Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-08
THE TRADES UNIONS.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION OF THE
NATIONAL FEDERATION AT COLUMBUS.
A Well Organized and Harmonious Body-Ths Trades
Unions and the Knights Of LabOr-Ths Report
Of the Committee on Legislation
An Interesting Session.

COLUMBUS, O., December THE Fed
Grafton of Organized Trades and Labor
Unions of the United States and Canada
opened its annual session to-day at noon.
The meeting was to have been held in st.
Louis, but changed to this city, owing to
the convention of the National Trade
Unions which convenes here tomorrow.
There are large number of delegates COM
ing here and it is expected they will form n
union. President Campers says he re-
grets the non-action of the Amalgamated
Association, looking TO the confederation,
and failing to be represented.
Henry limerick, of the New York
Furniture Workers International Union,
denies the press report that he stated at
Pittsburgh that general demand was to
be made January /, for reduction to
nine hours, and in the event Of 4 refusal
a strike to follow two months later.
Grafton Pearce, representative of the
State Trades Assembly, delivered an ad-
dress of welcome congratulation the feder-
alton on the stand it had taken not to mix
labor with politics. In a political plat
form he contrasted
THE SPECTACLE OF POwDERLY AND HEN
RY GEORGE
rs political candidates to represent the
workingmen, one free trader and the
other protectionist.
President Campers replying reviewed
the past work of Trades Unions tending TO
the enlightenment of all and being con-
servative of the public peace. As organ
izatiOns they are against not,
tumult and anarchy, and socieey
in all its bearings is safe with Trades
Unions They looked to and cultivated q
spirit of independence and manhood, and
the rights to free speech, liberty and the
rights of property. They had many dis
sensions during the year, but these would
be touched upon. In the report of the
Legislative Committee referring to the
National convention which meets to-mOr-
row they should he said so conduct legis-
lation as to meet with the conventions ap-
probation and make all federation.
An adjournment was taken to 3 p. m.
and some excitement was created in he
hall by John r. Winders, of st. Louis,
at the head of the International Typo
graphical Union, beginning the agitation
for the expulsion of w. F. &. Price, cor
respondent of the New York Tribune,
which was denounced IS leading rat
office.
AT THE AFTERNOON SESSION
it was decided to hold executive sessions
and all not officially connected with the
body were requested to withdraw while the
action of the Legislative Committee. was
submitted to the congress for its approval.
This action was followed by spirited
discussion which resulted in the adop-
tion OF q resolution by John K. Winders,
ST. Louis, to admit the representatives OF
the press. The vote was almost unani-
nous.
The election of
PRESIDING OFEICERS
resulted as follows: J. w. Smith, National
Tailors Union. President l.. Wright of
International Typographical Union, Vice
President j. S. Kirchner, International
Cigar Makers Union, Secretary; II. Emer-
ick, International Furniture Makers, As
sistant Secretary, w. f. Johnson, Chicago
Trades and Labor Assembly, Doorkeeper;
Z. F. Ptlegler, Columbus, Messenger.
Messrs. Gamer, TOmson, Emerich, Ed
mist0n and Keichner, from the Legislative
Committee submitted lengthy report, of
which the following is the substance: The
death Of VIM. II. Foster, late Secretary,
suggested the forming of the Foster mem
Orial association to erect monument, aud
friends desiring to contribute are asked TO
send contributions to +. NJ. Madden,
Treasurer, Philadelphia, Pa.
The formation of Il number of
NEW NATIONAL UNIONS
is announced but the fact that they were
not represented in the present Congress
was due TO the necessary economy that
they may secure a footing with assurances
that they will be represented at the future
sessions.
The House Committee on Labor has Sc
cured the passage Of q bill providing for
the incorporation of Trades Unions
BY this bill the lawful character Of such
organizations is recognized. The Com
mittcc was happy to report the large
measure of success reached by
TIE EIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT
j inaugurated at the last Congress Of the
Federation and the impetus given the Ia
Dor movement There had been numerous
labs upheavals during the last year, and
! while the eight-hour system had only been
adopted in two large industries, the work
ing hours of two hundred thousand labor
ers had been reduced from ten and twelve
to nine and eight hours. The committee
regretted that more in this line had not
been accomplished. The Trades Unions had
responded to the circulars issued, and had
the Knights of Labor co-Operated, great re-
suits could have been obtained. In the
violation of the eight hour law in Govern
ment work by contract the laborers are
defrauded thereby. The more general
observance of the first Monday in Septem-
Der as
A LABOR HOLIDAY
was suggested so that it may become as
national as Independence day.
The evasion of the Chinese immigration
law suggested the wOrthlessness Of laws
when not enforced by officers in sympathy
with them. An appeal to Congress was
recommended. Much State Legislation
had been secured looking TO the interests
OF the laborer in all departments.
Speaking of PinkertOn's police, the COM
mittee called attention to the bill intro
duced in Congress prohibiting corporations
employing as constabulary men from States
in which they did not reside. They were
characterized as armed bodies Of merce-
naries. seeking TO intimidate men asking
for their rights. The constitutional amend
ments bearing upon the arbitration and the
support of strikes, had been rejected. The
Importance of an official journal could not
be questioned in the opinion of the COM
mittee
Under the head Of THE
FEDERATION AND THE KNIGHTS
strikes and political action" the commit
tee SAYS: 1.-THE fifth annual congress in
session considered the relations between