Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-12-13
TOILERS MEET.
The American Federation Of Labor
Called to Order.
THE PRESIDENT GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Compulsory Arbitration Is Denounced by
Bim-The Seeretary's Report-John
Burns, the Englishman Makes
a Speech.


lean Federation of Labor was called
to order by President Gompers yester-
day. President Rhodey Kenehan, of
the Denver trades assembly, delivered
the address of welcome, to which Mr.
Gompers briefly responded. The latter
spoke feelingly of the almost desperate
condition of labor at the present time.
Thomas NJ. Patterson, of Denver, was
then introduced and delivered an adj
dress on 'Labor's Rough, but Noble
Struggle
When the convention came to order
for the afternoon the committee on
credentials reported on contested dele
cations and asked time to consider
three contests The request was grant
ed. The report states in conclusion:
''In presenting this report your COM
mittee takes pleasure in reporting that
we have had placed before us creden-
tials of David Holmes and John Burns,
representing the trades unions of Great
Britain, and it affords US unbounded
pleasure to recommend to the conven-
ton the seating of these delegates from
over the ocean and the granting to
them of the full privileges of the con-
vention."
The president then delivered his an
nual report. He complimented the Or
ganization upon being able to preserve
its existence during the recent adverse
circumstances He defended the action
of the federation in regard to the A.
r. U. strike by the assertion that Mr..
Debs' proposition submitted to them
was a virtual acknowledgment that
the strike was a failure. The honest
effort of the government to regulate
immigration was acknowledged, but
amendments to the laws were suggest
ed, the most important of which were
speedy trials of immigrants suspected
of being under contract, and the send
ing of agents to foreign countries to
inspect prospective immigrants. Hope
was expressed that government tele-
graph and telephone service will soon
be established in connection with the
postal department and unions among
government employees were recommend
ed as an aid to the movement. The eS-
tablishment of a national labor day
was referred to as the only sunbeam
labor received from the last session of
congress.
The convention was asked to indorse
the Phillips bill for the creation of an
industrial commission. The efforts of
the officers of the federation in behalf
of free coinage of silver were men
toned, and a better understanding of
the subject by laboring men generally
was reported. The matter of proposed
semi-annual conferences with the
knights of Labor was referred to the
convention, but a union of the organi-
cations was not recommended. Mr..
Gompers strongly opposed any move
ment looking to independent political
action by organized labor at present.
cd ac
perfume for the inauguration of Wig
orous demand for an eight-hour day
and for a law prohibiting contract
work on government improvements.
The proposition to establish compul-
sorry arbitration was denounced, and
the charge was made that designing
persons were advocating it as a means
of destroying labor organizations.
Secretary Chris Evans submitted his
report of the finances and numerical
strength of the federation. The re-
ceipts from sources, including a bal
ance November 1, 1893. of II
were stated at S22, 493. 81. The exp end
itures were given at S17, 302. 0S, includ-
ing So, 573. 81 donated to the sustenance
| of striking unions Five hundred of
| this was given to the DebS defense
| fund. The receipts and expenditures
were less than in 1892 and 1898. There
| is balance of So, 191.79, which is less
| than at any other time since 1892 The
report showed that 167 charters were
issued during the year for local
and central unions and state fedora
tions in thirty states. Several unim-
portant amendments to the constitu-
ton were recommended. Regarding
| the proposition that the federation en-
ter politics, the secretary recommend
| ed that such action be consigned to
work independent of any party
Closer organization and a general
breaking away from political parties
was recommended. The treasurer,
John Il. Lennon, made his speech and
was practically a resume OF the fnan-
cial items of Secretary Evans report
President Gompers then introduced
! Hon. John Burns, who made short
address. He said: ''Mr. David Holmes
and myself were chosen by the organi-
cations OF labor of the Old World to
represent them in this, the first Amer
| lean labor convention at which En-
gland representatives were present The
convention that appointed us COM
| prised 400 delegates, of whom 10)
were members of Parliament. JUS
tees or municipal officers. This
shows what a hold organized Ia
Dor has upon the people OF En-
L