Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-15

"Knownothingism," these wrongs can bt
remcdied, and they can and should be form
| ulated. One officer of the general Govern
| ment should have undivided authority ant
be held responsible for the enforcement O
the law. In my Judgment the delegates tt
| this convention representing the organized
! wage workers of our country should yoict
1 their sentiments in unmistakable tones, ant
declare that We Will have relief from this
| pressing evil.
Mr.. Gompers said that he had been in.
| vited to attend two political conferences
but had considered that he neither had che
right to refuse or accept them. He be-
lieved that the Executive Council was the
servant of the unions, not their master OF
| dictator The convention at Detroit dld
not declare against any action which the
working people may desire to take Such
matters rested entirely with each organiza.
tion without dictation or hinderance.
Women Laborers Poorly Organized.
He called attention to the lack of organi-
Zation among the women laborers, and
urged the absolute necessity of taking spe-
cial action looking to their systematic or
ganization. He characterized the employ
ment of children of tender ages in the stores
and Easements of mercantile houses as inhu-
man as it is in the factory and workshops,
and should be prohibited The petition to
Congress in favor of granting the right OF
suffrage to women had been signed by more
than go, 900 workingmen, and he hoped the
time would not be far distant when they
should have a right to frame the laws equal
to their brother
In relation to assessments and dues he
said that it was false economy to suppose
that success results from small initiation
fees and low dnes 1t might be true that a
union might be organized on a cry of low
dues, but history would show, that such an
union was only of a trarsitory character
The unions should have a fair iniation fee
and high dues, or large enough dues to per-
init of benevolence when necessary. Speak
ing of the right of free speech, he said:
Free Assembly and Speech an Issue.
Within the past few years there has been
direct purpose and what appears to be
tacit understanding among the authorities
of our several State and municipal offices to
violate one of the fundamental principles
and rights guaranteed to the people. The
right of free assemblage and free speech
has been won at the sacrifice of thousands
of lives and of fortunes untold. Yet the
right of free speech and free assemblage is
as much IN question to-day as it was CEN
turies ago We may have little If any
sympathy with the expressions of those
who are opposed to our system OF Govern
tagonist<. but we should at all times main
tain the Constitutional rights of the people.
of free speech and free assemblage. 1t re-
quires but stretch of authority to interfere
and break up the meetings Of our unions
as was recently the case with the Painters
Union of Chicago, and still others reported
to us.
Mr.. Gompers favored the placing of the
permanent census bureau in charge of the
Department of Labor. His idea was that
the work could be done better that way
than independently. He commended the
work of the Bureaus of Labor Statistics and
advised the consideration of tn. subject of
uniting them more intimately with the De-
partment of Labor.
He urged the passage of law by Con-
gress declaring the first Monday in Sentem-
Der as legal holiday, and called attention
to the union label wh.eh had been issued,
but not largely used. He characterized
recent decision of the Suprem. Court of
this State, questioning the righs of the
union to issue label certifying to the
character of the product as unjust, and one
seldom equaled in injustice even in the
darkest days of jurisprudence. Talking of
boycotts, Mr.. Gompers said:
A Limit to the Right of Boycott.
Upon the question of boycotts desire to i'm
press upon your mind the resolution adopted
at the st. Louis Convention upon the re-
port of the committee having that subject un-
der consideration. Every local organization
seems to take upon itself the right to levy
boycotts and spread them before the entire
1t seems to me that before people
should be asked to taboo product of any
firm, opportunity should be given for in
and no boycott recognized
unless approved by the conventions, or the
Executive Council in the interim of the
conventions of this federation. The boycott
$ very powerful weapon in the hands Of |
he waseworkers, but If put on q firm un-
airly, promiscuously or without investiga-
ion, it is likely to react upon us and destroy
the usefulness Of that method to obtain our |
rights.
Then again, organizations entirely foreign
and antagonistic to the trade unions and |
the American Federation of Labor have de- |
boycotts to a successful termination upon
5he trade unions affiliated to the American |
Federation of Labor. Several boycotts |
placed upon unfair firms by the American |
Federation of Labor have terminated sue |
,essfully. I trust that this convention will /
AXE some action by which it will distinctly |
ormulate decisive action in reference to the |
evy1ng and supporting of boycotts
He concluded by urging all the unions to |
De on the alert to forward the interests of |
he cause of labor, and to be prepared to
make sacrifices whenever necessary toward
he attainment of the common objects
Secretary Evans reported that. charters
lad been issued to 256 unions during the
rear, of which 16 were in Pennsylvania.
The total receipts were 81, ,346 45 and the
expenditures S13,19 OF, leaving balance
9, 156 Sc on hand. During the year So, 500
lad been loaned to the carpenters and Join
RS and had been returned, and s., 900 had
'een loaned to the United Mine Workers to
id the Iowa striking miners.
Treasurer Lennon reported the Fedora
ion to be in good financial shape, and SUBJ
nitted a statement showing the balance
amed by the Secretary. He suggested
everal amendments to the constitution
hioh will ha anpc;darad IN J,,o 49,. |