St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-15
LtBOR'S FEDERATION.
Delegates Gather at Birming-
ham, Ala, From All Over
the Land.
President GomperS Dwells on
the Splendid Growth Of
the Past Year.
Secretary Evans Report Indi-
Gates a Healthy Progress
in All Respects.
Indiana Miners Maintaining a
Firm Front in Face Of
Encouragement.


BIRMINGHAM. Ala. Dec. il. The
eleventh annual meeting of the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor convened in
this city at 10 O'Clock this morning, be-
ing called to order by President Samuel
GOmpers. Gov. Thomas q. Jones deliv-
cred an address Of welcome on behalf
of Birmingham, and Samuel +. Free
man on behalf of the local labors.
About one hundred and fifty delegates
from all parts of the United States and
Canada are in attendance, and the meet
ing will last at least week.
President GOmpers, in calling the con-
venti0n to order. said he would reserve
the delivery OF his annual address until
tomorrow, and proceeded to deliver
brief address of welcome. 1t was. he
said, the largest convention of the fed
GRAFTON in its history. The growth
OF the organization during the past
year had been phenomenal, and
the delegates before him represented
more than three-Quarters of a million of
organized labOrerS. Much. however,
as had been accomplished in the past,
much more still remained to be done in
the future. He gave a hearty welcome
to the delegates. and urged them 10 re-
turn to their different organizations de
termined to push
Onward and Upward
fOrthe future. Continuing. he said:
lit should be our efforts to make each
succeeding convention of the American
Federation of Labor an Improvement on
the preceding one. both in num-
inf irrAr
pace with the ever increasing int9l-
ligence and pressing demands of the
masses and the development of the in
duStries OF our country. On every hand
we find organization and combination
on the part of those who own or control
the wealth, and using their possessions
to crush out the liberties. to stifle the
voice. to prevent 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. These com
binatiOns can only be successfully
COPIED with by compact and thorough
organization of the wage workers Of our
country. The more thorough our or
ganiZatOn, the more complete
our representative capacity in
the conventions of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor, the more we will dem
Onstrate to the world our fitness to
grapple with this nineteenth century
phenomena. The whole cause OF hu-
manity appeals to US to he true to the
miss on of our class, and help in the
never ending contests for
Reform, Justice and Right.
The perpetUiiy of the institutions of
o. T cOu ltTy and the freedom Of the
{ tizens and the man. the burdens upon
tie shoulders Of our sisters. the
CRY of the young and innocent
children for relief. demand us
20 labor all in our power, TO exert every
effort we are capable, to bring about a
condition of affairs more rational and
human, and relieve us from the stigma
Of carlesSness, and Indifference of these
great wrongs by which we are sur
rounded
Al the conclusion Of the presidents
address the convention went into eX-
ecutIve session and the doors were
closed. The usual committees were ap-
pointed. General Secretary Chris
Evans then presented his annual
financial report. in doing SO. he
said: The work of the past
year has developed many thoughts that
will serve educate ana help to fOrmu-
late legislation for the wage-earnerS.
viii question. Dat in the discussions that
viii arise during the proceedings of our
meeting, let our motto be legiS-
latiOn for the relief Of the masses
as against the selfish greed OF the few:
let the knowledge we have gained by
experience act as Il guide for us in the
future 10 avoid as much as posi- Die a
repetition OF the errors Of the past.
The trades union movement is doing
Hn.a linn 90 20.
are not making as rapid progress as we
should. We are
Reducing The Misery
and degradation Of the wage-earning
class. however CHE statement TO the
contrary Notwithstanding. Let US
move upward; press cur claim for
Justice 10 the wealth producers. and
follow the path marked out by the
trades unions affiliated by the American
Federation Of Labor. and success is
sure"
The report proceeded to state that
during the term ending Oct. 81, 1891,
246 charters had been issued to unions
in thirty states IS follows: Ar
kansas, 8: Connecticut. ,; Colorado. +;
District Of Columbia. ,: Georgia. ,: Hi
nOiS, IS: Indiana. %; Kansas. >; Ken
lucky, ?; Louisiana. ;; Massachusetts.
$; Michigan. -; Missouri, 6: Minnesota,
4 Mi slssippi. :: Maine, ,; Montana. /;
New York, Is; New Jersey, 3: New
Mexico. 3: OHIO, ,; Pennsylvania. 16;
Rhode Island, 1; Tennessee. 4: Texas,
/: Virginia .; Wisconsin, s; Washing
ton, .; West Virginia, B. Charters have
also been granted TO ten national
unions, making 4 total of 256 during the
year.
The financial exhibits showed that
the receipts of the year had been
S2l,344 and that the total expenditures
had been s13,l99. leaving a balance of
S6,l56. Of tire total expenditures
nearly $500 represented loans
and donations TO organizations on
strike. The statement of expenditures
was rendered notable by the citizens
showing thatthe total outlay for salaries
on account of an organization with nun
dreds of branches, a membership of
three-quarteTS Of 4 million was but the
try m, II