Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-12-15
LAeo& LEADERS.
They Assemble in Corfyeut,on In the CITY
of Denver.

of Denver.
DENVER, Col, Dec 1.-THE Ameri-
can Federation of Labor began it's
fourteenth annual convention In the
old chamber of commerce Monday.
After readiug the call the report of
President Gompers was presented. Its
main points are as follows:
I'VE meet in convention under most inauspi-
cious circumstances. and ut n 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 nd
verse circumstances that the trade union
has maintained its existence speaks we'll 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 yet to come and humane conditions vet to
be achieved, may overcome all obstacles in it's
way and established peace on earth and good
will among mankind.
I'm regard to the miners strike 1t is not too
much to say that IL was the industrial stagnn-
tion from which the country was suffering that
robbed the miners of deserved victory"
President Gompers spoke ut 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 COVER nment were set nt naupnt,
and, despite the protests of the governors
into whose states the federal troops we're
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 strike at the request of
Eugene V. Dcbs was defended on the ground
that Mr.. Debs practically admitted that the
strike was lost ut the time that he asked for
relief President Gompers demanded that the
convention either indorse or condemn the ac-
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 ac-
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
whole were commended. Government own
ership OF the telegraph was advocated and the
Phillips bill for q labor commission OF in
quiry indorsed With proper concerted Efforts
Mr.. Gompers thought the eight hour day could
be achieved by 1896. lie opposed compulsory
arbitration on the ground that the only way o
Judgment against the laborer could be
forced would be equivalent to chattel slavery.
The first step must be organization; the sec
ond Cancellation; the next, possibly, arbitra-
tion, 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. and that we shall prove
ourselves loyal and true, devoted TO the inter-
ests OF our fellow wageworkers which are in
our keeping "