The times., 1897-04-22
LABOR LEADERS SEE REED
Urge Upon Him the Need for
Remedial Legislation.
MEMORIAL PRESENTED
President Gompers, Vice President
Mcguire aud Mr.. Duncan, of the
Executive Committee, Represent
the Demands of the American
Federation of Labor.

President Gompers, Vice President Ma
guire and Mr.. Duncan, OF the executive
council, comprising committee repre-
sentinE the American Federation of Labor,
Yesterday called on Speaker Reed to urge
that remedial legislation for the bencfit
OF labor be had at the earliest practical
day, without, however, Indicating any
time definitely, The executive Council of
the Federation is now II session In this
city.
Speaker Reed met these represen tatives
in his room, heard argument on behalf of
certain propositions presented, and made
a reply. The committee submitted TO the
Speaker a memorial referring, amongo'hcr
things, specifically to the enforcement OF
the eght-hour law The memorial was
published full V In The Evening Times.
President Gompers first addressed the
Speaker. saving that the delegation con-
sisted of the officers above mentioned,
the executive council and the advisory
board He explained the functions OF
these bodies, and what relation they bore
to the workingmen of the country
He promised that neither he nor the dele
cation came in the spirit Of taking part
in any controversy as between the Repub-
licans and Democrats in respect TO The
contention that the House should at once
Droceed to business What was asked by
the labor people was not that remedial
legislation should be had tomorrow or
next week but that there should be legis-
lation in aid OF the laboring men OF the
country.
MI Gompers said that it was unneces-
sary to repeat TO the Speaker the condi-
tion now existing, Of which he was so
well aware He might, however, sug gest
that his aid and that of Congress could
well be invited In reference TO the eight
hour law, to Government appropriations
and to some modification OF the imnigra-
ton laws He had not come prepared To
make speech, as the matters were largely
covered in the memorial
Mr. Mcguire addressed himself to two
subiects-the currency and the enforcement
of the eight-hour law he described the
condition of the workmen in Philadelphia,
which, he believed, was fair statement
OF their condition in cities elsewhere and
throughout the country. He did not refer
specifically to any particular currency, but
llilDFtSSpt btlt til''s ~ " N'' VIZ N''N
Congress to pass such measures as would
prevent the panics and other money move
ments that affected workingnen and the
country so odisastrously from time to time,
Mr. Duncan spoke largely on the eight
hour law He said that il was unfor-
tunate that there was a belief, and that IT
had grounds of verification, that the Gov
ernment itself was not disposed to be as
fN,Ic hf -I.,,
law agitation In fact, it had, on appeals
to it, rather opposed than favored it. Mr..
Duncan recited the condition, especially,
Of the granite cutters, with whom, he sai'i,
Mr.. Reed ought TO be familiar. on account
of the Importance of that branch of indus
try in Maine. He made very strong ap-
peal for assistance on all the subjects set
forth in the memorial.
President Gompers asked If any other
member of the delegation desired to speak,
and none replying, he made an additional
statement. He said that apart from the
specific things asked for, he would call the
attention Of the Speaker to an important
consideration. There was, he said,
growing sentiment throughout the country
that the Federation, and, in fact, all labor
bodies were OF no avail to secure legisla-
tion from Congress.
This Mr.. Gompers did not believe, nor
did ne assume that because the last Con-
gress did nothing for labor that such was
the future intention of the body. The eX-
listing facts. however, gave some ground
for tho unfortunate belief that existed
among some laboring classes who We're
rapidly coming to the conclusion that there
was only one remedy, and that was might,
brute force, instead of waiting on the
processes of the law.
The Speaker said that he was pleased
with the spirit in which he had been APP
preached ny the president as one not in
tending to disaTTange any of the plans OF
the House.
He said pithily that matters of legisla-
ton We're now being driven tandem and
not abreast, and he was glad to note from
the remarks of Mr.. Gompers thatt he FEEDER
alton recognized that fact. Mr. Reed said
that in return for the appeal to him he
might make an appeal to the Federation
to aid in the plan of the House, and that
they light wait until the tariff bill had
been passed or rejected
He would not expect the la ahoring men to
add ANYTHING to the inertia of the large
body which now had the affairs of the coun-
try in hand. Mr.. Reed promised to bear
in mind the representations of the commit
tee to him, just as he would those of any
important body of citizenship. This closed
the interview, both sides bejpg apparently
pleased with what had taken place.
All of the speakers for the Federation
indorsed Mt Garner, of New Jersey, 'or
chairman of the Committee of Labor when
that committee should have been appoint
ed by Mr. Reed