Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-11
ASHORTERW WORK DAY.
How President Gompers Would Give
Employment to More Men.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.
The Thirteenth Annual Convention
Assemblies.
WELCOMING THE DELEGATES.

CHICAGO, Dec. 11.-Representatives of
organized labor from all parts Of the coun-
try and identified with combinations OF wage
workers having an aggregate membership
of a million and a half. assembled In the
council chamber of the city hall this morn
ing and formally inaugurated the thir-
teenth annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor.
Around the walls of the chamber were
hung the banners Of the local trade organi-
zations. and a plentiful smattering of the
stars and stripes, while the back Of the
presidents chair was also draped with the
national flag. The delegates were escort
ed to the city hall from the headquarters at
the Briggs House by a large delegation Of
local trade unionists The program for
general street parade and an opening rally
at Battery d were dispensed with at the
last moment
Promptly at 10 o'clock President Samuel
Gompers Of New York brought down the
time honored gavel of the organization upon
the desk and called the assemblage TO order.
The general gallery was thrown open TO the
public, and in a few minutes was packed TO
sutocation. In few words President J. J.
McGrath of the Chicago Trades Assembly.
representing SOUO wage workers. extended
fraternal greetings to the delegates, and
then gave way TO w. c. Pomeroy, who read
an address OF welcome on behalf OF the
same organization 1t was couched in
radical language that evoked repeated and
loud expressions OF approval
In concluding. after describing the con-
dition of the poor of Chicago. he said:
1t is a time for alarm-alarm for the
continuation of a Government whose SOW
ereign states are delivered TO railway mag
mates, coal barons and SPECTATORS: alarm
for the continuation Of a federal govern
ment whose financial policies are manu-
factured in Wall street at the dictation OF
the money barons Of Europe. We expect
you TO take measures to utilize the fran
chise and to hurk from power the unfaith-
ful servants of the people who are respon-
sible for existing conditions"
When the speaker concluded the app ause
continued for several moments. President
NJ. II. Madden Of the State Federation OF
Labor also welcomed the delegates in a
calm, conservative speech, laying stress
upon the importance Of political action.
President Gompers responded on behalf
Of the federation. Samuel Ross. p. II. Pen
ma, r. II. Metcalf William Anderson and L.
NJ. Part were designated as the committee
on credentials.
After the noon recess President Gompers
submitted his annual report
1 The annual address OF President Gomperu
is a long document. and in its entirety
would fill nearly a page of a metropolitan
newspaper. 1t deals with the Industrial de-
preston. its effect upon labor organizations.
the necessity for harmony. child labor. po-
litical action, the organization OF new
unions, federal labor legislation and kindred
topics
Mr.. Gompers saws: ''Since August OF this
year we have been in the greatest Industrial
depression this country has ever witnessed.
II is no exaggeration to say that more than
100000 of our fellow toilers throughout the
country are without employment, and have
been so since the time named"
This Industrial condition Mr.. Gompery
attributes TO the fact that the invention OF
Improved labor-saving machinery since the
fins sncial depression OF 1s73-79 has displaced
labor faster than new industries could be
founded. Ie says. after speaking OF the ef-
forts of tha federation TO institute a shorter
working day: The only method by which
a practical, just and safe equilibrium can
be preserved in the industrial world for the
fast and ever increasing Introduction of ma
chinery is a commensurate reduction OF the
hours of labor"