San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-12-10
LABOR CONVENTION.
BRAINS WILL COME TO THE AID
OF Drawn.
Denver Filled With .Delegates-No
Anarchists or SocialistssWln
Be conference.-the


DENVER, Dec. l0.-The fourteenth
annual convention OF the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor will be
held in this city this week at the
Old Chamber Of Commerce build
ing. The congress this year has
attracted. general interest among
all the labor organizations through
out the country, and in fact all
over the world. The meeting will
be one of the most important ever
held by the Federation both for
the number and hiCh standing of
the delegates and visitors who will
attend and the Importance to the
labor interests Of the questions
that will be discussed. The mat
tiers that Will come before the con-
vention will be OF supreme inter
est to labor throughout the entire
country. One Of these is the es-
tablishment Of a national labor
commission of fifteen, composed of
five from the agricultural interests,
five from the labor organizations
and five from the manufacturing
interests. This idea has been
preached and it is thought by
some who have studied the labor
question closely that the creation
by Congress Of a commission Of
this character would 60 far to-
ward adjusting the difficulties
that arise between capital and la
Dor, and preventing strikes. A
strong effort will be made also to
secure the Endorsement Of an I'M
equivocal silver resolution. A sill
yer resolution Of general, non
committal character was adopted
at the Chicago convention last
year, but it was not sufficiently
pronounced to suit the views of the
Western delegates. 1t has been
rumored that strong effort will
be made to commit the Federation
to number of Socialistic and An
archistic resolutions, but any such
intention is discredited by the To-
cal delegates, who are thoroughly
familiar with the program
which will be carried out. The
Trades Assembly have adopted 2
platform to be recommended to
the convention OF the Federation
of Labor, embody!ng an eight
hour work day, compulsory educa-
ton, sanitary inspection Of work
shop, mine and home; liability OF
employees for injury to health,
body or life; abolition of the con-
tract system in all public work !;
abolition of the sweating system !;
municipal ownership of street cars
and gas and electric plants for
public distribution Of light, heat
and power; the naturalization of
telegraphs, telephones, railroads
and mines; the principle Of re
ferendum in all legislation. There
is no doubt but that a severe
struggle will occur when the cleo
ton of officers takes place. Samuel
Gompers, president Of the Organi-
zation,is a candidate for reelection
John Mcbride, president OF the
Mine Workers Union, is consider
ed strong candidate and is said
to have a large following. Other
Candidates will likely come to the
front before the election takes
place. 1t is believed that Secreta-
ry Mcclure, Of the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners,
and General Secretary Chris
Evans will find a strong opposi-
ton against their election to any
office as they are, with Comp
responsible for the action Of the
Federation last summer in Chica.
go in refusing to recommend sym
pathetic strikes in support OF the
American Railway Union railroad
strikes. The main opposition Of
the West against Gompers is that
he is New York man and is said,
opposed to silver. 1t is likely,
however, that the present officers
of the Federation will be re elect
ed. While Samuel Gompers pulled
through with very slender ma
jority last year, he has made many
friends since then, notwithstand-
ing the many different reports
about his cautious action during
the Chicago strike. In addition to
the large attendance expected from
this country, a number Of
labor champions from abroad
will be present and adj
address the meeting. Among them
are the great English leader, John
Burns, NJ. p, one Of the best
known men in the labor world. He
was born in Battersea in 1859, and