The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-14
CAN'T WAIT.
President GOmpers of Ameri-
can Federation of Labor
Says People Who Work Can
Not Wait
FOR THE MILLENNIUM
For the Improvement of Their
Condition.
Demands Legislation at Once
and Proposes Means.
FOR THE MILLENNIUM

Cincinnati, Dec. 14.-President Com
pers' report to the National Federation
of Labor at Cincinnati was in part as
follows:
THE wrongs of the workers have not
yet been obliterated, nor their rights
attained. The myriads Of toilers of our
country observe with a quickened and
most accurate sense the burdens they
have to bear Notwithstanding the
marvellous progress which should light
en- them We see our country blossom
ing forth like a. rose through our hand
iWOrk. yet countless thousands of our
numbers with but the sting of the
thorn for their regard or their cOnsCla-
ton encircled with the wizard like in
struments, the result Of the cOncentra-
ted genius of ages to produce the ne
ceSSitleS and Injuries OF life, still the
struggle of life is most intense and
often excruciating greed and inhuman-
ity providing they resulted in wealth
are still regarded as human attributes
of victory and responsibility.
Masses of the young and the inno-
cent may suffer and decay in the pro-
cess, but this is of little concern only
that the end, Wealth's possessions by
the few. is attained
BY all the memories which bind US to
its heroic sacrifices Of past struggles of
the lOWly by the recognition Of the bat
ties fought and won and the wounds
received in the battles of our day by
the nobility of our purposes. the free
~.
cess is as sure as that night follows
day and the day follows night.
In the matter of legislation by con-
gress only fair progress can be report
err There are too few mem bers of con-
gress who are elected upon distfnc-
tive labor issue, or committed to Ia
bors interests Hence, the mem bers
OF congress imagine that the special
interests of labor have small need to be
considered. Experience however has
demonstrated that with persistency on
the part of organized labor. legislation
in the interests of the workers of our
country can be secured, providing we
have at the halls of legislation our
committees, who will act regardless of
results to any party or to any man
looking only to success along the line
of the labor legislation sought In the
matter of legislation in the several
states much better progress has been
reported There are few states in which
laws have not been passed in the in
tereSt of labor. Under the police author
1ty OF several states many measures
LOOKING TO the preservation of health,
life and limb of the workers better
sanitary conditions of factory and
workshop, lien laws ana factory laws
have been enacted.
Nearly all the states now have bu-
reaus of labor statistics and also fac
tory inspectors. In nearly every in
stance the officers who are required to
carry out these laws have been ap-
pointed from the ranks of labor OF
course there remains much to be de-
sired on this score and the making of
constant advances should have your
earnest consideration.
Il would recommend that represent
atiVes of this federation be constantly
at the seat of the government during
the sessions of congress. to guard and
further the legislation which cur or
CARNATIONS demand in the interests of
labor We can secure the abrogation
Of laws inimical to the interests of the
masses and the passage of others for
their advancement and protection. Al
though we may all desire to secure the
purposes for which we are organized
through other methods, that should not
deter US from pursuing the course
which all experience demonstrates is
conducive to the best results. The
workers of our country need immediate
relief Immediate Improvement
They cannot afford to wait until the
millennium shall come. and in the mean
time suffer the wrongs which exist.
more especially when the opportunity
of securing that relief is at hand. We
may not always be favorably inn
pressed with the means by which that