Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-05-14

Reports to the Office of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, submitted by
our affiliated organizations and organ
izers, as well as the labor and reform
press, all indicate that the agitation
for the Inauguration of the eight-hour
work day has fully set in. The unions
throughout the country have for some
time past been making arrangements
for sytematic agitation in the way Of
lectures, addresses and meetings Of all
kinds. Workers and ministers and
other sympathizers; the labor, reform
and the public press are also brought
into action. and it is most gratifying to
know the ever increasing interest man
Tested in this movement. On Wash
ingtons birthday, February 22d, the
day was celebrated in many cities and
towns by either public or private meet
ings, at which addresses on the eight
hour movement were delivered, all urg-
ing the first essential to successor
ganization. Quite a number of news
papers published articles specially de-
voted to the subject in their Sunday
issues (the day before), and many min
listers of the gospel made the subject
theme for their sermons. 1t cannot be
supposed that the movement should
have already taken on extremely wide
spread dimensions, but everything au-
gurs well for a grand comprehensive
agitation and aggressive campaign. Re-
orIl nf nth
may differ as to the different schools of
economic thought, there is general
agreement that the movement to re-
duce the hours of labor is essential to
progress and one calculated to give the
workers better and larger opportunities
for self-improvement; to relieve the
awful stress Of over-employment by
those who work and under-em employ
ment by those who can find no work at
all, while at the same time it instills
a higher manhood, nobler thoughts,
more independence, and greater ag-
gressiveness in dealing with the prob
lens of the day and those which the
people must confront in the near fu
ture. 1t behooves all workers to recog-
nize; it is incumbent upon sympathiz-
achieved; that the underlying princi-
pies of our movement will only receive
public sympathy and cooperation
when the workers are fully and more
thoroughly organized. Without organ
ization the most just plea, the most rea-
sonable request for recognition and for
Justice, will receive but scant attention
and less success unless it has back of 1t
the power and influence of organiza-
ton. 1t is the duty of everyone who
struggles for the suppression of wrong
to-day and demand the rights of all for
the morrow, that they shall devote
their best energies to the organization
of the workers. The question of the
quantity or quality of skill and lack of
skill required in the labor should be
no barrier nor form any discrimination
to the complete and thorough organi-
zation of the workers. Let each and all
be gathered within the fold of the I'M
ion of their respective trade or calling,
have them represented in their national
trade unions and in their central bod
les; let each be in full affiliation with
the American Federation of Labor, and
the power and influence of this aggre-
CATION of workers, in concentrated and
federated effort, will WELD an influence
so potent that it will not only create
healthier public opinion but itself
constitute public opinion. Every I'M
ion, every central body, every organiza
ton and sympathizer with our move
ment, should be urged in this direc-
ton and to at once take steps to bring
this about; and further, to proceed with
the arrangements for more extensive
agitation, so that the next general mass
meetings to be held May 1, 1897, will be
celebrated and held at one and the same
time and form the second mile stone to
the establishment of the universal
eight-hour work day, directly leading
from the forked road of industrial con-
fusion to the goal Of labor's emancipa-
ton. Workers! Organize and press
ever onward and upward!-Union La
bel.