National Republican., 1878-11-23
THE LABOR LEAG On.
Sir. Hodnett and the International Indus
trial Convention.

League Sisterho0d was held last evening at 400
Louisiana avenue, Washington, D. c., John
Pope Hodnett, founder aud president of the
l.. L. U. $. A., in the chair. The minutes Of
tho last meeting were read aud approved.
Mrs. Susan Anderson presided over the sisters
and Miss Katie Foley acted as secretary. Mrs.
Anderson said that the large audience present
was due to the fact that Mr.. Hodnett had re.
turned home from tho international, CONNER.
cial and industrial convention which was held
in Chicago on the l2th Of November and
which Mr.. llodnett attended as the represent.
ative of the Labor League OF America. Hence
this large audience turned out this night to
listen to what he had to say relative to the
opening up If new avenues to employ the un-
employed workingmen Of the states.
Mr.. HoDSETT's SPEECH.
Mr.. Hodnett said that II afforded him great
pleasure as tho representative Of the Labor
League TO bring them back such glad tidngs
from the greatest representative convention
that had ever assembled in the United States
OF America when | say the greatest repre-.
sentative convention that ever assembled In
the United States, | mean that In the fullest
and broadcst aCceptati0n OF the term for
every species OF manufacture had their repre-
scntatives In that convention, from a needle
to an anchor aud the representative mauu.
terests, which giyo work annually to over
100000 men. Then there were the various
Chambers Of Commerce of the different ctics
who represented commercial, agricultural
industrial and producing elements vi those
localities. When: tell you that the amount
OF capital represented in that convention was
$500, 900 900, you can form some idea Of the
hugeIess and stability of this body Of repre-.
sentative Americans Still, great as all this
wealth Is, It Is tmmovablc unprod ductiye, and
useless as a commodity In the markets Of civil.
izatia without the hands of honest labor
to utilize and dishurse il for the benefit OF
the human race. Cheers.
IL was appointed a member ofthe committee
Oh resolutions as tho only representative in
the convention Of the labor and industrial
elements OF the States--by that mean the
substantial laboring people, who are the real
producers Of the wealth Of the nation-and
offered As such the following resolutions, which
re substantially the resolutions which passed
the convention. and which II finally adopt ed
by Congress will give employment to dve
millions o! laboring people on land and sea.
John Pope lIoluett, OF the Labor League Of
hc United States, from the District OF Colum.
tina, presented the following:
Rs,yss st That We are eoavinceI ihA' .u. h ,h.lp
ta'es nj transportation from the AtanLC to the Pa.
riiC, ami fTOm the interior " our country " .he
GV,f1l MeXiso and % the seRo0ard.H will encourage
an 1 develop )uI trade With China, Japan, lHi!a.
Au,Ia!!a, Brazil. and Mexico, will not be reached
an;i the monopoly possessed BY the prcscn! Cen
tral, Western aud rmion Pacific railways shall 10
broken aal the combined lines OF railways 10 keep
Up rates Of 'Iclghi shall &c destroyed by competi.
ION. THi the cUnslrugIion Jf the Northern Pacific
The Texas Pacific and the great national railway
lines, and We recommend that Congress lake such
:!5n Is NJ! lead 70 .ne speedy completion Of ths
rpmr"!ng lines Of railway On such terms as will
s"cufe The Government against loss
E'.D.rft, Iha! We are convinced that the imme
dae construction Of these three lines u railway BY
proyement Of the Saui Ste Marie Canal, the In:
prpvememt Of The navigation Of Lake - clair aud
llefoI! River and the opening and Improvement Of
Harlem River. from ;hc Hudson 10 East River by
;hC General Government, would give hundreds OF
thousands Of Oui Idle population rcmuneratSe EN-
=. 1ymGuI CONFIDENCE to commercial! and manulac.
turing bus.nc,s. and prosperity 10 our country.
E''r!ttd That these enterprise viz the Texas
laClaC Railway, from the Gult Of Mexico and from
AMI san Diego Ca! the Northern Pacific Railway
com Lake superior 20 Puget sound. the Great Ma
Msl Railway. from tie Eastern scaboard, with =
branches extensions 10 The Ret K:rer uf the NoGll
4, the foot OF the Rocky Mountains yu the west and
tc the RIO G:anhe River on the southwest, the IN
r:ayCmcnt Df the navigation " the Mississippi!
mont Uf The Sau!i tie Mare raua. the imprON e.
u, Hl OF lIr navigation Of Lake It Cla.T and the
Detroit River and the opening aud Inpryv cement Of
Harlem River fTom the Hud.on to Eat River or
Long Island sound knows no East, no West, no
North. no South and the Interests Of the whole REQ
pc demand these important improvements to
cheaper rates. increase our IECiiirs Of tTaHspOTa
lion and Of expert, which vii bring the balance OF
trade with lnIeign countries largely IL out :Avor,
Rssy'rsd, That we are convinced that II Is the
wi'csl policy Of our Government 70 assist eEeour.
age and increase cur mail steamship lines to
southern and south American rGrts. ami especially
lO those Of Brazil and Mexico whose people need
our products and manufactures III exchange for
their fohee, sptccs, hides &c, Tor which we are
paying millions In gold. instead Of manufactures
and from which British and JcGn.aL commerce Is
rcRping rich harvest
E,soIcd, That we believe that Congress has as
the Constitution OF the vuict States. to regulate
and assist commerce with foreign nations aud
among the several states and TerTitOTc. as II has
10 establish p0stroads POS, offices, transport The
mails and collect revenue therrftOm or 10 establish
custom houses and COLLECT import duties: and In
the words Of the Constitution. that Congress has
| ton these powers.
Re.o'r.f That II Is The sense OF this convention
that the National Government ought TO ass., and
regulate Interstate commerce. and ID ali Cases
where aid s hns been rendered 10 private enter.
| prise 10 regulate and fix the rates OF transportation
| by an act OF Congress or 10y commissioners an,
pointed by the President Of the United states with
| the advice AMI consent oil the senate.
| O,rtd That the subject Of Inland ttanspoua
| uent tor the relcfot the consume! a. we'll as the
Producer, demeEi the Intelligent, prompt. and
efficient action Of the Congress and people Of th'
| United states.
These resolutions are substantially the reso
lutOus OF that convention. and !, Us the repre-
sentative Of the Labor League ask for no bet
| ter resolutions for the interests Of wOrkinguieI
| than are embodied In the foregoing. Grca
cheering,I was also appointed by the chair
man Of the convention as one Of the committed
Of the various States to present these resolu
| tiOns and the views OF the convention relative
to internal Improvements 10 Congress anC
| to the President of the United states and hi
Cabinet. and impress upon the law'inakini
and Executive branches Of the Government tn
absolute necessity Of adopting as a whole tn
resolutions and platform Of the convention
| The day is once more commencing to dawn upp
| the !abOring people Of the States, and the hr'
tangible movement looking TO the triumphan
resurrection OF honest capital and honest labor
was this great representative convention whic
met Al Chicago on the l2th day OF November
ISIS.
Il look forward with great hope for IL
| sprlrg.ag up U! those great national highway
| which ,hal, IA the near future, develop rcN
empires open MP new countries 10 cmigrati.
and civilization, which, century hence, ma
probably contain population az large as tha
wAICh now HhaO.ls a.. Europe; and also loOl
for the day wAGu American commerce, born
IN AneTcaL bottoms, ska. Written with lhei
sails the oceans Of the 1hc, and carry GU
manufactured goods. made In this country b
our chilled mcuhauivs, 10 every country Of tn
when that day comes the Labor League cA
Justly lay claim to having participated. b
rel e-enIstDE, in the great cOnvrLtlOu Hhtc
gave birth to the movement which called til
latent energies OF the American people tut