River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-12-12

and introduced j. w. Sullivan, of this
city, who delivered the address of well
come.
President Mcbride responded in APP
propriate terms.
A committee on credentials was an
nounced and the convention took re-
cess until two o'clock in order to give the
committee time to prepare its report.
There were only one or two contesting
delegations.
Shairman's Address
Upon the reassembling of the con-
vention, the committee on credentials
reported in favor of seating SO dele
gates, and that there were six protests
for the consideration of which the COM
mittee asked further time. The report
was accepted. The chairman announced
the committees, after which he read his
annual report, as follows:
while there has been and is now a ma
terial Improvement I'm trade conditions, as
compared to those of the previous two and
one-half years, yet the Improvement has
not been as pronounced as press reports
would lead us to believe, and, such as il
was, beneficial as it has been. il did not
relieve the strain upon the American Fed
Grafton of Labor until late la the year.
This. because nearly all afflicted organiza-
lions had created obligations, during the
continued industrial depression, that had
to be discharged before their obligations
to us could be met
Battle for Improved Conditions.
1.-THE year 1895 has been noted for the
large number of small. or local, rather
than large. prolonged strikes. The most
stubbornly contested strikes We're those
OF the garment workers in eastern cities.
and while, In each case. the workers did
not secure all they demanded and were
entitled to. they resulted in gains of such
a beneficial character that every member
OF the craft should take pride in sustaining
their national union, which originated the
demands, inaugurated and successfully
conducted the fight for improved condi-
tions. The largest and longest strike of
the year was that of the coal miners in
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana West Vir-
ginia and Virginia. The settlements made,
while giving higher prices to mine laborers,
did not give the satisfaction and security
that the strikers wanted, and, because of
this the year has been one of agitation and
uncertainty in mining districts. The Of
ficials of the United Mine Workers have
had hard years work and IL now looks
as though their efforts to bring order out
of chaos would be rewarded by not only
securing higher wages, but by wtping out
OF existence the company. or 9 il is better
known, the truck store systenI--a system
by which mine workers have been shame
fully robbed.
''The passage of the Mcclure bill by con-
Rress afforded some relief to seamen, but
not all that they required. | would advise
that your efforts in their behalf be- contin-
ued until the laws of our country are so
strengthened that they will guarantee pro-
lection and fair treatment to every sea-
man that sails under our flag. The Phil
lips bill. providing for a commission to
inquire into and report upon the legisla-
tion needed by labor. did not become law.
but its author. Mr.. Phillips. has been re-
elected and will endeayor to secure its pas
sage at the present session OF congress.
and steps should be taken by this conven-
ton to aid him in his efforts"
Great Crime.
1.-THE greatest crime of the nineteenth
century, and the most renal kable ever
perpetrated upon our people, was that
committed by the present national admin
istration In addrss to the bonded indebt-
edness of our country during a time of
peace. The attempt to maintain a gold
reserve of slO0,O00,000 by a contract such
as was made with the Belmont Morgan