The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-23
APPEAL TO
M'KINLEY.
American Federation Of Labor
Takes Its Grievances
To the Head of the Government
at Washington.
WANT PLEDGES KEPT.
Demand the Prosperity Which
Was Promised.
Tell the President How to
Bring it About.
WANT PLEDGES KEPT.

Washington, April 23.-The following
memorial has been presented to the
president and members of the cabinet
by the executive council of the fedora
ton of labor:
ITO the President, Cabinet and Con-
gress of the United States of America
Gentlemen:
"MultitudeS of our working people
American citizens-are suffering humil-
iating poverty and countless .privations
and look to you for speedy relief. Last
fall they were promised helpful Iegisla-
ton, and they expect it from you with
out unnecessary delay. In no party
spirit we appeal to you to heed their
wants and to promptly meet this I'M
paral1eled situation in the true spirit of
American patriotism.
with industry half paralyzed, trade
stagnant values depressed and shrunk-
en-, with enterprise stiffed and the pro-
ductiVe power of labor palsied, with
our commerce liStleSS on the seas and
our immense resources bIghted, we bid
you haste 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.
In the name of the producers in
shop and factory, in mill and mine, in
the fields and on our lakes, toilers out of
work and 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 appan-
ing. The hopes they had are fast turn
ing to despair.
The countless labor dispensing APP
planes to cheaper production, even in
the best of times, disturb permanency
of employment, tend to reduce wages
and intensity competition in nearly ev-
cry field of labor. Added to this the
unrestricted flowing immigration from
a q nj .lff r-11Gt q
Capitalization and concentration of cap
ital in the manifold industries-all
make the existence of the wOrkingnlen
more hard and precariOuS. These chang
ing conditions, unknown in our fore
fathers time, must be met, not by
promises, broken to the hopes, but by
substantial and remedial legislation at
the hands of congress.
We therefore most respectfully me-
mOrialize the congress of the United
States to enact these measures:
i. Amendment to the federal eight
hour law so as to secure its practical
enforcement 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 eva
SiOns and violations Of the present eight
hour law by the heads of the depart
ments and officials in the federal GER
vice.
Second-A remedying of our immi-
grafton laws to secure enlarged pro-
lection to American citizens and their
families.
Third-Reform in the national bank
ing system and in the issuance of the
currency of the United States so as to
secure the people from the possibilities
and disasters of financial crises.
FOurth-Liberal appropriations for
government public works and for the
Improvement of rivers and harbOrs.
BY prompt adoption of these meas
ures al the hands of congress we firmly
believe some degree of prosperity may
be restored and the conditions of the
people bettered.
We assure you the millions are now
in no disposition to be trif1ed with. They
are fast becoming desperate, and deep
are their mutterings of discomfort.
They desire to realize some of the
prosperity so freely promised on the
stump six months ago.
Over 80, 600 willing workers are idle;
shall they appeal to you in vain? shall
the interests Of trusts. syndfcates, mon
opolies, corporations and moneyed men
remain more important than the
welfare of the toilers We trust not
We still believe the peoples representa-
tiveS are not dead to the public welfare.
We ask that they rise to the patriotism
of this great occasion and hasten to
bring relief to the masses of their fell
low citizens. Very respectfully yours,
SAMUEL GOMPERS.
P. ]. INQUIRE.
JAMES DUNCAN.
JAS. O'CONNELL.
NJ. NJ. GARLAND.
JOHN B. LENNON.
FRANK MORRISON.
Executive Council A. F. L.