The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-12-11
LEADERS OF LABOR.
The American Federation Begins a
Weeks Session in Madison
Square Garden.

Gardens. The greatest interest is al
ready displayed in the election OF OIL
GERS, and the friends of the candidates
are actively canvassing for votes Sam
uel Gompers, ex-preSident of the FEEDER
alton, is sure to be a candidate for the
Office again Interest also centerS in the
proposition to remove the headquarters
from Indianapolis. The convention will
remain in session for more than week.
Among the matters to be considered is
the subject of a general movement for
eight hours day on May IA, 1896.
Wednesday evening there will be
grand ball and reunion of all labor lead
ers at Madison Square Garden. Invita-
lions have been sent to men of promi-
nence in nearly all the walks of life.
The convention opened in the assem-
bly, rooms of Madison Square Gardens
shortly after 10 o'clock. The hall was
deliberately decorated with bunting and
streamers, and banners of various labor
organizations we're hung upon the walls.
AS this is the first time in twelve years
that the Federation has met in this city
the convention has excited exceptional
local interest, and the assembly rooms
and corridors were crowded some time
before the proceedings began.
John Mcbride, president Of the FEEDER
alton, called the convention to order and
introduced j. w. Sullivan, of this city,
who delivered an address of welcome.
President Mcbride responded in appro-
pirate terms.
The annual address of President Mcbride
was listened to with profound attention. In
opening he said: Meeting a. you do in this
great city of New York the metropolis of
America, the center of wealth, pauperism
and crime, where dependence upon the part
of labor almost eliminates that spirit of in
dependence needed to assure good fellow
ship, where political juggleI.>>with the peo-
pies interests on one hand and reform
movements that do not reform on the other
eclipse the labor movement and render it
difficult for organized effort TO progress as
it should you will be permitted to cast your
eyes to Bedloe's Island and feast them upon
the sight u the statue of liberty enlighten-
ing the world, and to take glance at that
where men learn to prey upon their fellow
men, where a few concOct schemes which,
when put into operation. enable them to de-
mand and collect tribute from the people of
all sections of the country, and to our
Shame be it said, frequently defy the gov
eminent by threatening to throttle it finan-
cially, threat that, by our peculiar system
of finances, they are able TO execute sue
cessfully.
The duty assigned you by your constitu-
ents should be done fearlessly, but with a
proper regard for the rights of all men,
The task which you have before you is not
Q light one but prompted by the aims and
purposes Of our grand organization to ale
viate labor's ills, ameliorate its conditions
and improve it's environments the work to
be done should be work of love.
On the vexed question or political action,
which has attracted much attention to
the present gathering, and upon which near
ly every delegate has been instructed by his
respective organization, the president spoke
at length, adopting in a measure the views
of both the conservative and sccialistic fac
TONS
On the recent issue of government bonds,
President Mcbride talked some vigorous
the nineteenth century, and the most re-
markable ever perpetrated upon our people,
was that committed by the present national
administration in adding to the bonded in
debtedness of our great country during a
time of peace. The attempt to retain gold
reserve of one hundred million dollars, by
a contract such as was made with Belmont
Morgan syndicate, was farcical to say the
least but a farce only in far as it was
intended to blind the people TO the fact that
they were being robbed, deliberately and
numerically in the interest of the eastern
bankers and bondholders whose only desire
has been and now is the perpetuation of
system of bonded Indebtedness of part of
the government. The wickedness of the
bond deal was exposed to the syndicate adj
increase the reserve. and the next day de-
creasing the reserve by handing in national
securities and getting gold for them, and
with this gold purchasing new bonds having
a long lease of life. The eastern bankers if
permitted, will continue draining the gold
reserve until new bonds replace the old ones
again established, and the life of the ma
tional banks prolonged beyond the present
generation of men. The bankers are not in
care what misery they plunge the people in
to, how embarrassed the government be-
comes or how heavily the people are taxed,
so long their profits are assured, and why
should they? They are not to blame. 1t is
humiliating however, to think at the close
of the nineteenth century, that national
administration can be found supne enough
or corrupt enough, to permit the govern
ment to be held up and plundered ours
has been plundered during the last year and
q half. In the earlier days of this govern
ment, when statesmen and not politicians
were guiding the ship of state, the banks
were subordinate to the government but
today the government is at the mercy of
the banks- and the bankers dictate our sys-
tenn of finance and laugh at the protests of
the people against the tyranny of their rule
You should not only protest by resolution
against the crime committed, but bring your
influence to bear upon your representatives
in congress to the end that they may pro-
vide against repetition or a continuance
of this great crime.
the world to demonstrate that the spirit of
liberty and progress still lives than that
of Cuba, formerly the slave mart of the
western world, now shaken from center to
circumference by revolt for freedom on
the part of the men, or the sons of men,
who a few years ago were sold as slaves
to the highest bidder. The Cuban revolt is
in itself deserving of consideration and
recognition at our hands, but when we re-
l.
ways evidenced hostility to republican gov
ernments, even in the case of this country
we should be all the more determined to in
siSt upon fair treatment being extended by
the congress of the United States to the
revolutionists of Cuba, and I trust ere this
convention adjourns, you will have adopted
resolutions petitioning congress to at least
recognize Cubans as belligerents.
While there has been and is now a material
Improvement in trade conditions, as COM
pared with those of the previous two and
one half years. yet the Improvement has not
ben as pronounced as press reports would
lead us to believe, and such as it was, bene-
fetal as it has been, it did not relieve the
strain upon the American Federation of
Labor until late in the year. This because
nearly all affiliated organizations had ere
ated obligations during the continued in
dustrial depression, that had to be dis
charged before their obligations to us could
be met. Regardless of the many disad-
vantages under which the Federation la
bored during the year, such progress was
graduate you upon the fact that both nu-
merically and financially the American Fed
GRAFTON is stronger today than it was at the
end of 1894, and to assure you that the pros
poets for the future are full OF promise for
the success of the trade union movement
The year 1894 has ben noted for the large
number of small or local. rather than large
prolonged strikes. The most pleasing feat
ure of contests of this character between
employer and employed, was the uniform
success met with in the way of obtaining
higher wages and improved conditions of
employment.
The constitution of the national and many
of the state governments stand today as a
monument to the past greatness and grand
were made and adopted for the purpose of
protecting men and methods now dead
They are not suited for the changed indus
trial 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
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