Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-10
r EDERATIoN OF LABOR
HIT
Fifteenth Annual Convention Begun in
New Yoaark.
John swinton Disguise. the Result of
Organization ,fh9 Father Ducey
the Bounty61of God.

| the bOuAtSofO1 UOOs
Ut II
10
The fifteenth an1uaf convention of the
American Federation of Labor began in
Maids. Square GardeHi New York, yester-
| day. Delegates we've present from all over
the United States Canada and Great Brit
ain. President Mcbride presided, and in
PRODUCED ]. W. Sullivan of Typographical
| Union, No. G. who delivered the address of
welcome. The reports of the president,
| secretary and treasurer were read and re-
| ferred to the proper committees.
President McBride's Remarks.
President Mcbride occupied the attention
Of the delegates for half hour or more
| with the reading of his annual address. He
| said in part: 1.-The greatest crime of the
| nineteenth century and the most remark
| able ever perpetrated upon our people was
| that committed by the present national ad-
| ministration, in adding to the bonded in
| debtedness of our country during a time
| of peace. The attempt TO maintain a gold
| reserve of $1OO,OOO,OOO by a contract such
as was wade with the Belmont Morgan
| syndicate was farcical, to say the least,
| but farce only in so far as it was intended
| to blind the people to the fact that they
! were being robbed deliberately and un-
mercifully, in the interests Of eastern bank
ers and bondholders. whose only desire
has been. and now is. the perpetuation of
system of bonded Indebtedness of part of
the government"
The Cuban situation also came in for a
word, concerning which he said:
THE Cuban revolt is In itself deserving of
a consideration and recognition at our
hands, but when we remember that the
Spanish dynasty has always evidenced hos
til1ty to republican governments, even in
the case of this country, we should be all
the more determined to insist upon fair
m md frtrof I,
adjourns you will have adopted resolutions
Eetitioning Congress to at least recognize
Cubans as belligerents.''
In conclusion President Mcbride added:
THE Constitution of the national and
the many state governments stands today
as monument to the past greatness and
grandness of our country. These consti-
tutions were made and adopted for the pur-
pose of protecting men and methods now
dead
They are not suited for the changed
Industrial conditions and improved mental
status of the present time, hence If the
modern environments of labor are to be
ameliorated by legislation in keeping with
the progress of our people, 1t might be well
to turn our attention to the cutting away of
these constitutional barriers which invali-
date legislation enacted in the peoples in
| terests.'
| The chairman then introduced John SWIM
| ton, who spoke in part as follows:
THE Federation of Labor is power in the
United States. 1t Is made up Of men, who
make all things and are the natural owners
thereof. l take much pleasure lin seem q
| the English representatives 1ere. 1 hope
| that this association will send delegates to
| all parts of the earth, well as have for
| eign delegates present al your conven IONS
Ihere is much to learn from the English
| trade associations. The union mas done
| great things, having advanced the Price Of
| labor and secured recognition IN parliament
The largest thingzin organized labor is
| the act and fact of organization. 1t has
| grown from nothing. being in it's early GAYS
kicked and sneered at. BY hard work it
| has won the right of existence ard YOU
| Fifty years ago there was little need of or
ganiZatton, for there was work for all. The
i times. however, have changed. Another
| thing is the right to strike against wrong
| 1t used to be more unlawful to strike than
now. Since that infamous Judge Woods
| mounted the bench and the government sent
the militia to Chicago there is a change
If there We're no labor organizations
wages would be half, hours half as long
| again. and capital would rule.
| How can you meet the questions of the
changed times? How can you combat the
| law? If you pass resolutions it will ram
| them down your threats. There are many
| other questions, such as the big monopolies.
They will have to be met by sucn body as
| this"
Father Ducey was then introduced and
| said:
Il am here because the pope wants me
| to be, If some of you do not. In 1891 an
eICs CliCdl was lSSueu ny the pope IN regard
| to labor and it Is my duty minister to
| be present where such matters arise. What
| Mr.. Swinton has said is perfectly true"
Father Ducey quoted a great deal of
| Scripture, and said that no murderer shall
| enter: the kingdom of heaven. and drew as
comparison the oppression of the laborer,
who is often killed by want, not being able
| to secure employment.
There are many said he, continuing
| that live in luxury and pile up fortunes
| with the blood-money of the poor. There
| is enough here for all, and it should be so
! far allowed that no man need appeal for
| aims. God intended the workingman should
| have proper food. 1t remains for The m n
| listers to teach the requirements of man
| kind"
Father Ducey said that the disruption of
| the Knights of Labor was caused by the
| wrongful use Of a statement issued by
| Cardinal Gibbons. 1t was to cause a feel
| ing between the Catholics and Protest nts,
and succeeded.
Adjournment was then taken until this
! morning