The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-13
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Twelfth Annual Convention in
Session in Philadelphia.
The Annual Address Delivered by Presi-
dent Gompers-He DweIls on the Labor
Troubles of the Past Year.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 1.-THE twelfth
annual convention of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor convenes here today.
The labor situation of the entire country
is to be canyassed thoroughly and steps
looking to the organization of an entire
new mode of procedure in labor matters
VIII be taken. President Gompers called
the convention to order, George Chance
delivered the address of welcome on be-
half of the United Labor league, q COM
mittee on credentials was appointed and
the convention took a recess till the
afternoon.
AT the afternoon session the delegates
were entertained for half an hour by
John Swinton, New York journalist, in
savage attack on 'black-legging Pinker-
tons and trickery." The labor of the
country, he caid, had been paid millions
of collars this year which it would have
surely lost without the help of striking
brethren at different points. The speaker
concluded with an appeal for union of
all labor organizations on fundamental
principles. The committee on credentials
reported eighty-one delegates to admis-
sion and the report was adopted.
A resolution was introduced at the re-
quest of Typographical Union No. 16 of
Chicago denouncing the proposed award
ing OF a contract for the World S fair cata-
logue to a non-uniOn house and demand
ing that the work go to a union house.
After considerable debate the resolution
was somewhat. modified and adopted.
President GOmpers read his annual re-
port. lie said in part: Events have
transplred on the field of labor for the
last SIX months which have aroused pub
lie attention, because the incidents con-
nected with them were more or less un-
usual in character. In each of these
labor troubles employers and corpora
tions simply made a request, and armed
forces OF the state and United States came
at their bidding.
At C9ur d'Alene at the bidding of
mine owners United States troops were
brought to CRur d'Alene and the men
overawed and subdued, the commanding
general of the United States forces issuing
; an order, that any employer who would
operate mines with union men would not
be allowed to continue work. A United
States judge issued an order prohibiting
union miners from holding meetings. In
other words the constitutional right of
free assemblage was violated by the
United States judge, and general OF our
army declaring and enforcing an edict
that an employer shall not carry on bust
ness because he dared to employ union
men. The action of judges and officers
of the United STATES was fragrant
violation of law, and | believe it our duty
to demand that the Congress of the
United States institute an investigation.
1t is plainly evident that the militia of
our several states was never utilized
except Tor purposes of ostentatious show
or as an element in labor struggles.
There is not even a pretense that they
should be what they were originally de-
signed for. Instead of being popular
organization in defense OF homes and
fresides it is detected into machine of
monopolistic oppression against labor.
Toilers need at this time to answer the
bitterness and vindictivness of oppres-
sors with organization. With the OBJ
ject of financial aid in view Dec. 18th of
this year was designated as s'Home-
stead Day. and all are requested to con-
tribute portion OF their earnings on that
df y Tor the purpose stated.
IL is idle to say because we were not en-
tirely successful in the enforcement of
the eight hour movement for all orders in
the past it is useless for US to again make
an effort to establish limitation Of daily
hours of labor. There can be no ques-
ton but unrestricted immigration IS
working great injury to the people of our
country, notwithstanding our petitions
and our protests Congress has practically
closed the Worlds fair upon the day
most readily at the disposal of workers,
law.
Congress sometime ago granted sub
sides to the Pacific Mail steamship COM
pany and incorporated a provision that
seamen employed by company should
be American citizens. The company in
question has since violated the provision
of the law, by employing Chinese sailors.
would recommend this convention
would enter into q most emphatic protest
against suDplanting our American sailors
by Chinese and call upon the president of
the United States to either compel the
company in question to abide by the pro-
visions of law, or withdraw the subsidy
granted.
In obedience to the unanimously
adopted instructions a counter PROPOSE
ton to those submitted by the Knights of
Labor were transmitted to the general
officers of that order. The officers an
swer was discoDrtsous and insolent.
Since then we have heard nothing in ref
erence to the subject matter.
The report of Secretary Evans was then
submitted. Mr.. Evans said: tDuring
the year commencing Nov. /, 1891, and
ending Oct. 81, 1892, 277 charters were
issued in thiTty-two states of the Union.
In addition to the above eight charters
were issued to national unions, making
the total 2S5 for the year. National unions
affiliated also and received through the
Office Of the American Federation of La
Dor Jhirty-seven charter applications.
In comparative statement as to re-
ceipts and expenses he said the receipts
for the last year were G25, 600 and expend-
itures $1S,32 as compared with 81 ,346
received the year before and S13, 100 ex-
pended. The convention then adjourned
until tomorrow.