The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-12-21
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Annual Convention Of the Order In
Philadelphia
Important Resolutions Adopted by the
Convention-The Socialists Sat Down
Upon-Sunday Opening OF the
Worlds Fair Favored-Presi-
dent Gompers Re-elected.

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American Federation Of Labor was
called to order by President Gompersat
o'clock. M taai
A number of resolutions were referred
TO appropriate committees, the most
sensational of which was the following,
offered by Delegate Morgan, of Chicago
Resolved, that this convention join in
the plea TO the governor OF Illinois for
the pardon of Oscar Neebe, Samuel
Fielding and Michael Schwah
Delegate Skeffington, Of Boston, pre-
sented the report Of the committee on
presidents report recommending that
the convention donate $1,000 to aid in
the defense Of the arrested strikers
This was adopted after an amendment
that collection in addition be taken
and substitute resolution deferring
the payment of the Appropriation had
been killed.
First Vice President Mcclure, of Phil
adelphia, moved that $500 be contrib
uted to the defense fund Of the Occur
dAlene miners This went through
with rush, but when Delegate Totem
hausen, OF Knoxville, Tenn, made q
motion that $500 be appropriated to the
support of the Tennessee miners, some
of the delegates thought the matter was
being carried too far. A general objec-
tion followed.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15.-The Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor convention
mt at Q o'clock yesterday morning.
The usual routine Of business occupied
the first ten minutes Of the session.
The report of the several committees
were then submitted as called for by
the chair.
Ex-senator Blair, of New Hampshire,
was introduced and received with ap-
plause. He proceeded to deliver an ad-
dress on the Origin, character and OBJ
ject of the Blair educational bill"
Resolutions were presented by the
committee on organizations declaring
that the strike and boycott are useless
in the hands Of organized labor when
public opinion and all the powers Of
our civil, military and judicial govern
ments are arrayed against them, and
that the wealth, vested rights and prop
ertied interests are subordinate to the
power of the government
The resolutions were referred TO a
special committee OF nine. A large
number Of resolutions were introduced
and referred, one of which calling for
the release OF the Chicago anarchists
was loudly applauded.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec 16-At the
fourth days session of the American
Federation yesterday morning delegate
Gunter, Of the Furniture Workers
union, presented resolution authoriz-
ing the cancellation Of loan of $1,000
from the federation to the striking fur
niture workers. This caused some dis
cussion and on roll call the donation to
the furniture workers was refused. APP
plications from the tanners and curriers',
quarrymen's, German Topographic and
electrical workers were then taken up
The FIRST two were granted donations
and u reconsideration ordered for the
furniture workers, who were granted
the cancellation Of their debt
At the afternoon session the report Of
the committee to whom President Com
pers' address had been referred was
taken up The committees concurrence
In most Of the recommendations were
approved until the clause favoring the
opening Of the worlds fair on Sunday
was reached
Minis Kenna, Of the Shirt Ironers, op-
posed It on the ground that it was an
encroachment upon the working peo-
ple's right TO day Of rest and was sup
ported by the representatives Of the
BARRIERS International union; the Chi
cago Trades assembly; the Hotel and
Restaurant employees and others The
presidents recommendation favoring
Sunday opening was finally indorsed by
a vote OF 81 TO 10.
On the recommendation TO establish
an official journal of the federation
much opposition developed and the pro-
ject was defeated.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 17.--At yesterday
mornings session of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, the proposition TO
hold labor congress during the worlds
fair came up in the nature OF unfinished
business President Gompers stated
that an invitation had already been ex-
tended 10 tho international labor oon-
gress at Brussels TO act upon the propo-
sition 10 hold congress In the United
States Great Britain laborers, he said,
have decided TO accept the invitation TO
come TO this country. After discussion
the proposition for the federation 10
take any action toward assisting In o
worlds fair congress was then defeated
by an overwhelming vote
Other recommendations In the presi-
dents report were approved, including
the clauses relating TO the women's Or
ganizes. whose work was scomplimented,
and relating TO labor day. The commit.
tee recommended an appeal for the es-
tablishment Of national labor day In
the districts and territories IL was
voted TO notify the president Of the
United States Of the action condemn
ing the employment OF Chinese sailors
by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
The committee recommended "that
the highest duty of tho Federation was
10 defend the unions selected by the
Knights Of Labor for attack, and that
the executive committee take such 40
tion as will enforce this idea"
The recommendation Of the commit
tee was finally adopted. The special
committee Of nine on militia In strikes
reported that the powers designed TO
rest with the people as expressed in the
national and state governments were
being diverted from the purposes Of
their anthora and that tho fnaasna haxa