Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-05-19
PLEA FOR RELIEF.
The American Federation of Labor Takes Its
Grievances to Washington.

The American Federation of Labor Takes Its
Grievances to Washington.
The following dispatch is self explain
atory. Dear reader, does this look like
prosperity had arrived?
Washington, April 23.-The follow
ing memorial has been presented to the
president and members of the cabinet
by the executive council of the fedora
tion of labor:
10 the President, Cabinet and Congress
Jthe United States of america.
| GENTLEMEN: Multitudes of our work
| ing people-American citizens-are suf-
fering humlliating poverty and count
less privations. and look to you for
speedy relief. Last fall they were
promised helpful legislation, and they
expect it from you without unnecessa-
ry delay. In no party spirit we appeal
to you to heed their wants and tc
promptly meet this unparalleled situa-
ton in the true spirit of American
patriotism.
With industry half paralyzed. trade
stagnant, values depressed and shrunk-
en-, with enterprise stuffed and the pro-
ductiYe power of labor palsied, with
our commerce listless on the seas and
our immense resources blIghted, we
bid you ha ste the return of better times
to inspire confidence and bring cheer
and comfort to the homes of millions of
citizens who now seek work and wages
in vain.
In the name of the producers in shop
and factory, In mill and mine, in the
fields and on our lakes, toliers out of
work and those underpaid, we urge on
you the necessity of legislative relief.
The restitution among the honest,
proud and industrious people of our
land, though half hidden, IS ever in
creasing and becoming more and more
J appalling. The hopes they had are fast
turning to despair.
} The countless labor dispensing APP
} planes to cheaper production, even in
: the best Of times, disturb permanency
, of employment, tend to reduce wages
and intensity competition in nearly ev-
/ cry field of labor. Added to this the
: unrestricted flowing immigration from
abroad, the organization of trusts, the
Capitalization and concentration of
capital in the manifold industries-all
make the existence of tho workingmen
more hard and precarious. These
changing conditions, unknown in OuI
I tOrefathers' time, must be met, not by
promises, broken to the hopes, but by
g substantial and remedial legislation al
3 the hands of congress.
J., We therefore most respectfully me
morialiZe the congress of the United
: States to enact these measures:
: l. Amendment to the federal eight
0 enforcement on all public works by Of
: for the United States government
: whether done by contract, sub-contrac
J. or days work.
We are sternly opposed TO the invas
L ions and violations of the present eight
IS ments and officials in the federal serv
l. ice.
d 2. "A remedylng of our immigration
h laws to secure enlarged protection t
o American citizens and their families.
d 3. Reform in the national banklns
y system and in the issuance Of the cur
d rencJ of the United States so as to sc
Il cure the people from the possibilities
O and disasters of financial crisis.
n 4. Liberal appropriations for govern
/. nent public works and the improve
y ment of rivers and harbors.
t. BY prompt adoption of these meas
e ures at the hands of congress we firm
f. ly believe some degree of prosperit
/, may be restored and the conditions O
y the people bettered.
e We assure you the millions are nov
o in no disposition to be tri1ed with
If They are fast becoming desperate, an
l: deep are their muttering of discomfort
e They desire to realize some of the pros
< perity so freely promised ON the stun
T. six months ago.
le Over 30,0 900 willing workers ar
% idle; shall they appeal to you in vain
ID Shall the interests of trusts, syndicates
'e mOnopolies, corporations and moneye
IS men remain more important than tn
Ig welfare of the toilers? We trust moi
er We still believe the peoples represen,
Q atives are not dead to the public we
= fare. We ask that they rise to th
Or patriotism of this great occasion an
ID hasten to bring relief to the masses G
+ their fellow citizens. Very respect
I'd fully yours SAMUEL GoMPERs,
tn z. j. Meg UIRE,
ID JAMES DUNCAN,
JAMES O'CONNELL,
Ii M. M. GARLAND,
iy JOHN b. LENNON,
Ill F. MORRISON,
or Executive Council A. F. L.
ic