Evening star., 1897-04-03
THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY
Leaders of the Federation Of Labor to
Confer in Washington.
4 CAMPAIGN TO Be ORGANIZED
The First Of May. Next Year, is the
Time Set.
DETAILS OF THE WORK X

A meeting Of prominent leaders of the
American Federation OF Labor will lie held
in Washington soon to consult on meas
ures connected with the proposed eight
hour work day. in the success OF which the
members Of the American Federation CT
Labor have vital interest.
OF the various economic questions which
were considered by the sixteenth annual
convention of the American Federation of
Labor. which met at Cincinnati last win
ter. that OF the shorter work day MAS re-
Garded as being Of paramount Importance.
On a recent occasion President Samuel
Gompers voiced the unanimous sentiment
Of the delegates to the convention, well
also Of the membership generally. which
comprises more than 6oU,o00 workers of all
crafts. when he stated that he recognized
The great influences that reduction in the
hours of labcr has upon the economic, So
cal. political and moral condition of the
workers and on all the people as well as on
the great number of our brothers and sis
ters who have been deprived of an oppo:-
tunity OF employment, and with full
knowledge that the road to Independence,
to better. a nobler life, lies through n the
movement of organized labor in its un-
ending and uncomfortable struggle for
shorter work day
Previous conventions, not only of the
American Federation. but of the distinctive
crafts had earnestly considered this ques
ton, and had devised various plans for
agitation and for the attainment of the
eight-hour work day.
4 Degree Of Success.
Through years OF agitation and effort,
which frequently resulted in 4 strike or
lockout, many of the crafts i'm localities
have secured the shorter work day. 1t
| has not become general probably because
in the past there has not been general
concerted action of the wage workers Of
the. country. Outside of the large bust
ness centers comparatively few work less
than nine hours. and in many instances
even where the workers are organized, ten
hours constitutes a days work.
Whether some effective plan can be de-
vsed which will nstionalize the eight
hour movement and concentrate and thor
oughly combine the organized labor forces
of the country i'm a concerted, systematic
and successful effort 10 secure a shorter
day is a question which mas engaged the
serious attention of those prominent in
the councils of labor. The American Fed
Grafton being the great representative body
of the organized labor Of the country has
through the executive council of that body
during the last year, as Instructed by a
previous convention. secured some conccs-
sions for am eight-hour day.
President Gompers states that a nCn-
Der of unions: made the demand. snd in
many instances secured it by strikes: a
much larger number, however, han the
reduction conceded TO them without even
the necessity Of ceasing their work.
Further effort was, however, regarded
as neces sary. and as suggested by Presi-
dent Gompers the executive officers of
each national or international union were
directed to recommend to the American
Federation of Labor reDresen ;ative of
their respective organization, who resides
in the city in which the headquarters of
the American Federation of Labor may
be located; these to constitute an advisory
board. These representatives will hold
meetings at least once a month at such
time and place as the officers of the Fed
GRAFTON may provide and that all officers
of the Federation who can possibly attend
are required to do SO and conduct the Off
cial lutiGS of the