Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-13
BLOOD OF MARTYRS,
That Is the Way the Battle
on the MOnOngahela
Is Regarded by
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR
Homestead the Topic of Discussion
at the Annual Meeting.
REPORT OF PRESIDENT GOMPERS.
IMPRESSIONS Regarding the Recent Opera
tions of the Eilitia.
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR
REPORT OF PRESIDENT GOMPERS.
NOT DISCOURAGED BY THE RESULTS

PHILADELPHIA, Dec L. - President
Samuel Gompers opened the twelfth annual
session of the American Federation of La
Dor in Independence Hall this morning. An
address of welcome in behalf Of the United
Labor League of this city was delivered by
George Chance. OF Typographical Union
No. ., in which he said: Measured by the
wealth that has been gathered, Pennsylva-
MIA is great, prosperous and powerful Con-
trasted with the condition of the producers
of that wealth, then the State is poor in
deed. 1 have no hesitancY in saying that
the laws of the nation and the State are
partly responsible for this condition of af-
fairs. Trusts have been legalized and fos-
tered, while soulless corporations and gi-
gantic plants are the especial wards of the
State; laws passed for the benefit of the
masses are declared unconstitutional or de-
cisions given that render their provisions
nugatory.
TT is SAID that the blood of the martyrs
was the seed of the church 1t is possible
that through the blood of the men who died
on the banks of the Monongahela last July
true condition of affairs and that the legis-
Iation will be in favor of the masses rather
than for the aggrandizement of the few"
Reflection on the Courts.
President Gompers replied briefly for the
Federation, thanking the laboring men of
Philadelphia for their welcome and for the
admonitions that had been given. SIT is
lamentable," he declared, ''that judges
should stoop so low to arrive at such despic-
able ends as has been witnessed recently in
Pennsylvania" He ascrlbed these wrongs
to two causes, the comparative lack of
organization among the laboring men of the
State and the devotion of wage workers to
partisans first and to their class interes is
last.
President Gompers, in his annual report
after brief reference to the general events
of the year, speaks of the Homestead
trouble thus:
Instead of having their grievances and
wrongs they SO bitterly and justly COM
planned of redressed, they were scorned at,
defled. When the public opinion was so
stunted that they could not induce the law
making power to save the lives of men,
women and children, is it any wonder that
when all legal means failed them to obtain
relief, as a last resort, they determined that
the only way by which the public conscience
could be touched was to shock it7
At Homestead. where the iron and steel
workers were offered a wholesale reduction
marauders, sailing under no flag,
owing allegiance to no State or coun-
try land consequently by the law of all ma
tions considered pirates), was brought by
the corporations to invade that peaceful
town, to ovelawe and intimidate its citizens
and workers, to aid in the effort to supplant
their labor by poorer and demora1ized set
of human beings. The men of Homestead.
seeing their liberties endangered, their
lives, their homes and families menaced,
took up arms against the invaders and re-
PEELED them.
Contrasts of the Situation.
There are now nearly 200 men who have
been engaged in the strike at Homestead,
who are either in prison or out on bail,
charged with every conceivable offense and
crime, from conspiracy and riot to murder
and treason. The calling out the entire
militia of Pennsylvania to Homestead is
fresh in the minds of all; the action OF
Judge acting in the capacity of a committing
magistrate as well as the higher Office Of q
Supreme Court Justice, the contortion OF
the law to make the men amenable to the
charges OF murder and treason. The fact
that there are indictments against the COM
pany's officials as well as the men, yet the
men are incarcerated in jail while the cor
porate plutocrats are en- joy1ng theirliberties
and the luxury that their wealth gives. The
contrast of the situation and the treatment
afforded is food for fruitful thought and
cannot
people who have been taught that 'tall men
are equal before the law"
1t i scarcely possible that the instances
mentioned could have been treated in a
manner so similar without some tacit un-
derstanding on the part of the monopolistic
class of our country. There is every reason
to believe that an arrangement of some
character to this end existed and still exists.
Circulars issued and evidence given by the
Pinkertons give further proof to this belief.
There are matters connected with these
etTuosleS TO which VOur attention SlOulO ha
called.
Concerning the Militia.
1t is plainly evident that the militia of our
several states are now never utilized except
for purposes of ostentatious show or as an
element in labor struggles. There is not even
q pretense that they should be what they
we're originally designed for. ian arming of
the people, citizen soldiery, National
Guard" Instead of being the popular or
panization in defense of homes and fire.
sides, it has drifted into a machine of
monopolistic oppression against labor. But
one of two courses open to the
trade unionists of our country upon the mi
litia question
We must endeavor to bring back the mi
litia of our several States to again become
the popular military organization of the
masses, with the election of officers by the
men; or, failing in that, our organizations
will be compelled to declare that member
shin in labor organization and the militia
at one and the same time is inconsistent and
incompatible.
Our members are law-abiding and liberty
loving citizens. They appreciate how es-
sential peace and tranquility are to the de-
velopment of our industries. They value
the rights that they are entitled to even
under present laws. and hope to aid in at
tanning the great future awaiting the Amer
lean people. Americas toilers' love of
country and its institutions is as genuine
and fervent to-day as in the days when they
left the forge and anvil to take up arms and
shed their life's blood to save the Union and
chattel slavery. But, despite their patriot
ism, they do not fail to see and protest
against the tendency Of avaricious corpora
tions fastening yokes upon their necks,
manacles upon their bodies.
Contributions for Defense.
Believing that the people of our country
recognize the grave situation as well as the
gross injustice practiced by the money
power upon the men at Homestead in charg-
ing them with heinous crimes, the Execu-
tive Council issued an appeal to the Amer
ican public asking for its financial aid, so
that the men would not lack the means to
have the best counsel obtainable, and that
the opportunities ior proper defense may be
their demand.
With that object in view, December l3 OF
stead Day" and all requested to contribute
portion OF their earnings OF that day for
the purpose stated. Since Homestead Day
will occur while we are in session, suggest
that we, too, comply with the request.
1t will not be denied by anyone who has
but what the tofling masses can exercise
great influence to secure legislation in their
interest by the intelligent use Of their
franchise. What the first essential is in re-