Evening star., 1897-01-06
THE EIGHT-HoUR DAY
That and Prohibition Of Child Labor De-
manded.
The American Federation Of Labor
Appealed to for Combined and
Determined Action.

MI John b. Lennon, treasurer OF the
| American Federation Of Labor. has issued
| an appeal to the members of the order. in
the course of which he says: 1.-THE year
1886 brought much suffering and want to
the workers of our country. The avenues
Of our Industrial life have been paralyzed
and stagnant as never before in the his
tory of the United States. The price paid
for labor and the price paid for the pro-
ducts of labor have, to some extent, teen
reduced.
while this statement is generally true
the trade unionists of our great republic
have grounds for self-congrar ulation in the
well-known fact that the reductions suffer
ed by the union man or woman have been
lnnn1tesimal when compared with the
sweeping and general reductions imposed
upon the unorganiZed.
The scarcity of labor has rapidly added
to the great army Of the unemployed, and
to-day we have before us for solution the
great problem: What can be done to save
paupers or criminals, and instead, restore
ttem to lives of usefulness to themselves
ana to humanity? The trade union is the
oEiy agency that has ever tried to offer
soiutlon Tor this great and unceasng evil,
which, II not checked, must eventually de-
stroy our civilization.
I'VE say reduce the daily hours of toll
10 not exceed eight per day; take the chill
factory, mine and shop. These two rene
dies applied to all branches of industry
would give employment to all he thous-
ands now idle, who are vafnly trampinp
our land seeking work. The solution we
oHer Is practical and in harmony with the
best interests Of humanity.
Duty of Trade Unions.
Trade unionists too often hide their
light under a bushel as if they were
ashamed of the history and achievements
OF their organization. Mistakes have been
made by the trade union crimes have been
committed in Its name, but the same is
true of all human institutions. The trade
union has ever been the organized and,
therefore, the effective protest OF workers
against wrong and oppression.
while the specific object of the trade
union Is the attainment of better indus
triai environments for the workers of the
world, the trade union does not forget
the moral, social and intellectual elevation
of the Individual member
Trade un1onists are rarely found in the
prisons of the different states; their chill
oren are seldom to be seen in poor houses
or pubic places of charity. The teaching
and influence of the union have ever been
In the direction of greater self-reliance and
greater self-respect.
Our unions have been schoolhouses for
the members, social and economic ques-
tons have been discussed and studied until
today we are creating a new social and
political economy that will yet rule the
world on principles of justice and right
I'VE are not organized to despoil the rich
and powerful, but to prevent them from
despoiling us. We ask no dividing up of
the accumulated wealth of the world, but
we do demand and will not give over the
struggle until the worker receives for his
labor the full fruits thereof.
To Make Life Worth Living.
From year to year life must be made
more and more worth the living. To help
attain this is the mission of the trade
union. This labor question we are trying
TO solve is the paramount question of our
times. Upon it's proper solution depends
the future welfare of our race Looking
backward through the pages of history and
seeing what has been accomplished through
the ages we can be hopeful for the DAYS
yet to come.
Recognition of the principle of the faith
erhood of God and common brotherhood of
man Is more of a reality today than at any
time In the past. This makes US confident
and hopeful to continue the struggle for
labor's emancipation.
Men and women of labor stand fast by
the trade union, demonstrate to all the
world that your efforts are on lines that
will make men and women better men and
better women in every true sense, and the
day Will surely come when all humanity
will properly appreciate the trade union"