Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-12-20

work hours caused some comment. The
rules committee decided to have the
matter settled by the convention. 1t
was claimed that this body of men
should come under the head of the Ty-
biographical Union or the Machinists
Union. There Is to be conference of
the various delegates interested in
these matters tonight and a decision
was deferred until after that time.
F., l.. Sargent, chief of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen was called
upon for a speech, which he made. He
said he hoped the day would come when
all classes Of workmen would be united
in one body.
Eltmeed Pomeroy addressed the con-
vention. While arguing that the fede-
ration should not be made a political
organization, he said its members
should, however, study politics that
they might take intelligent action on
matters that concerned them. The gov
eminent of this country today, he said,
Is neither republican nor democratic,
but plutocratic. Labor could not greatly
remedy abuses because corporations
bar the way. Direct legislation would
bring out the latent intelligence and
strength of the people, and then the peo-
pie would be responsible for their own
progress and for the broadening of free
Institutions
Samuel Gompers submitted a lengthy
report of himself and Vice President
Mcclure to the Trades Council conven
| ton at Cardiff, Wales last September.
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE SPOKE.
President Mcbride introduced Mrs.
Mary Burt, president of the Womans
Christian Temperance Union of New
York. She said she came 20 bring the
greetings of Miss Frances Willard, who,
through the delegation, took the MEM
| bers of the convention by the hand in
| kindly sympathy. The Federation of
| Labor and the Woman's Christian Tenn
| perance Union had many purposes in
common, and through well directed eff
forts of the federation this country
would take first rank in the Industrial
world. Mrs. Burt spoke of the result of
liquor among the workingmen and said
the federation should seriously consider
| 1t.
Mrs. j. II. Stuckenburg, national su-
perintendent of the department of tenn
perance and labor of the Woman's
Christian Union, of Cambridge, Mass,
spoke at some length on the object of
her society. She said the laboring peo-
pie had much to do to look after the IL
| quor question.
Mrs. Emelia D. Martin, national su-
perintendent of the department of puri-
ty in literature and art, and Mrs. Fran
ces ]. Barnes. national superintendent
of young women's work of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, spoke on
similar subjects.
| 1t was voted to have the speeches of
the first two representatives printed in
the official organ of the federation.
| A VOICE FROM ENGLAND.
e. ]. Convey. the English representa-
tive of the Miners Union, was then
called to the platform. He said he had
good news for the people. and that was
that the big strike of shipbuilders In
| Scotland had at last been settled, and
the capitalists had failed. The terms
are an increase of wages now and again
In February. Convey said he believed in
unionism, and because of 1t he was
here.
In closing, he said: II hope the time
| will come when the Notwithstanding
| people shall become united on one COM
mon ground against our enemy-capi-
tall
! ]. Mawdsley. the representative who
comes from the Spinners' Union of Man
chester, Eng. was then introduced. He
said he would not talk on sentimental
subjects, there had been enough of that.
He felt pretty sure that If he were a
capitalist he would be as wicked as the
other capitalists. And every other man
in the hall. he thought, would be the
same. The men who work for their de-
liverance should work on business lines
| They should talk more about pounds,
shillings and pence than about senti
ment. If the workingmen wanted to be
on equal footing with the capitalists
they must get down to a practical bus
| mess method. In his trade the workers
made liberal subscription weekly, and
whenever the employers were ready to
| strike the workers were ready for them.
Political freedom means nothing for the
workingman without business organi-
cation. The speaker deprecated the
| difference between the socialists and
| organizations Of workmen. Though the
| two organizations might differ as to
| methods of accomplishment, their OBJ
| jects were practically the same Why
| not work together and adopt the best
means, no matter by whom suggested.
| New York. Dec. 13-There was a small
number Of delegates present at the open
ing Of the days session at the convention
OF the Federation Of Labor today The
committee on resolutions was instructed
to draw suitable resolution on the death
of Allen @. Thurman.
Reports of committees were then called
for and large number were submitted
A number Of these were in reference to
the technical jurisdiction of the fedora
ton. One resolution which caused much
debate urged that in view of the fact
that the savings of working people were
subject to loss through indiscreet invest
msnts on the present managers Of saw