Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-13
EIGHT HOURS THEIR AIM.

President Gompers Makes His Annual Ad.
dress tn the Federation Of Labor.
The American Federation Of Labor, in con.
vention at Philadelphia, resumed it's session st
O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
Upon reassembling John Swinton OF New
York made an address. He declared that suf-
ferers from labor strikes should be pensioued
the same a. were veterans of the Union army.
He hoped to see the day when all labor organ
izafions would be brought together in one great
congress and when strikes would be obliterated.
Thomas j. Elderkin, general president and
treasurer of the Lake Seamen' 9 Benev client Asso-
citation OF Chicago, presented q resolution pro-
testing against the awarding of the printing Of
tne world fair catalogue to the W. B. Conkey
company OF Chicago, a distinctly non-union
office. Nearly every delegate had something
TO say on the subject and Vice President Nc
Cure had all he could do to maintain a SEM
blance of order
Unanimous consent was asked for its consid-
Grafton and Delegate Elderkin and the Inter
national Typographical delegates were asked
to confer on the resolution and report after
President Gompers' address. After his address
the protest was adopted
Mr.. Gompers, in his report said:
Inc eight-hour movement still claims a
large share Of our attention. 1t il idle to say
lts enforcement for all workers in the past, for
tnas reason 1t is useless for us 70 again make
the effort to establish the limitation Of the
hours OF labor. and l am strongly convinced
mat further aggressive action by this conven-
uon would be productive of as good, if not
better, results than those heretofore obtained.
Unrestricted immigration is great injury
TO the working people Of our country, and this
convention should formulate and demand such
legislation as will best protect our interests"
President Gompers' address was followed by
the report Of Secretary Chris Evans of New
York. Secretary Evans said:
Turing the year commencing November l,
1881. and ending October 81, 1892, 277 charters
nave been issued, including local unions, GEN.
tral bodies and state declarations. in thirty-two
states of the Union.
In addition to the above eight charters have
been issued to national unions. making a total
or ZSo Tor the year. the largest number of char
tiers that have been issued during any one year
since the American Federation OF Labor has
peen organized. The national unions affiliated
have also received through the Offices Of the
American Federation Of Labor thirty-seven
applications, an item well worthy of considera-
tlon, since 1t demonstrates the interest that
mas been manifested by our organizers in the
various cities of the country, and the value Of
their aid to national unions in organizing locals
that the officers themselves unable to reach.
Inc total receipts and expenditures for the
year ending October 81, 1892 we're: Receipts,
go. 81; expenses. SIS. GO: balance on
hand. 81, 6G6IS.
On November /, 1891. "a ,32s 80 was in the
treasury from assessments and So. 1923 06 in the
general fund.
During the year S72 have been received
from donations and so for assessments,
making total for donations and assessments
received of S4.470. 80. Out of this amount
S22 has been donated to the Cotton Mule
Spinners' Association, 81. 200 has been loaned
to the international Furniture Workers Union,
$500 to the Tanners and Curriers' Int.rna-
tional Union, $500 to the Furriers' Inter
national Union. $500 to the Quarrvmen's
National Union and $500 to the German Ameri-
can Typographical. leaving balance in the
treasury OF S94s. 30 from donations and assess
ments and S6.7i7.s8 in the general fund. an in
crense over that of last year of 2,SS9S SO. The
secretary calls the attention of the delegates to
section 3, article 10 OF The constitution, which
reads follows,
"Any seven wageworkers of one trade of
good character and favorable 20 The trade
unions and not members of any body affiliated
with this federation. who will subscribe to this
constitution shall have the power to form q
local body to be known federal labor union
and recommends the striking out of the words
of one anu the insertion of the words follow
ing any, So that federal labor unions may be
organized in accordance with the original ideas
which called them into existence.
1t concludes as follows: In looking over the
work Of the past year we find that several of
the national and local unions affiliated have had
4 very difficult task to surmoupt through the
obstacles that have been placed in their way.
In several instances INSCRIPTIONS employers
aided by unjust laws nave taken advantage OF
the situation and no time has been lost by them
to use the unemployed workingmen who are SO
numerous almost IN every trade to carry out
their will. hope some move will be made at
this convention to reduce the mum Der Of unem-