The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-09
CONGRESS AND CONFERENCE.
The Business Transacted Yesterday by the
Trades UniOnsts Assembled at Columbus.

COLUMBUS, o., Dec. S.-The second days ses-
sion of the Trades Congress opened at 10 AM
The chairman announced committees on orders,
resolutions finance, and report of legislative
committee. Papers were read from the St Louis
Knights of Labor setting forth grievances against
the boss brewers of that city.
Chairman Gompers of the legislative commit.
tee recommended that the congress resolve it.
self into committee of the whole and attend
the trades union conference, and that in the
meantime the congress committees proceed with
the work assigned to each. There was some op.
position to this manner of forming an amaga-
nation of the two bodies, but the suggestions
were adopted, and the congress took recess till
noon
When the congress convened again, ]. r.
Scott, of Toronto, was elected chairman of the
committee of the whole, and they decided to ep-
ter the conference of trades-unions about to be
held, and adjourned to meet at the call of the
president
At the conference, in the absence of President
Weihe. of the Analgamated Association, Secre-
tary Mcclure called order and proceeded to read
the cali setting forth the action Of the trade con-
ference in Philadelphia last May.
John Mcbride, P. J. Mcclure and Samuel
Gompers were nominated for temporary chair
man. and all declined except Mcbride. who was
elected. Mcclure was elected temporary secre-
tary.
The chair named the following committee on
credentials: Messrs. Strasser, Scott. Edmondson,
Miller and McDerlnott There are no Knights
of Labor or Trades Assembymen on the COM
mittee. The conference adjourned to P. NJ.
At the afternoon session the committee on
| n Gel0pataS
were entitled to seats. and all were admitted and
| the report adopted. Committees on permanent
| organization, rules and resolutions were ap-
| pointed. and the former reported John Mcbride
| for chairman, and p j. Mcclure and John
| Kirchner for secretaries. Chairman Mcbride
| spoke Of the conflicting opinions existing among
| the members OF the conference. and asked them
to so conduct the discussion as to create no ami
mosities. All grievances should be covered up
| and nothing done but that which would result in
| good to the various organizations whose mem-
bership was represented IN the conference.
| large number of letters were read by the
secretary, the first from President Weihe, of the
Amalgamated Association. He regretted that
his organization not represented, but said il
the resolutions adopted were not OF free trade
nature the Amalgamated might participate in
future conventions. He inclosed articles from
Pittsburg labor paper regarding the formation
of Knights of Labor lodges among ron-workers
and the objections that had been entered to the
same.
~
all being of the same tenor. and H. Fl. Lane. Of
| the New Haven, Conn, Trades Council, urged
| independent political action as the great remedy
| for labor troubles.
| President r. Rubiera of the Cuban Federation
| of Cigar makers urged that only representatives
of trades unions be allowed to participate in the
conference. Hugh McGregor. of New York.
| urged that the foundation bel laid for popular
economic education, and declared that the
Knights of Labor had exploded like meteor;
that its growth was accident. and its mistake
had been in mixed assemblies. Federation, he
claimed, was the necessity Of the age.
President Frank Roney. of the Federated
Trades of the Pacific Coast, asserted in
lengthy letter of advice that federation was the
| only recourse for labor. He advocated one set
| of laws for ali trades-unions.
Secretary Mcclure made a motion, next that
the press be excluded from the sessions Of the
conference. This point discussed the
greater part Of the afternoon, being presented In
| its various phases, and finally the motion was
! agreed to by vote of IL to 10. The adoption
| of the motion created considerable i'll feeling,
and suggested the inquiry on the part OF dele
gate whether those delegates who represented
papers, and were making reports for the same,
should be allowed to remain. The secretary
suggested that all who could show credentials of
membership in any trades union should be
allowed on the floor. The reporters began to
present working cards and other certificates of
membership, seeing which, the president sug-
gested that the motion adopted would not posi-
admit all members Of trades-unions as visitors
except newspaper reporters
Some discussion was had on the formation OF
national trade and labor union. all expressions
being favorable to any plan having that object
in view.
f. L. Daily and W. H. Martin, of Massachu-
sets, representing the New England Shoe Last
ers' Union, were admitted on their credentials,
but there was spirited discussion over receiv.
ing the credentials of George G. Black. of the
New York Stereotypers' Union. Mr.. Wright
claimed they were not entitled TO representation
as they should be subordinate to the typograph-
ers. He said, in reply to question, that he
would not set type to be sterotyped by this
union. He was informed that all New York
union printers did this and the credentials Of
Mr. Black were received
All resolutions were handed to the committee
on resolutions without reading. Several of them
referred to the status Of trades-unions and the
Knights of Labor
The convention then adjourned to A. NJ to-
morrow, without having taken any action regard
ing the Powderly committee, which arrived in
the city on Tuesday night
Glass Works Stopped by Apprentices.
WOODBURY., N. j., Dec. S--The glass blowers
of g. G. Greer's factory went out on strike
yesterday. This action was perfect surprise
to many of the blowers, as we'll as to the en-
ployers and to the public. The understanding
had been that the men were determined to abide
by the terms of the compromise upon which they
went to work in October and had recently given
their employers assurance that such was the
The strike was brought about through the
apprentices. Master Workman Coffey was at
AhN1vx1 49, asw1k I'D ha1A