Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-04-24
MR. REED ON LABOR
The Speaker Meets a Delegation Of
Labor Leaders.
NEED OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

Declases Them Necessary Concomi-
tant of the Factory System, and Ex-
presses Appreciation of the Moderate
and Reasonable Demands ofworkers.
Washington, April 22.-Speaker Reed
gave an interesting talk upon the pol
icy of the house. and incidentally de-
elared his views upon labor organiza-
tons yesterday, III the course of one of
the conferences which are of daily oc-
currence in the speakers ROOM A del
cgation from the American Federation
of Labor, headed by Samuel Gompers.
the chief officer Of the order. called to
request action by the speaker and the
house on matters in which the fedora
ton is interested. They presented a
memorial asking the appointment of
representative Gardner. of New Jer-
sey. to the committee on labor. and
also suggested amendments to the
eight hour laws.
The speech making on the part of
the federation was done by Mr.. Com
pers and P. j. Mcclure Mr.. Gompers
said that there was great distress
throughout the country, and many I'M
employed, and expressed a hope that
congress would do all in its power to
alleviate the distress. He remarked
that there had not been as much leg
islation in the interest of labor by the
last congress as the laboring man
wished. They did not want to be put
in the light of making demands upon
congress; they merely desired to ex-
press their wishes. They regretted
that the eight hour law was not more
strictly enforced in its application to
government works. They desired it to
be understood, however, that they were
antagonistic to revolutionary leaders,
and believed in lawful and orderly
agitation and in the improvement of
existing conditions by legislation.
Speaker Reed. in reply, expressed
appreciation of the moderate and rea-
sonable attitude of the laboring men.
TIE labor organization. he said, was
necessary concomitant of the factory
system. While in the old days laborers
had been individually independent, the
growth of tho factory system had
forced them to organize for the preser-
walton of their rights and interests.
He believed that results beneficial to
humanity were coming from those or
CARNATIONS. While reforms of the class
they spoke of moved slowly, they did
move Public sentiment was now much
more tolerant of the eight hour law
than it had been ten years ago. He
could remember when every laboring
man was expected to work II hours.
Public sentiment had much to do with
the enforcement of the eight hour law,
and he had no doubt that under it's
impulse conditions were continually
improving.
Referring to congressional action,
the speaker said that only one thing
could be done at a time, and he was
certain all would agree that the first
thing to be done by congress now was
to arrive at a decision on the pending
tariff bill one way or the other. He
hoped the delegation would use its in
fluence to mold public sentiment to
ask for as speedy action on the tariff
bill as could be obtained. 1t was not
thought best for the house to deal
with other matters until that question
was out of the way, because any ac-
ton taken here might complicate and
delay action on the tariff, which all
The tariff question once disposed off,
there would be opportunity for con-
sideration of the other interests asking
legislation. AS to the special request
for the appointment of Mr.. Gardner,
the speaker said that would be taken
under consideration, as all requests for
committee assignments were.
In response to the complaint that
the last congress had not done enough
for labor, Mr.. Reed said that remon-
strances had been received by him
complaining that congress had been
too much under the domination of the
Federation of Labor. This fact would
illustrate that there were conflicting
ideas in the country. In conclusion
Mr.. Reed expressed approval of the
policy adopted by the federation. A
continual and constant pressure within
the law was much more effective in Sc
curing reforms than violent methods,
he said. Violence always brings a re-
action, and the reforms sought were
likely to be lost in the turmoil of the
outbreak.