Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-02
CONGRESS OF wORKsNGMEN.
a National Committee on Labor Legis-
IatiOn Organized.

fatsOh OTgansZeQs
The call for representatives OF labor unions
throughout the country issued by the local fed
Grafton in July last, TO meet in this city on the
3Oth Of November, was responded to by dele
gates from various organizations national and
local, at 430 Sth street, Thursday afternoon.
AT the appointed hour Mr.. A. NJ. Kenaday
Chairman Of the advisory committee read the
call under which the delegates had assembled
and made motion that Gabriel Edmonston
vice chairman Of the legislative committee of
the National federation, which recently met in
Cleveland, Ohio, be called to preside as tempo
rary chairman of the convention
The motion was adopted. and Mr.. EdmOnston
on taking the chair made the following address:
CHAIRMAN EDNONsTON's ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN: At the session Of Friday No.
vember 81, of the congress of national labor
unions at Cleveland, Ohio. / was selected as one
OF the vice chairmen of the legislative committee
of that body The duties of that committee are
mainly to exercise supervision over the national
organizations of labor, and to carry out such in
structiOns as may from time to time be given
them by the federation. fhe action of the
Washington federation of local unions was fully
explained at Cleveland. and their plans for a
ceatral committee to confer with the committee
=
proposed legislation i'm the interest of labor has
been approved. and / stand here to confer such
authority upon this body as | may POSSESS and
the members may deem necessary to enable them
to go on with the good work which was inaUgu-
rated here last summer. and which has me- the
approval Of the friends of labor in all parts of
the country. accept the position of temporary
chairman until this convention is formally or
ganiZed by the election OF a permanent presi-
dent and secretary. and will now entertain a
fTtffr foo tinTR nN6
order of business. The delegates of labor or
CARNATIONS present are recognized as delegates
10 the national central committee on legIsla-
ton. and the powers usually exercised by legis-
lative bodies are hereby conferred upon them 10y
competent authority OF the national congress
OF labor unions. of which | have the honor to
b. all officer motion for q committee on or
EanlZatiOn is now in order.
Mr.. Vim. n. Stickells, plasterer, moved the
appointment OF such a committee and Chairman
EdinOnstOn named Vim. III. Stickells. plasterers;
Henry BOsenburo. cigar makers. and John W.
Howard, carpenters, as said committee.
COMMITTEES on CREDENTIALS.
4 committee on credentials, consisting of 3.
G. Mcdonald, tdilOrs' union. NJ ]. Garry, brick
layers. and James G. Miles, plasterers, reported
the credentials of James l.. Wright. d. A., No.
j, n of L., at Philadelphia, and of r. ". Ruter,
Pensacola, Florida. Credentials from congress
siOnal district No of Missouri and from trades
assembly at Louisville, Ky, were also filed, but
the delegates had not yet put in appearance.
While the committee on organization were
absent. MIR kenaday read from the constitution
OF the national labor congress the authority of
Nr Edmonston to organize the convention as a
national representative body. and congratulated
the local members on the fact that they had
completed the foundation and were now fairly
Started on the superstTncture of a work III
tatol,A
months
MIR. X. W. Ruter, of Florida made stirring
address, and was followed by Mr. James L.
Wright. of Pennsylvania. an entertaining
Speaker. and representing the oldest assembly
OF the X. of l..
EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on ORGANIZATION.
The committee on organization reported as
follows: That we organize central committee
on legislation at the national capital under au-
thOrity of the National Federation of Labor. OF
Washington, ID. c., and we adhere to the plat
form of principles of that organization. We
recommend that a president and secretary be
erected for the ensuing year. and that a special
Committee of seven directors be elected in ac-
cordance with the plan adopted by the Fedora
ton OF Washington city on July 5th. said COM
mittee to be elected on the 9TH of December,
and the president of the central committee shall
be er-0ficiO member of said committee of seven.
and preside at their meetings; that the central
committee shall have power to pass upon all
Credentials tor membership I'm said body; that
the central committee may be called in session
NJ any time by the president. and that he be
authorized to notify the members by postal
cards. (Signed by VIM. III. Stickells III. Bosom
burg, John W. HOward.)
The report, after considerable discussion and
amendment, was adopted as above given.
ORGANIZATION PERFECTED.
The election of president being in order. Mr..
J. l.. Wright was put In nomination, also Mr.
Gabriel EdmOnstOn. Mr.. E. declined the honor
and pressed the nomination of Mr.. A. NJ. Kena-
day. the present presiding officer of the local
federation. Mr. kenaday was duly elected.
Mr. j. II. O'Brien and Henry Bosenburg were
put in nomination for secretary, and Mr.. o. Brien
was elected.
The president before taking the chair stated
THAT he fully appreciated the high distinction
conferred upon him, and entered upon the dis
Charge OF his duties with some degree of diff
Gpnce. resulting from mistrGSt of his abilities.
No man could take the foremost place in an en-
counter between labor and capital and escape a
storm of criticism from front and rear but he
would rely on the counsel ard support of the
True friends o! labor to enable him to fulfill his
obligations. He accepted the situation.
4 committee consisting of MessrS EdmonstOn
j.. ). O'Brien. Mcdonald BOsenburm and Stickells
were appointed To nominate suitable candidates
for the board Of directors seven in number to
be voted for next Thursday night at $50 Sth
street. Adjourned