The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-22
LABOR MEN SEE SPEAKER REED.
They Urre Certain Legislation ana He Tells
Them They Nlust wait for the TnriG NIL.

h"cHN huts Nhust WAN Not INC Ibttu hNus
WASHINGTON, April 2l.-Tho members Of the
Executive Council Of tho American Federation
OF Labor, who have been in session here since
Monday, called on Speaker Reed to-day. The
primary object Of their visit was to file with the
Speaker a memorial adopted by tho body urR-
Ing legislation upon matters of Importance to
the laboring men Of the country. Included in
these were tho amendment Of the EiRht.Hour
law. restriction Of immigration. currency reform.
and liberal appropriations for public works.
President Gompers, Vico-PresiGcnt Mcclure.
and James Duncan of the Baltimore Stonecut-
tcrs' Union addressed the Speaker in support Of
the memorial. Mr.. Mcclure urged the selection
Of Representative Gardner of New Jersey as
Chairman OF the Committee on Labor. Mr..
Duncan referred to the difficulty the Federation
found in securing the enforcement of tho Eight
Hour law, the Department Of Justice, he said,
being tho most active and vigilant opponent.
They pleaded for some expression by tho pres.
ont Congress Of its interest In the welfare OF the
laboring man. President Gompers said the COM
mittce did not ask action tomorrow nor next
week, nor In antagonism Of other interests, but
1t did ask legislation before the expiration OF the
term OF Congress. He suggested relief In tho
matter OF the Eight.Hour law and q greater re.
striction of immigration.
MIR. Reed. in reply, spoke with great earnest
ness ana WITH the apparent approval OF those
who listened. He expressed satisfaction with
the tone OF moderation and reasonableness with
which his visitors had spoken and expressed his
deep interest in the matter. 1t was necessary.
in view Of public exigencies. that the legislative
team should DO driven tandem, not abreast; that
one thing. the passage Of the Tariff bill. should
be first secured. Until that was accomplished
nothing else would be undertaken. And you
can aid in that" he said, by 80 directing public
opinion that IL will tend to overcome the inertia
OF II body of very estimahle citizens who havo to
pass upon that measure
continued, that progress In the. amelioration of
the condition under which mankind exists pro-
ceeded very slowly. In the matter OF the length
Of a days work, comparatively rapid advance
ment had been made. He could remember with.
in his own experience when twelve hours was
the minimum Of work expected of a man. The
humanitarian Idea had permeated factory life
in England very slowly, considering the great
minds that had been devoted to It, But there
were great minds also II not opposed, at least in
different to 1t. Golden and Bright had not
voted for It Its success was due to Shaftesbury,
derided and held in scorn ut first. He was glad
to note what had been said regarding the policy
because there was always its reaction. and the
cause was lost in. the horror occasioned by the
shedding of blood.
In closing, the Speaker said that he would take
into consideration the suggestion Of the commit
tee regarding the appointment of Mr.. Gardner
as Chairman OF the Committee on Labor, as he
would that of any other body of citizens. But
by what he deemed to be the sense OF the whole
House and in the light of other interests.
This closed the interview. Tho council con-
cluded its labors tonight and adjourned.