The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-20
FOR E|GHI-HOUR DAY
Movement of Organized Labor
to Begin May |, 1900.
GRANITE CUTTERS TO LEAD
F Federation of Labor Conven-
ton Pledges Support.
GRANITE CUTTERS TO LEAD

Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 1s.-It was de-
cided in the national convention of the
American Federation of Labor today TO
bring the struggle for an eight-hour work
day to a climax in the year 1900. On
May l of that year, the Granite Cutters
OF America will ask their employees to
chose between yielding to their demands
for an eight-hour day or suffering the
consequences Of a general strike.
James Duncan, the delegate to the con-
vention from the Granite Workers, an
nounced their decision on the floor of the
convention this afternoon and asked the
support of the Federation. He said the
Granite Workers had committed them
selves 10 the introduction of an eight
hour day by inserting a provision 10 that
end in their constitution.
Following Delegate Duncan's statement
the convention adopted a report submit
ted by David Black, chairman of the COM
mittee on an eight-hour work day, pledg-
ing to the Granite Cutters in their COM
ing struggle the moral and material sup
port of all affiliated organizations of the
American Federation of Labor. The
speeches on the subject indicated gen.
eral belief that the employing granite
cutters will not stand out against the
demand.
Another work of Importance accomplish
ed by the convention today was the set
Element of the convention between the
local and national organizations of the
walters. Acting upon the report of the
board OF arbitration appointed last week,
the convention ordered the holding of
general convention of walters local I'M
ions in Chicago on March 6, next, at
=
be adjusted, both factions having pledged
the arbitration board to abide by the de-
cision of the Chicago convention. The
arbitrator also demanded and were prom
ised, that the conflicting local unions in
Chicago and St. Louis should be ANAL
gamated at once. This dispute of the
walters has extended throughout the
country, and at one time threatened to
disrupt the Federation.
The socialist delegates were again sat
down upon by the convention today. They
urged the Federation to send delegates to
an international trades union congress to
be held in Paris in 1900.
A delegate, seeking informa ton Of
Messrs. Thorne and Inskip, the fraternal
delegates here from the British trade
congress, asked their opinion of the pro-
posed Paris congress. The Englishmen
both expressed the opinion that it would
be composed chiefly of socialists, and adj
vised the Federation to have nothing TO
DO with it. Their recommendations were
concurred in by an overwhelming vote.
LESS TALK. MORE WORK.
The Federation opened the second week
of its annual convention with many reso-
buttons still not passed upon. The first
six days had seen delegates ready to talk
ad lib on every measure presented. To-
day there was shown a desire TO surry
through with the conventions business
and Speech-making was left for another
time. Two resolutions adopted at the
morning session petitioned congress to
pass a bill giving TO the citizens of the
District of Columbia the same rights of
franchise enjoyed by the people of the
states and urging the government owner
ship of a system of telegraph lines and
the addition of a postal telegraph system.
This latter resolution was the same ster-
eotyped resolution introduced at each an
nual convention, and provides for sys-
tenn OF telegraph lines supervised by the
postoffice department.
VIRDEN STRIKE REVIEWED.
John A Hunter, president of the United
Mine Workers of Illinois, shook the con-
vention by reviewing the strike of the
miners at Virden. where the strikers on
" obtained a victory after a battle and
bloodshed resolution was adopted
thanking Governor Tanner of Illinois for
refusing to call out the state troops 10
protect the mine operators when they
brought several train loads of negroes
from the south TO take the places of the
striking miners.
HAND VS.. MACHINE LABOR.
The convention paid its respects to
Claude NJ. johnson. director of the Ma
tional Bureau of Engraving. because he
has adopted the use Of machinery in en-
craving plates from which paper money
is printed. A resolution was adopted as
sorting that Johnson had repeatedly viO-
lated the instructions of congress by
using machinery in mis- department. The
resolution closed with the sentence:
I'VE would hail with undisguised salts
faction the discharge Of this official.
Another resolution rendered an expires
sion of gratitude to Perry 5. Heath, first
assistant postmaster general. because he
has issued an order 10 allow only union
labor pranting used in his department"
THE WOMAN-WORKER PROBLEM,
The convention again put itself on rec
ord concerning the woman worker prob
lem by adopting this resolution:
"In view of the awful condition under
which woman is compelled 10 toll, this,
the eighteenth annual convention OF the
American Federation OF Labor. strongly
urges the more general formation OF
trades unions of wage-workinS women.
10 the end thar they may scientifically
and permanently abolish the terrible
evils accompanying their weakened be-
cause unorganized. state: and we emphat-
icaIy reiterate the trade union demand
that women receive equal compensation
for labor performed.
PETITION FOR A PARDON.
The executive council was instructed
70 petition President Mckinley for the