Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-09
THE TRADES UNIONS.
THE MEETINGS AT COLUNBUS-THR con-
FERENCE AND THE FEDERATION.
Steps Toward Their Analgamshun- Crest Opposition
To the (. OfL-plsnty Of Advics and Sugges-
tOn-A Letter From President Weihe
Firing the Reporters

the meeting was callen to order, Presiden
Smith announced the following standin.
committees: Standing Orders, Messrs
Gompers, Mcclure, limerick, Werdes an(
Oyler; Resolutions, Messrs. Edmonston
Miller, Eagle, Hasson, Craigie; Finance
Messrs. Mahoney, Mulvainey, Wright
Scott and Kraft; Legisla
tive, Messrs. Winds, Negle
Hasson, Scott and Kane Credential.
were then received, and among them was
communication from r. Rubina; of New
York, delegate for the Cuban Federation
of Cigarmakers. After expressing regret:
for his inability to be present, the writer
says ~ have been instructed by the
local union of New York, to which l be.
long, to pledge our union in that con
vention in favor of all open trades unions,
and not to recognize any other organiza
tions but trades unions" Papers were ther
read from the st. Louis Knights of Labor
setting forth grievances against the bos,
brewers of the city.
FIRST STEP TOWARD AMALGAMATIoN.
| Delegate Gomper recommended that the
Congress resolve itself into q committee oi
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
opposition to this manner of forming an
amalgamation of the two bodies, but the
suggestions were adopted and the Congress
took Il recess until noon.
! The all-absorbing topic of conversation
is the action to be taken by the Trades
Union Conference, which is holding its
first session here to-day. The Conference
consists of delegates from the various
trades unions not represented in the Fed
Grafton, and it is expected that the two
will consolidate and organize Trades
Union Congress. Such body would cx-
ercise powerful influence in the move
ments of organized labor and check to a
great extent the growing power and in1u-
ence of the Knights of Labor.
OPPOSITION To THE X. OF l..
The Trades Unionists, while expressing
good will for the Knights of Labor, are
still determined to perfect their Organiz-
tion and bind the Trades Unionists OF
the country more closely together With
the Trades Unions bound closer together
the ties that hold them to the Knights OF
Labor must necessarily relax. The old
Biblical adage, ''that q man cannot serve
two masters" is selfevident in this case,
and the present movement of the trades
uniOnists 10 perfect their organization will
materially affect the future of the Knights
of Labor. There are serious differences
between the two orders, and feeling has
been engendered which appears Oh the
surface at frequent intervals in the delib-
erations of the trades unionsts now in
session. President Smith, of the Fedora
ton, stated to a reporter that in his opin-
ion little could be accomplished towards
binding the two organizations more closely
together. The differences, he said, might
be patched up for while, but were bound
to appear again.
When the Congress convened again j.
r. Scott, of Toronto, was elected Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole, and they
decided to enter 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 Amalgamated Associ-
alton, Secretary Macguire called order
and proceed TO read the call
setting forth the action of the Trades Con-
ference in Philadelphia last May. John
Mcbride, 2. J. Mcclure and Stephen
Gompers were nominated for temporary
chairman, and all declined except Mcbride
who was elected. Mcclure was elected
temporary Secretary. The Chair named
the following Committee: on Credentials
Messrs. Atrasser, Scott, Edmundson, Mil
Ter and McDermott. There are no Knights
of Labor or Trades Assembly men on the
Committee. The Conference adjourned to
2 p. m.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION
of the Trades Union Conference, the Com
mittee on Credentials reported as TO the
delegates who were entitled to seats and
all were admitted and the report adopted.
Committees on Permanent Organization
and Rules and Regulations were appointed,
and the former reported John Mcbride
for Chairman, and p. J. Mcclure and
John Kirchner as Secretaries. Chairman
Mcbride spoke of the conflict
ing opinions existing among
the members of the Conference
and asked them TO 80 conduct the discus
cussion as to create no animOsities. All
grievances should he covered up and moth
ing done but that which would result in
good to the various organizations whose
membership was represented in the con-
ference A large number of letters were
read by the Secretary, the first
FROM PRESIDENT wEIHE,
Of the amalgamated association. He re-
GREETED that his organization was not rep
resented, but said if the resolutions adopted
were not of a free trade nature the amalga-
mated might participate in future conVen-
tions. He enclosed articles from q Pitts
burgh labor paper regarding the formation
of X. Of /. Lodges among iron workers and
the objections that had been entered to
them.
Numerous letters OF regrets were read,
nearly all being of the same tenor. and
H. II. Lane, of the New Haven, Conn,
Trades Council urged independent
political action as the great remedy
for labor troubles. President X. Rubiera
of the Cuban Federation Of Cigar Makers
urged that only Representatives Of Trades
Unions be allowed TO participate in the
conference Hugh McGreg, Of New York,
urged that the foundation be laid for pop
ular economies, education and declared
that
THEK. OF L. HAD EXPLODED
like a meteor, that its growth was &C.
cident, and its mistake had been in mixed
assemblies. Federation he claimed was
the necessity Of the age. Presi-
dent Frank koney, Of the
federated trades of the Pacific Coast
asserted in lengthy letter Of advice that
federation was the only recommendation
for Labor. He advocated one set Of laws
for all Trades Unions,
FIRING THE REPORTERS.
Secretary Mcclure made a motion next
that the press be excluded from the ses-
sion of the conference. This point was
discussed the greater part Of the after