The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-19

Standing army ana the building ~ mere
80 s..sp~ a.ss... sss,rsss = 80 rx
ing people. without ary a4titfc<al a3van-
iaze Or Increase q isearns- But rather the
reverse. that 3ss increased labor eon petit
ton ard also Increased taxation
You will remember hCt a few short
months ago, when the president OF the
United States called for volunteers. how
quick was the response. -Four times the
force could have been raised. 20 do honor
20 fres America I. was from the ranks
Of labor that came the boys who Shout
d~reA the mesket and stood side by side
with the man Of wealth: and none more
loyal TO the Stars and Stripes than are the
laonrers of this nation. especially those
OF organized labor.
II do not propose TO deprive the nation
Of its rights in the Interchange Of COM
meree with all nations Of tie world: but
DO believe the proposed plan should be
denounced By this gathering as not being
fer the best interests Of the producers Of
our nation. I am not in favor OF a large
standing army We have risen above the
level OF nations less enlightened In this
respect. / favor q reasonable army. aud
more than that. favor car soldiers being
paid more than the 2astry SUM of SIS a
month. IN other words. my idea upon the
army question: Is 70 regard quality above
quantity in The selection aud maintenance
OF our soldiers. And when the good name
of free America is at stake. We. the men
who compose organized labor wifi ne in
the front ranks 10 do battle for our coan-
try.
Time prevents me from dwelling longer
on this vital question. but I hope IL will
be brought up in this convention. and that
II viii be decided. by ma jority at least
that we. as representing labor in Wash
ington- do protest against this policy Of
national expansion and the sacrifice. of
the best blood OF our young men in order
TO furnish opportunities fer the profitable
investment Of boarded wealth
The Eght-Hour Law.
zone o. the most important questions to
come before this convention is that of ad-
voeatfng the passage Of an eight-hour
law. and IN this connection I viii say "A
word as TO the operation of the Federal
eisnt-hour law. as at present interpreted
The forti1cations at Admiralty head. Mar
ro~stoIe point and Magnolia Bluff all
in this state, are now being built under
direction OF the United States govern
ment This work was let to contractors
and those contractors have worked. and
continue TO work. their mechanics and la
borerS more than eight hours per day for
q days pay. The laborers complained BY
affidavit, to myself and others. these
complaints were sent 10 the attorney gem
eral OF tire United States. and what do
you think was his answer Ii was TO the
following effect; At time like this no
good citizen would ask TO have the law
enforced. when our country is al war with
a foreign nation. the president himself Is
working sixteen hours a day and the la
borers also ought TO be willing To do a
little extra Without going into any long
argument to show the faiiacy OF this gem
tleman's position. and the very evident
fact that his reply was an evasion Of both
the principle at issue and his duty as a
public officer, i should like To remark that
the nature. OF the presidents work is not
that OF clearing land and building houses.
and that the compensation is somewhat
more than $l.e9 10 s2-55 per day. even
though Ii be sixteen hours: and that his
duties are not such as can De delegated
or divided among several.
1T Is unnecessary for me to add that so
far no action has been taken for the pro-
which they are compelled to endure, or
lose the opportunity of earning a living
for themselves and their families. This
law should be amended so as 10 leave no
loopholes for officials. such as the one re-
ferred to. to favor certain class. TO the
detriment of the working class: permit
ting them To work mechanics and labor
ers longer hours than is prescribed by
law, thereby depriving other men of
work. to satisfy the greed OF such en-
ployers.
so. I would ask this congress. in the
drafting OF an eight-hour law, 10 make il
so plain and distinct that no one will dare
attempt to pervert the intent. By ccnfus-
ing tecfnicaIities to the end that its
whsle abjsct Will be lived up 10 in Justice
to al.
'"fae committee and president of the
American Federation OF Labor are doing
good work at the United States capital and
they hope 10 have the above mentioned Law
amended so as 70 become operative
Work % the Industrial COmmissioD
THE industrial comm ssion. which was
created at the last session OF congress, il
now at work After looking over the per-
sonnet OF this commission. not much can be
expected from II In the interest of labor.
There g ont- one representative OF labor