The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-13
Twelfth Annual Convention OF That
Organization in Session at
Philadelphia.
United States Judges and Generals
Denounced by the President,
Samuel Gompers.
Important Events Have Trnnspired In the
Field of Labor Within the Last
SIX Months.

PHILADELPHIA, DeC. lZ.--Iuc tWelItH bli-
nual convention of the American Fedora
tion OF Labor convened here to-day. The
labor situation of ths entire country will be
oanvassed thoroughly, and steps looking to
the organization and the entire mode OF
procedure in labor matters will be taken.
President Gompers called the convention to
order. resolution was introduced at the
request of Typographical union No. 16. of
Chicago. denouncinR the proposed award
ing of the contract for the Worlds fair
catalogue to non-union house. and de.
mandinR that the work 60 to union
house. After considerable debate the reso
luton somewhat modified. was adopted.
President Gompe read his annual report.
| He said, in part:
Events have transpired in the field of
| labor in the last six months which have
aroused public attention, because the incl
dents connected with them we're more or
less of an unusual character. In each OF
those labor struggles the employers were
corporations. simply made requests. and
the armed forces OF the state and the
! United States were at their bidding. At
Cmur d'Alene. at the bidding of mine own
ers, United States troops were brought to
/ SUBuE u AlcAC dAA bhO Ai1CA OVoAoWoA "AN
subdued, the commanding general Of the
United States forces issuing an order that
any employer who would operate his mines
with union men would not be allowed to
continue work. A United States judge
issued an order prohibiting union
miners from holding meeting. In other
words, the constitutional right of free as
sembage was violated by United States
Judge and the general of our army. declar-
ing and enforcing an edict that an employer
shall not carry on business because he dared
employ union men. This action of the
Judge and officers Of the United States was
fiagrantly in violation of the law. and be-
lieye it our duty to demand that the con-
press of the United States institute an in
vestigation.
'It is plainly evident that the militia OF
} our several states will now never be util.
! ized except for purposes of ostentatious
{ show or as an element in labor struggles
) There is not even pretense that they
) should be what they were originally do
J signed for. Instead OF being popular o.
I eanIzation IN defense of homes and tiresides
{ il has been detected into machine of
) monopolistic oppression against labor.
} Toiers need at this time to answer the bit
! terness and vindictiveness OF their oppres-
sors with aniZRtlon.
( with the object of financial aid In view,
5 Dec. 13, of this year, was designated as
} Homestead day. and all requested to con-
7 tribute n portion of the earnings of that
day for the purpose stated. 1t is idle to
say that because we were not entirely sue
{ cessfui in the enforcement of the eight
) hour movements for all orders in the past 1T
} is useless for us to again make an effort to
I establish limitation of the daily hours OF
( labor There can be no question but that
! unrestricted immigration is working great
) injury to the Reople of our country. Not
} ! Withstauding petitions and our protest con-
I gress has practically closed the Worlds
{ fair upon the dav most readily at the dis
| posjtion of workers. We should urge con.
) gress to repeal that provision.
'tIn obedience to unanimously adopted
I instructions a counter-prol osition to those
submitted BY the knights Of Labor wat
transmitted to the general officers of that
) orde Tho officers answer was discour-
teous and insolent. Since then we have
hea nothing i'll reference to the subject
( matte. :"
The report of Secretary Evans show
that during the year commencing Nov. !
) 1891, and ending Oct. 81. 1892. 277 charter
were issued in thisty-two stdtes of thu
J union. In addition to the above eigh
{ charters were issued to national unions
( making total of 295 for the year. Nationa
{ unions affiliated also received through the
) otlieo of the American Federation of Labo
! thirty-seven charter applications. In
( comparative statement rs to receipts ant
( expenditures he said receipts for the las
) year were S25 500 and expenditures SiS,324
} as compared with $2l, 3i6 received the yea
} before and !s13 100 expended.
Il At the afternoon session the delegate
q were entertained by John Swlnton, the NeN
5 York journalist, in a savage attack O.
} "blnck-hsting. Pinkertonism and trickery.
! 1.-The labor OF the country" he said. 'ha
( been paid millions of dollars this yea
( which it would surely have lost without th
) help of striking brethren at ditferer
! points, The speaker conc Cded with a
! nppeal for the union of all labor organiza
) tions, on fundamental principles.
Il ihe committee on credentials reporte
( SO1 Delegates entitled to seats.