Evening star., 1897-01-08
FIELD OF l. AB0 R
---s-s-------; :; ,zz,z
Practical Politics and the American
Federation.
DEBS DECLARES FOR EIGHT HOUR DAY
Cigarmakers Dismayed at Dimin-
ished Trade.
TOILERS AT ARIANC

There Is fear expressed In some labor
circles that the American Federation of
Labor at its recent convention in Cincin-
natl made a serious break into the bull
-warks of established trades union customs
and traditions when it rejected the Gre
dentials of Delegate Pomeroy Of the Wait
ers' Union because of the allegation that
he had taken part in political affairs.
1T was concession" said a well-known
leader here, ito the politicians and theorists
in the ranks who would constitute the po-
litical affiliation and creed of man the
test OF his admission to and standing in a
trade organization.
in rejecting Pomeroy, the convention re-
ceded from its former non-partisan posi-
tion; it set aside the constitution and
trampled down the principle of trade au-
tonomy and the political freedom of its
members. The proper tribunal to try and
discipline Pomeroy was the Walters AL
lance. to whom the charges preferred
should have been referred
To have done otherwise was gross vio-
lation Of the basic laws of the federation,
an act which was still more aggravated by
his own defense, and thereby strengthening
his charges that other prominent members
OF the federation had been equally guilty of
undue intercourse with politicians.
conventions of the American Federation of
Labor and had been welcomed by the very
men who raised their voices and cast their
votes against his admission when his
apilty aid courage were required to aid
In the reputation of the socialists. who
for years had tried to force their theories
and political partisan interests upon the
iederation Politically he was neither bet
yer nor worse In 1896 than he was in 1893
1871 and 1895. but he appeared in the la Of
campaign to have been on the wrong side. +"
Debs for Eisht-Hour Days.
Eugene V. Debbs has come out strongly
for an eight-hour day. He says In a letter
received here: "AlI over this broad land
there is demand for an eight-hour work
day. The theory is that a day of twenty
four hours should be divided into three
equal parts-eight hours for work eight
hours for sleep and eight hours for recrea-
ton.
The demand for the eight-hour day,
whether discussed from a physical. educa.
tional moral or economic standpoint. is in
defensible upon principles which all
thoughtful men will approve. If it is de-
slrable that the people should mot degener-
ate toward dwarfishness, to lilliputian stat
ure, then physical conditions should excite
public concern. and 1t will not be denied
that excessive hours of toll, especially In
youth. sap the foundation Of physical de-
veiopment and in ripper years exhaust phys
demonstrates. is national calamity.
IF ignorance is the prolific parent of
crime, as is universally conceded, then
there should be ample time afforded work
to think, to mediate, and thus develop
intellectual power
1t is held that the intellect Of the peo-
pie is the most valuable portion of the
state. In proof of this it is held that a
state, however boundless its resources in
mineral, forests, lakes and rivers Is poor,
indeed, if the people are so ignorant as to
be unable to utilize such stores of wealth
for their comfort, and since it is the
muscle and skill of labor that develop such
to reduce the hours of work that more time
for educational purposes may be secured,
and as the eight-hour day Is advocated up
on this line, as well as upon other lines of
scientific thought, the demand for shorter
work day becomes more and more a ma
tional necessity.
Victory for Humanity.
I'm the seventies of logic, based upon
physical, economic, educational and moral
axioms. the Inauguration Of a universal
eieht-hour day would be victory for hui
manity. If all the people could have work
and all the work could be done in eight
hours a day. humanity would at once real
ize tfat new and better era had dawned,
since as the burdens which labor impose
are removed toilers might gain one, two,
three or four hours in twentyfour for
leisure. for study, for recreation, for home
pleasures and the world would take on a
brighter color and life become worth the
living.
Il have not the time to pursue the in
teresting theme ard discuss it's elevating
possibilities, bat content myself with the
inquiry, why Is 1t that the eight-nour day
has not been inausurated in the industrial
centers of the country? and answer the in
quiry by saying 1t is because wage-earners
will not unity to secure for themselves a
boon Of such priceless value.
Il assume that in any city Of this great
republic the eight-hour day could be estab-
lshed in a day If wage earners would
unite and make the demand. How? BY
unification. Let the proposition be: Eight
hours day or every Industry stand still;
that this just concession must be made 20
labor not only for It's own good, but for
the welfare of society, or a silence shall
come profound as reigns in buried Pompe,i
No mobs. no riots, no injunctions, no
soldiers. simply silence. and from the hour
of dawn before the sun has climbed to his
meridian throne the eight-hour day would
be inaugurated-" =, r-
GOmpers and McCrnith,
The recent quarrel between President
Gompers Of the American Federation of
Labor and Secretary McCraith. as the re-
suit of which it Is believed Mr. McCraith
was not reelected by the convention, has
attracted wide attention. The truth of the
rumors became fully established at the
convention. The fact that there were diff
ferences between them became so pain
and they were of so grave nature as to
necessitate the withdrawal of one or the
other from official connection with the
federation. -
AS somewhat similar case developed in
one OF our most important international
organizations during the year the tIou1 hi
naturally suggests itself that the trouble
must be owing to some defect In the
system of organization in vogue.
In the American Federation of Labor and
many of the national and international
unions the president and secretary are
clothed with equal power, and in some in
stances with concurrent jurisdiction With
two men of positive character and equal