The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-15
LABOR AND SILVER.
An Important Circular Issued by Officers
OF the American Federation.


OF the American Federation.
The following official circular, which
explains itself, should forever silence
those goldbug newspapers which, with
rare etfrontery, presume to tell fhe pub
lie what the workingmen of this coun-
try need and want. No one who is
familiar with the movemsnt and the
personnel of the American federation of
Labor will doubt its ability to thor
oughly understand what IS for the in
terest of its membership and in the
matter of financial legislation at least
what would benefit ting members of that
organization would l:Mpwise benefit ev-
cry wageworker il the c6Intry:
AMERICAN FEDERATIoNACr LABOR,
IhDIANApoLIs, March 10.
To Affiliated Organizations:
FELLOW MoliK ERs-At the conventions of the
American Federation of Labor resolution
were unanimously Endorsed favorable to the
free coinage OF silver by the United States
government at the ratio OF 10 to l. You will
nnd these resolutions printed respectively in
the printed proceedings Of the A. F. of L.,
page W, Chicago convention; page 20, Denver
convention; page As, New York convention
IL Is evident That n cohesive, we'll organized
movement exists in the United States congress
favorable TO tho reconciliation Of silver upon
the basis above referred to and giving it the
legal status as currency of the nation.
1t seems. therefore, that it becomes our duty
to aid those in congress who tsfo making n
stand favorable to the demands of the A. r. Of
l.. upon this question.
With this object in view all organizations
are respectfully requested to send to one of
the United States senators of their respective
states resolution bearing upon the subject
and also copy of tho resolution to Senator
Henry N. Teller. Tho idea of sending tho
copy to Senator Teller is to exercise n precau-
ton or check on the senators to whom these
resolutions are sent, so that in case they did
not submit them read them in the SENATE
senator Teller might be in position to do so.
speedy action Is necessary on this subject,
since this question is now under consideration
Inc oincerS OF the national and international
unions are requested to invite their locals to
also comply with this request
FOR the convenience of all the following res
olutlon has been prepared, and it might be
made use of for the basis of tho resolutions to
be sent in:
Resolved, That We tho UNDERSIGNED Off
GERS, by direction of the above named orcani.
cation and its members and ms n constituent
BODY OF the American Federation of Labor, do
hereby most respectfully request that tho
United States senate pass law giving to the
people of the United States free and unlimited
coinage of silver ut the ratio of 10 to l. without
waiting for the aid consent of any other M.
ton. We nrc of the opinion that to do so would
relieve tho present monetary stringcncy and
contribute toward bringing to us u return of
national prosperity"
OihccrS OF national, international or local
unions are also requested to state the number
of members in the organization.
Hoping for prompt compliance with the
above request. L have tho honor to remain,
yours fratcrnally,
SAMUEL GoMPERS, President A. F. L.
AUG. McCRAlTH. Secretary a. f. of l..