The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-08
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
LABOR.
To the Trade Untontsts Of america,
Greetino:

FELLOW WORKMEN Pursuant to
lcustom and our laws you are hereby
| notified that the Twelfth Annual Con
ventlon of the American Federation of
! Labor will be held in the Common
Council Chambers, independence
/ HalD, Philadelphia, Pa, at ten o'clock
! in the morning of December 18th, 1892,
and continue in session each succeed
/ ing day, until the business before the
convention shall be concluded
Never in the history of the labor
movement of America have important
events followed on the heels of each
other as have been witnessed within
the past few months, nor at any time
have the fortitude, courage and sin
cerlty of the wage workers been more
thoroughly tested. The power of con
/ centrated and corporate wealth has
been exerted to a-degree never before
attempted to overawe, intimidate and
crush the toiler. Private standing
armies, brought In to fasten injustice
upon labor at Homestead; the militia
of the State at Buffalo; the standing
army of the United States at Occur
d'zAlene, are fresh incidents in the
memories of all; as well as the viola
tiOIls of faith at Tenne see and in other
parts throughout our country.
The efforts of the organized wage
workers to seek amelioration in che
condition of the wealth-producers of
our country by gradual evolutionary
methods and to keep pace with the de-
velopment and progress of improved
machinery and the concentration of
wealth is not met In spirit of fairness,
! but opposed and antagonizad as if our
movement were destructive rather
than constructive, that we were enc
| mics instead of the friends of the people.
Every element and force at the com
mand of the capitalist class is being
! utilized and strained in order to humili-
/ ale, defeat and destroy our unions
! The hope is entertained that when our
unions have been crushed out of exist
ence the workers will prove more docile
and slave like to their employers
| their masters.
In such trying times, and under such
circumstances, 1t becomes our duty to
! demonstrate t. the world that there is
sufficient manly courage within the
| breasts of the toilerS to declare their
unaltePable and inalienable, right to
struggle on fearlessly in the contest for
better conditions. In the face of the
opposition now made, let us but falter
and we are lost for all time On the
other hand, if we manifest our knowl-
edge as to the best course to pursue to
defend, protect and advance our rights
and interests, as well as the earnest
ness and manllness to proclaim and
retain them, we shall secure CORE
spending degree of respect of both our
friends and enemies, and a greater
share of success will attend our efforts.
At no time shall we have better op
portunity to show these characteristics
than at the coming convention of the
American Federation of Labor. We
therefore urgently impress upon the
minds of all trade unionists entitled to
representation to send their full quota
of delegates to counsel and advise with
us upon such action best calculated to
prove the work of improved conditions
and final emancip alton.
The memories of heroism and true
mobility engendered by the historic
grounds upon which we shall meet, In
dependence Hall, will beyond doubt
inspire US to greater efforts than ever
before
The representation in the convention
will be upon the following basis: In
ternational and National Unions with
less than 4, 900 members, one delegate;
for 1000 members or more, two dele
gates; for s, 900 members or more, three
delegates; for 16 600 members or more,
four delegates; for 80, 900 members or
more, five delee ates; and oon. Local,
Trade or Federal Labor Unions, State
Federations, Central Labor Unions,
Trades Assemblies or Trades Councils,
one delegate each. All organizations,
to be entitled to representation, must
have a certificate of utilization Char
ter) at least thirty days before the date
upon which the convention is about to
be held. Any delegate representing a
union must be a member of the union,
and If not a craftsman of the trade
union which sends him, the union
must give the reason why such delegate
was chosen. Delegates must be elected
at least two weeks before the time of
holding the convention, and the names
of delegates for warded to the secretary
Immediately.
The per capita or delegate tax must
be paid in fulI to entitle organizations
to representation. (See Article TX,
Constitution, A f. Of Id Since the
Constitution requires the Secretary to
furnish the Committee on Credentials
at the convention with a statement OF
the financial standing Of each affiliated
BODY. organizations will see the neces-
sity Of settling their accounts previous
to the convention, and thus aid In the
! facilitation of the work.
When she delegates are selected, sec
J retaries of unions will please notify
this office, giving the names and ad
dresses of the delegates.
The committee Of arrangements have
secured hotel accommodat dations for dele
gates at the Girard House, corner
Ninth and Chestnut streets. at 81. 5O
per day, and at the Washington House:
at 50 90 per day. The headquarters OF
the Executive Council will be at the
Girard House.
The trade unions of Philade!pnla