Huntsville gazette., 1894-12-15
LABOR IN COUNCIL.

Remarks of JOhs, Burns, NJ. T., Engiands
Labor Leader-"The Ideal of To-Day. the
Practical of To-Morrow" -- President
Gompers Address.
DENVER, Col. Dee. 1.-THE feature
of the first days session of the four
! teenth annual convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, aside from
the annual address of the president,
Samuel Gompers, and the reports of
| the secretary and treasurer, was the
earnest, forceful and impressive re-
marks of John Burns, of England, in
response to the seating of him and Da-
vid Holmes as delegates upon the floor
by the convention. 1t was given with
all the fire and impetuosity which has
made the name of John Burns famous
throughout the civilized world, and it
was received with tumultuous APP
plause from the seventy-five delegates
who constitute this congress of work
ingmen. Mr.. Burns said:
Delegated by the Trades Union con
gress of Great Britain, Mr.. David
Holmes and myself have como in re-
sponse to the invitation which the
American Federation Of Labor SO
kindly extended. We represent con-
stituency 125, 900, 900 of organized work
ers, and the large congress of labor
delegates, numbering 400, which met
in Norwich not many months ago.
THAT congress was the most repre-
sentative one held for thirty years.
Out of 400 delegates there were over
100 members of parliament. mag
istrates, members of school boards,
town and county councils, which indi-
Gates to you what footing the trades
unions have in England.
Remember that the ideal Of to-day
may become the practical of to-mor-
row. Do not sacrifice principle for
partisanship or personal feelings. Let
us hope that in your future annual
| gatherings you may secure representa-
tiyes from other countries, that the la
Dor leaders Of the world may advise,
counsel and assist you, SO that the
cause of labor shall advance all over
the world. Capital knows no race, no
creed, no distinction. The world is its
prey and labor its tool.
''If we III the old world can dominat te
municipalities and even intimidate
parliament and secure public SYM
pathy and support, you can be as wise
and as hopeful in this wonderful coun-
try.
I'VE shall hope TO reciprocate for
the magnanimous eordiality of your
greetings ever since we landed in New
York by preaching the cause of labor
under your organizations and through
yoiir courtesy while here. If we can
increase your membership several
thousands by our addresses throughout
the nation, we shall thus hope to re-
pay you for your kindne. .ses and the
cause Of labor will be strengthened
thereby:
Mr. Holmes still suffers from a
hoarseness which prevents him from
talking, and he could only bow in re-
sponse to the applause which greeted
bis presentation to the convention.
The convention started off upon a
business basis that promises to result
in some important work. President
Gompers, having recovered from his in
disposition, was able TO preside during
the preliminary session, and delivered
his address with great earneStness and
conviction. His demand that the Con-
vention take some decided action in
! Endorsement or disapprovnl of his pol
icy during the Debs strike was made
with almost shout: sc earliest ,tas he.
| Air. Rhody Kenehan, of the Denver
trades assembly, delivered a graceful
address of welcome to which President
Gompers responded as follows;
1--WE meet in convention under most
\ inauspicious circumstances ana DIT a
time when the workers are still suffer-
ing from the paralysis of industry re-
sulting from the incompetency OF our
modern captains Of industry. In the
midst of these adverse circumstances
that the trade union has maintained
its existence speaks well for it. The
| wrongs of the past and the errors Of
/ the present may be dashed 20 death at
the foot of the mighty boclties, where
we are now assembled and. labor, in
/ spired by hopes of success yet to come
and the humane con ditiofis yet to be
1 achieved. may overcome all obstacles
in its way and establish peace on earth
and good will among mankind In re-
! gard to the miners strike, it is not too
much to say that it was the industrial
stagnation from which the country
was suffering that robbed the miners
of deserved victory"
! President Gompers spoke at length
on the big railroad strike. He freely
criticised President Cleveland for or
dering out the federal troops. On this
| point ne said;
/ The much-vaunted rights OF the
4, states to autonomous government were
set at naught, and despite the protests
of the governors into whose states the
federal troops were sent, naughty
and disdainful contempt for their au-
thority was the only answer vouch-
safed. The president OF the United
States has no more right TO violate the
constitutional guarantee to the people
than has the hum blest citiz izen
The action of the American fedora
tion in refusing to order q strike at
/ r-an.1ac4 IF E.,o,.,,a =