The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-15
FEDERATION OF LABOR.

Eleventh Annual Convention OF the Great La
bor Organfzation-NIr Gompers's Address.
BIRMINGHAM. Ala, Dec. 14.-The eleventh
annual convention of the Federation of
Labor convened at Erswell Hall. in this
city, at 10 o'clock this morning. being
called to order by President Samuel Com
pers. 1t was. he said. in course of his address,
the largest convention OF the federation
ton during the past year had been phe-
E.omenal, and the delegates before him rep
resented more than three-Quarters of
million of organized labor. Much had been
accomplished in the past, but much more
still remained to be done in the future.
He gave q hearty welcome to the dele
gates, and urged them to return to
their different organizations determined
to push onward and upward for the i'm
provement of labor. Continuing, he
said: lit should bo our effort to make
each succeeding convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor an improvement
on the preceding One both In numbers
and intelligence, keeping pace with the
ever increasing intelligence and pressing
demands of the masses and the develop
ment of the industries of our country. On
every hand we find organization and COM
binatiOn on the part Of those who own or
control wealth. and using their possess
ions to crush out the liberties, to
stifle the voice. to pervert the rights
of the toling masses. While it
Is true that many attempts have been made
to grapple with this condition of affairs,
puny and futile have been the results.
These combinations can only be success
fully cOped with by compact and
class of our country. The whole cause of
humanity appeals TO us to be true to the
mission of our class, end help in the
never-ending contests for reform. justice
and right. The perpetulty of the iDstitu-
tiOns of orr country. the freedom of the
citizen and the man. the burdens upon the
shoulders of our sisters. the cry of the
young and innocent children for re-
lief demand us to do all in our power.
TO exert every effort we are capable of
to bring about a condition of affairs more
rational and humane, and relieve US from
the stigma of careless indifference to
these great wrongs by which we are sur
rounded"
tthe conclusion of tho presidents ad-
dress the convention went into executive
session and the doors were closed. The
usual committees were appointed.
General Secretary Chris Evans then pre-
sented bis annual financial report. In do
ing so. he said: THE work of the past y ear
has developed many things that Will serve
to educate and help to formulate leglsla-
tion for the wage-eaIners. That mistakes
have been made no one Will question, but
in the d scussions that will arise during
the proceedings of our annual gathering let
our motto be legislation for the relief
of the masses as against the selfish greed
of the few: let the knowledge we have
gained by experience act as guide for us
in the future. to avoid, as much as possible
o repetition of the errors of the past. The
trades union movement is doing q noble
work in the line of reform. We are not
making as rapid progress as we should.
We are reducing the misery and degcad
tiOn of tho Wage-eerninR class however