-
Feb. p " cWasbinrton's birthday1 Nav i
May 30 Decoration day.; July Undepen-
dence day.: Sept. Labor day), Nov. "a
| Thanksgiving eve). further meetings TO be
determined upon by tho convention of 1897.
THE appointment of special organizers.
THE issuance OF pamphlets. circulars and
the shorter workday.
ITO generally request all public speakers,
newspapers and the labor press TO make
the aims and purposes of the eight-hour
movement the theme of simultaneous dis
course
1.-The issuance of circulars to the employ
ers generally and directly requesting the
concession of the eight-hour workday.
The appointment of committees by local
central bodies and local trades unions TO
wait upon EMPLOYERS with view of secur-
ing the eight-hour workday without cessa-
tion of work.
THAT the officers of national interna-
tional and local trades unions furnish data
as to the progress made In the mannerfof
organization and preparation for the inau-
guration of a general movement TO reduce
the hours of labor.
THAT this convention will recommend TO
all organizations that effort he made To
secure reduction i'm the hours OF labor
at as early time as possible. and partic-
IaTy au,ihg ken Ine ense Of the ressponsbitv
resting upon us, with recognition OF the
necessity of our action, we call upon all
workers to organize in the unions OF their
respective trades. We earnestly seek the
sincere cooperation of all fair-minded men
and women of our time and declare openly
and uneQuivocally our purpose to demand
the general enforcement OF the eight-hour
work6ay May i. 1888. and to that end we
shall bend our every effort.
The different recommendations IN the an
nual report of President Gompers were re-
ferred to the appropriate committees.
". J.
Chapel. was present and invited President
Gompers TO occupy his pulpit next Sunday
afternoon. President Gompers accepted the
invitation and announced that he would
speak on "A Rough Sketch of a Rugged
Struggle"
Secretary McCraith reported that the re-
ceipts for the year showed an increase OF
IL per cent over last year; balance on hand
is % per cent greater. The membership was
increased Ca, ,2s2 during the year, and heavy
appropriations were met for strikes and
other purposes in the interest or the fed
Grafton.
Treasurer Lennon reported receipts. sle.-
e21: expenses. $15.452: balance on hand
81 169.
The executive council submitted an elabo-
rate report on its work during the year. In
which il referred to the detailed statement
of strikes and other efforts OF which Secre-
tary McCraith gave an elaborate history IN
his annual report All the reports were
referred TO the appropriate committees.
All the delegates were the guests OF the
Grand Opera House Tonight
At their hotel last night PRESIDENT Som-
pers and John Phillips were robbed OF >50
each Woods and Wallinson, Enghsh del
egates, were robbed of cash ana Jewelry'
and several delegates OF other articles.
Sentenced for Conspiracy
DETROIT, Mich, Dec. H.-John c. Bode-
wig and George w. Johnson. convicted OK
conspiracy to wreck a mail train on the
Grand Trunk Railroad. near Battle Creek.
/