St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-26
.LABOR'S MANIFESTO.
An Address to Trades Unions Urging
the Eight-Hour Day.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 25.-
The executive council of the American
Federation of Labor adjourned this af-
ternoon. 1t was given out that the
headquarters will be moved at the close
of the present year TO some other city,
probably Chicago. The following COM
mittee report of the eight-hOur day
question was unanimously adopted and
given out as the sentiment of the coun-
ell:
At this hour, when the myriads of workers
are seeking employment and in their despair
numbers of them are captivated by the gilt
tering promises of securing state help, we, the
American Federation of Labor, reaffirm the
necessity of concentrating all the forces of the
practical labor movement by the voluntary
and collective efforts of the trades unions
backed by the sympathetic public opinion
All other lines and economic theories within
our ranks should be subordinated to the great
task OF giving work to the unemployed and
of lettering the wages and conditions of all
who toll. There is no movement of more value
to the working people than that which will
tighten the burdens of those who are over
worked and underpaid, and which will give
employment to those who wander our byways
and highways and searching in vain for a
better chance to live. The realization of the
eight-hour day to them means better food and
raiment, happier homes, nobler manhood
and higher civilization.
AS we approach this question, we realize
fully the magnitude of the interested and sell
fish forces arrayed against u.s. the Indifference
of the working people themselves, their old
time prejudices and the many dlssensons
which divide them. More than all, we recog-
nize the need for a more thorough and COM
plete organization of every craft and occupa-
tion on trade union lines before we can under
take a general or simultaneous stand for the
eight-hour day. This severe industrial crisis
from which are now emerging, however,
should be a helpful lesson to lead the indus
trial classes into such compact organizations
which, when once attained will bring still
greater achievements for the working people.
We heartily approve the shorter work day
asked for by the United Brotherhood OF Car
penters. We congratulate them that they are
in position to undertake this movement with
out our financial aid. To insure continued
and successful efforts by the working people
in this direction the president and secretary
of the American Federation Of Labor are here
by directed to Issue an address TO the wage
workers of the country urging them to ioir
! the trades union movement with View of Sc
| curing all possible advantages resulting from
/ organization, and especially to put into opera
| tion the eight-hour work day as soon as bust
| ness will justify such action without preju
| dice to the public.
That the aforesaid officers notify the execu
| tive heads of all unions affiliated with th'
! American Federation of Labor of such action
| and seek their cooperation and assistance
! and request them to correspond with employ
ers to the end of securing an expression o
opinion on the voluntary concession Of TIL
| eight-hour work day, and that all union
whose members now work more than eigh
| hours a day be requested to select commit
| tees to walt upon the employers with tn
| same object in view.
We hail the decision of the Bricklayers ant
| Stone Masons' International union to adopt tn
| eight-hour work day in their trades as a hope
| full sign of the irresistible movement for tn
establishment of the eight-hour work day