The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-13
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
The American Federation Of Labor
Down to Business.
EIGHTY-0NE DELEGATES PRESENT.


tho Industrial Situation - The
Worlds Fair Catalogue. ......
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15- Yesterday
afternoons session Of the American
Federation of Labor began promptly
ut o'clock. Tho committee on Gro
dentials not being ready to report,
President Gompers introduced Mr.. John
Bwinton, Of New York, who read
paper reviewing the labor situation.
After speaking of Homestead he said:
4.Away with Frickisn. Shame upon
Carnagieism, who builds poor houses
with the bones of his victims. Blasted
be Pinkertonism, the enemy of freedom,
the cut-throats of American liberty.
These enemies of labor have cut their
names on gibbet that will cast its
shadows over their tombstones.
American labor in general has been
benefited by the act Of brave men at
Homestead. But for occasional upris-
lngs of the workingmen they would now
be in state of slavery under the grasp
pf capitalism, which is merciless. Less
d than one-half, yes, perhaps one fourth,
Of the wage workers Of this country are
"The coming year of 1898 may be try
ing one for both organized and unorgau-
he'd labor in the United States. Capital
Is more united now than ever. 1t is de-
Birous of dealing a blow 10 labor-of
giving it lesson that it will not forget
Tor sometime. II has been backed up by
the pulpit, the army, the press. This is
pot time for squabbling between the
forces of labor"
The report Of the committee on Gre
hentials was then read, naming eighty
Dne delegates as entitled to sea u in the
convention. There were credentials re-
cetyed iron one organization which were
not acted upon, as ii is not affiliated
with the federation. Committees were
Then announced on presidents report,
secretarys report, laws, resolutions, or
der of business, grievances, local feder-
ated bodies and organization.
President Gompcrs' Report.
The following is q synopsis Of Presi-
aept Gompers report:
''5yents have transpired on the field
Of labor within the past six months
which have aroused public attention,
because the incidents connected with
them have been more or less of an un-
usual character. In each Of these LABOR
struggles the employer, the corporations
have simply made a request and the
armed forces of the states and the United
Btates were at their bidding In tho
coal mines of Tennessee, Mt Homestead,
Buffalo aud Coeur d'Alene united labor
has defended itself from the crushing
tyranny OF monoplistic power.
These cases certainly call for the
serious consideration Of tho delegates to
this convention. They are fraught with
pregnant and burning questions Of the
hour We nave duty to perform, and
we should not shrink from doing it.
War Declared Against Labor.
The efforts Of the toiIiug masses Of our
country to carry on the struggles for
Improved conditions have been met in
tbs spirit Of the bittercst antagOnism.
Our methods to gradually improve the
cnndition of tho masses have been re
garded and treated as it wo wore the
enemies rather than the friends of the
human family. War hfsp practically been
Declared against the labor organizations
and war measures resorted TO in the
effort to crush them. But will they be
crushed: We answer no. A thousand
times no. The lnbor movement is the
manifestation OF that unrest born of the
conviction that injustice prevails which
needs remGdying and supplanting by
Justice and right. The labor movement
voices the aspirations OF the toiling
masses as well as lays bare their wrongs
II is the means through which tyranny
Is held in check. II lives in their minds
and hearts. and will not and cannot be
crushed. Organization is the watch
word of the hour make necessary by the
tendency aud results OF corporate power
to bru:aize and degrade.
Shorter Hour Agitation.
"Legislstion is also of incalculable
Vayua IN IiG aD1 in p;s1ar n snf,,tra tli ia
boon we should endaavour to wean the
workers from being political followers of
any party Of whatever name known.
The eight hour movement still claims
large share of our attention. II is idle
TO say that because we We're not entirely
Buc5assful in it's enforcement for all
workers in the past, for that reason it is
useless for lis to again make the effort to
establish that limitation of the hours of
labor, and thai aIn strongly convinced
that further aggressive action by this
convention woulG be productive Of MS
good, if not better, results than those
heretofore obtained
Regu,atinE Emigration.
"UnrestricEeG immigration is a great
Injury 20 tho working people Of our
country, and this convention should for
mulate and demand such legislation as
will best protect our interests. We do
not wish 10 JOIN in tine general cry Of
completely shutting nut all ,bnt that soma
regulation and restriction is necessary is
to- plain duty 10 be shirkcd.
In our efforts to carry out the in.
Etruction Of tho last convention petitions
ngned hy more than 800 900 working
men were forwarded to congress re-
nupstiug thai body 70 refrain from act.
fng upon the question Of opening ul clos.
ihS the Worlds .air ON Sundays. Not
6itlistandiag HE petition ard our pro
hest congress practically closed the fair
npon the day most readily at the dispo
ition of the workers.
Will Not DeniOraiIGe or Dcprave.
&"As matter of fact, tho days the
wac ealnefs Will have tire beat uppor
kunity ~ visit the Worlds fair viii bt
on Sundays. A WISH to it, an cxamina
bon of the product ot tla genius of man
rannot tcnd TO denordli2e or deprave
A visit to the exposition Gad a view OF
De arts and hundicraits Of the people OF
MI nauons can only tend to eunoble The
Visitor, enlarge the sphere of his intelli
kenee and bruadea his sympathetic
kature. There is 10 idea nor Thought
Jpr the deseerRtion Of the Sabbath, but
We insist HAT congress should have 70
Trained from legislating upon q subject
entirely foreign to its sphere.
"fhe heard Of directors Of the faii
have pledged themselves that no EN-
hioye shall be allowed to work more thar
hx days Of the week If congress will re
peal tho Sunday closing clause. In my
Judgment we should urge congress L
repeal the clause and delegate the matte
where it righttully belongs to the boar
4 Of directors.
81 Relation with the knights.
In obedience to the unaninlousl,
~ adopted instruction. the counter propo
NV Hition to those submitted by the X. of L
were transmitted to the general officer
OF that order, accompanied by cour
teons note suggesting that conferenc
might be held to discuss their origina
and our counter propositions. TIL