The Portland daily press., 1896-09-10
ORGANIZED LABOR.
What 1t Has Done and What 1t May
DO.
P. j. Mcclure Speaks in City Hall-Hon
M. p. Frank Presidea.

P. j. Mcclure Speaks in City Hall-Hon.
M. p. Frank Presides.
The meeting Of the labor organizations
in City hall last evening did not have SO
much of political tinge as was expected
from the fact that Hon. M. p. Frank
presided. 1t seems that Mr.. Frank was
invited not because he was Popooratio
candidate for governor. but because he
was great friend of the laboring
people,"
MIR. Frank upon being introduced by
Mr.. James Kelley, spoke with almost
friend OF. the laboring man. He SAID
nothing about that wonderful silver
dollar or about the crowned heads Of
| Europe; but praised the estate of labor.
He did not speak long but soon intro-
duoed the general secretary of the United
B Brotherhood Of Carpenters, Mr.. p. J.
Mcclure, who proved to be a very able
and entertaining orator. He said that
he was not here to take part in the politi-
cal campaign. He was engaged in cam
paign that would last long after election
was over, the campaign for bread and
butter, (applause) more of 1t and better
chance to labor for it. tApplause.) Or
ganized labor was older than the oonsti-
tuition. Old Carpenters hall in Phila-
| delphia was built in 1855. before the
Revolution even. Here the carpenters
met to fix the price Of labor and the
hours hereof. And in 1889. in this very
hall the constitution was formed.
Organized labor had wrought the great
| beneficial reforms in favor of the labor
ing men before the war. But their
greatest development had been since
shortly after the war an attempt was
made to unite the organized labors
into political party. This was dis
astrous. Since then the laboring men
had learned to bring their influence to
bear in politics more efficiently.
4 The speaker then urged Independence
upon the laborers, reminding them that
when they sold their labor they need not
sell with 1T their manhood.
Organization was the only remedy fol
the disastrous competition which would
bring the wages of all down to the wages
OF the meanest.
What were high or low tariff, silver o.
gold standards, to tho great question o.
organization.
Grccers and meat men set the prices OF
their goods; why shouldn't the laborins
men set the prices en- their labor.
This should be done by combining al
| Eos 81 q 1r
, for redress of grievances. The demand
, of labor should be presented In an order
. ~ and dignified way. Laborers were no
Anarchists. (Appiause.)
The speaker urged the reduction OF tn
! hours of labor to eight hours In order t.
|, give more chance for the employment o
the idle. The plan had been tried Il
: Australia and had worked well. Wit
the additional leisure time the working
men of Australia had time to stud
). political economy and as q result ther
: had come the Australian ballot and tn
demolition of the system that take
vacant land little and improvement
much.
!, Organization was the source OF goo
} wages. Why did the carpenter get les
j than the brick layer? 1t was because tn
carpenters were not SO well organized.
9 Mr.. MCGUIRE denied that the wages G
labor had risen in this country. III
statement of Carl Sohurz that the averag
d wages had increased 90 per cent sine
1850 was not true. In the building trade
~ e xoept the carpenters it was true ths
l
wages had risen. But in the factories
o the coal mines. on the gravel train
h wages had gone dowa.
Wealth on the other hand had increase
d greatly but the producers had not g
u their share OF IL.
There was not q large audience presen