Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-12-16
AMERICAN
Federation of Labor in Session
in Chicago.
Important Action by That Body
Over Ninety Delegates
Present.

CHICAGO, Dec. l2.-The 18th annua
| convention of the American Federation
OF Labor opened in the city hall cham
Der today. Over ninety d legates frou
all parts Of the country were presen
when Presideot Samuel G0mpers caileC
the COW 5ation to order. There wal
apparent feeling among the western
delegates that the honor of tn pres
itency of the organization. which has
manned In the st for several years
SHOULD be conferred on a western leader
sod gossip was current IN the conven-
ton hall as to strong fight at the time
OF the election of officers A delegate
high in the order admitted that there
Was considerable dissatisfaction among
the western unions. A plan for a par
ade had been plannfd for this after
Loon, but because of bad weather it
was abandoned, ard thu members
marched from their headquarters to the
council chamber without display.
j. Z. Pomeroy welcomed the dele
gates in lengthy speech In which he
set forth the pitable condition of M ny
Of Chicago's laboring men. "Ten
thousand hungry, homeless men will
welcome your coming" said the
speaker, ''and will expect you to sound
the national note of elarm and will look
to you for aid in their present desper-
ate condition.
Governor Altgeld, democrat, and
Acting Mayor Swift, republican, had
been invited to speak at the opening
session but at the eleventh hour they
were informed that they would not be
permitted to address the meeting.
The reason given for this action was a
provision in the federal constitution
prohibiting addresses by men holding
public positions, but p. j. Mas, secre-
tary of the Chicago arrangements CON-
mittee intimated that the affair had
grown out of the fight on President
Gompers. Governor Altgeld was not
informed that his presence was not de-
sired until just bsfore the COW, n.ion
was called TO order.
President Madden Of the state feder-
alton made short address and Pres
ident Gomper5 replied to the speeches
of welcome and after referring to the
homeless and starving thousands
throug out the ,untry, C ntinued:
The men responsible for these condi-
lions who send out protests, in which
we join, against the throwing of a bomb
In Barcelona aud Paris and against as
sassins in Chicago. must concede to
the solution of the problem which
labor press nts for the d.
velOpment OF the human family, or be
with this kind of guerilla
warfare"
President Gompeys IN his annual re-
port declared: ut is no exaggeration
to say that more than three millions
of our fellow toilers throughout the
country are without employment"
The responsible ity for thls condition
OF things. the report charges upon
capital and labor saving machinery
which regardless of the working
classes, overstock the markets of the |
world. President Gompers believed |
nat measure OF relief might have !
been obtained 10y general adoption of |
40 eight hour day. Speakiug of it's |
relation to politics President Gompers
said:
The last convention recommended |
o the organized worGingmen that they |
AXE such action politically IA shall |
secure the best results TO labor and
Lace the movement upon a higher
'lane- "A intelligent use Of the bal
ot by the to;lers in their own interest
must LARGELY contribute to Tighten the
BURDENS of our economic stru yglcs.
Iet US elect men from the ranks Of
abor to represent us in congress and
he legislatures wherever and whenever
he opportunity presents itself"