Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-12-17
in BEHALF OF LABOR.
The American Federation Begins It's AN
nual Convention in Philadelphia--Presi-
dent Gompers' Address.

The American Federation Begins It's AN
nual Convention In Philadelphia-Presi-
dent Gompers' Address.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 13.-President
Samuel Gompers opened the twelfth
annual session of the American feder-
alton of labor in independence hall at
10 a. IN. Monday. An address OF well
come in behalf of the Union Labor
league of this city was delivered by
George Chance, of Typographical union
No. Q.
President Gompers replied briefly for
the federation, thanking the laboring
men of Philadelphia for their welcome
and for the admonitions that had been
given. "It is lamentable," he declared,
that judges should stoop so low
to arrive at such despicable ends,
as has been witnessed recently in Penn
sylvania." He ascribed these wrongs
to two causes: The comparative lack
of organization among the laboring
men of the state; and the devotion of
wage workers to partisans first and to
their class interests last
After the appointment of a commit
tee on credentials recess was taken
until afternoon.
Treasurer j. B. lemons financial
report for the fiscal year ending No
vember gives the total receipts as
S25, 900. 81; the total expenditures S1S,-
324. 90, and balance in treasury 81, 666. ls.
In the afternoon, President Gompers delivered
his address Perhaps the most interesting part
OF the document is the review of
the labor troubles OF the past year. Mr.
Gompers the authorities and en-
poyers and declares that in each Of
these labor struggles the employers-the cor
porations-have simply made request and the
armed forces of the state and of the United
States were at their bidding. or the Home
stead trouble he says:
"At Homestead, where the iron and steel
workers offered q wholesale re-
duction in their wages, an armed band
OF marauders, sailing under no flag, ow-
ing allegiance to no state country (and,
consequently, by the law Of all nations, consid-
| cred piratesl, was brought by the corporations
| TO invade that peaceful town, to aid in the eff
| fort TO supplant their labor by poorer and de-
| moralized set OF human beings. The men of
| Homestead, seeing their liberties endangered,
| took up arms against the invaders and repelled
| them"
| Mr.. Gompers also devoted considerable space
| TO the troubles in Tennessee and ut Buffalo and
Coeur d'Alene, and says:
"These cases certainly call for the serious
consideration of the delegates to this conven
| ton. They are fraught with pregnant and
| burning questions of the hour War has
practically been declared against the labor
organizations, and war measures resorted
| TO in the efforts to crush them. But
| will they be crushed? We answer no. The
| labor movement is the manifestation OF that
| unrest born Of the conviction that injustice
| prevails which needs remedying and supplant
| ing by Justice and right The labor movement
| voices the aspirations of toiling masses rs vel
| as lays bare their wrongs. 1t Is the means
through which tyranny is held in check it lives
| in their minds and hearts, and Will not and
| cannot be crushed"
Referring to the knights of Labor, Mr.. Com
| pers said that, in obedience to the instructions
of the Birmingham convention last year. the
| general officers of the knights had beer
invited to conference with the fedora
| tion. A discourteous and tnsolent an
swer was returned and nothing furthe
had been done. The knights were referred Il
| as manifesting petty and great antagonism
The speaker declared in favor of political &C
ton by organized labor and on the eighthou
question said it was their duty to keep up tn
fight until substantial reduction in tn
days labor of the masses had bee
attained. He urged that the allie
contract labor law should be made more strir
gent, that all immigrant7 should he subject
return until two years after their arrivalin thi
country, and that the employing contracto
should be held liable for five years after the al
rival OF the contract laborer.
Regarding the worlds fair Sunday-closin
question the president insists that congress
should have ,refrained from legislating upon
subject entirely foreign to Its sphere, an
urges an appeal to that body TO repeal the SUI
day-closing clause.
Secretary Evans, in his annual report, sal
that during the year ending October 81 277 cha
ters had been issued to local unions and sta.
declarations. and eight charters TO nation;
unions The total receipts were s25, 800, and tn
expenses S1s,3A
Resolutions were introduced at tn
. request of Typographical union No.
! of Chicago denouncing the propose
awarding of the contract for tn
worlds fair catalogue to non-unio
> publishing house and demanding tina
J the work be given to a union concern
The resolutions, after some discussion
! were adopted