The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1892-12-13
QUESTIONS OF JUSTICE
THE COEUR D'ALENE STRIKE

-
OF United statss
Troops ana pinkertons De-
preoated-0omper's An.
nuai Address.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. l2.-At the after.
noon sessiou Of the Federation Of Labor
the delegates were entertained for half an
hour BY John Swinton. tho New York Jour
nalist. In . savage attack on "BlacklistinR,
Pinkersonism and Trickery." "Ths labor
al the country" hs said, "haa been paid
millions Of dollars this year, which II
would surely have Lost without tho help Of
tho striking brethren at different points,"
The speaker concluded with an appeal for
the union OF all labor organizations on
fundamental principles. The committee
on credentials reported col delegates TO
admlxeion and the report was adopted.
A resolution was introduced at tho re-
quest of typographical union No. is Of
Chicago, announcing the proposed award.
Ing Of the contract for tho worlds fair
catalogue to . non-uuiou house, and do
manding that the work 60 to union
house. After considerable debate the
resolution was somewhat modified and
adopted.
President Compcrs reed hIs annual re.
port. He said In part: "Eveuts have
transpired on the field OF labor tho last
six months which have aroused public at
tcniion because Of the incidents con-
nsctsd with them, OF Q moro or
less unusual character. In each OF
these labor struggles the employers
or corporations simply made q no
quest and tho armed forces Of the
state and United States are at their bid.
ding. At tho Cocur d Alcnes, ut tho bid
ding Of mine owners, United States troops
were brought to the minos and men over
awcd and snbdued, and the commanding
general Of United States forces issued an
order that any employer who would oper-
ate his mines with union men would not
be allowed TO continue work. Tho United
States Judge issued an order prohibiting
union miners from holding meeting. In
other words tho constitutional right Of
FREQ assemblage was violated ny the
United States judge and the general Of
our army declaring and enforcing mis-
edict that an employer shall not
carry on business becanse he dared 10
employ union men. The actions Of tho
judees aud officers Of the United States
were flAsrantly In violation Of the Law and
I balieve Il our duty to demand that tho
congress Of the United States institute an
ldvuntigattpu. il u plaini y evident that
the mllita OF our several states never 10
utilised except for purposes OF ostcnta-
tious show or ms an element In labor
struggles. There 10 not even prctense
that the militia should be what II wna
originally designed for. Instead Of being
Q popular organization in defense of
homo and firesidcs. u has DETECTED into
. machine Of monopolistic oppression
against labor.
"wth the object OF financial aid In
view. Dec. 13 of this year 10 designated ~
Homestead day and all arc requested 10
contribute . portion OF their earnings on
that day for the purpose stated. II 10 idle
to say because we have not becn entirely
successfui In tho enforcement OF the eight.
hour movement for all orders In the past,
that Il Ia useless for us again to mako nm
effort 10 establish q limitation OF daily
hours of labor. There can be no question
but that unrestricted immigration ID work.
ing q great injury to the people OF oul
country. Notwithstanding tho petition,
and our protest. congress has practically
closed the worlds fair upon q day most
readily at the disposition of workers. We
should urge congress TO repeal the clause
relating to the closing OF the fair OH sun.
days.
Congress some time ago granted subsi
dies TO Pacific Mail Steamship compan,
and Incorporated o provision that the
seausn employed by the company should
bs ADerican citizens. The company In
question has since violated tho provision
of ths law by employing Chinese sailors
would recommend that the convention
.~sln~N sho s,,ps,lnu,inv of our Americau
sailors by Chinese and call upon the pros
idcut Of the United States 10 either com
nal the company In question to abide by
the provisions Of the Law or withdraw the
-