The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-13

NEW YORK, Dec. 12-when the
fourth days session of the fifteenth am
nuai convention of the American
Federation of Labor opened, not over
fifty delegates were present. Several
reports were presented.
Caused Comment.
a communication from the. typeset-
ting rnachinists, which asked for
shorter work hours, caused some COM
rnent. The rules committee decided to
have the matter settled by the con-
Tention. 1t was claimed that this body
of men Should come under the head Of
the Typographical union or the ma
chinists' union. There is to be a con-
ference of the various delegates in
serested in these matters tonight and
decision was deferred until after that
time.
A communication was received from
George Francis Train who desired to
address the convention. His offer was
accepted.
+. L. Sergeant, 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 Gle sses of work
men would be united in one body.
Is PIutOcratic.
Eltmeed Pomeroy addressed the con-
eention. While arguing that the
federation should not be made a politi-
cal organization, he said it's members
should, however, study politics that
they might take Intelligent action on
s1oz that NOr1A1a1~npH them The
eminent of this country today, he said,
SIS neither Republican nor Democratic,
but plutocratic. Labor could not
greatly remedy abuses because cor
porations bar the way. Direct legisla-
ton would bring out the latent intel
tigence and strength of the people and
bhen the people would be responsible
for theiI own progress and for the
broadening Of free institutions.
Samuel Gompers submitted lengthy
report of the visit of himself and Vice
President Mcclure to the trades coun-
ell convention at Cardiff, Wales last
September.
w. C. T. U. Welcome.
President Mcbride introduced Mrs
Mary Burt, president of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union, Of New
York. She said she came to bring the
greetings Of Miss Frances Willard who,
through the delegation, took the men,
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
efforts 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 it.
Mrs J. H Stuckenburg, national
superintendent of the department Of
temperance and labor of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union of Cam
bridge, Mass, spoke at some length
on the object of her society. She said
the iaboring people had much to do
to look after the liquor question.
Mrs. Bmelie d. Martin, national
superintendent Of the department of
purity in literature and art and Mrs |
Frances ]. Barnes, national supreme |
chairman of the young women's work |
of the Won1an's Christian Temperance |
union, spoke on similar subjects.
1t was voted to have the speeches of |
the first two representatives printed |
sn the official organ Of the federation.
On Common Ground.
E. J. 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 thar |
was that the big strike of shipbuilders |
:n Scotland had at last been settled |
and the capitalists had failed The |
terms are an increase of wages now
and again in February. Mr. Convey
said he believed in unionism and be-
cause Of it he was here. In closing he
said:
Il hope the time will come when the
English speaking people shall become
united on one common ground against
our enemy-capital."
J. Mawdsley, the representative who
comes from the Spinners' union of
Manchester, England, was then intro
duced. 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 deliverance should
work on business lines. They should
talk more about pounds, shillings and
pence, than about sentiments. If the
workingTnen wanted to be ON equal
footing with the capitalists they must
get down to practical business meth
cd. In his trade the workers made
liberal subscription weekly and when
ever the employers were ready to strike
the workers were ready for them. Po-
sitical freedom means nothing for the
workmen without business organiza-
ton. The speaker deprecated the diff
ferences between the socialists and or
CARNATIONS of workmen. Though the
two organizations might differ as to
methods of accomplishment, their OBJ
5ects were practically the same. Why
not work together and adopt the best
means, no matter by whom suggested,
rs fast as they present themselves.
Many Resolutions.
A. large number of resolutions were
ceferred to committees. Among others
was one providing for a petition 30
Congress IN favor of the recognition
of beiigerent rights of Cuba and an
other protesting against any legisla-
TNTKXDT.ES IN ,