The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-01
LABoR.s PLEA.
Federation Presents Memorial te
President, Cabinet and Congress.

~
PRECEDENT. Cabinet and Congress.
Washington, April 23.-Thc following
memorial has been presented to the
president and members OF the cabinet
by the executive council of the Fedora
ton of Labor. 1t bears the signatures
NJ the following members of the ex-
ecutive council: Samuel Gompers, +. j.
Mcclure, James Duncan, James o'Con-
nell, M. NJ. Garland, John Is. Lennon
and Frank Morrison:
.sTo the President. Cabinet and Congress
NJ the United States OF America ;-Gentie-
men. Multitudes of our working people,
American citizens-at this hour are sur
fering humiliating poverty ana countess
privations, and look 10 you Tor speedy re-
lief Last fall they were promised help-
r,i ,agIaIation. and they expect Il from you
without unnecessary delay. In no party
snirit we appeal TO you 10 heed thelr wants
and TO promptly meet this unparaieieu
situation I'm the true spirit or American
patriotism. - 49,.
nant. values depressed and shrunken, with
enterprise stified and the productive power
OF labor palsled, with our commerce list
less on the seas and our immense resources
blighted. we bid you haste inc return ~
better times, TO inspire confidence anu
bring cheer and comfort 10 the homes OK
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 nelds
and on our lakes and seas in behalf OF the
toilers out OF work and OF those under
paid we urge on you the necessity or iesis-
lative relief. The restitution among the
honest, proud and industrious people or
our hand, though half hidden Is ever IN
creasing and becoming moro and more APP
palllng. The hopes they had are fast turn
ing 20 gloomy despair.
''Invention. machinery. the subdivision OF
labor and the countless labor-dispensing
appliances 20 cheaper production, even I'm
the best OF times, disturb the permanency
OF employment. tend &c reduce wages and
intensity competition In nearly every field
OF labor. Added 20 this the unrestricted
flow OF immigration from abroad, the or
ganlzatlon OF trusts. the Capitalization and
concentration OF capital I'm the manifold
industries-all make the existence OF tho
workingman more hard and precarious.
These changing conditions. unknown In
our forefathers' times, must be mot not
by promises. broken 70 the hopes but by
substantial and remedial legislation at the
hands OF congress.
1--WE therefore most respectfully memo
rialize the president. cabinet and congress
OF the United States for the enactment OF
these measures.
Il. Amendment TO the federal eight-hour
law TO secure its practical enforce
ment on all public works by or for the
United States government. whether done
by contract subcontract or days work
I'VE are sternly opposed to the ovasions
and violations of the present eight-hour
law by the heads OF the departments and Of
ficials I'm the federal service.
20 A rcmodeling Of our immigration
laws so as 10 secure an enlarged protection
10 American citizens and their families.
20. Reform in the national banking sys-
tenn and In the issuance OF the currency OF
tho United States so as to secure the peo-
pie from the possibilities and disasters OF
financial crisis.
~ Liberal appropriations for govern
ment public works and for the improve
ment or rivers and harbors.
"By prompt adoption OF these relief
measures at the hands Of congress we firm
ly believe some degree OF prosperity may
be restored and the conditions OF the peo-
pie bettered We assure you the millions
are now I'm no disposition 10 be trifled
with. They are fast becoming desperate
and deep are their mutterings OF discon-
tent. They desire to realize some OF the
prosperity so freely promised on the stump
six months ago.
"Ovor 100000 willing workers are idle:
shall they appeal 10 you In vain? Shall
the interests OF trusts. syndicates, monop-
olics, corporations and moneyed men re-
main OF more Importance than the well
fare OF the toilcrs? We trust not We still
believe the peoples representatives are not
dead 10 the public welfare. We ask that
they rise 10 the patriotism OF this great
occasion and hastcn to bring relief to tho
masses OF their fellow citizens"