The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
JOHN TURNER'S ADDRESS
HE SKETCHES THE GROWTH OF
ENGLISH TRADE UNIONS.
Thinks People i'm America Sfarye BE.
cause They Produce Too Much
Must Work Shorter Hours.

A meeting or considerable interest 10 Ia
boring men was that held last night in Mo-
zart Hall. under the auspices of the Cen
trail Labor Union. 1t was the occasion of
the address by John Turner. president of
the London Shop Assistants Union, who is
making an extended tour through America.
The meeting was called to order by Rob-
ert Croft, who introduced Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation of
Labor who in turn introduced Mr.. Turner.
Mr.. Gompers first, however. made a short
address, in which he made the statement
that there was need of better organization
in America. Indianapolis. he said, was
once known one of the best-organized
cities in the United States. but it had lost
its reputation from a lack of ''go-ahead-
itiveness." Mr.. Gompers, however. saw
better time coming. He believed Indianapo-
lis would soon regain its place. The labor
question be considered of more Importance
than even the modern thinkers gave it.
1t was not question of few more cents
for a days work; not a question of a few
less minutes 10 work. 1t was a question
which went deep into the social and eco
nomic system of the Nation He said it
asks why so many men fail pleadingy
asking for an opportunity TO eaIn bread by
the sweat of their brows. So long as a man
wanted work and could not get it, society
did him an injustice. Mr.. Gompers thought,
and he held every member of society partly
responsible for the condition of affairs.
Mr.. Turner explained TO his audience that
he represented Organization in England
which corresponds 10 the Retail Clerks
Union in this country. He then gave a
sketch of the labor-union movement in
England. IL began about the close of the
last century, at time when the continent
was busy with wars. Low wages prevailed
everywhere, and the laws were such that
labOring people had little chance TO better
their condition by cooperation. The laws
prevented open meetings. They were held
10 be conspracieS and those taking part
in them were imprisoned or banished. But
the time had come when the people were
determined 10 assert their supremacy, and
they held secret meetings and organized.
Many were found out and imprisoned. and
every strike. which Informed the authori-
ties as to who was connected with the So
called conspiracies, resulted in the filling
of the prisons. But the laboring people
continued. in spite of Imprisonment and
banishment, ana finally it was question
10 whether three-fourths of the people
should be thrown into prison or the laws
be changed. The people won. The laws
were changed SO as 10 grant them the right
TO meet openly and to form their protective
organizations.
This freedom resulted in the National
Amalgamated Union which had three mil
lion members in three years. But its
growth was too quick and upon a wrong
foundation and it fell to pieces quickly
as it grew. 1t was found that one organi-
zation could not enter into the spirit of
the technical grievances of all the trades
represented Organizations We're then ef-
fected along trade lines and they were
successful. The subject was taken up by
Parliament and a royal commission APP
pointed TO investigate the subject of trades
unions. The commission reported that the
unions were of great value 10 the COM
munity.
This report was the ground for a new
move Vement. There was longer the feel
ing of aristocracy among the skilled work
men. They began to realize that the fight
of one man who toiled was the fight of
all others. This resulted in a federation OF
all unions under which all help one an
other and which is the most powerful IN
the world.
All classes organized and fixed wages in
their various classes or work. Formerly
supply and demand regulated wages and
back of this the cost of production,
which at times of great competition, caused
wages TO go still lower. When great manu-
facturers got 10 cutting prices labor was
the first to feel the effect of the reduction
in the cost OF production. The profits of
the manufactures were the last to be en-
croached upon. When the crash came and
the smaller concerns mere crushed out Oh
existence, the owners thereof went into
bankruptcy while the laborlng men went
10 starvation and death. But under the
new order of things workingmen refused
40 let their share of the profits OF their
the desire of manufacturers 10 reduce
Drices III resulted I'm some. strikes which
were not always entirely successful, but
which were always at least partly so.
Mr.. Turner made the startling statement
that in America, as well as elsewhere, men
starve because they produce too much.
thus reversing the old order OF things
where the greater the production the more
prosperous the producers. He explained
this by referring to a commission appointed
by Congress to visit South America for the
purpose of securing markets FOR the over
production in this country. lie SAID men
would allow capitalists 10 exact OF them
long hours of work at small pay until the
market for the article manufactured be-
| came glutted Then the factory would
| close and the employees suffer prlvatlon
| while the articles they help 10 manufacture
were shipped off to another country.
Mr. Turner urged closer and more
| thorough organization of all classes of
working people He stated that In Eng
| lard and Europe the working people pro-
| posed TO be a great humanitarian agent
| cbaracterized. as a scheme of the capital
| lists TO further enrich themselves: Nations
| would go to war over the markets OF a
niece of territory and capitalists Woulu
| fight for the advantage 10 pe gained oy
| the possession of those markets. They
! would do their fighting through the gov
| ernment and the government Woulu senu
| the workingmen 10 be killed, tnat tnse
| capitalists might gain their point. lie said
| the Workingmen were determined 10 re-
| fuse 70 handle munitions of war and TO
manufacture it when il became evident IL
| vas 10 be put 10 the real purpose Ior
! which il was manufactured halfway en-
| ployes would refuse TO transport II. Nj.
! time was coming when the laboring people
! would become the controlling influence In
| society That time would come When or
| ganization became thorough.