The record-union., 1894-01-08
AMONG TIE LABOR UNIONS.
Semi-Annual Meeting of the Feder-
ated Trades Council.
Report of the Retiring President
Officers Elected for the New
Term-Resolutfons,E Etc.

The Federated Trades Council held its
semi-annual meeting and election on Sat
urday evening. The Organizing Com
mittae approved the credentials of thirty
eight delegates, representing twenty
unions. Delegates J. NJ. Higgins. G. A.
Long, O. C. Danner, NJ. NJ. Glenn, j. d.
Jost and III. n. Baumann were elected to
represent the Council at the convention
of the Pacific Coast Trades and Labor
Federation, which will convene to-day in
this city.
The semi-annual reports of the Presi-
dent, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustees
were,received, after which the election of
officers for the new term took place and
resulted as follows: President, George A.
Long; Vice President, j. H. Cooley; Sec
retary, II. \. Baumann; Sergeant-at-
Arms, P. L. Fowkes; Conductor, j. i.
Robinette. An Executive Committee of
nine members was also chosen, but the
election of other committees was laid
over until the next regular meeting, as a
number OF new delegates are to be seated
The delegates to the convention were
requested 10 act as general committee
of the whole to receive and entertain the
visiting delegates.
Resolutions were adopted condemning
the order of United States court by
which it is claimed the right of free
speech is denied the leaders of labor
unions.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
President NJ. NJ. Glenn presented his
report, which was as follows:
To the Officers and Members Of lSacrQ-
mlento Federated Trades C0ltnciL-GEN
TLEMEN: l herewith submit my report
for the six months ending December 81,
1893.
The term just expired closes the fifth
year OF our organization. 1t is with con-
siderable regret and somewhat of sorrow
that | am compelled to admit that our
federated councils have been reduced il
the past year.
The principal cause to which | attrib
ute this reduction is the attempted ilHec-
ton of politics into our organization from
certain sources not connected at best, but
remotely with the cause of organized
labor. The American Federation of La
Dor expressly prohibits political or sect
arian lines and discussions, and this is a
rule which all labor organizations should
respect and live up to, and it is unjust to
blame any true labor organization for the
Influences which might or may have
crept into the ranks of minor bodies
through the efforts OF designing or self
seeking individuals. / severely depre-
cate the introduction into our ranks OF all
and every matter eXtraneOuS to the cause
OF labor, pure and simple. 1t has been
my constant aim and effort during my
1ncum bency as your presiding officer, to
put the seal of disapproval on any and all
attempts to introduce politics or religion
into our counsels and deliberations, and
l earnestly urge upon my successor to
follow in this path in the interest Of har-
and trade Hn1OlllSn. RIpICGrlnUG
among ourselves on matters not germane
10 the true intent of our organization can
but ultimately lead to disintegraton. "a
house divided against itself will surely
tall. -
IN view of the disturbed conditions
now existing i'll all branches of industry
and business throughout the country it
would be difficult and perhaps presump-
tOUS for me TO offer suggestions for re-
llef or Improvement. These must
come from the great mass of toilers of the
land represented by wiser heads than
InIue. But there is one thing to which [
would like to call your attention. 1t is
something that directly concerns one of
the most important of ali trades-the
printers trade-and thus indirectly all
tradesmen and workingmen.
Here follows an extract from the IYpO-
graphical Journal favoring the Govern
ment ownership OF telegraph lines, with
the Endorsement of President Glenn.
In view of this statement | consider it
the duty of every labor organization in
the land to lend its support toward the
furtherance Of pending legislation to Sc
cure Governmental ownership of the tel
egraph lines. The Government should
control the telegraph line just as it does
the United States mails.
In view of the detections in our affil-
iatlons and the prevailing stringency
in oil hronRhac of traAo nd hnc
l think that the time is ripe for retrench-
ment. In devising means toward this
end / would suggest the abandonment
of the Pacific Coast Federation, and that
all our councils affiliate directly with
the American Federation. The Pacific
Coast Federation is a useless intermedi-
ary, and entails an expense on subordi-
nate councils from which no benefit is
derived. 1t is my opinion that there
would be stronger cohesion in the COM
plete naturalization of other Organiza-
tions. 10 come nearer home, however,
! would suggest retrenchment in our
own individual council.
1t is to be deeply deplored that the
General Government has seen fit, in the
midst of the prevailing depression, to re-
duce the wages of labor at the Mare
Island Navy-yard. Our Government
could at such times as these, and without
being held liable to the charge of pater-
DallSul, well dIlOrQ 10 increase the area
on public works at living wages instead
of reducing the wages OF those employed.
II our Government is in such financial
straits that economy and retrenchment
must be the watchword, it were we'll
that those in authority should set the ex-
ample by voluntarily reducing their own
princely salaries, and then perhaps the
workers in Federal employ all along the
line, even to the commonest laborer in
the Custom-house, might feel that he
owed duty TO his country to accept re-
duced scale of wages
Thanking you, gentlemen, for the
courtesy you have ever extended me as
your presiding officer, and with the hope
that Sacramento Council may be perpet-
uated till every wrong of the toiling
masses is righted, and as long as there is
need for cooperative protection to honest
labor, and that the flag OF federated labor
may ever wave, / am, your obedient
servant, NJ. II. GLENN.
sacramento, January 4, 1894.
STOLE TWO oVERC0ATS.