The record-union., 1894-12-11
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
TIE ANNUAL CONVENTION IN
SESSION AT DENVER
President Gombers UnaIterably OPP
posed to Compulsory Arbitration
in Labor Troubles.
special 10 the REcoRD-UNroN.

Special 20 the RECoRD-UNIoN.
DENVER, Dec. 10.-The fourteenth an
nual convention of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor was called to order by Pres
ident Gompers at 10 o'clock to-day. There
were l25 delegates present. President
Rhody Kenehan of the Denver Trades
Assembly delivered the address of well
come, to which Gompers briefly re-
sDOnd.
Gompers spoke feelingly of the almost
desperate condition of labor at the pres
enU time. Referring to the innovation of
holding the convention so far west as
Denver, he suggested that within decade
the westward movement of industry
might take conventions Of the federation
to the Golden Gate.
John Burns, the English labor leader
entered the hall and was greeted with a
storm of applause.
President Gompers' annual report was
submitted to the convention this after
noon. He complimented the organiZa-
ton on being able to preserve its exist
| euce during the recent adverse circum-
stances. Referring TO the COal-miners'
| eight weeks, and yet there was hardly a
dearth of coal. Considering this, the
| establishment of minimum rate of
wages was victory.
He defended the action OF the fedora
ton in regard to the American Railway
| Union strike, by the assertion that Mr..
Debs' proposition submitted to them was
a virtual acknowledgment that the
strike was a failure. President Cleve-
lands action at that time was severely
condemned. The honest efforts of the
Government to regulate immigration was
acknowledged, but amendments 30 the
| laws were suggested, the most important
of which were speedy trials OF immi-
grants suspected OF being under contract,
and the sending OF agents to foreign
countries to inspect prospective immi-
grants.
Hope was expressed that Government
telegraph and telephone service will soon
be established in connection with the
postal departments. and unions among
Government employees were recon-
mended as an aid 10 the movement
The proposition to establish compuI-
sorry arbitration was denounced, and the
charge made that designing persons were
| advocating 1t as means OF DESTROYING
! labor organizations. Many persons, in
Guiding Congressman, had written to
| him on the subject, he said, and il was
| obvious to him that there was danger of
some such law being enacted. at is gen.
| orally accepted" said he, "that in con-
sideration of the question of compulsory
arbitration, there IS one means by which
an award against labor could be enforced,
! but that the imposition of those condi-
| tionS would be tantamount 10 chat
| tel slavery, hence the alternative
proposition to make the organiZa-
! tions and the funds OF the organizations
attachable for the failure of any workman
| to abide by decision which may be
awarded against US, or in the absence of
such funds, compel the placing OF a bond
! by the trade union for the enforcement of
such au award. beg to submit that in
| few, If any, instances would awards be
rendered against the trade unions, when
the trade would be thoroughly organized,
but during the period OF organization or
through The unauthorized hasty action
OF a member, the entire union could be
placed in peril, its future and it's efficacy
destroyed and the workers placed at the
tender mercy of their employers. The
first step must be organization, the second
concllIal1on, the next possibly ar bitration,
but compulsory arbitration, never''
The successful mediation of the general
officers in number of disputes between
workingmen and employees were re-
ported and the statement made that
labor must conquer the right to be heard
in all cases. With this right many strikes
| and Iockouts might be averted.
Secretary Chris Evans submitted his
report of the finances and numerical
strength of the Federation. The receipts
from all sources, including balance No
vember l, 1888, OF 81, l4I, were stated at
So, 493. The expenditures were given at
Sl7, ,302, including S3,573 donated to the
sustenance of striking unions, $500 of
this being given to the Debs defense
fund. There is balance of s., ,l9I 70,
which is less than at any time since 1892.
The report showed that l67 charters were
issued during the year for local and GEN.
tral unions and State declarations in thirty
States. Several unimportant amend
ments to the Constitution were recon-
mended.
President Gompers then introduced
Hon John Burns, who made short ad-
dress.
Adjournment was taken till Wednesday
morning at O'Clock.