The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-17
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
There Will be No, International
Labor Congress.
A NATIONAL LABOR DAY WANTED


Knights OF Labor--Attitude of the
Federation Toward the Militia.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. fat yesterday
mornings session Of the American Fed.
GRAFTON OF Labor convention the PROPOSE
ton TO hold a labor congress during the
worlds fair came up in the nature Of
unfinished business.
President Gompers stated that an In.
vitation had already been extended to
the international labor congress at Brus.
sells to act upon the proposition to hold a
congress in the United States. Great
Britain laborers, he said, have decided
20 accept the invitation 10 come to this
country.
After considerable discussion the pron.
osition for the federation to take any ac-
hon toward assisting in a Worlds fair
congress was then defeated by an over
whellning vote.
Recommendations Approved.
Other recommendations in the presi-
Dents report were approved, including
the clauses relating to the woman Or
Eanizer, whose work was complimented.
And relating to Labor Day. The com
suitttO appear
establishment of "A national Labor Day
In the districts and territories. 1t was
voted to notify the president of the
United States of the action condenning
the employment of Chinese sailors by
the Pacific Mail Steamship company.
Here resolution WAS recommended
that stirred up lively debate IL re-
lated to the action of the president and
executive eouncil requesting conferences
with the Knights Of Labor unions The
many attacks OF the Knights OF Labor
against trades unions, especially on the
coal miners and shoemaliers, were de-
plored. 1t was said that all efforts to
heal the breach while they were on the
attack and the federation on the de-
fsnyiye would only be waste of time.
The committee recommended "that
the highest duty Of the federation WIS
10 defend the unions selected by the
knights of Labor for attack, and that
the executive committee take such action
as will enforce this idea The recon-
uendation of the committee was finally
adopted,
Militia in Strikes.
The apccial committee Of nine on
mllitia IN strikes thea reported They
say that the'powers designed to rest with
tho people rs expressed in the national
and state governments were being di-
yerted frein the purposes of their authors
and that the masses have lost the powers
guaranteed them.
Unless u halt is called it will not he
long until liberty gives way TO dcSpot-
ism. Since the recent uses to which
trcops have been subjected has been
brought about by allowing the people,
pnchallenged TO surrender their power,
We therefore believe that herein lies the
vital point of our grievances.
The following resolutions were then
proposed; THAT the American Fedora
ton Of Labor and affiliated bodies de-
mand of their respective legislatures the
enactment Of laws embracing one Of the
following propositions:
''First, They shall create board Of
commissioners, to be selected by the
people, and to consist of as many men as
there are congressional districts in the
stAto. The committee only shall have
power to call ont the military, after in
veStigation of the labor difficulties, in
conjunction with the governor.
"Second, Thnt i'll cases of labor diff
entities ii shall be unlawful for the gov
esHor to call ont the militia for the sup
preston Of the same except upon peti-
eion signed by AT least one-f0urth of the
qGalitied voters OF the county wherein
tie trouble may exist.
we further recommend rs a remedy
for the employment of Pinkerton or
other armed forces. That we demand
enactment of laws by the several states
ct the Union prohibiting non-residents
frOm serving rs peace officers
1t was also recommended that the fed
eration refuse under any circumstances
topernlit any member to enlist under any
circumstances in the National Guard
and that the members now enlisted
withdraw as soon RS they can lawfully
DO so, unless one OF the other of the
propositions herein proposed be en-
bodied in the state laws.
Delegate Morgan concurred in all of
tke report preceding the propositions.
He believed that the power 10 regulate
the military force of the state and ma
hon, in the interest of the people, is in
hnrent In the constitution and laws that
now exist. He offered as an amendment
10 strike out all the portion of the report
fRyoring reconstruction Of the laws,
and adopt instead 1.-THE force necessary
10 the proper use Of the militia lies in he
representation of labor in the legislature
and administrative department Of the
respective states.
The ame,.tl' 'eilt rs presented was car
Eisd, and tn nlainder Of the report, as
reconstructed, also passed. The COM
mittce announced that they We're not
yet ready to report on the other matters
entrusted to them.
At the afternoon session engross sed
resolutions We're presented to George
MacNeil, the well known speaker on
labor topics, thanking mm for his SER
vices in the cause of organized labor.
A Defense Fund.
The committee to whom the propesi-
kion had been submitted to establish a
sinking fund reported favorably upon
such fund for the purpose of support
ing strikes and lockout5 of not less than
100000. The report was ordered re-.
ferred to the executive council, with in
structions to perfect the details Of the
plan and submit it to the affiliated
unions.
A breeze arose when the committee
on law reported unfay orably on reso-
luton that delegates must be workers in
the trade which they represent. In sup
port OF the resolution Delegate Gold.
water, of Detroit charged that men
high in the counsels 1f the federation
were subcrdinating the interests of or
ganized labor to their own personal ad-
vantage, and that it was through the
favor Of the committee on credentials
that such delegates gained admission.
Inl5 Drought tle clldlihiuh VI tiu ~ g
Dental committee to his feet to explain
chat the committee recognized home
rule for each of the affiliated unions and
their right to choose such delegates as
rs they deemed proper. Other delegates
explained why they did not work in the
crafts they represented. Others called
on Goldwater to state the names Of the
delegates he had attacked. Goldwatel
contented himself with the reply that ht
did not refer to the present officers: iht
report of the committee was finally
adopted.
Amendments to the constitution wer'
then taken up and were under discussion
when the convention adjourned for th'
day,
Today's Proceedings.
The time of the convention this morn
inn Nuaa takan I'm N,.ith thn dinnnaninn q,