Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-23
A FEDERAL MEETING.
Circulars Received About the Com
ing Convention at Boston.
NAMES OF PITTSBURG DELEGATES.
The Glass Mixers Trouble Settled and the
Wage Scale Signed.
DENIALS BY PRESIDENT CAMPBELL

The different labor organizations in the
city that are attached to the Federation OF
Labor have received circulars within the
past week in reference to the annual con-
vention of the Federation to be held in
Boston, beginning Friday, December 13.
Nearly all of the unions have elected their
delegates to the convention and instructed
them how to vote upon the different ques-
tions to come up.
The delegates who will7 represent the
American Flint Glass Workers Union are
Secretary William Dillon, of this city, and
John Cochrane, of Wheeling. The latter is
an e1-member of the Executive Board and
we'll known here. The Amalgamated Asso-
citation of Iron and Steel Workers will send
Messrs. William T. Roberts, Vice Presi-
dent; j. c. Killgallen and F. N. Shaffer.
Mr.. Roberts works in Jones &c LaughIins'
Brownstown mill, Mr.. Killgallen in Car
negie's Union Mill, and Mr.. Shaffer is an
employe of the United States Tin Plate and
Sheet Iron Works at Demmler.
THE NUMBER OF DELEGATES.
One delegate is allowed to each organiza-
ton having less than 5000 members, and
another one for each additional 1000.
The federal bodies are also permitted to send
one representative. There will be about 100
delegates altogether at the meeting. The
arrangements for their reception are being
made by the Boston Central Labor Union.
The session will probably last one week and
will be confined mostly to discussions.
Among the matters to come up will be
the local trouble between L. A. 491 knights
of Labor, skaters, and the Marble and Slate
Workers and Tile Layers Union. The
latter are attached to the Federation and
claim the Knights of Labor has broken
faith with them. The trouble is the same
as that existing between the Knights OF
Labor and the M. NJ. P. u, over the
organization of the members of the Great
Western Band.
A CONFERENCE HELD.
About a week before the latter action was
taken, conference was held in Phila-
delphia, between General Master Workman
Powderly with the Executive Board of the
Knights of Labor and President Gompers
and Secretary Mcclure, of the Federation,
in which an agreement covering these points
in dispute was made. After making it the
Federation people claimed the knights Of
Labor violated it.
The most important matter, however, to
come before the convention is the eight
hour question. This will be definitely
acted upon. 1t will be decided whether a
universal demand will be made for eight
hours, or the enforcement of the matter be
made in localities deemed practicable. The
stand for the eight hours per day will be
made May /, 1890. At the last convention
of the Federation, which was held in Balti-
more, it was authorized to submit the ques-
ton to the different associations 1or vote.
This vote has been taken and will be made
known at the convention.
On new matters federated convention,
unlike the knights Of Labor, cannot take
definite action. It merely makes recon-
mendations to the associations that compose
the body. They cannot pass any laws, COM
pulsory or obligatory on national or inter-
national unions.
OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE.
The national officers of each union are re-
sponsible Ior the enactment of the laws.
The decisions of President Gompers are re-
spected in all matters, but he cannot authorize
the PRONUNCIATION of any act not specifically
stated in the constitution.
Another matter to come up is the assist
ance fund to be used in the enforcement of
the eight-hour law. This provides for an
assessment of one-fourth of a cent per month
per member for all members in the ma
tional and International unions, and about
1 cent on federal bodies. The assessment
cannot be laid for more than five consecu-
tive weeks. This amounts to about 80
cents per year. There are over 400, 900
represented in the Federation, and
it will be seen that the fund will amount to
over third of million dollars per year.
There is very little expense connected
with running the Federation. Last year
the total expenses of the organization were
less than 81 900. This was in the Office OF
President Gompers. whose salary is only
81. 200.