The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-08
NEWS OF NEW ENGLAND.
Yhs Main Topic for Labor Men to Con-
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The Main Topic for Labor Men 20 Con-
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BosToN, Aug. S-The eighth annual
convention OF the state branch OF the
Federation Of Labor opened yesterday in
Typo hall Representatives of more than
5000 organized wage earners were there
when President Robbins called the meet
Sng to order After making brief ad-
dress of congratulatory nature, the
president appokited Delegates Tracy,
Pierce and West to the committee OH Gre
dentiala
These committees were elected: Rules,
6ilberstein, Jacques and Pierce; resolu-
tions, Thompson, Chuck, Lazinski and
O'Sullivan. finance, Ratigan, Manning
and Moran; on officers reports, Sheehan,
Howard, Silberstein, Cavanagh and Bern
stein.
A recess was then taken to enable the
committee on rules to draft the order OF
business While the committee was at
work, b. +. Randall of Fall River ad-
dressed the delegates.
Omc.-s' Reports.
Upon resumine business the officers
made their reports. President Robbins
was the first. He said, in part:
The developments Of the past year In
the industrial world have shown more
clearly than ever before the necessity for
union. It behooves you to carefully de-
liberate every question coming before this
convention. When we get TO that period
where all may be employed, that we may
support ourselves and families according
to American independence, then shall we
feel that we have received our liberty.
Then, and not till then, shall we feel that
we have no more use for our trades
unions, or state branch, and last. but by
no means least, the great American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
IAN important part Of the business of
this convention will be the consideration
OF ways and means for increasing the de-
mand for the union labels of our crafts,
which have been the past year antago-
nized. not alone by the employers of labor.
but by their jealous emissaries lurking
inside the ranks of rival organizations"
Secretary Foster then submitted his re-
port. Here are few
Extracts From the Report.
Both from a financial and numerical
point Of view, the state branch shows a
substantial gain. During the present
term OF Office your secretary has made
something like score of visitations to
unaffiliated unions. with fair proportion
Of success among the Carriage Makers
union, the lasters Of Marblehead, the
macintosh makers of East Braintree, the
teamsters and coal handlers, etc.
A few years ago the western portion of
the state was practically unorganized.
The long list of unions from that section
now upon our roster Is the best evidence
20 be offered of the state branch as an
organized medium, and of the wisdom of
your choice of president during the past
two terms.
A subject which should receive the most
careful and thorough consideration from
this convention is that Of the union labels
of the various affiliated trades. An in
creased demand for the blue label Of the
cigarmakers and shoe workers, the labels
Of the clothing trade, of the hat makers,
web weavers, iron moulders, printers, etc,
is the largest possible assistance which can
be given to these trades In maintaining
union wages and conditions Of labor, and
this convention should adopt means to Sc
cure this result, thus supplementing the
efforts made by the unions themselves.
/ recommend, therefore, that this con-
vention consider the feasibility OF issuing
Federation label card" which should
bear, in miniature duplicates of the vari-
Gus union labels indorsed by the A. +. L.,
together with such information relative to
the trade union movement as will make
this card worth preservation by those to
whom it may be distributed.
After referring the reports to the proper
committees, the convention adjourned un-
til 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
The Afternoon Session.
A committee was appointed to wait
upon President Gompers, who was said
to be In town. and invite him to address
the meeting. When the committee re-
turned later they reported that they could
not find him, but that he would appear
there at today's session.
The committee on grievances, to whom
had been referred the resolution of Brew
ers' union IA and Bakers union 4, re-
ported, recommending the adoption of
resolutions which recognized Union of
the International Bakers and Confection-
ers' union, and condemned the action Of
the Independent Bakers union as being
against the best interests Of organized
labor. They were adopted.
The legislative report was listened to
with much interest. 1t was not favorable
20 the stand of the last legislature toward
organized labor, and told of the serious
pbstruction on the part OF the upper
branch esnacialIv IN ponular legialafion