The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-12-11
federation in his duties as editor of the

federation in his duties as editor Of the
official organ of the order.
A cordial greeting was given the
English delegates, and mucn Denent
was predicted from a closer afhliation
with the wage earners across the
water.
Higher dues for the various unions
were suggested as means of increas-
ing their usefulness and auGmenting
their strength, and the fact was cited
that the only union that has increased
its membership in the past year mas
the highest dues Of any in the fedora
ton.
FINANCIAL
Secretary Chris Evans submitted his
report of the finances and numerical
strength OF the federation The re-
ceipts from all sources, including bal
ance Nov. 1, 1898, of S.147.44, were stat
ed at s22. .493.s7. The expenditures were
given at s17.3O2.0S, including sS,513.S4
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 bal
ance of s., 1918, which is less than at
any time since 1890. The report SHOW
ed that 167 charters were Issued during
the year for local and central unions
and state federations in thirty states.
Several unirnportant amendments TO
the constitution were recommended.
Regarding the proposition that the
federation enter politics, the secretary
recommended that such action be con-
fined to work independent of any party.
Closer organization ana a general
breaking away from polltlcal pdrtles
was recommended
The treasurer John 3. Lennon, made
his report which was practically re-
sumo of the financial items of Secrtary
Evans report.
President Gompres then introduced
Hon. John Burns. who made snort
address. He said:
sMr- David Holmes and myself were
chosen by the organized laborrs of the
old world to represent them in this. the
first American labor convention at
which English representatives were
present The convention that appoint
ed us comprised 400 delegates or whom
100 were members of parliament, JUS
tices or municipal officers. This shows
what a hold organized labor has upon
the people of England. l shall be
pleased to hear ten years from now
that YOU have progressed as for as we
have today. Our coming here is inter-
esting for many reasons, one OF which
is that the country from which we come
initiated the employment system
would say, however, that while Eng
America has eclipsed her in monopo-
lies"
He spoke feelingly Of the warm well
come they had received and gave some
words of advice as to the future work
Of the convention.
Mr.. Holmes excused himself from
speaking on account of a heavy colu
contracted on his way to the city.
President Gompers in response to
Mr. Burns remarks, stated that under
no government on earth have laborinS
men been imposed so much on as in
America, but expressed the nope that
conditions may soon be improved and
the improvement be aided by THIS ira
ternal meeting of laborlng men OF Am
erica and Europe.
A formal invitation from the trades
assembly to take an excursion around
the loop" tomorrow was accepted, as
was one to attend the lyceum theatre
tonight, and TO reception by the hotel
employees union tomorrow night.
Rev. Myron W. Reed of Denver, was
introduced to the convention and made
a brief address. He said:
For fifteen years / have been more
concerned about a home over here than
about a home over there. L have re-
garded the old world as a discipline
and the new world as an opportunity,
and regret that many opportunities
the workingman today is better off
than he formerly was. To my mind the
Sioux on the plain of Dakota with his
pony and bow and arrows fifty years
ago was better off than some of Kansas
or Nebraska farmres today. The work
ingman may be better off than he was
but he has by no means kept pace with
the Improvement In art, science ana IN
vention.'
DEBS AND BROWNE.
Congratulatory kilograms were read
from Eughne V. Debs and James OCon-
nell.
The credentials committee reported
the contests all settled except that OF
the painters union, and asked for more
time on that.
At this point Miss Phoebe Cousins
entered the room and was called TO the
front by President Gompers. She
spoke briefly
The president announced some of the
unimpOrtant committees, and the con-
vention proceeded to take the painters
union contest out of the hands Of the
credentials committee and seat the
delegates holding the first issued Gre
dentials, the Messrs. Cooper and
Murphy.
A letter was read from Carl Browne
General Coxey's lieutenant, in
which he congratulated the conven-
ton that 1t had no gatling gun, and
suggested that ii pass resolution de-
manding that If congress enact the cur
rency law proposed by President Cleve-
land, employers be hereafter compelled
to pay for labor in gold. The letter
was referred to the resolution commit
tee, after which an adjournment was
taken until Wednesday morning at 9
o'clock.
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