The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-12-11
LAWS THAT LABOR NEED
Gonpsn has lily Ideas Por R.lls
lmpfoIsm,ntS
IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS
The Convention Of the American
Federation Met In Denver
Yesterday and Ito sessions
We're Interesting.


Wers intsrssting.
DExvEn. Dee. 1Q-Ths fourteenth On.
nual eonvsntion Of the American Rsdsra-
tion OF Labor was callsd to order BY Pres.
ident Gompsrs at 10 o'clock to-day. There
were l26 delegates present President
Rhody Ksushan, Of the Denver Trades
assembly, delivered the address OF vel.
come, to which Mr.. Gompsrs briefly rss.
ponded.
M. Gompsrs spoke fsslinsiy Of the de-
psrats condition OF labor at the present
time. Referring to the innovation Of
holding this convention - far west -
Denver, he suggested that within decade
the western movement Of industry might
take the conventions OF the Federation to
the Golden Gate.
John Burns, the English labor leader,
entered the hall aud was greeted with Q
storm Of applause.
Thomas II. Patterson Of Denver dcliv.
cred an address on "Labor's Rough and
Noble Struggle" His delineation Of the
Industrial condition Of the past aud pres.
snt was received With frequent applause.
One Of the changes In the situation from
that Of the past be attributed to the in.
crease Of corporations. He said that,
while the individual employer might feel
sympathy for bis employees, the corpora
tion couldn't entertain any such notion.
The action oe the federal eovernment In
the Pullman strike was denounced ~
tyranny. The General Manager asso.
citation, he said, should have been held re-
sponsibls for the delays OF the mails.
Capital controlled legislation. either by
influencing the electious or BY purchasing
members Of the national aud state legisla-
lures. The convention adjourned until .
o'clock.
President Gompsrs' annual report sub
mitted this afternoon contains nearly
5000 words. Hs complimentsd the organ
isation upon being able to preserve its OF.
I isteuee during the recent adverse circum.
stances. Referring to the coal miners
strike. hs said $4,000 men were out for
eight weeks and yet there was hardly .
dsarth Of coal. Considering this, tue %.
| tahlishmsut Of 0 minimum rate Of wages
was . victory.
He defended the action Of the Fedora.
ton In regard to the A. r. U. strike by the
assertion that Debs' proposition submit
| ted to them was q virtual acknowledg,
msnt that the strike was failure.
President Clsveland's action ct that
time was severely condemned. The
honest effort Of the eoverumsnt to
regulate immigration was acknowl.
edged but amendments to the laws
were suggested most important Of which
wero speedy trials OF immigrants sus-
pected Of bsina under contract, and the
sending Of agents to foreign countries to
inspect prospective immigrants. The
hope was expressed that the government
telegraph and telephone service will soon
be established In connection with the
postal departments, and unions among
government employees was recommended
a. an old to the movement. American
ssamen we're claimed to b the worst
treated Of those Of any civilised nation.
Bills In their interest and for the protsc-
ton Of cigArmakers, he said, would have
passed last session OF congress but for the
prejuiicial eject Of the railroad strike.
The establishment OF national labor
day was referred to ~ the only sunbeam
labor received from the last session Of
congress.
The convention was asked to endorse
the Phillips bill for the creation Of an in-
dus,rial bill. Copies Of tho bill were dis
tributed. The efforts Of the officers of
the federation In behalf Of free coinage
Of silver were mentioned, and better
understanding Of the subject By the lab
oring men generally was reported The
matter Of the proposed semi.annual con-
fersncss with the Knights Of Labor was
referred to the convention, but the union
Of the organizations was not recon-
mended.
Speaking Of the programme submitted
unions, for discussion, Mr.. Gompsrs
strongly opposed any movement locking
to independent political action by organ.
issd labor at present. The results Of the
local attempts In this line were cited tc
show the disastrous effects. A serious
strain upon labor organizations was pro
dictsd for the coming winter, but the
speaker added: "Unless every indication
10 incorrect, and cause and effect lose
their logical sequences, We are within q
year Of an industrial revival which, Ia
activity and intensity, will far surpasa
that Of any previous period"
The present time was suggested ~ op-
perfume for the inauguration OF vigoro ID
demand for an eight hour day, and for q
law prohibiting contract work ON govern.
msnt improvements.
The proposition to establish compulsory
arbitration vas denounced and the charee
made that designing persons were advo'
eating Il 40 means OF destroying labor
organizations. Many persons, including
congressman, had written to him on this
subject, ho said, and 1t was obvious &c
| him that there was . danger Of some such
law being enacted.
ut is generally accepted" said he
''that in the consideration Of the question
| of compuls ory arbitration, there is one
means which an award against labo
could be enforced, but that the i'm
position OF those conditions worlt
be tantamount to chattcl slavery
hence the alternative proposition
TO make organizations and fund.-
of the organizations attachable for the
failure of any workman to abide by dc
cision which may be awarded against us
or in tho absence Of such funds. compe
the placing OF. a bond by the trades unio,
for the enforcement of such an award
beg TO submit that in a few. IL any, in
| s,,,roS cnuI1 Tho awar,ls ba ropiar.,