Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-12-19
THE CAUSE OF THE rolLER.


Tho American Fede, OF Labor Mests
mt Birmingham, Ala. % Dlscuss Means
for lettering the woriingman's Con-
dition.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec 15.-Repre-
sentative workingmen connected with
almost every known industry and COM
ing from every section of the country
to the number of several hundred gath
cred in Erswell's hall Monday morning
when President Samuel Gompers,
of New York, called to order the
eleventh annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor.
With the statement that he wou| d re-
serve the delivery of his annual ad-
dress the president proceeded to de-
liver brief address of welcome.
1t was, he said, the largest con-
vention of the federation in its his
tory. The growth of the organiza-
phenomenal and the delegates before
him represented more than three
quarters of a million of organized
labor. He gave a hearty welcome to
the delegates and urged them to return
to their different organizations deter
mined TO push onward and upward for
| the Improvement OF labor.
Continuing, he said: 'It should be
our effort to make each succeeding
convention of the American 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 development of the industries
of our country. On every hand we
find organization and combination on
the part of those who own or control
the wealth, using their possessions to
crush out the liberties, to stihe the
voice, to pervert the rights of the toll
ing 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.
, At the conclusion of the presidents
address the convention went into
executive session and the doors were
closed. The usual committees were up.
. pointed and General Secretary Chris
Evans presented his annual financial
report. A synopsis follows:
During the term ending October 81, 1891, 24s
charters have been issued to unions in thirty
states US follows: Arkansas. 3: Connecticut
9; Colorado. 4; District of Columbia 9; Geor'
= gia, 9; Illinois, 10; Indiana, 90; Iowa, 9; Kan
sas, 3: Kentucky, 2; Louisiana, 8; Massachu
sets, 8; Michigan, 81; Missouri 9; Minne
sofa, d; Mississippi, z; Maine 2: Montana
Q 1; New York, 2s; New Jersey 8; New Mexico
: 8: Ohio SIS; Pennsylvania. 10; Rhode Island, 1
Tennessee, q; Texas 1; Virginia. 3; Wisconsin
!, 8; Washington, 8; West Virginia 3. Charters
have also been granted to ten national unions
n making o total Of $50 during the year.
n The financial exhibit showed that the re
|, ceipts of the year had been S2l,s46, and tn
;. total expenditure sl3, l29, leaving balance o
: - s. 1856. OF the total expenditures nearly S2,5O
l represented loans and donations to oganiza
Y tions on strike. The statement Of expendi
"a lures was rendered notable by tn
= item showing that the total outlay for salnr
>, les on account of an organization. with hur
u dreds Of branches and membership OF thre
l. quarters OF million, was but the paltry sur
|, OF 81, 600. The comparative summary showe
n that four years ago the total receipts of the OIL
ganization were but g., 90 for the entire year.
During the last year u loan of $3.50 has bee
It made TO the United Brotherhood Of Carpenter
d and Joiners Of Pittsburgh, Pa. to aid them 4
,s their strike and 1t has since been repaid 1
!, full Two thousand dollars has also bee
:" loaned TO the United Mine Workers of Americi
" to aid the Iowa striking miners. The CONVEX
,r ton will be asked to make the loan donation