The Advocate and news., 1898-02-09
Addrea. BY the PederatiOn Of Labor.

TO the Honorable, the Members Of the 55th
Congress-
Gentlemen: The rapid Industrial changes
I'm modern society press heavily upon those
who must toll as Wage-wOrkers; skill which
required years to acquire Is often made
valueless In month. Introduction or new
machinery and new methods continually
throws large numbers into idleness and
want.
When by organization and combined ac-
tlOn we seek some relief, we are met by
wrlts of injunctions fOrbidding us TO advise
with our fellOW-WOrkers as 10 the best
means to protect our interests, to quit such
work as we may at the time be engaged In
performing, and laws already on the statute
books are construed and used to compel
men to labor against their WILL
Again we are brought into competition
with the convlcts Of our own or other
States, by sundry articles being made In
the different penal institutions.
LabOrers are imported from other cOun-
tries to reduce our wages and thereby our
standard OF living BY these several meth
DDS we feel ourselves unduly wronged and
oppressed, unable to exercise that indepen-
dence becoming 70 and an Indispensable
attribute Of the laboring people In demo-
cratic country and I'm modern civilized life.
We feel that we have right 10 bring our
grievances TO the attention of and to eX-
peCt from the law-maklng power such def
mite measures Of relief as seems most likely
to improve our condition and preserve our
independence and freedom as workers and
citizens, and, therefore, urge your earnest
consideration Of, and your best efforts In
enacting into law the following measures:
/. An eight-hour wOrkday on all public
works. Such law to provide, that all con-
tracts or subcOntraCts for materials fur
nished or work done must contain pro-
viso that eight hours shall be the maximum
labor Of any one individual in any one cal
endar day. Further, that 1t shall be the
duty OF officials vested with the power OF
signing such contract to withhold their
signatures until such proviso Is inserted
therein.
2. (a) In order to stop the lndiscrIminate
and dangerous use Of the writ of injunc-
ton we urge the adoption OF Senate bill 30.
(b) To free those who are yet bondmen
under our statutes and in order that such
bondage may not be used as an excuse for
extending II to the workers Of other call
lngs, we ask the enactment into law OF
Senate bill So.
3. In order to, in some degree lessen the
competition of convict labor we urge the
adoption Of law to prohibit the traspor-
tation Of prison made goods from one State
into any other State or Territory.
4. We urge the adoption of reasonable
law to restrict undesirable immigration,
such law to be based upon an educational
qualification.
When the bills on these various subjects
are referred to their respective committees,
we shall submit such reasons as seem to
us sufficient for the above requests.
In conclusion, we submit that we have
the right to expect all members Of Congress
to vote in favor OF these measures when
being finally considered In addition how
ever, we hope that there may be many
willing to give special attention and as
sistance in furtherance of these measures.
and assurances Of such may be addressed
to either of the undersigned.
BY order of the 18th annual convention
Of the American Federation of Labor. held
at Nashville, Tenn. December 1921, 1897
SAMUEL GOMPERS,
President A. f. of L.
FRANK MORRISON,
Secretary.
ANDREW FURUSETH,
Legislative Committee.