The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-15
Meeting Of tho National Body at
Birmingham, Alabama.
LARGEST CONVENTION YET HELD
by the Eody---rhc Membership Over
Quarter OF II Milllon.--l.argc H.
crease Since the Last Rcport-.-Fi.
nancinl Condition Exccllcnt.-.A Chi
cngo Delegate is Mistaken for John
Il. Sullivan and Arrested, but Is FL
nally Released.

CUNNINGHAM, ALA, Dec. ll.-Tho city
is full Of delegates to tho American
Federation OF Labor, which meets here
to-day. President Gompers has Nr-
rived and all tho officers arc on hand.
At Holly Springs, Miss., yesterday tho
Chicago delegation stopped over to
change railroads for Birmingham.
Richard Braunsing, delegate OF the fur
ntnro workers OF Chicago, bears 4 close
resemblance to John T.. Sullivan, for
whom there seems to be warrant in
that state. The local authorities made
Il mistake and arrested Braunsing for
Sullivan. The entire population turned
out to the court house TO view tho noted
pugilist, and it took him three hours to
explain. Every apology was made and
tho delegation came through with no
hard feelings.
Tho eleventh annual meeting OF the
convention OF the Federation OF Labor
convened at Erswcll hall at 10 o'clock
this morning, being called to order by
President GomperS, Gov. Thomas u.
Jones delivered an address OF welcome.
About $50 delegates from every part OF
tho United States and Canada are in at
tendance and tho meeting will last at
least one week. Funds havo been
raised to give visiting labor men Il
grand banquet towards the close OF the
meeting. The convention organized
and transacted routine business only
to-day.
President Gompers, III calling the
convention to order, gaid he would re-
serve the delivery OF his annual address
until tomorrow. lie proceeded TO de-
liver brief address OF welcome. 1t
was, he said, the largest convention OF
the federation in its history. The
growth Of the organization during the
past year had been phenomenal, and
the delegates before him represented
more than thrcc-quarters OF q million
OF organized laborers. Much, how
ever, rs had been accomplished
in the past, much more still
remained to be done in the
future. On every hand We find organi-
zAtion and combination on the part OF
those who control the wealth, and using
their possessions TO crush out the libcr-
ties, TO stitlc the voice and to pervert
the rights OF the toiling masses. While
1t is true that many attempts have been
made to grapplc with this condition OF
affairs, puny and futile have been the
results. These combinations can only
be successfully copied with by COM
pact and thorough organization OF the
wagc-worker classes OF our country.
At the conclusion OF tho Presidents
address the convention went into cxecu-
tive session and the doors were closed.
Tho usual committees wero appointed.
General Secretary Chris Evans then
presented his annual financial report.
In doing so ho said; "Thc work OF the
past year has developed many things
that will serve to educate and help to
formulate legislation for the wage
carncrs. That mistakes hayo been
made, no one will question, but in the
discussions that will arise during the
proceedings OF our annual gathering, let
our motto be: Legislation for the relief
OF the masses, against the selfish greed
OF the few lei the knowledge We have
gained by experience act as guide ior
US III lIC lNlulc " uNUlI lis lllutll us
possible repetition OF the errors OF the
past"
The report proceeded to state that
during the term ending October 81 1891,
two hundred and iorty-six charters had
been issued to unions in 80 states, i'll
Guiding 81 in Ohio, 1G in Pennsylvania
and3 in West Virginia. The financial
exhibit showed that thp rnrrintc nj thn
year had been go ,3iG, and that thcto
expenditures had been $l3,l99 leaving
4 balance OF SS,l5G. OF the total on
pcnditurcs, nearly $500 represented
loans and donations to organizations on
strike.
The statement OF expenditures was
rendered notable by the item showing
that the total outlay for salaries on
account OF an organization with hun
drcds OF branches and membership OF
thrcc-quartcra OF million WAS but the
paltry gum OF $4,000.