Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-25

The official organ Of the International AS
ISOLATION of Machinists for October con-
tains an article Of interest to the laboring
classes which is based upon the alleged Ell
forts of various employers associations 10
crush the eight-hour law. 1t READS, IN
part, as follows:
"A concerted and well-directed attack
against the federal eight-hour law is belng
made by the different employers assocla-
tons throughout the country. Conhdential
circulars urging that every effort be mace
by individual members of these ASSOCIATIONS
to cast odium upon the measure, SO tnat lts
repeal would be assured at an early DATE
have been sent out broadcast. Ihey are
instructed to use every means IN thelr
power to influence legislators against II,
and to leave nothing undone that Woulo
tend to its destruction. Senators ana rep
reSentatives to be approached ana
pledge eXacted from them antagonistlc 10
the measure. And the National Manu1ac-
turers' Assoc 'ation has issued a conhuen-
tial circular u it's members in when IL Is
urged that thcy do all they can with their
senators and representatives to prevent tne
extension of the eight-hour law, as II is ao-
vocated by the trade unions.
1T will be remembered that Presloent
Roosevelt in his first message to CONGRESS
expressed himself as being in favor OF such
an extension, and it is to counterfeit TINS
that makes the employers so active. Now,
this activity on the part of the manulac-
turers must be emulated by us, ana We
the working people-must also see our rep
resentatives and impress it upon them maj
we want an extension Of the. eeight-hour
law; that we are the majority ana tnat
the majority rules In this country. we
must do more: we must ask them pupiciy
If they are in favor of an ,extenS1on OF the
shorter workday measure 80 that 1t VIII aP-
ply to government contractors ana supcon-
tractors and If they say no. or equivocatte
in any way, we must telhthems@ .a 80 p pote
for them, but will do allsin our power TO
encompass their defeat. Let US try ana see
which has the greater influence win Inc
average politician, the wealthy Few or inc
many 'horny-handed sons Of toA' that they
so fulsomely slobber overs just HefOre eIec-
ton. Now Is the time to see about 1t. Next
month will see many ELECTIONS, ana %n .as
men from our own ranks are not selecteo
to run for the seats-or even II they are
put them on public record assto whether
they are in favor of extending sthe snorter
workday that is now ENJOYED by an govern ,n n
meeting and ask them. Don't be afraid OF
them; they have more to be afraid OF than
you.
I'm some well-organized sections the trade
unionists contemplate going to all political
meetings In full force, and where they ask
the question above referred to and get
negative reply it is their intention to get up
and walk out in a body Action like that
will convince the professional politicians
that the workingmen have at last got into
politics."
The local organization of the Brotherhood
OF Painters. members of which quit
work at the Shoreham Hotel last week be-
cause OF the employment of Amalgamated
painters, has so far failed in having the
Objectionable worlkmen removed. With the
exception Of the paperhangers, who are al
lied with the painters. the members of the
other trades employed on the job have con-
tinued to work, and those In charge of the
repairs have not been seriously inconven-
fenced. It is stated that those OF the other