The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-23
APPEAL To CONGRESS.
OF LABOR SUB
MITS A FEW FACTS.
How it Believes the Laboring Men Of
the Country Could Be Benefited
and Times Made Better All
Around.

Washington. April 22.-The following
memorial was today presented to the
president and members of the cabinet
by the executive council OF the Fedora
ton of Labor:
Washington. D. c.. April 20.
ITO the President, Cabinet and Con-
gress of the United States of Amer
lea:
Observation-Disclosures of our work
ing people-American citizens-at this
hour are suffering humiliating poverty
and countless privatiOns and look 10
you for speedy re1ef. Last fall they
were promised helpful legislation. and
they expect it from you without IN
necessary delay. In no party spirit We
appeal to you to heed their wants and
10 promptly meet this unparalleled sit
uatiOn in the true spirit Of American
patriotism.
with industry half paralyzed. trade
stagnant, values depressed and shrunk-
en- with enterprise stified and the pro-
| ductive power of labor palsied. with
our commerce listlesS on the seas and
our immediate resources blighted, we
bid you hasten the return of better
times to inspire confidence and bring
cheer and comfort to the homes of the
millions of citizens who now seek work
and wages in vain.
I'm the name of the producers in
Shop and factory, in mill and mine, in
the fields and on our lakes and seas,
in behalf of the toiiers out of work
and of those underpaid, we urge on
you the necessity of legislative relief.
The restitution among the honest,
proud and Industrious people Of our
land, though half-hidden, is ever
increasing and becoming more and
more appalling. The hopes they had
are fast turning to gloom and despair
Invention Of machinery, the SUBJ
division of labor and the countless Ia
Dor dispensing appliances to cheaper
production even in the best of times
disturb permanency of employment,
tend to reduce wages and intensity
competition in nearly every field of la
Dor. Added to this the unrestricted
flow of immigration from abroad. the
organization of trusts. the centraIiza-
ton and concentration of capital in
the manifold industries-all make the
existence Of the WOrkingman more
hard and precarious. These changing
conditions, unknown in our forefathers'
time. must be met. not by promises
broken 10 the hopes, but by substan-
tial and remedial legislation at the
hands of congress. We. therefore, most
memOrialize the PRESIDENT
cabinet and congress of the United
States for the enactment of these
measures:
Amendment to the federal eight
hour law so as to secure its practical
on all public works by or
for the United States government,
whether done by contract, Sub-cOntract
or days work. We are sternly opposed
to the evasions and violations of the
present eight-hour law by those heads
of departments and officials in the fed
eral service.
Ca rar17n1aiinc- Of i'm,
laws so as TO secure an enlarged pro-
lection to American citizens and their
families.
''s-Reform in the national banking
system and in the issuance of the cur
-ency Of the United States. so as TO
secure the people from the disasters OF
financial crises
Liberal appropriations of govern
nent public works and for the improve
nent of rivers and harbors.
BY prompt adoption of these relief
measures at the hards of congress. We
irnly believe some degree of prosperity
nav be restored and the condition of
he people bettered.
I'VE assure you the millions are now
n no DISPOSITION to be trifed with.
They are fast becoming desperate. and
leep are their mutterings of discOn-
emf.
They desire 20 realize some of the
prosperity 50 IIeely pIOpneSieu Ou the
tump six months ago.
over 5000. 900 OF willing workers are
die: shall they appeal 10 you in vain?
hall the interests of trusts. syndicates,
corporations and mOneyed
aen remain OF more Importance than
he welfare of the toilers? We trust not.
We still believe the peoples represent
tives are not dead TO the public well
are We ask that they rise to the
atriotism of this great occasion and
asten 10 bring relief to the masses of
heir fellow citizens.
Very respectfully yours
SAMUEL GOMPERS,
"P ]. MCGUIRE
JAMES DUNCAN.
JAMES O'CONNELL,
M. NJ. GARLAND.
JOHN B. LENNON.
FRANK MORRISON
Executive Council American Fedora
ton of Labor"