The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-08
LABOR And TRADES UNIONS
HOLDING IN IMPORTANT CON-
YENTION
In COlupAhus, 0hiO-A Full Account
OF tie PrOceedings-POw-
derIy's Wishes.

Organized Trades it was decided to
hold executive sessions, and all not
officially connected with the body
were requested 10 withdraw while the
action of the Legislative CommiI tee WAS
submit ed to the congress for its ap-
proval or its disspproval. This action
was fol lowed by a spirited discussion,
which followed the adoption OF reso-
luton by Jno. r. Winders, OF St.
Louis to admit the representatives OF
the press. The vote was almost
unar limous.
THB ELECTION OF THE Presiding oF-
FICRRs
res ulted as follows: j. I. Smith, Ma
tic nal Tailor's Union, president; ]. T.
W right, of International Typograph-
ic al Union, vice president; J. S. Kir-
c hener, Of International Cigar Makers
7 Union, secretary; H. Emmerieh, In
ternational Furniture Makers, assist
ant sc scretary; W. E. Tomson, Chicago
Trades and Labor Assembly, door
Keeper; E. P. Paeger, Columbus, mes
isenger.
Messrs. Gimper, Tomson, Miller,
Emmerich, Edmiston and Kitchener,
from the Legislative Committee, cub
-mitted lengthy report, of which the
following is the substance:
THE DEATH OF VIM. H. FosTER,
late secretary, suggested, and the fact
OF the Foster Memorial Association
to erect monument, and friends de-
string to contribute are asked to send
contributions to Z. NJ. Madden,
Philadelphia.
The formation of 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 to obtain footing, with az
eurance that they will bs represented
at the future sessions.
THE HOUSE coM&lTTEE ON LABOR
has secured the passage Of bill pro-
vidiDg for the Incorporation of trades
unions. BY this the lawful character
of such oIgal izations Is recognized.
The committee was happy to report
the large melsu,e OF success reached
by the
HIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT
insugurated at the last congress Of the
federation and the impetus given the
labor movement. There had been
numerous labor upheavals dur
ing the last year, and while the
eight hour system bad only
been adopted in two large Industries
the working hours of over 100000
laborers 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 tn
the circulars iss ued snd had the
Knights of Labor CO opera ed, great
results would have been obtained.
THE VIOLATION OF THE NEIGHBOUR LAW
in government work, had been violat-
ed through the letting cut CT govern
ment work by contract, and the labor
ers defrauded thereby. The more gen.
eral observance Of the first Monday in
September rs
LEGAL HOLIDAY
wss suggested so that it may become
as national as Independence day.
The evasion OF
rHK CHINESE IMMIGRATION
law, suggested the worthlessness OF
laws when not enforced by fficeTs in
sympathy with them.
AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS
was recommended. Much State legis.
lation had been secured looking to the
laborer in all departments.
In speaking Of
PINKER-oN's PohICE
the committee called attention to the
bill introducedin Congress prohibiting
corporations from employing as con-
stabulary men from States in which
they did not reside. They were char.
acterized as armed bodies OF nlercena-
ries seeking to intimidate men asking
for their rights.
The constitutional amendment bear
ing 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 CON-
mittee, Under the head of Federation
and the Knights, strikes and political
action" the committee Gays: "The
Filth Annual Congress, in ex.
ecutive session, considered the
relations between the trades
unions and the knights of
Labor ard instructed the secretary
to correspond with the executive off,
GERS OF the latter body in reference to
the matter. Secretary Foster, obey
ing his instructions, wro to Mr.. Pow
derly and Secretary Turner and eliC-
tied replies from both. That of Mr..
Powderly deserves special notice on
account OF the tone and spirit OF fair
ness pervading it's contents, but
THB CONTINUED HOSTILITY CT THE
KNIGHTS
of Labor to the trades unions leads us
10 suppose that they were promises to
the ear, broken to the hopes, or that
Mr.. Powderly's influence for good wss
sadly over estimated by the delegates
to the last s ssion of the federation.
THE QUESTION OF STRIKES
j = perhaps in the preseRt movement OF |
he labor organizations, in that receiy- !
in q the largest share OF the working
m en-, not wholly, we must confess, |
gu tded by that intelligence which |
we think the subject deserves. We :
do lot, as a federation or as individ- |
uals, wish to be understood to be the
advo Gates Of strikes. On the contrary
it is nown that the best regulated |
trades unions have the least strikes.
Yet W bile we deprecate this measure
Of vari are in the labor movement, we
cannot and will not join the general
hue and cry for their condemnation.
Strikes a re bad, no doubt, but only ere
they 80 v hen they are failures, and
notso bad when they are successful.
THEREFORE, TO KNOW WHEN TO STRIKE
and when 1lot TO strike, are questions
OF the highest Importance; also. when
a strike is once goEe, into how to con-
duct the same is OF great moment. We
believe when strike is practical, the
people moet interested should be con-
suited ard have the deciding voice."
The Committee regai ded with pleas.
ufe the recent political action of the !