Evening star., 1897-01-27
AMONG THE wORKINGMEN.
The Mass Meeting Saturday Night
Outlook of Labor.

OUTLOOK OF Labor.
Much to his regret, President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation of
Labor will be unable to attend the mass
meeting of trade unionists and other
craftsmen called for Typographical Temple
next Saturday evening. under the auspices
of the Bakers and Confectioners Union.
Mr.. Gompers expects to start tomorrow
for Rockford ILL.,, TO hear both sides in a
trade dispute, and he has consented to con-
duct the closing exercises of a series of
meetings at Racine, Wis, Sunday, which
are being held for purposes similar to those
of the meetings about to be inaugurated
here.
Among those who will be present at the
meeting here are: President Weissman of
the National Bakers and Confectioners'
Union. Secretary Morrison of the American
Federation of Labor and Vice President
Duncan. also of the American Federation
of Labor.
The meeting Saturday evening, while held
under the auspices of the Bakers and Con-
fect1oners Union, will be of interest TO
workingmen generally. 1t will be the first
| of series of meetings which will be held
| for the purpose of creating renewed in
terest in organization Quite a number of
| old organizations, labor men say have be-
come SO decimated, owing to bad methods
that those of the crafts on the outside are
| largely in excess of the organized. This is
the condition particularly with the street
| railway employees, paper hangers, retail
| clerks, shoemakers. timers, laundry work
| ers and painters. Since the organization of
| the Painters Union better organization
| of that craft is probable
Until recently two-thirds of the plasterers
| were outside the fold of unionism and il
| became necessary to organize union of
| the craft and thus reduce to that extent
| the non-union element.
| The meetings contemplated as explained
| by labor leader, may be termed mission
| services. to which the non-union worker
| a llx-i tod 49,
| made to induce him to join with and fur
| ther the cause of organized labor.
| wv hat is in store for labor said Presi-
| dent Gompers yesterday to Star reporter
| cannot now be fully predicted: but judg-
ing the future by the past. we have every
reason to expect that by dint of honest eff
| tort and perseverance a much greater
| growth in the organized labor movement
| of our country should be the showing for
the year to come.
The year 1896 witnessed an increase in
the membership in the labor movement of
our country of nearly 100000 in round num-
bers: this increase was secured in spite of
adverse industrial conditions; in spite OF
the fact that we were in the throes of an
| industrial and commercial crisis.
| "Inasmuch as 1896 witnessed a growth of
| looOoo members in the trade union move
ment. SO with the improved conditions in
1897 the growth must be quickened and be-
| come greater.
There is no reason why the present
year shall not witness a splendid enroll
ment of the unorganiZed workers.
| Speaking of the same plan by which it is
| sought not only to increase the member
! ship of the trades unions but also to edu.
| cate those affiliated with them Vice Presi-
dent James Duncan said: Education is
| the corner stone of our movement. Wher
| we consider the depression in trade since
1892 it is matter for congra atulation tina,
the great labor organizations of the coun-
| try during that period have so admira blk
| held their own.
| Some trades suffered in membership
others in discipline, while few had to ac.
cept reductions in wages, but the moral oi
the test applied was that occupations il
| which organization was the strongest dis.
| cipline the best and dues the highes: were
| least harmed by the panic: this in itself
| should be sufficient to awaken interest
enough among the members of less fortu.
nate trades to follow the methods utilized
| 10 bring about the successes of the odel
| unions.
The depression while it had its reverses
also had it's limited advantages One OF
these was that idle men had more time tc
study their real needs than heretofore
newspapers and books fell into their hands
and they lost no time with unnecessary
formula. but set about acquiring knowledge
and doing their own thinking.
The labor movement is in its natural ele
} ! meht when the men and women COMPOSING
it get to thinking; they then refuse to b;
lured away with will-o -the-wisp notions
and crack-brained theories: they demand
facts, and TO be satisfied must have them
1 d
the only safe kind of evidence and fol
: them they look
The Federation of Labor.
| A meeting of the Federation of Labor
was held last night at Mechanics Hall, a
which theee were seventy-nine delegates
present. President McHugh presided ant
c. A. Maidens acted as secretary. The frs
| business of the evening was the presenta
ton by the legislative committee of th
labor eight-hour bill, which had beel
amended so to cover the United State
| | lithOgraphing done in the District TIL,
call of trades showed that the federation
had no grievance or trouble with any o
the employers, and that everything wa.
running in most satisfactory manner
The carriage workers still complained how
ever, that many business firms continue II
send their work out of the city, and this i.
! thought by the members of that body t,
be detrimental to the interests of the hom
. | mechanics. The shoe clerks requested tina
the delegates be instructed to report bacl
to their unions that members when buying
shoes should insist on seeing the uniol
: card of the clerk with whom they are deal
ing. The Painters Assembly reported tina
their union had appointed yearly commit
tee which would in the future look out TO
the interests of the painters.