Evening star., 1897-01-23
AN EIGHT-HOUR DAY
The American Federation Of Labor
Determined to Secure It.
A TALK With PRESIDENT GOMPERS
A General MovementAranged for
May |, Next,Year.
THE RECENT CONVENTION

1.-THE American Federation of Labor in
tends to leave no effort untried to secure
the adoption of an eight-hour day. said
President Gompers yesterday to Star re-
porter.
The Cincinnati convention OF the A. F.
OF L." he continued, declared without
reservation that from now on all efforts of
the toiling masses shall be concentrated in
an effort to inaugurate an universal eight
hour day on May /, 1S9S
In making this declaration, fully coeni-
zant OF the responsibility resting upon the
representatives OF the organized labor
movement of our country, the delegates
were fully determined that all who run may
read that in this effort no halfway meas
ures would be tolerated. no see-sawing
would be encouraged; no compromises
would be listened to, and that no lot of
energy would be relaxed in maintaining or
improving upon the conditions of labor in
tne meantime But on the day set, May /,
lS9S, unless the same shall be previously
conceded, there will be a general movement
among all the workers Of the country for
the universal, and. If necessary, the stimuli
taneous enforcement of the demand for an
eight-hOur day
we imagine that our movement will be
decried, and that those who have always
i tailed IN constructing, building up and adj
vancfng will come forward with their
miserable pessimsm and prophecy that the
movement will not be successful.
Organized labor answers back that .his
pessimlsm. this preaching of failure never
yet advanced the interests of the people
one jot, never achieved one right nor aboI-
ished one wrong.
Courage and Determination.
THE success along the line of labor lies
in not only the knowledge of what are our
rights, but the courage to declare and the
determination to contest for It's achieve
ment Determination to achieve and hope
1or ultimate victory are the sure harbngers
Of success along the road Of a righteous
cause.
The organized workers of America have
declared for the eight-hour work day. We
recognize that 1t cannot be universally
achieved unless the workers organize in
their unions. 1t needs no sage TO under
stand that without organization ljttID il
any. success can attend the e4orts of the
workers TO secure their rights: that pro-
gress urged on by organized effort is most
certain; that without orSaliZa tious of labor
the combinations, corpora tions and trusts
and the employing class generally will
make serfs and slaves of the workers. If
there turks spark of hope In the heart of
the workers of the country-7for liberty, for
Justice and for right, it must spring from
their organized, concentrates efforts in their
unions and the federation Ct these unions
Every effort should be made by the
unions. and every union member to gather
within the fold of organization those who
are still Indifferent. and outside the infiu-
ences of organized labor. Every national
union, local union and central body should
have its organizing committee appointed,
composed Of honest. acIive, intelligent
workers. who Will leave DO effort untried,
no honorable means unemployed, to bring
within the fold Of unionism all those who
are still not members.
General Organfxa ton .sRecOmme n tled
open meetings of the union should be
held at regular and stated intervals to
enlist noa-unionists. Names of men who
are earnestly Impressed with their duties
to their fellow workers--men who are will
ing to bear some of the burdens and make
some of the sacrifices necessary to fur
ther the great cause Of labor-should be
forwarded to the headquarters of the
American Federation Of Labor, so that
special commission can be issued to them
as organizers for their respec tive districts.
The labor and reform press should take
up with renewed visor, knowledge and
the shorter work day. The press Of each
locality should be utilized for the purpose
of having them discuss the economic So
cial and moral phase of the eight-hour
movement, and all public men should be
Induced to hold discourse on the subject
I'VE should seek to impress upon the
minds of the workers the absolute neces-
sity Tor the movement, and preparations
should Immediately be begun for the hold
ing OF public mass meetings as decided
upon at the last convention, February %
WashiEgton's birthday.
The campaign for May l. 1888. is on. All
hail for the eight-hour day! Let every
member of organized labor societies gird
on his armor for the initial step; carry on
the organization with energy, intelligence
and unfagging zeal, and final success will
crown the eefYorts of those composing the
American Federation Of Labor"
The Cincinnati Convention.
Speaking of other work done by the con-
vention, President Gompers said:
THE hope was expressed some weeks
ago by some of the leaders Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor that the con-
vention at Cincinnati would rise to the
importance of the occasion presented in
the Industrial world and meet all expec-
tatlons, in order that the struggle of labor
may be taken up with the zeal which the
economic and social situation demanded.
1T is with the greatest possible satisfac-
ton that can say those expectations were
more than realized. The Cincinnati con-
Vention was the largest ever held during
the existence Of the American Federation
OF Labor. 1t represented more organized
workers, more thoroughgoing. earnest,
honest and aggressive trade unionists than
ever before. In transacting It's business
1t outclassed any of its predecessors In
the language of John Mallinson. 1t was
composed Of sincere, upright and hard
headed men.
Earnest. dignified, intelligent aggressive
and yet cool in deliberation and in arriy-
ing at great conclusions and without any
attempt at pyrotechnical display or In
dulging In any theoretical isms calculat ted
to divide the movement. True to the past
record OF the organization, delegates sought
the means by which the best results could
be achieved for the workers Of our country
and of the world. It is certainly no exag-
geratiOn to say that in point Of decorum,
honor. harmony, ability and sincerity of
purpose the Cincinnati convention COM
pared favorably with any gathering of men,
regardless Of the walk In ldife they may
follow"
'"rhe legislation demandedefrom Congress
and our several state legislatures is of a
practical character, calculated to advance
the interests of the whole body OF labor,
and Is sure to win the confidence and re-
spect OF the workers and the public gen.
orally. 1t 10 within the hounds in which
the practical and the rational is aimed at,
and the most malignant opponent can find
no good grounds for anta8onism, except
as he may oppose every jstep in the line
of progress and Civilizations
'"The movement for organisation and the
attainment Of labor's rights upon the eco
nomic field Ia Of the most pronounced char
acter. The resolution to haugurate the
new movement for the UNIVERSAL establish
ment of the eight-hour work day. the de-
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