The Indianapolis journal., 1886-12-08
TRADE AND LABOR FEDERATION.
Opening of the Sixth Annual Session.
Formidable Opponent of Knights of Labor.
,peciel to tho 1ndlanapo1Is JourpaL

Special to the IndianapoIis Journal
COLUMBUS, O., Dec. THE sixth annual ses.
sion of the Federation of Organized Trades and
Labor Unens convened to-day, Samuel Com
pers, of New York, presiding. Grafton Pearcs.
of Columbus. welcomed the delegates in an al.
dress which commanded considerable attention.
He referred to the antagonism between the
KNIGHTS of Labor and the trades-unions as a
matter of regret. Regarding the tendency to
mix in politics. he said:
'But once rromulgate political platform and
all harmony becomes dscord, all union becomes
disunion The two cannot exist together. Me.
chanics are like all free. intelligent, thinking
people-they think for themselves and vote as
they think. What kind of a political platform
would it be on which Henry George and r. ",
Powdery could stand together, the one radical
free-trader and the other a radical protectiontsti
And what sort of a political platform would it
be that omitted all mention of the tariff question:
So IL would be as to other questions equally i'm
portant. Is it desirable to drive from our ranks
lifelong trade-unionists that some men may
amuse themselves chasing political ignis fatuusa
And what is to be accomplished by separate -.
lltlcal action that cannot more certainly be ac,
compished without it? AS compared with the
aggregate number OF voters. organized labor is
in hopeless minority. and as soon as political
test shall be applied the present minority will be-
come still smaller
The election of officers for the ensuing year
resulted; President, j. w. Smith, Springfield,
H.; vice-presdent, Julian L. Wright of Wash
ington; secretary. John Kirschncr, of New
York; auditors, G. P. Oyler. of Baltimore, and
H. B. Kraft, Of PHILADELPHIA
A resolution was adopted asking Congress to
amend the ndenture law and provide that ap-
prentices be subject to masters only in working
hours; also, resolution for an ejght-hour law.
A committee OF conference was appointed to
meet with the convention of trades union dele
gates to morrow, and which promises to be one
Of the most important labor gatherings held In
country for years. AS indicated in the
speeches of to-day ard the report of the
legislative committee, the action Of this
conference tomorrow promises TO be highly hos
tile to the Knights of Labor new org ganiza-
tion will be made to morrow, and the federation
will be merged into the new body. Prophecies
were made tonight that the condemnation and
opposition Of this new body would In two years
crush the knights of Labor.
In regard to the differences between Knights
of Labor and trades unions, which arose over the
admission to membership of persons expelled
from trades-unions, Master Workman Powderly
sent the following telegram:
have selected committee OF Eve consisting Of
Messrs. Hawes, Hall, McFeely Arlington and Grant,
to discuss past grievances between tradesunions and
knights OF Labor, and pave the way for their avoid
ance in the future.
Chairman Gompers. of tho legislative com nit
tee, reported to the satisfaction OF the fed era
tion, that Congress had passed law recognizing I
the legality of trades union organizations. The
report refers to the eight-hour movement with
coneratulation. lamenting, however. that much
good in this direction has been prevented by the
interference of Knights of Labor The agitation
has, however, reduced the working time for
over 100000 workmen. Other recommendations
Of tho report are in accordance with previous
demands OF the order for holidays and more
strict enforcement of the anti Chinese immigra-
fnn act