The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-12-19
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Proceedings of the Annual Conven-
ton at Denver, Dol.
Business of Much Importance to the Cause
of Labor Occupies the Attention OF
the Delegates-The Political
Platform Defeated by
Decisive Majority.


honor on the platform were John
Burns, m. p, and David Holmes, m. p,
of the United Trades
unions of England present upon invi-
tation from the American Federation.
Rody Kenehan, president of the
Trades Assembly. of Denver, made a
short speech of welcome, extending
the courtesies OF the city.
Hon. Thomas NJ Patterson, of Den
yer, delivered an able address upon the
subject "Labor'srough but noble strug-
gle" and he was succeeded by speeches
of fraternal nature from the English
representatives
President Gompers spoke at length
on the big railroad strike. He freely
criticised President Cleveland for or
dering out the federal troops.
The action of the American Fedora
tion in refusing to order strike at the
request Of Eugene V. Debs was de-
Tended on the ground that Mr.. Debs
practically admitted that the strike
was lost at the time that he asked relief.
President Gompers demanded that
the convention either indorse or con-
demn the action of the executive com
mittee in refusing to help the American
Railway union. Regarding immigra-
tion, the present laws, as whole, were
commended Government ownership
of the telegraph was advocated and the
Phillips bill for labor commission of
inquiry indorsed. With proper con-
certed efforts, Mr.. Gompers thought
the eight-hour day could be achieved
by 1896 He opposed compulsory arbi-
tration on the ground that the only
way judgment against the laborer
could be enforced would be equivalent
to chattel slavery.
The first step must be organization;
the second conciliation; the next, pos
sibly, arbitration, but compulsory ar
bitration, never.
The feature of the session aside from
the annual address of President Comp
ers and the reports of the secretary
and treasurer, was the earnest, force
full and impressive remarks made by
John Burns, of England, in response to
the seating of him and David Holmes
as delegates upon the floor by the con-
vention. 1t was given with all the fire
and impetuosity which has made the
name of John Burns famous through
out the civilized world, and it was re-
ceived with tumultuous applause frow
the seventy-hve delegates who consti
tute this congress of workingmen.
DENVER, Col, Dec. 13.-The pro-
ceedings to-day were devoted mainly to
the reception Of great volume of reso-
lutions, few Of which, however, were
disposed Of
Immediately after roll call and the
reading Of the minutes, President Com
pers announced the standing commit.
tees, which were confirmed.
The executive council made an ex-
tended report on number of estab-
lishments, against which for various
reasons deemed proper by the advocates
of labor, boycotts had been declared.
The following resolutions, introduced
by Vice President P. ]. Mcclure, were
unanimously adopted without reference
to any committee:
Resolved, That we deplore the introduction
Of any sectarianism or captious side issues
among the working people. Such movements
are destined to divide labors forces and pro-
duce bitter antagonisms, as they produce reli-
gious bigotry, provoke rRncorous intolerance
and divert the working people from working
out their own emancipation from the CALLING
slavery Of the present social conditions
Resolved, That we here and now reaffirm as
one of the cardinal principles OF the trade union
labor movement, that the working people must
unite and organize, irrespective of creed color,
SEX nationality or politics.
DENVER, Dec. IA. 4.-President Gompers
announced at the opening of the morn
ing session Of the Federation of Labor,
the revised route of John Burns upon his
return trip, which is as follows Oma-
ha, December II; Chicago, 10; st. Louis,
%: Indianapolis,22; Cincinnati, 23; Nell
sonville, o., "a; Detroit, 25 (afternoon);
Cleveland, 20; Pittsburg, 81; Washing
ton 30 and 80; Philadelphia, 81; Boston,
January 2.
Miss Frances E. Willard in Boston
wired greetings to the convention, Civ
ing the motto: Hard work is the only
royalty" Other letters and kilograms
Of greetings were read by the secretary.
A resolution opposing land monopoly
and making occupancy and improve
ment the test Of ownership was adopted
without debate.
Next came the silver resolutions with
q long preamble as an argument favor
ing the views Of free coinage advocates.
1t demands the re-enactment Of the
coinage law Of 1887 upon ratio Of 10
to l. Delegate Kelley opposed the fed
Grafton placing itself upon record in
favor of the double or single standard.
President Gompers suggested that
the discussion of this subject would be
unwise, considering the pressure Of
time. He, too, was opposed to the pre-
amble. He suggested the adoption Of
the resolution without the preamble,
which was done.
The committee on presidents address
reported, indorsing the position of the
executive council in the A. R. U. strike
and recommended several matters for
confederation as outlined by the presi-
dent. It recommends the fixing Of
May !, 1896, as the date for an effort to
establish the eight-hour day. An op-
position to the committees report was
raised by Delegate Penner, because it
recommended the continuance of nego-
tiations with the Knights Of Labor for
union. Delegate Penner wanted to
have nothing to do with what he de-
nominated gang Of shysters led by
scurrilous knaves Such an organiza-
tion, he declared, could only be re-
formed by killing it.
Action on this recommendation was