New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-08
TRADES UNION CON VENTION.
OPPOSING POLITICAL INTERFERENCE.
OPENING OF THE MEETING IN CoLUMBUs-PRob-
AnI Y AxrAnnXIsM 10 KNIGurs OE LABOR.

OPENING OF THE MEETING IN coLUMBUs-PRoS-
ABLE AYTAGONIsM TO KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
COLUMBUS Ohio Dec. (SpeciaD.-The Federation OF
Trades and Labor Unions of the United and Canada
met here today is the sixth session of the federation
and the recent attack Knights of Labor some OF
the trades unions lends peculiar interest to the pro
ceedngs of body The delegates began to arrive carry
and by this morning there were representatives OF hey
100000 skilled mechanics gathered at the United states
Hotel which is the headquarters OF the federation
The place OF meeting Druids Hall on Fourthst'
opposte the Central Market President Samuel Gompers
of the garmakers International Union, called the meet
ing to order. Grafton Pearce, Of the Ohio Trades AS
sembly delivered the address of welcome lie said In
part
raizea mechanics Of the country may he and
bound together that attack any one ira ae shall be re-
time shall be eIt PERFECTLY free 70 manage it, own s
fed by knowledge and act shall IRON time 70
time deem best Tor Their interests ere y 70 U ~
fern m e s oo a or M M es
conc Of authority need clashing Of theories or
methods nee that unity Of action that h%n De % s
trades unions not awess Their intelligence
der and destruction propertys not on
S % o s srs s sGS the
port OF the iiy There seems TO be grow ienne
With the Sore essential features Of III ir The
two will mot n o5Ss a the
two cannot exist together Mechanics ike all free intel
sns q could T'% su%
Seterahe Se Soa One ra ical free trailer other
.ss ,ss an Of q" ns
an question So would he a. to other gaeipns ST. s
Of that bower we can vastly more than any
possibly hope to accomplish by independent political d.
the advocates opponents of any particular po
ltcal policy.
President Gompers reply said that trades unions were
conservaors of the public peace. BY them the vicious
and ignorant held in check and society," the people
and property kept in safety Trades unions believe
independent manhood the right of free speech and
assembage At the afternoon session the committee
legislation handed in its report 1t was in part as o-
lows:
year and others The unions viii
crease 100 Der cent In reviewing work done eectng
reduction Of hours we can record large measure o,
place during the for shorter hours we are
iaicn was the means reducing OF Of owe.
ztaousy to tho appeal OF this federation efforts
been met with that cooperation y the organization ol lhe
there would have been slll greater results attained
The report avors international laws about labor and
labor holiday. supplementary act is suggested for the
stfictest enforcement of the present Anti Chinese law
The PnkertOn system of mercenares was denounced In
Ne do moi as eernon IS ndviiuas wish to be nm
dersood advocating strikes on the contrary II s known
Yet while deprecate method OF worfare. cannot
bad but only they 80 when they are
failures.
The following officers elected: j. \. Smith, OF the
National Tailors' Union. chairman j. L. Wright OF In
ternatonal Typographical Union. ycechairmhn Johns s.
keerener of Cgarmakers' International Union, scre-
tary; Henry EmeriCh, of the Furniture Makers Union,
assistant secretary The legislation committee was m
confer with committee OF the conference OF
trades unions. which meets To morrow There Is ntte
doubt but that the organizations Will anagalate
and that inimc TO the Knights o: Labor Will be
taken
Last night, Mr Hall. Of the Knights OF Labor accom-
at.,al ht
Town. They handed T. j. Mcguire. the secretary OF he
conference which meets Tomorrow the following letter
from T. V. Powderly under date OF Philadelphia Deee-
Der 5:
committee OF FIVE. consisting OF brothers
HOwes Feely and Cant 10 discuss past
grievances the trades aud the knights Oh
pave the for tho avoidance OF fuuro ones
Mtssrs Howes and Cant. the remaining members or the
committee Knights OF Labor expected to arrive
in and there Is possibility that some
some OF treatY Will be patched up