The Indianapolis journal., 1893-12-12
FEDERATION OF LABOR
Western Silverites Making War
on President GOmperS.
Strong Fight Against the Eastern Mans
Re-Election-Annual Reports
of National Officers.

convention of the American Federation OF
Labor opened in the City Council chamber
to-day. Over ninety delegates from all
parts of the country were present when
President Samuel Gompers called the con-
venton to order. There was apparent
feeling among the Western delegates that
the honor of the presidency of the organ
ization, which has remained in the East for
several should be conferred on q
western leader, and gossip was current In
the convention hall as to a strong fight at
the time of the election of officers. A dele
gate high in the order admitted that there
was considerable dissatisfaction among the
Western unions. The burden OF the gossip,
however was that the Western men be-
lieved Gompers should be turned down"
because of his attitude on the silver ques-
tion-a position that did not meet the views
of the silver States. The Eastern delegates
are however, apparently solid for Gompers
and his election. During the meeting there
will also be vigorous contest for and
against the union label. Recent legal de-
cisions have been against the Federation,
and authority to take the matter into the
highest courts Will be sought. 1t is claimed
for the label that since its adoption the
Federation has greatly prospered and that
the label has had much to do with the sue
cess achieved. The label. however, meets
with opposition in some quarters, and
considerable contingent is opposed to eX-
pending any more money in pushing the
case in the courts.
The delegates this morning marched from
their various headquarters to the Council
chamber without display. W. p. Pomeroy
welcomed the delegates in a lengthy speech
In which he set forth the pitiable condition
of many of Chicago's laboring men, Thou
sands of hungry, homeless men will well
come your coming" he said. land will ex-
pect you to sound to the Nation the note
Of alarm, and will look to you for aid in
Governor Altgeld and Acting Mayor
Swift had been invited to speak at the
f 695 a5 ae the ebK wou h1o 9o
be permitted to address the delegates. The
reason given for the action was a provis-
ion in the Federation'S constitution pro-
hibiting addresses by men holding public
positions, but p. j. Mas, secretary of the
Chicago arrangements COMMITTEES. init
fight on President GOmpers. Governor
Altgeld was not informed that his presence
not desired until just before the con-
vention was called to order.
President Madden, of the State fedora
ton. made a short address. President
Gompers replied to the speeches of well
come After referring to the homeless and
starving thousands throughout the country
he said: 1.-The men responsible for these
conditions who send out protests, in which
join, against the throwing of a bomb in
Barcelona and Paris and against aSsasSins
in Chicago must concede to the solutions
of the problem which organized labor pre-
sents for the development of the human
family, or be confronted with this kind of
guerrilla warfare
ANNUAL REPORTS.
After replying to the addresses of well
come. President Gompers submitted his an
nual report. 1t was an interesting docu-
ment 1t contained this reference to the
destitution at present existing among the
laboring classes: 1T is eXaggeration to
say that more than three million of our
fellow-toilers throughout the country are
without employment" The responsibility
for this condition or things is charged to
capital and labor-Saying machinery, which,
regardless of the working class over
stocked the markets of the world without
furnishing the latter with means with
which TO purchase the vast stores" PreSi-
dent Gompers thought the present depres-
sion was having deleterious effect upon
labor organizations. He believed a meas
the general adoption of the eight-hour day.
Speaking of the Federation in its relation
to politics. President Gompers said:
The last convention recommended to the
organized Workingmen that they take such
action politically as shall secure the best
upon higher plane. l desire TO record not
only that, in my judgment, the trend will
soon be in that direction, but that every
earnest effort made has met with the cor
dial cooperation of the members of the ex-
ecutive council An intelligent use of the
ballot by the toilers in their own interest
must largely contribute to tighten the bur-
denS of our economic struggles. Let us
els-t men from the ranks Of labor to repre-
sent us in Congress and in the Legislatures
wherever and whenever the opportunity
presents itself Let us never be recreant
to our trust. and, regardless of political
affiliations or predictions, always vote
against those who are inimical to the inter
ests of labor"
The report also contained some pertinent
remarks on the car-coupler law, the Chi
nese exclusion act, government ownership
| of the telegraph, child labor and other mat
| uerS OF industrial interest
| The report of Secretary Evans was mainly
| interesting from the fact that it furnished
& detailed statement of the money received
ami expended In the interest of the Home
stead legal defense fund. At mass meet
| ing called by the executive council in Pitts
| burg IL was determined to raise fund &C
assist the Amalgamated Association of Ircn
and Steel Workers in th"r night with
the Carnegie company and to that end cir
| out. As a result of this appeal the SUM
of $l,G3 was subscribed. OF this amount
| 1864 was expended, leaving a balance OF
| S3,47S. During the year ending Oct. 81 char
| ters were granted to 213 various labor or
ganizationS six of which were national
| unions. Several amendments to the CON
stitution were suggested to the secretary.
The report of Treasurer John B. Lennon
| showed that the total income for the year
ending Oct. 81 was S2l, ,4S7 and the total
| This balance with the unexpended residue
| from the Homestead fund, makes the total
| cash in the treasurer's hands S7,147