The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-12-15

eAtner Dy lnHuenclng elections or by
purchasing members OF national and
state legislatures. The convention adj
journed until o'clock.
AT the afternoon session the com
mittee on credentials reported on I'M
contested delegations, and asked time to
consider three contests. The report
states in conclusion: I'm presenting this
report, your committee takes pleasure
in reporting that we have placed before
US the credentials of David Holmes and
| John Burns, representing the trades
unions of Great Britain, and it affords
us unbounded pleasure to recommend
the seating of. these delegates and the
granting to them of the full privileges
Of the convention"
GOMPERS' REPORT.
President Gompers' annual report
which he then delivered, contains near
| ~ 5000 words. He complimented the or
ganization upon being able to preserve
It's existence during the recent adverse
| circumstances. Referring to the coal
miners strike, he said 125, 600 men were
out for eight weeks, and yet there was
hardly dearth of coal. Considering
this, the establishment of the minimum
rate of wages was a victory. He de-
!
regard to the A. r. u. strike. by the as
sertion that the Debs proposition sub
mitted to them was a virtual acknowl
edgment that the strike was a failure.
President Cleveland's action at that
time was severely condemned. The
honest effort Of the government to
| regulate immigration was acknowl-
edged, but amendments to the laws were
suggested, the most important of which
We're Tor speedy trials of immigrants
| brought IN under contract and the send
| ing OF agents to foreign countries to in
spect prospective immigrants. The hone
was expressed that the government tel
egraph and telephone service will soon
be established in connection with the
postal department, and unions among
government employees We're recon-
mended as an aid to the movement
American seamen We're claimed to be
the worst treated Of those of any coun-
try or nation. Bills in their interest. he
said, would have passed the last SEES
sion OF congress but for the prejudiciaI
effect of the railroad strike The estab-
llshment of national labor day was re-
ferred to as the only sunbeam labor had
received from the last session of con-
gress.
the Phillips bill for the creation of an
Industrial commission Copies of the
bill We're distributed. The effort of the
ofilcers of the federation in behalf of
the free coinage of silver was mentioned
ana better understanding of the sub
Ject by laboring men only was reported
LET POLITICS ALONE.
The matter of the proposed semi-an-
nual conference with the Knights Of La
Dor was referred to the convention. but
a union of the organizations was not
recommended. Speaking Of the program
submitted at the last convention to af
hllate the unions for discussion, Mr..
Gompers strongly opposed any move
ment looking to independent political
action by organized labor at present
The results of local attempts in this line
were cited to show the disastrous ef-
fects. A serious strain upon labor or
CARNATIONS was predicted for the com
ing winter, but the speaker added: I'm
less every indication is incorrect. and
cause and effect lose their logical Sc
quence, we are within a year Of indus
trial revival whose activity and inten-
sity will far surpass that of any previ- |
Gus period" The present time was sug-
gested as opportune for the Inaugural
ton of vigorous demand for an eight |
hour day and for a law prohibiting con
tract work on government improve |
ments.
The proposition to establish compul- |
sorry arbitration was denounced and the
charge made that designing persons
We're advocating it as a means of de- /
stroying labor organizations. Many
persons, including congressman. had |
written to him on the subject, he said.
and it was obvious to him that there
was danger of such law being enacted.
1T is generally accepted" said he.
that in the consideration of the cues
ton Of arbitration there is one means
by which an award against labor could
be enforced but that the imposition OF
those conditions would be tantamount
to chattel slavery, hence the alterna-
tive proposition to make organizations
and funds Of organizations attachable
for the failure of any workman to abide
by the decision which may be awarded
against us, or, in the absence of such
funds, compel the placing of bond by
the trade union for the enforcement Of
such an award
Il beg to submit that in few, if any,
Instances would awards be rendered
against trade unions when the trade
would be thoroughly organized, but
during the period of organization. or
through the unauthorized, hasty action
of member, the entire union could be
placed in peril, its future and it's efficacy
destroyed and the workers placed at
the tender mercies of their employers.
The first step must be organization, the
second Cancellation, next, possibly, ar