Show APPEAL CONGRESS FEDERATION OF LABOE SUBMITS SUB-MITS A FEW FACTS How it Believes the Laboring Men of the Country Could Be Benefited and Times Made Better AU Around Washington April 22The following memorial was today presented to the president and members of the cabinet by the executive counci of the Federation Federa-tion of Labor Washington D C April 20 To the President Cabinet and Congress Con-gress ica of the United States of Amer Gentlemen Multitudes of our working work-ing people American citizens at this e hour are suffering humiliating poverty and countless privations and look to you for speedy reuef Last fall they were promised helpful legislation and they expect it from you without unnecessary un-necessary delay In no party spirit we appeal to you to heed their wants and to promptly meet this unparalleled situation sit-uation in the true spirit of American patriotism With industry half paralyzed trade stagnant values depressed and shrunken shrunk-en with enterprise stifled and the productive pro-ductive power of labor palsied with our commerce listless on the seas and our immediate resources blighted we bid you hasten the return of better times to inspire confidence and bring cheer and comfort to the homes of the millions of citizens who now seek work and wages in vain In the name of the producers in shop and fjictory in mill and mine in the fields and on our lakes and seas in behalf of the toilers out of work and of those underpaid we urge on you the necessity of legislative relief The destitution among the honest proud and Industrious people of our land though halfhidden is ever Increasing and becomlng more and more appalling The hopes they had are fast turning to gloom and despair Invention of machinery the subdivision sub-division of labor and the countless labor la-bor dispensing appliances to cheapen production even in the best of times disturb permanency of employment tend to reduce wages and intensify competition in nearly every field of labor la-bor Added to this the unrestricted flow of immigration from abroad the organization of trusts the centralization centraliza-tion and concentration of capital In the manifold industries all make the existence of the workingman more hard and precarious These changing conditions unknown in our forefathers fi time must be met not by promises broken to the hopes but by substantial substan-tial and remedial legislation at the hands of congress We therefore most respectfully memorialize the president cabinet and congress of the United States for the enactment of these measures Amendment to the federal eight hour law so as to secure its nractlcal enforcement on all public works by or for the United States government whether done by contract subcontractor subcontract-or days work We are sternly opposed to the evasions and violations of the present eighthour law by those heads of departments and officials In the federal fed-eral service 2A remodeling of our immigration laws so as to secure an enlarged protection pro-tection to American citizens and their families Reform in the national banking system and in the issuance of the currency cur-rency of the United States so as to secure the people from the disasters of financial crises Liberal appropriations of government govern-ment public works and for the improvement improve-ment of rivers and harbors By prompt adoption of these relief measures at the hands of congress ve firmly believe some degree of prosperity may be restored and the condition jf the people bettered We assure you the millions are row In no disaosition to be trifled with They are fast becoming desperate and deep are their mutterings of discoa tent > tentThey desire to realize some of the prosperity so freely prophesied on the stump six months ago Over 3000000 of willing workers are Idle shall they appeal to you in vain Shall the interests of trusts syndicates monopolies corporations and moneyed men remain of more hnnortance than the welfare of the toilers We trust not We still believe the peoples representatives represent-atives are not dead to the public welfare wel-fare We ask that they rise to the patriotism of this great occasion and hasten to bring relief to the masses of their fellow citizens Very respectfully yours SAMUEL GOMPERS P J McGUIRE JAMES DUNCAN JAMES OCONNELL M M GARLAND JOHN B LENNON FRANK MORRISON Executive Council American Federation Federa-tion of Labor |