The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-13

PHILADELPHIA. Dec 12 - Presiden
Samuel Gompers opened the twelfth an
nual session of the American Federation
of Labor in Independence hall this morn
ing An address of welcome in behalf o.
the United Labor league of this city wa:
delivered by George Chance of Typograph
ical union No, 2,
President Gompers replied, thanking
the laboring men of Philadelphia, and
! then delivered his annual address He
charged the laws of the nation and the
state with being responsible for large
measure OF the misfortunes of the labor
ing people. The laws were imperfect be-
cause the laborers lacked organization
and because wageworkers gave the first
/ attention 70 their party and the last atteu-
! tion TO their class interests. Referring to
the Homestead strike, he said: 1T is said
tlat the blood of the martyrs is the seed of
! the church. II is possible that through
/ the blood Of the men who died on the
banks of the Monongahela last July may
come realization OF the true condition of
! affairs, and that the legislation of the
| future will be in favor of the masses,
rather than for the aggrandizement Of the
few"
The delegates present represent over one
million workingmen. A committee on
credentials was appointed and a recess
was taken until O'clock
| At the afternoon session John Swinton
the New York journalist, made a savage
attack on "black Jogging" Pinkertonism
and trickery. He concluded with an ap-
| peal for the union of all the labor organi-
cations on fundamental principles
The committee on credentials reported
sol delegates entitled TO admission The
report was adopted, and President Com
pars announced the mem bership of the
various committees.
Resolutions were introduced denouncing
the proposed awarding of the contract for
the worlds fair catalogue TO non-uniou
publishing house and demanding that the
work be given TO union concern.
Unanimous consent was asked for the
consideration Of these resolutions, and
several speakers urged the proposition
| The chair ruled them out, however, as not
being officially presented. An appeal was
taken, but the chair was sustained.
An amendment was finally proposed
substituting the request that the work be
given TO fair shop" instead of a union
shop" but the amendment was defeated
and the first resolutions were then passed.
President Gompers then read his annual
report, in brief, as follows:
Events 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 unusual character
In each of these labor struggles the en-
ployers (corporatiOns) have simply made
the request and the armed forces of the
states aud of the United States were at
their bidding"
After recountjng the different strikes at
the coal mines in Tennessee, at Home
stead, Buffalo and Coeur d'Alene, Mr..
Gompers said of the latter:
"At the bidding of the mine owners
United States troops were brought to
Coeur d 'Alene and the men overawed and
subdued. The commanding general of
the United States forces issued an order
that any employer who would operate his
mine with union miners would not be
allowed to continue To work. The United
States judge issued orders PROHIBITING
union miners from holding meetings In
other words the constitutional right Of
free assemblage has been violated by a
United States judge and the general of
our army declaring and enforcing the
edict that an employer shall not carry on
his business because hedared 10 employ
union men.
The action of both the judges and Off
GERS of the United States army has been 80
flagcantly in violation OF law shat believe
1t our duty to demand of congress to insti-
tute an Investigation. 1t Is plainly evi-
dent that the militia of our several states
is now never utilized except for the puU-
pose of osteutatious show or as an element
in labor struggles, Il has degenerared
into a machine of monopollstiC oppression
against labor.
''What the toilers need at this time is to
answer the bitterness and vinGiCtiveness
OF their OppTessors with organization. The
tendency ana result of corporate power is
forC-, brutal and Gebaslng; the tendency
OF organization among workers is also
force but it Is tue force Gt reason, generous
and humanZing. Before the force of rea-
son the force Of brutality must give way
Eve believe that the people OF the coun-
try recognize the grave situation As well
as the gross injustice praCEced bv the
money power upon the men at Homestead.
charging them with heinous crimes. The
executive council issued an appeal to the
American public, asking for financial aiu.
With that object in view Dec IS has been
designated as Homes cad Day" and all
are requested to CoHtTiOute n portion OF
their earnings on that day for the pur-
pose stated.
1t is idle to say that because we are not
entirely successful III the enforcement OF
the S-aouT movement Tor all workers in
the past it is useless for us 10 again make
an effort 10 establish that limitation OF the
daily hours OF labor To admit that is 70
declare hat the past struggles were-whaJ
they certainly were not-tAi3uVeS
Mr.. Gompers drp.ored unrestricted i'm
migration aud the law closing the worlds
FAIR on Sunday, saying lat congress had
practically closed the fair upon the d ~
most easily al the disposition OF th-
workers. He urged the repeAl of that
law.
Mr.. Gompers said that the convention
should enter a most emphatic protest
against the suPp!autiug OF American
sailors by Chinese. citing the violation Of
the law by the Pacific Mail Steamship
company IN employing Chiuese seamen in
preference 10 Americans
Secretary Evans report showed the
largest number OF charters issued dlriug
any one year since tn organization OF the .
federation had oCcu red during the past
year. The receipts last year were shown /
TO b= 50 80 ana he expenses SIS. 81, COM 7.
pared wita 81 $40 received the year before +
and Sl3, l20 expended.
Adjourned tIu tomorrow.
TRIAL or FATHER CORRFCAN.