The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-26

= Mrs. Eva McDonald-V alesh, labor editor
of THE TRIBUNE. returned yesterday
from Denver. where she has been attend
ing the annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor. She says: 1T was
the most exciting labor convention ever
held in this country. The attendance was
not quite as large as usual, owing to the
expense and time required, to reach Den
Yer. The delegates there represented about
100000 trades uniOnists fssftsa
THE event of greatest interest to the
labor movement was the defeat of plank
TO- or rather the failure to indorse the
political program, which has caused so
much discussion in the last year. Plank
TO- was condensation of the SOciallstic
theory. The debate hinged that. al
though incidentally every economic theory
came in for it's share of attention. The
discussion lasted day and half It
was rare treat to hear such men. as
P. J. MCGUIRE Adolph Strasser Samuel
Gompers, P. McBry de- Henry Weissman,
7. ]. Morgan, Harry Lloyd and host OF
the labor movement here, but in England
France and Germany well. Some of
the delegates went instructed by their
unions to vote for the political program
A careful discussion showed that the
trades unions not ready to accept
Socialism, though many of the leaders be-
lieve the natural tendency of the times is
in that direction ''Nf !
BURNS ON THE SUBJECT. ses4
what did John Burns think of the peliti-
cal program"
"He did not speak of the question before
the convention. He told me in private
conversation that he favored both the So
cialistic plank and the idea of forming an
independent labor party. He pointed to the
results of such a policy in England and
quoted a list of eminent people, both in
and out of the labor movement there, who
are avowed socialists. 1 was obliged to
tell him that he does not know the labor
movement in this country, or the peculiar
problems with which it has to deal. plan
which is successful with thoroughly orr
ganized, homogeneous people, cannot be
transplanted bodily to a Heterogeneous and
loosely organized people. He does not brook
contradiction very easily; but after going
over the whole question he agreed with
me that the labor movement in England
differs considerably from that in America
what is your estimate of Burns?"
"He is a born leader; a man of great
force and immense personal magnetism. He
has a keen intelligence and the determina-
ton of his race. His perceptive powers are
large and he sees for himself instead of de-
pending on hearsay. tHeoseems to me rather
good fighter and. a courageous leader
than a man of executive capacity. He has
had a remarkable. degree of success in
England and his one
His criticisms of QUE, ways are refreshingly
frank and in many gases we'll deserved. He
is rather abrupt in his manners. and talks
only when he feels like it. When l add
that he is a natural orator, it seems easier
to excuse the egotism Of so gifted a man.
How about the removal Of the headquar-
ters of the federation and the election Of
McBride?'
81 think the remotariof the headquarters
to Indianapolis will sinsilre more considera-
ton for the Western unions AS to the
election of Mcbride as president, 1 must
say that personally / felt much grieved
at Gompers defeatH Both are close per-
sonal friends and tadfnirable' leaders. 1t
was not that 1 liked Mcbride less, but
Gompers more. However, aside from my
personal liking for Gompers, l feel that
Mcbride will make a model executive eff
ficer. He is man of great, natural
abilities and his experience with the min
ers proves him a trustworthy leader. If
his health permits him to retain the Of
flee for the year 1 feel sure that he will
administer its affairs satisfactorily.
Before the convention there, was much
talk about the action in regard to Debs
and the A. r.. T.. strike. The subject
really did not attract much attention.
The federation stands for the trade union
movement. 1t is not in harmony with the
A. r. U. plan of organization. While SYM
pathizing with Debs in his hour of defeat
ference of the courts in some respects, yet
the federation
4as ENDORSED GOMPER'S ACTION
in refusing to call out the trade unions
last summer. The sympathetic strike is
not deemed wise by the experienced unions.
BY the way, in private conferences with
some of the officers Of national unions I
learned some interesting details in regard
to their attitude during the Pullman
strike
, 'The condition Of the K. of L. and the
attitude of the fedora ton is also in
teresting thing. The mine workers claim
that there is widespread revolt against
Sovereign. Hayes and the present executive
board They say that every trade having
K of l.. assemblies is in the revolt with
the miners. A committee has been appoint
ed to call a new general assembly and the
seceders will start a new order of their
own This statement added to that of the
committee on Cancellation caused the fed
Grafton to take determined stand against
the K of L. The federation has made
many overtures of peace, only to be 'sre-
PEELED, and with the present revolt in the
K. of L. ranks, it will probably pay no
attention to them for the next year. &; !
1.-The general feeling is that the next
year will witness a great revival in trade
union organization. Lecturers will be sent
out and the educational and organizing
work will probably for the present take
the place of the independent political moNei
ment that was predicted. ~ .
> 1.-The Denver people entertained u.s. in
the most hosptable manner. The women
take an active part in public life and have
any number of political and reform clubs
John Burns regrets that he will be unable
to visit Minneapolis. The executive coum-
Gil of the Federation arranged all Of his