St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-12
The American Federation or
Labor Meets in Convention
in st. Louis.
Considerable Prominence Civ
en- to the Eight-Hour-
Day Movement.
When Not to Strike Is a
Science Not Fully I'm
depstoOd.
President Gompers Is Bitter
Toward PoWderly and
the X. of L.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Dec. 1.-THE con-
yention of the American Federation OF
Labor was called to order by President
Gompers at noon to-day i'll Central
hall. S. S. Bass and President c. il.
Woodward, of Washington university,
made addresses of welcome, which
were responded to by President Comp
ers. A committee on credentials was
appointed, after which the convention
adjourned until o'clock. At the after
noon session, the committee on creden-
tials reported seating forty-seven dele
gates, representing thirty-three bodies.
Committee on rules reported, fixing the
hours of session from 9 a. m. to II noon.
and from 2 until p. m. The fedora
ton got quickly down to business. and
in less than half an hour from calling
the session to order, President Comp
ers called First Vice President Nc
Laughlin, Of Braidwood. ILL.,, to the
chair and took the floor to read his an
nual report. The report opens by de-
claring the purpose of the meeting to be
to plan for the full amelioration OF
wrongs now existing and the bettefment
Of the entire industrial body. COnsldera-
bic space was given to the eight-hour
working day. Upon this subject MI.
GomperS says: 'In connection with
the eight hour movement permit me to
direct your attention to what DelleVe
some of the actions Of this convention
should be towards achieving success.
We should not content ourselves with
the passage of a resolution meaning
nothing. If this convention should de-
eide to engage the attention OF the work
ing people to the adoption OF the eight
hour work day it should take such steps
as would lead to
PRACTICAL ACTION AND RESULTS.
l would suggest further that we
should encourage the formation OF eight
hour leagues in every city and town
through the entire country, and that
trade unions and labor unions should be
represented in them, not to conflict with
the local central labor unions or trade
councils, but to concentrate their efforts
upon the eight-hOur movement alone. L
suggest further, that a certain day be
set apart some holiday, probably Feb.
22, 1889, en- which mass meetings shah
be held simultaneously throughout the
entire country for the discussion OF this
subject, and resolutions of a similar
character be submitted to each OF these
meetings. There are other matters
of detail connected with this sub
ject which it is unnecessary now
TO refer to- Mr. GomperS strikes hard
at autocracy in the labor movement,
and declares that ''autocracy is as dang
erous in labor unions as it is in the
state.' AS to strikes he says: For
quite time great deal has been said
in condemnation of strikes by labor or
pseudo labor men, with which, con-
TESS, have no patience. 1t is true that
no men who has given the question OF
strikes and the labor movement any
thought can look upon strikes with
favor; but to be continually condemn
ing them is entirely another thing. To
know when to strike, and particularly
when not to strike, is science Tot yet
fully understood. Mouthing
CONDENSATION OF STRIKES,
we find by experience, does not abolish,
or even reduce their numbers. AS a
consistent opponent of strike, though, l
do find that those organizations of labor
which have best provided themselves
with the means to strike have cOntinu-
ally less occasion to indulge in them.
The most potent factor to prevent or
reduce the number of strikes is we'll
organized trade union with full treas
ury, ready to strike, should the neces-
Sity arise" OF relation to other organ
izati0ps the report SAYS: Our position
has not and is not likely to materially
change. The federation, being the rep
resentative of the trade union move
ment, can afford to be generous, even to
its enemies. The trade unions have no
fiatulent existence; they were not called
into by any necromancy. Their exist
ence is the natural and historic
ally developed result of our eco
monte conditions and environments"
The report charges that PoWderly, after
asking for a conference looking to har-
mOny between the Knights OF Labor
and the federation, failed to meet the
federation representatives. Through
Out the reports bitterness is shown
against the Knights of Labor, which.
however. seemed to meet with little re-
Spouse from the delegates. 1t says:
.Of the Knights of Labor l can merely
say that their conduct towards the trade
unions with the past Year has not I'M
proved. 1t seemed, whether by design
OF otherwise. to be their purpose that
when trade union has had dispute
between their employer and themselves
TO throw the influence of their organ
iZation
AGAINST THE TOILERS."
The report closes with grateful
recognition of the assistance and sup
port the president has received from
the various branches. and strongly
urges for the future strict autonomy
of trades, yet strong alliance of all.
Hearty applause followed the close of
the report. Frank X. Foster, of the
Central Labor union of Boston, moved
to refer that part of the report relating
to the eight-hour question to special
committee of seven to report upon the
feasibility of the recommendation. and
if found feasible, to report ways and
means for its enforcement. After
some debate. which brought out the TACT
that the ''eight-hour day" question was
the central one of the session, 1t was
carried. The session then adjourned.
The delegates attended a banquet to-
night rendered by the trades and labor