Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-13
Ev..N",unlNS NEtUS
Outlined by President
Samuel Gompers.
ElGHT-HOUR DAY COMING.
Something About immigration and the
Columbian Exposition.

PHILADELPHIA. Dec. l3-At the opening
Of the ANIMAL session Of the American
Federation Of Labor in Independence hall,
President Gompers spoke as follows:
Events ha We transpired in the field Of labor
within the past elk months which have
aroused public attention, because the incl
dents connected with them have been moro OF
less OF an unusual character. In each Of these
struggles the employers, the corporations.
have simply made request, and the armed
forces OF the states and the United States were
~ their bidding.
In the coal mines Of Tennessee, at Home
stead. Buffalo and Ceur d'Alens. united labor
has defended itself from the crushing tyranny
OF monopolistiD power. These cases certainly
call for the serious consideration Of the dele
gates to this convention. They are fraught
with pregnant and burning questions OF the
hour. We have duty to perform, and We
should not shrink from doing it.
The Efforts of the Toiiing Masses
OF our country 10 carry on the struggles for
improved coalitions have been met In the
spirit Of the btterest antagonism. Our meth
DDS 20 gradually improve the conditions or
the masses have been regarded and treated 70
II we were the enemies rather than the frien IS
Of the human family. War has practically
been declared against the labor organizations,
and war measures resorted 10 In the effort to
crush them.
but Will lDtN ne cfusDeuE Ne answer no.
The labor movement IL the manifestation OF
that unrest born Of the conviction that injus-
tice prevails which needs remedying and sup
planting by justice and right The labor
movement voices the aspirations OF the toillpg
masses, N well rs lays bare their wrongs. IL
Is the means through which tyranny is held
IN check. IL lives in their minds aud hearts,
and
VIII Not and Cannot Tie Crushed.
The eight-holr movement still claims .
large share OF our attention. It is idle To say
that because we are not entirely successful in
Its enforcement for a 4 workers In the past, for
that reason " is useless for us TO again make
the effort to establish that limitation for the
daily hours of labor.
Unrest cted immigration fs a great injury
90 the working ueople OF our country, and this
convention should formulate and demand
such legislation a. will best protect our inter
ests. We do not wish 10 Join In the general
cry of completely shutting out all, but that
some regulation and restriction IL necessary il
too plain II duty To be shirked.
In our eifor, 10 carry out the instructions Of
the last convention, petitions signed by more
than 3n0O) workmen were forwarded 20 con-
gress requesting that body TO refrain from
acting upon the question Of opening or closing
The Worlds Fair
on Sundays Notwithstanding the petition
and our protest, congress practically closed
the fair upon the day most readily at the dis
posit of the workers. There is no Idea or
thought for the desecration OF the Sabbath,
but We insist that congress should have
Trained from legislating upon . subjecl en-
tirely foreign 10 its sphere.
The board OF directors Of the fair have
pledged themselves that no employe shall be
allowed 10 work more than six days Of the
week, II congress repeals the Sunday cl sing
clause. In M, judgment, we would urge con-
gress to repeal the e ause and delegate tho
matter where IL rightfully belongs-to tho
board OF directors.
In obedience 20 the unanimously adopted
Instructions, the counter propositi ms 10 those
submitted by the Knights Of Labor werc
transmitted to the general officers Of that or
der, accompanied by courteous note suggest
ing that n conference might be held TO 'iscuss
their or ginal and our counter propositions.
Their officers answer WAS
Discourteous and Insolent
Since then We have heard nothing In reference
20 the subject matter.
We declare that the trades unions are the
natural organizations OF the wageworkers;
that. despite all antagonisn, whether from
capitalist, foe or pseudo friend, they will con-
tnue To grow in strength and influence, and
secure those improvements in the toilors' con.
dion. and work out those reforms and chan 70
our present 10 more humane Industrial sys-
tenn
Secretary Evans Report.
Charters have been issued to the num-
Der Of 2so for the year. the largest that
have been issued during ony one year
since the American Federation of Labor
has heen organized. The total receipts
and expenses for the year ending Oct. 81.
1892, were: Receipts, t25, ,990S 81; expenses,
&lS,32I 6J balance on hand, EG65 la On
Nov. ], 1891, 1929 30 was In the treasury
from assessments, and s3S2S0o in the gen.
eral fund.
John Swinton's Speech.
While waiting for the committee on
credentials to report, John Swinton made
half hours address. in which he saluted
the delegates as representing m re men
than Napoleon ever had In any OF his ar
mics. He characterized the six great
strikes OF the year, in which 10000 men
took part, rs having done imme ,surable
good 20 the American workmen, as have
also previous strikes. He dwelt upon tn
Homestead trouble and denounced Pink
ertonism," "Frickism" and Carnegie
ism" The committee on credentials re-
ported eighty-one delegates present.