Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-22
A Meeting Held in Its Interests at
Typographical Temple Hall.
MCGUIRE, LENNON ANDG0MPERS SPEAK
They Plead for the UnifIcation of
Workingmen for Common Welfare.
PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT

The large hall or Typographical Ie:npie
was well filled last evening, the occasion
being a mass meeting in the interest OF
organized labor. 1t was addressed by Pres
ident Gompers. Vice President P. J. Nc
CURE and Treasurer John B. Lennon of
the American Federation of Labor.
President William Silver of the Building
Trades Council presided and introduced the
speakers Mr. Mcclure, In his remarks,
said that for the last three years there mad
been an unprecedented depression in this
country which made them years Of want
and idleness and hundreds of thousands
had been living in a condition Of pauperism.
They had been also years of education In
bitter experience, and men had become
convinced of the folly of individual action
in any attempt to change conditions. The
result had been that men had combined
and the membership of organized labor had
largely increased. The history OF laDor
was one of cOnstan. trouble. In the PERIOD
Immediately preceding the war there were
but 100000 organized workers in the United
States, but after the close OF the war there
was a gradual increase until the organized
labor of the country was In conuitloH 10
fierce legislation. They had secured an
eight-hour law in many Of the states; the
restriction of the employment OF child Ia
Dor: the inspection of mines and work
shops. the abolition of the truck system as
ly so frequent in the mining regions, ard
other legislation which improved the condl-
ton of the workers, made them better citi-
zens and elevated the standard OF their
manhood. Some dreamerS and philosophers
had declared that trade unions were power
less to change conditions, but he who as
serted this had never had any experience
in the movement. Trade unionism was. de-
clared MIR. Mcclure, the highest type Of
manly selfishness, and he who remained
outside represented the lowest type of
brutal selfishness and seIf-imposed degrade
ton
The Attitude of Organized Labor.
Organized labor was not arrayed against
individuals, he declared, but against sys-
tens. 1t desired to put in the laborer all
the manlness that 1t is possible for him to
possess: the independence of an individual
who. selling his labor to another, will force
the recognition of his rights by the en-
ployer to an equitable share of that which
he produces. 1t elevated man to the
equality of the master until he arrives at
the same standard, socially, morally and
economically. with the master. Under any
other condition the laborer Is an Industrial
slave said Mr.. Mcclure.
The period of trade unionism had passed,
he said, when observing an advance of the
market price of a product, the workers
would come together secretly in some back
room and resolve to demand an advance
of wages, and, without considering COM
mercial conditions. would order strike il
the demand was not complied with. That
was 'hurrah' trades unionism 1t was
now out of date, and men were depending
upon arbitration and Cancellation. They
recognized the fact that it was not only
necessary to organize locally, but that they
must combine into one grand federation.
and by that means nationaliZe the move
ment, and give character to the very gov
eminent under which they live. This work
necessarily must be done by few, which
has been the case in all reform movements.
In conclusion Mr.. Mcclure said the ten
dency for the past decade had been toward
the uniiication of the labor of the coun-
try. and this was being accomplished sat
isfactorily- Twenty years ago there were
only eleven organizations AFFILIATED with
the American Federation of Labor; today
there were seyenty-eight. and the number
was constantly increasing.
Treasurer Lemons Remarks.
Mr. Lennon in his speech said in part that
as a result Of trades organization the wage
workers of the country have a higher con-
ception of proper Industrial conditions now
than men ever had before. TRADES union
ism had instilled into men the elements Of
maniiness, which had given character to
government He SAID that the United
States, England and Australia were the
most advanced countries in the world, and
men lived there under better conditions
than elsewhere in the world. 1t was d fact
these countries than N any other. and this
accounted for their improved condition
Trades uniontsn had made them better citi-
ZeHs, they had become more temperate
more thrifty and more con s,derate " All
the so-called trades organizations the
trades Union had proved 10 be she most
practical, most stable, and had accom-
pLshed more for the advancement of the
working classes than all other organiza-
tons combined. Ills experience as a tailor
was that during tao las, three years the
wages OF unorganized talors of this
Country had beef. reduced ID per cen. while
th= union tailors, withou. 4 single excep-
non were receiving the same w;tscs that
they did before the public. 1T had been
ltis. ~ stated hat low wages increased
t:afie, but IL had been mis- experience tha:
In the largest trade enters where th,.
most business is done, the organized wage
eaTne:s recei, e3 the highest pay.
Mr. Lennon concluded by alyisiny the
uddes unioniSts TO so conGGCc their orgabi-
zaticiis and prs ctices as to create a healthy
Etnei Al sentprent; to be Z, inly and h1nt l.
able In all thei. trade relations and thus
se"ure the respect of tn. pubic.
Workingmen and Speaker Reed.
President Gompers. who made the last
address Of the evening, spoke at some
iength In reference to the visit of the exec
utive council of the American Federation
OF LABOR TO See Speaker Reed at the Capt.
tol yesterday, and continuing remarked:
US courteously and heard US attentively. 1t
occurred to me that there had been a
Change In sentiment somewhere. But a
short time ago a band of idle weary. tar
tered nen unorganized visited the Capitol
and demanded hearing. which was re-
fused them. the leaders were arrested and
they were told to keep or the grass But
there has been change; there was no
attempt made to evade US, though the is
sue may be evaded
Mr.. Reed in his remarks to u.s. referring
to the ignorant class, excepted the un-
schooled citizens Perhaps he thought we
have more TO fear from the educated ig-
ncrsnt' Than from the so-called unschoole.l
citizen.
There Is class of philosophers who
declare there Is inevitable law which
governs conditions, but no man should in
stst that any Law should exist which will
Justify condition that denies the willing
worker the opportunity for labor, or which
NILS our streets and byways with hungry
men and women.
II the increase of wages was the ONLY
result Of trades unionism the world would
be the better, for II In an economic fact
that where men receive the highest wages
We have the best class of citizens The
trades unions realize the conditions of to-
day. and propose to carry on q persistent