Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-11
GOMPER'S ADDRESS
On Opening the Convention of
::he Federation.
REVIEW OF THE LABOR SITUATION.

He Favors Organization First, Consolidation
Next. and Possibly Arbitration Next, but
"Compulsory'' Arbitration s.Never'-
jon Burns Makes a Brief Speech in
Which He Says America Is Ahead in
Monopolies-Other Speakers.
DENVER, Dec. 11.-President Gompers'
annual report was submitted to the
Federation of Labor convention, after
he preliminary business had been trans
acted, committees appointed, etc. He
compliments the organization upon being
able to preserve its existence during the
recent adverse circumstances. Referring
to the coal miners strike, he said, l25. 900
men We're out for eight weeks and vet
there was hardly dearth of coal. Con-
sidering this the establishment Of
minimum rate of wages was very great
victory. He defended the action of the
federation in regard to the A. r. T. strike
by the assertion that Dcbs' proposition
submitted to them was virtual ac-
acknowledgement that the strike was a
failure. President Cleveland's action at
that time he severely condemned.
Hopes for q Government Telegraph.
The honest effort of the government to
regulate immigration is acknowledged,
Dut amendments to the laws are sug-.
gested, the most important of which are
speedy trials of immigrants suspected OF
being under contract and the sending of
agents to foreign countries to inspect pros
pective immigrants. Hope is expressed
that government telegraph and telephone
will soon be established in connection
with the postal department. and unions
among government employees are recon-
mcnded as an aid to the movement Amer
lean seamen are claimed to be the worst
treated OF those of any civilized mutton.
The bills in their interest and also for the
protection of the cigar makers, he said,
would have passed the last session of CON
gress but for the prejudicial effect of the
railway strike.
The Only Congressional Sunbeam.
The establishment of n national labor
day is referred to as the only sunbeam
labor received from the last session of
congress. The convention is asked to in
dorse the Phillips bill for the creation of
an industrial commission. Copies of the
bill were distributed. The efforts of the
officers of the federation in behalf of free
coinage of silver are mentioned and a
better understanding of the subject by
laboring men generally is reported The
matter of proposed semi-annual confer
ences with the knights of Labor was re-
ferred to the convention. but a union of
the organizations was not recommended
Opposes Independent Political Action.
Speaking of the programme submitted by
the last convention to the affiliated unions
for discussion, Gompers strongly opposed
any movement looking to independent
political action by organized labor at pres
ent. Results of local attempts in this line
were cited to show the disastrous effects.
a serious strain upon labor organizations
was predicted for the coming winter, but
the speaker added; Unless every indica-
ton is incorrect and cause and effect lose
their logical sequence we are within a
year of an industrial revival which in ac-
tivity and intensity will far surpass that
OF any previous period