San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-12
Amer can Federation If Labor.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12.-In Indepsu-
dence hall today the twelfth annual g0n-
ventiOE of the American Federation OF
Labor begins and in many respects II WIFI
be the most important labor gathering
ever held in the United States. This is
due of course to the fact that it is the first
national meeting of Il ades union organic
ations since the close of the great strikes.
of 1892. President Samuel Gompers, who
will preside over all the deliberations,
has this to say OF the prospective work OF
the convention. 1--WE will hove with us;
delegates from all the organizations ia,
which strikes occurred and will be far
nished with complete reports concerning
them. Captain John O'Brien, the or
ganiZer for Oregon, will be one
of the notable characters at the
gathering. He comes armed with
all the facts In the Occur d. Alene strikes
and his report will astOnish the country
As far as 1t can learn 1t will show that
the federal troops shot down men who
were acting on the defensive all the time.
But aside from this strike we will have
reports from Buffalo, Tennessee and
Homestead, and all these cases will be,
thoroughly discussed. Pinkertonism wilt.
receive rebuke, which it will remember
for years. and congress will Of course be-
memorialized' to act decisively against
further reasonable action on the part
of detective agencies or employers. Then,
three are a number of important ques-
tons to come up in addition to these
mentioned. Homestead day will OF course
be observed on Dec. 13., tomorrow, and
collections will be taken up for the desti-
tute at Homestead, not alone in the con-
vention but in every trades union in the
country. Efforts will also be directed to
strengthening all existing labor Organiza-
tions. who are affiliated with the fedora
tinp nd uya haya hnnnS that tho
CARNATIONS of labor employees will come
into the fold this year. AS we believe in
the restriction OF immigration to some
extent, that question will claim our at
tention very soon after we meet The re-
duction of the hours of labor to eight will
of course be advocated again. but just.
what steps the convention will take in
the way of forcing demand of this kind
remains for the delegates to see. A de-
cided change in the conspiracy laws will
be thoroughly discussed and brought to
the attention Of legislators in no eQuivo-
cal terms. The prohibition of child labor,
the convict contract system and the queS-
ton Of the liability of employers for ace
dents to workmen occasoned by defectiv
machinery will all receive the attention
of the convention"
The representation in the convention is
arranged on the following basis: Inter
national and national unions with less
than 400 members, one delegate: for A.
600 members or more, two delegates; fer
5000 members or more, three delegates;
for 5000 members or more, four dele
gates: for 80 600 members or more, five
delegates: and so on. Local trade or
federal labor unions, State declarations.
Central labor unions. trades assemblies or
trades councils, one delegate each.
The headquarters are at the Girard
House and there the executive committee
will hold it's council meetings. The Of
ficerS, all OF whom will probably be re-
elected. are Samuel GOmpers, president;
p. j. McGuire, first vice president; Will
liam A. Carney, second vice-preSident;
Chris Evans, secretary; John b. Lannons
treasurer.
The guests will be royalty entertained
during their stay in Philadelphia and a
reception committee, of which I'll. l..
MinaS is secretary. will escort the visitors
to points of interest in Philadelphia and
will arrange a banquet for them at the
close of the convention, 1t will be his
toric gathering in place hallowed by
sacred memories.