Evening journal., 1891-12-16

The redarallon of I.nhnr.

BfRMINGnAM, Ala, Dec l6-fn the con.
vention Of the Federation Of Labor the
matter Of donating $1,000 TO assist in az.
Tending the case Of the striking lob printers
Of Pittsburg now pending in the Pennsyl.
vania courts was referred to a special com.
mittee. Miss Eva Mcdonald Valesk. Of
Minnesota, the only woman delegate, was
allowed voice in the convention but no
vote The following special committee on
the convict labor question was appointed tc
devise means for solving the problem and
making recommendations; McGuire, Roe.
Valentine, Devaux and Harding.
The Convict Minor Question.
The convict question is coming in for
large share Of attention owing to the fnet
that nearly 1900 convicts are worked ia the
mines Of this county and their removal Is
Just now the main question IN q very heat
cd campaign for governor. Numerous reso-
lutions have been introduced and an re.
rtrred without reading to a special commit
tee. The squabble between the Brewers
union and tho Trades council has reached 4
partial settlement by an agreement on the
part Of the delegates Of the Pacific Coast
Brewers union that their union shall reioin
the National union aud pay up disputed A..
rearages Of forty dollars The National
union ngroes 70 accept their return subject
70 the action Of a convention to meet within
six months
Women Laborers TO Organize.
During the session President Gornpers N.
troduced Mrs l. NJ Van Eaten, who read a
lengthy paper ON womans labor. Mrs. EVA
Mcdonald Valesk followed IN a speech on
the same subject A special committee was
appointed TO formulate some scheme look
ing 70 permanent organization OF woman
labor The proposition met with considers.
BILE opposition, but was finally adopted
All the committees met ut the Florence
hotel last night The Chicago delegation Il
advertising the Worlds fair by keeping
open house" in one Of the hotel parlors
where refreshments are served.
The federation win be in session till
Saturday
President Gompers Report.
In his annual report President Gompers
deplored the failure Of the miners TO in
augurate an eight hour movement on Nav
last. He says official notice has been re-
ceived from the Journeymen Bakers Inter
national union that they propose making
application 10 this convention to be selected
as the trnde to make a demand for the en-
forcement Of the eight hour work dav on
May L 1892 Mr.. Gompers regards the
eight hour question as the most important
with which labor has TO deal The convict
labor system in Tennessee is denounced and
a recommendation made that the conven-
ton give It attention and suggest a remedy.
The Immigration Evil.
Immigration, the report says has grown
TO be pressing evil, and the wageworlxeI
Of the country should insist that It be re-
formed. Mr. Gompers says that each union
Is IFS own judge in the matter Of political
action. Apropos Of the recent trouhl. in
Chicago the report says:
I'VE have little If any sympathy with the
expressions Of those who are opposed TO our
system Of government, or we NAV be their
outspoken antagonists, but we should at ali
times maintain the constitutional rights Of
the people Of free speech and free assem-.
bage Il requires but a stretch of authority |
to interfere and break up the meetings 81 |
our unions, as was recently the case with |
the Painters union, Of Chicago
The report indorses Robert p. Porteris |
scheme for a permanent census bureau. Mr.
Gompes believes that no boycott should be |
recognized unless approved BY the conven.
tions OF the executive council in the interim |
Of the conventions Of this federation He |
adds The boycott Is very powerful |
weapon in the hands of the wageworkers. |
but if put on a firm unfairly it Is likely tc |
react upon as and destroy the usefulness Of |
that method 70 obtain our rights Presi- |
dent Gompers believes that the time IS not !
far distant when the railroad organizations /
will be enrolled under the banner Of the |
federation.