The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-10
THE TRADES UNIONISTS.
Slow Progress in Transacting Business by
the Two Bodies in Session at Columbus.
ecial to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
COLUMBUS, O., Dec. 9-The Conference OF
Trades and Labor Unions resumed their deliber
excluded. After discussing at some length the
plans. objects aud benefits to be derived from a
trades-union congress, a committee was appoint
ed to report name and perfect details for the
workings of the new organization into which the
conference will finally be resolved and become a
permanent body. The report of the committee
on rules and order of business was then read and
adopted. and the report of the committee on res
olutions discussed. There are several delegates
present to-day from trades organized under
Knights of Labor They have not handed in
their credentials, and will not do so until the
Powderly conference committee reports.
The conference met at O'clock this afternoon.
A legislative committee, consisting of A. Straus-
ser, Larkin McHugh. Daniel Mclaughlin, j.
Hamlin aud George Black, was appointed to con-
fer with the legislative committee of the FEEDER
alton
An invitation was received and accepted from
Henry Dorm, chief inspector of workshops and
factories for Ohio, to visit the various State in
situations. The convention then resolved Itself
into a meeting of the Federation, and the re-
ports of delegates on the condition of their re-
spectlve unions were called for. The reports
gave the date of organization and the results ac-
complished In reducing the number of working
hours and increasing the wages The present
numerical strength, with the increase during the
year and the relations of each union to the
Knights of Labor, were given at length AS these
reports are not all in. they will be ws$nheld from
the press until tomorrow noon.
POwQ6FIV'S committee the
Knights of Labor, appointed to confer with a
committee from the Federation, and amicably
SETTLE if possible, the differences between the
two organizations, have been at their hotel for
two days and no committee has met them. To-
night, however, the following committee from
the Federation called on them: p j. Fitzpatrick
Iron-moders' Union; Adolph Strasser. Cigar
makers Union; Chris Evans, National Fedora
tion of Miners; p. j. Mcclure, Carpenters and
Joiners' Union, and David Boyer, Typographical
Union.
The work of the convention is progressing very
SLOWLY, and is causing considerable comm emit
among the trades unionists of this city. After
three days session the work can be summed up
passage of three resolutions. The delegates are
celebrating two bodies, federation and a
conference. which is. so far as the membership
is concerned, practically one body. Yet they do
not consolidate but continue to transact bust
ness as federation for a while and then
resolve themselves into conference. The
two bodies cannot meet separately. because
many of the members are delegates to both and
there are not more than fifteen delegates to the
Conference alone; hence each body must and does
hold it's session while the other is adjourned
and much valuable time is thus wasted.
A mass meeting was held tonight at Gum
BILE Hall, presided over by John B. Lawler
of this city. Speeches were made by Samuel
Gompers, P j. Mcclure, j. L. Wright and 9TH
ers. Their remarks generally directed to
the necessity of organizations, and especially
trades unions. They do not believe one craft
should arbtrate for another but advocate that
they stand by and assist each other They re-
ferred to their power with the ballot, and
pointed to the vote cast for Henry George in
New York, and the election of nearly all of the
labor candidates at the county election in Mil
waukee with much pride and satisfaction.