Workmen's advocate., 1889-12-21

'N''NN" VI" '"'hihal ihpihllS pN Iip- viding for the levying of a strike asses ment of two cents n week on each mem. Der of all national and international bodies, beginning with the first of January, There was a hard fight before the vote was passed, but the majority of the delegates declared in favor of such an assessment, with this amend ment: "Unless otherwise ordered by a general vote of all national or interna- tional bodies" There was another wordy scrap over the proposition to use the influence of the Federation toward establishing the Worlds Fair of 1899 in New York. It resulted ip | passage of non.committal resolution.
 The chef feature of the day work was, however, the adoption of an ad hcss to the public in general, and the officers and delegates of the American Feder tion of Labor in particular, upon the attitude of the Federation tow he Knights of Labor. The address devotes some space to review of labor organi, cations and the causes that led to their establishment, and then says
 "The American Federation of Labor | desires to establish no monopoly in the sphere of labor organization. It does not seek to establish an autocracy of la 1 Dor. It does. however, pledge itself to maintain the prestige and authority of | its affiliated organizations and to enter the most emphatic protest against the policy of any labor society which pre- sents itself to be used as an ambuscade l for the destruction of the trades union movements. In view of the extended array of injuries suffered by the trades unions of America at the hands of men who masquerade as Knights of Labor we deem 1t necessary to state the atti- tude of the American Federation of La 1 Dor toward that order. We seek no l quarrel. We deprecate antagonism in the ranks of labor organizations. We cast no reflection upon the honesty and integrity of purpose of the rank and file of the Knighls of Labor. For years the 1 | to establish amicable relations with that order, even at a period when certain of its leaders were seeking the very life of the trades unions, Much of the trouble has been caused by the organization of national trade distric of the Knights of l Labor in crafts where national or inter- national trades unions already existed. Not only has the creation of the oppo- sing organization been productive of evil results, but too often the national trade district has been made the dump ing ground for men who have been branded as unfair by the trades unions, We feel obliged, therefore, to take this position with regard to the Knights of 1 Labor:
 First-That the Knights of Labor shall discountenance and revoke the charters of all trades assemblies and districts within their order.
 Second-That in turn the American | Federation of Labor and affiliated trade unions will urge their members and encourage the working people to become members of mixed assemblies of the Knights of Labor,
 The time has come when the trades unions should claim their own. The trend of organization shows that the wage earners of America are tired of having tbeir interests adjusted by the measure of the huckster or the yard stick of the merchant. The success of the eight-hour cause is of too vast i'm port to be imperilled by policies of ma sterly inaCtion or poising. The march toward the eight-hour goal must not be 1 halted at the behest of the middlemen. Professions of harmony and platitudes of peace are poor recOmpense for the attempted weakening of the trade union column. We therefore assert the na- tional right of the trades unions to oc- cupy the trade union territory when their right is conceded"
 The report was adopted with hearty manifestations of approval.
 The closing act of the Convention was the
 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
 which resulted as follows President, Samuel Gompers; Vice-President, w. II. Martin of the Amalgamated Associa- tion of Iron and Steel Workers and P. J. Mcguire of the united Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; Srcletary, Christopher Evans of the Miners and Mine Laborers Union Treasurer, Henry Enrich of theFurniture Workers Union. Detroit was selected as the location of the next annual meeting. At late hour the Convention adjourned.