Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-10
FEDERATION OF LABOR CONVENTION
John swinton and Father Duccy
Make Addresses.

NEW YORK, Dec. 9.-The fifteenth annual
convention of the American Federation Of
Labor began in Madison Square garden to-
day. Delegates were present from all over
the United States, Canada and Great Britain.
Vice President Mcbride presided and intro
duced ]. w. Sullivan Of Typographical union
No 6, who delivered the address OF welcome.
The reports of the president, secretary and
treasurer were read and referred.
President McBryde then read his annual
address, occupying the floor fully half an
hour.
THE greatest crime Of the nineteenth
century," he charged, was that committed
by the present national administration in
| adding to the bonded Indebtedness of the
country Turing time Of peace He charged
that the people had been deliberately and
| numerically robbed in the interests of east
ern bankers. The speaker had warm word
to say for the Cuban patriots and he urged
the convention to adopt resolutions petition
ing congress to at least recognize them as
beiligerents.
In conclusion the speaker turned his at
tention to state constitutions. He declared
that the constitution of the nation and the
constitutions of many of the states stood to-
day as monument to the past greatness and
grandeur of our country. He said these con-
stitutions were made for the purpose OF pro-
tecting men and methods now dead and were
not suited for the changed industrial condl-
tions and improved mental status of the
present time. II ,nce the common people, II
they would better their condition, should
turn their attention to the cutting away OF
these constitutional barriers, which invali-
date legislation enacted in the peoples in
terest
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 a,I,,ua natural al
seeing the English representatives. hope
that this association will send delegates to
foreign delegates present at your conven-
tons; There is much TO learn a from from the
done many things, has advanced the price
of labor and secured recognition in the
%Parliament; Par ,; The largest thing, thing in organ
in its early days, kicked and sneered at
istence and you must maintain 1t under
penalty of death. Fifty years ago there
Was MolS es If mes for bsys
siRs hagea araAs A0hp thing Used is The right he %
Infamous Judge Woods mounted the bench
and the government sent the militia to
If there were no labor organizations
wages would be. half as large and hours
half & as long va again st and capital would rule
changed times? How can you combat the
law? IF you pass resolutions 1t Will ram
them down your throat. There are many
other questions, such as the big monopoles
They will have to be met by such a body
as this.
Father Ducey was then introduced, and
said: 81 am here because, tine pope wants
me to be, If come of you do,not. In 1891 an
encyclical was issued by the pope in regard
to labor, and 1t is my duty as minister to
be present where such matters arise. What
Mr.. Swinton has said is perfectly true"
A mo nU md fbn anS of he
American Federation of Labor was held at
Cooper Union tonight. Samuel Gompers pre-
sided. John Mcbride, president of the Fedora
ito, delivered speech that was, much of it,
repetition of his speech before the con-
vention this afternoon. The other speakers
were John B. Lannon treasurer Of the FEEDER
alton; James O'Connell, president Of the
International Machinists. association; Mrc.
Eva Mcdonald Walsh, delegate from the
Typographical union; James Mamdsey sec
retary Of the Textile Workers union of Great
Britain Edward Cowie Of the British Miners
uncn and Senator Bob" Howard of Fall
River