Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-12-13
LABOR LEADERS.
Annual Session of the American
Federation of Labor.
President Gompers Makes His Report-He
Touches Upon Features of Inter
est to All Glasses of Toilers
and Advises Loyalty.

DENvEB. Col, Dec. 1.-THE Ameri-
can Federation of Labor began its
fourteenth annual convention in the
old chamber of commerce Monday,
After reading the call the report of
President Gompers was presented. It's
main points are as follows:
I'VE meet in convention under most inauspi
ciouS circumstances. and at a time when the
workers are still suffering from the paralysis
Of industry resulting from the incompe-
tency of our modern captains Of In
dustry. In the midst OF these adj
verse 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 to death at the foot
of the mighty Rockies where we are now as
sembled. and labor, inspired by hopes OF sue
cess vet to come and humane conditions yet to
be achieved. may overcome all obstacles in its
way and established peace on earth and good
will among mankind.
-In regard to the miners strike it is not TOO
much to say that it was the industrial stagna-
tion from which the country was suffering that
robbed the miners OF a deserved victory"
President Gompers spoke at length on the
big railroad strike He freely criticised Pres
ident Cleveland for ordering out the federal
troops. On this point he said The
much-vaunted rights of the 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 authority 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 humblest
citizen"
The action OF the American Federation in
refusing to order a strike at the request Of
Z Tao1.e data dad tT,arx ma
that Mr.. Debs practically admitted that the
strike was lost at the time that he asked for
relief. President Gompers demanded that the
| convention either indorse or condemn the &C.
tion of the executive committee in refusing TO
help the American Railway union.
Speaking OF the programme submitted by
the last convention to the affiliated unions for
discussions, Mr.. Gompers strongly opposed any
movement looking TO Independent political &c
tion by organized labor at present. Results OF
local attempts in this line were cited TO show
the disastrous affects.
Regarding immigration the present laws as
/ q whole were commended. Government owa
ership Of the telegraph was advocated and the
Phillips bill for labor commission OF in
| quiry indorsed. With proper concerted efforts
| Mr. Gompers thought the eight hour day could
| be achieved by 1896 He opposed compulsory
arbitration on the ground that the only way a
| Judgment against the laoorer could be en-
/ lOtCOO WOuAu DS cqu1NdAtAl " SudttSt oAafNA5'
The first step must be organizations the Sec
ond, cancellations the next. possibly, arbitra-
ton, but compulsory arbitration, never" In
| conclusion. he said:
Let me remind you that in no convention
| of the American workers have the eyes of the
| civilized. the thoughtful. been so concentrated
as upon this gathering. l hope the trust
placed in us will find an abiding place in our
minds and hearts aud that we shall prove
ourselves loyal and true devoted to the inter-
ests OF our fellow wageworkers which are in
our keeping