The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-12-14
TOILERS MEET.
The American Federation of Labor
Called to Order.
THE PRESIDENT GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Compulsory Arbitration Is Denounced by
Him-The Secretary's Report-John
Burns, the Englishman Makes
Speech.

DENNEh. NOl.. DtC. II. Hc 1OuI-
teenth annual convention of the Amer
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 VI. 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 conclusions:
''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.
X. u. strike by the assertion that Mr..
Debs' proposition submitted to them
was 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 employes were recommend
ed as an aid to the movement. The es-
Enlistment 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 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.
The present time was suggested as OPP
perfume for the inauguration of 4 Wig
orous demand for an eight-hour day
and for 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 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 l. 1898. of S7.f1T.H
were stated at S22, 493. s.. The eXpend-
itures were given at Si1.302.0S, includ-
ing S3.573. 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 1893. There
is balance of SJ,19l.19, which is less
than at any other time since 1890. 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 general
breaking away from political parties
was recommended. The treasurer.
John B. Lennon, made his speech and
was practically 4 resume of the imam
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 100
were members of Parliament, JUS
tees or municipal officers. This
shows what a hold organized Ia
Dor has upon the people of En-
gland shall be pleased to hear ten
years from now that you have pro-
crossed as far as we have to-day. Our
coming here is interesting for many
reasons one of which is that the coun-
try from which we come initiated the
employment system. L would say,
however. that while England inau
gurated Industrial competition, Amer
lea has eclipsed her in monopolies"
He spoke feelingly of the warm well
come they had received and gave some
words of advice as to the future work
in convention. Mr.. Holmes excused
himself from speaking on account of
heavy cold contracted on his way to
the city.
The interstate commerce commission
has issued z preliminary report on re-
ceipts and expenditures of railroads
The composer of the air OF Annie
Laurie" and of the words as now sung
&c c+;Il a1iva She is Lady Holm Scott