The times., 1897-09-22

middle class will ally itself with the
capitalistic class es. IN con cluSian, he
thanked the trade unionsts of Was h
ington for their support in the strike,
also the press and the public One opera
tor, indeed, had said; 'Ratchford, you
didn't whip US. IL was public opinion"
As a result, the branches of organized
labor had been welded together more
closely, as the corporations and trusts
had been banded together and organized
years ago. No organization should be lnr-
mitted to fight alone. (Applause. Tue
victory Of one should he the yiet5ry OF ali.
(Applause.)
Mr.. James Duncan, see;Snd vice pfesl
dent of the American Federation OF LABOR
discussed first the lessons OF Unrestricted
immigration. He spoke Of the evils OF the
padrCne system aud the special evils ON
special trades. He mentioned specifically
the Firms, who stayed here only for about
two years and returned 10 their own coun
try, ana who had reduced the ges Of
Ia, ers to less than 20 per cent OF what
they were five wears ago. Mr.. Duncan
congratulated the washington building
trades On the Icsition they occupied IN
relation &c the immigration bill before
NOliHito Mi. buDAdn Iitut tie pOiLb
that the literary test as to Immigrants was
not the highesf and hest, because prospec-
tive immigrants might be educated ror
the purposes of the test.
Mr. Duncan touched next on the eight
hour law question. lie believed that such
a law could he as well enforced by com
mon consent OF the ahor unions as by Con
gressiIself. iApplause Mr. Duncanquoted
-s-ft h lta
in 1872 granting an eight-hour rule 30
Governments contract la borers in Richmond
He also showed how the employers had
eventually nyeig!ed the workmen back
to ten-hour day. There had been many
ameHGmGnUs made and suggested to per
| feet the law, but he American Federation
of Labor intended to stay with the Govern
menU until the law would be as the labor
ing man desired tApplause). He was in
for the fight, and would remain in 1t till
the public, the constitutional lawyers, and
| Congress mad been educated up to the JUS
! tice of tie workinenans demands in thus
| alton. The best way TO enforce the law
was for the labor organizations 20 resolve
not 10 work more than eight hours a day,
Mr.. Miller, formerly vice president of the
| Uaiteu Mine Workers Union, made
| brief but capital speech in which he demon
! stratei the value of union In work as III
| the recent strike. Mr.. Miller said that
| II was his experience that IL as not the
/ Hun he Pole, the SlaY or the Finn
who were hardest 10 lead. but tine English
men, The Irishmen aud the Scotchmen. He
| paid tribute 10 the foreigner of any class
! which would play its part In the settle
uIent Of troubles. 1t was not always the
| American who stood first In support OF
| organized labor. He was, however. alb
| s0luiely opposed to the admission OF the
vicious class which could not and would
not subscribe TO and fight for American ia
aitutOns tapplause1. he acknowledged
the help or the Washington trades finan-
clally toward the settlement OF the strike
| He also acknowledged the favor OF the
press, which molded public opinion and
| aided in the great material and moral
victory (Applause)
Mr.. P. j Mcclure, Of Philadelphia, first
| vice president of the American Federation
of Labor, said that it was not the cap
| itaIists or the press that was to be feared
but the sucker. tApplause.l What was
-ieeded was rot, in fact, the chiyalry OF
the olden time, but the chivalry Of indus
| try, which would make the fraternity
which Christ spoke Of, and which ould
| come again when men were m en- to each
| other. tApplauSe.) one great trouble was
that the laboring man had depended more
| on the law than on himself (Applause.I
That Was perhaps best demonstrated by
the fact that the granite cutters had main
tained their wages since 1868.
Mr.. Mcclure believed not in a religion
which was good for only one day In the
week, but for 365 days in the year. 1t
was the spirit of self-sacrifIce that wouA
produce a golden rule from which the new
religion could be preached. (Applanse)
Mr.. NJ Garland, of Philadelphia, traced
in very Interesting manner the progress
OF trades unionisn from the time or Queen
Elizabeth to the present. He maintained
that the present methods were the most
advanced but that the methods would be
improved as time progressed. Mr.. Garland
old not believe much in waiting on tho
ballot y settle a matter. (Appa use } If
the miners recently had waited until 900
TO settle the difficulty, IL probably would
never Lave bean settled. The trades unions
OF PENNSYLVANIA had already secured seven
good laws in favor of the laboring man.
tApplause.l The speaker dwelt at some
length On the various fights made by
trades uniOnism against the encr0ach-
ieiits Jl -dili Jdi, from lile hUlueSIe aQ iron
bies iii the present day The trend was
onward, ard it could be expected that in
time even iujunctions shall no / be exercised
to tic detriment Of the laborer (Applause ,
Mr.. James o'Connen, of the A. F. L.,
made short closing speech, in which he
SPOKE Of the great sympathy Of all trades
uniOnists with that of the miners, and the
usual effect Of such support. (Applause
IN May next the great blow would be
struck for the eight-hour day. Then the
hborne man would be asked to stand up
and pledge himself never again to work
more than eight hours a day. They Were
not TO ask it as favor. but as a right.
tApplause.) 1t was high time for the
laboring man to know that he was him
self responsible for great many of his
own troubles.
In Conclusion Mr.. O'ConneH prophesied
great moral and Industrial effect from
the victory OF the miners
After the addresses and the adoption Of
the resolutions the meeting adjourned.