Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-10
The Afternoon Session.

Columns, O., Dec. At the after
noon session of the federation of organ
lied trades, it was decided to hold an
executive session and all not officially
connected with the body were requested
to withdraw, while the action of the legis
lative committee was submitted to con
gress for its approval or disapproval.
The election of presiding officers resulted
as follows:
j. w. Smith, National Tailors Union,
president.
j. l.. Wright, international Topographic
cal Union, vice president.
j. S. kirchner, International Cigar
Makers Union, secretary.
s. Emerich, International Farniture
Makers, assistant secretary.
W. +. TOmson, Chicago, Trades and
Labor Assembly, doorkeeper.
z. Z. Pfleger, Columbus, messenger.
Messrs. Gemper, TomsoD, Miller,
Emerieh, Edmiston and Kirchner, from
the Legislative committee, submitted a
lengthy report, of which the following
IL substance: The committee was happy
to report the large measure of success
reached by the eight hour movement in
augurated at the last congress of the
federation and impetus given the labor
movement. While the eight hour system
had only been adopted IN two large in
dustries, the working hours of over
5000 Iaborers had been reduced from
ten and twelve to nine and eight hours.
more general observance of the first
Monday III September as labor holiday
was suggested, so that it may become as
national as independence day. The eva
sion of the Chinese emigration laws sug
gested the worthlessness of laws when not
enforced by officers in sympathy with
them. An appeal to congress was
recommended. In speaking of
Pinkerton's police the committee called
attentinn to the bill introduced in con
gross prohibiting corporations employ
ing as constabuary men from states in
which they did not reside. They were
characterized as armed bodies
seeking to intimidate men asking for
their rights. Under the head of The fed
GRAFTON an d knights, strikes, and politi
cal act on > the committee says the
question of strikes is perhaps in the
present movement of labor organiZa
tions one that is receiving the
largest share of the wOrkingmen
not wholly, we must confess, guided by
that Intelligence which we think the sub
ject deserves. We do not, as a fedora
ton, or as individuals, wish to be under
stood to be advocates of strikes. On the
contrary, it Is well known that the best
regulated trades unions have the least
strikes. Yet, while We deprecate this
measure of warfare in the labor move
ment, we cannot, and will not
joiu i'll a general here and cry
for their condemnation. Strikes are
are they so when they are failures, but
not SO bad when they are successful.
Therefore, when to strike and when not
to strike, are questions of the highest
importance; also how are strikes to be
conducted. We believe when n strike is
practical that the people most interested
should be consulted and have the decid-
ing voice.
The committee regarded with pleasure
the recent political action of the organ
lied workmen of the country by which
they had determined that they intend to
demonstrate their political power, and
recommended that organized labor per
sist in their recent efforts until they
achieve the exercise of political rights
and power which is just.
Gompers moved that the legislative
committee meet with the committee on
trades unions in a conference to agree
upon plan for the carrying out of an
amalgamation of all trades unions. This
brought on considerable discussion, in
which the Knights of labor were discussed
as an organization, and it was finally de
cided that the Knights of Labor had
nothing to do with it. The motion for
the appointment of the conference was
oupDteI and the federntiD ad inuruau to
nine II. IN. to morrow.