Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08
THE CONGRESS OF LABOR.
The Meeting To-day in This City-C0n.
gresham FOran's Opening Address.

THE CONGRESS OF LABOR.
The Meeting To-day in This City-Con.
gresham FOran's Opening Address.
The fifth annual session of the federation of
organized trade and labor unions convened
this morning in the Grand Army hall. corner
o; 9th and streets. As the name indicates,
this is a national organization or congress of
labor representation, and the delegates repre-
sent the general bodies of the various labor or
9 nizations in this country. as well as in Can
ada some ids of the Importance OF this BODY
may be gained from the statement that the
constituency of this congress comprises some
100000 worzmen. The delegates represent
ing this body only number some twenty-five
All of these had not arrived at the hall this
morning when twelve O'Clock came, which was
he hour named for the congress to
meet. Those present We're as follows:
John s. Ryan, Baltimore, and Geo. g.; King,
tion of Labor; VIM. III. Foster. Philadelphia, the
Central Labor unions of Philadelphia; Samuel
and tse
cigar Makers International unioG Ernest
later and Henry Enrich, New York. the1nter-
national Furniture Workers union: ". ID. Con-
noIi,-. Cincinnati; theCincinnai Trades Assem-
bly,; Patrick F. McAuliffe, Washington. Granite
Jgtiers National union; Charles sharpe, Phila
Gabriel Edmonston. Washington, Brotherhood
u C4rpenters and Joiners union; Hugo Miller,
New i OH, the
al union; E.W. Oyster he Federation of abor,
Washington, d. c.; VIM. Hammond, New
orleans, :. :. Green. Louisville, and VIM. Gray
!on, New York, the International Topographic
al union.
MR. FORANS ADDRESS.
The congress was called to order by ]. W.
smith, OF Springfield, ILL.,. the chairman of the
legislative committee, who in brief speech
welcomed the delegates and expressed the hope
taat their deliberations would be attended
with results in keeping with the importance of
The interests which they represented. He then
introduced Representative Martin Foran, of
cincinnati, who was present as u visitor, and
Mr foran made a fnrcibie speech, In which he
dWeit upon the Importance to the labor IN
classes of organization. The wealth of this
country had a compact organization which was
sometimes called monopoly, and the labor of
the country should also avail themselves OF
This agency for the protection of their interests.
IN the past organization had been effective
aud some good laws had been enacted. But
none We're needed. The members of this con-
greSs were not socialists communists, but
they were law-abiding citizens. Among the
objects which were now To be gained was the
abolition OF wage slavery in this country, which
tie speaker regarded as great an evil as human
chattel slavery in the past. The law i'll regard
country ought TO be enforced and the govern
ment should have paid agents at every port of
immigration, especially at Castle garden. TO
prevent this contract labor from being brought
into the country. There should also be a law
in regard 10 tine use of convict labor in this
country and he hoped that this Congress
would give this matter their attention.
In speaking of the progress made by
the laboring -, classes, -. he o. said that hat
well-iniormed men there, and the people in
making their selections for public offices should
know this and avail themselves of the services
of such men. In conclusion he hoped that the
congress would formulate such measures that
could be brought to the attention of Congress.
The congress voted Mr.. Foran n resolution of
thanks, and after appointing u committee, con-
sisting OF the old officers, upon credentials, ad
journed until this afternoon at O'Clock
1t is probable that the congress will remain
in session for four days, meeting at 8 O'Clock
each day and adjournins late in the afternoon.
PROPOSED ToRCHLIGHT PROCESSION.
Arrangements are being made for torch
light procession and mass meeting OF the or
ganized workingmen OF Washington, Thursday
the City hall, at $50 p M, and after parading
city, will repair to the National RI
neld and addresses will be delivered by men
identified with labor movements.
iThe meeting will be held under the auspicies
OF the Federation OF Trades OF the city. While
the meeting Wilt have special reference to local
labor matters, it was thought that the meeting
OF the National Federation afforded good OPP
portunity for such a demonstration.
The Associated Labor Press.
a convention of the associated labor press
was held at the office of the Craftsman ID street
between 9Th and 9th northwest this morning
at 10 o'clock. Twenty-Five papers were repre-
sented, as follows: Post, Louisville, KY: TRUTH
Buffalo, n. Y; Enquirer. Denver, Col; Unioaist
Cincinnati, o.; Herald, St Paul. Mimi; Cham
pion, st. Louis, Mo-; TocsiH, Philadelphia. Pa
Chronicle. Cleveland, O.: At!roc0te lewiston
Me-: Ldtoref, Haverhll, Mass; Ldbor JIlion
Sedalia. Mo: Free Press, Baltimore, Md; Free
Press. Minersvilie, Pa; Tindicotor, Bay City,
Mich; 4rtlse1a. Fort Worth, Texas; John .S,ci,,-
tons Paper. \; Y; Labor Herald. Pittsburg, Pa;
L0t0r Echo, Houston, Texas; Craftsman. Wash
inston, ID. C.; Lgbor Heiald, Richmond. Va;
LnbOr .Saadct1d, Paterson, y. j., sam and Globe,
Kansas City, Kan, Pattadiltm Of Labor, Hamil-
ton, Ont; SDuti,era Ipt!hshy, New Or
leans, La. These claim a combined
circulation of 100000, and the union
is a cooperative Que, each paper furnishing the
association a weekly letter. and the present
work is TO perfect the system of labor news
gathering, 10 take such measures as will brin.
all labor papers into the association, and to per-
feet the co Operative advertising department..
The preliminary meeting was held this morn
ing. and other meetings will be held during the
sessions OF the league convention, to which
many of the association are delegates.
The following are already here: NJ D. Con-
molly. Cincinnati Unioatst; ). :. Green, Louis
vile Labor Record: William Graydon. IT, New
York B0yco'tsr; q. 5. Stewart, Baltimore Free
Press; ;. Mullen, Richmond Labor Heruld: L.
+. Gleffer and James Gibson, Pittsbure Labor
Herald: ID. u. Pascoe and f.. :. Mcintosh Phil
adelphia Iocsin, and III. v. Bisbee Washington
Craftsman.