Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-09
CONGRESS OF LABOR LEADERS.
Fifteenth Annual Convention of the
National Federation.

| Fifteenth Annual Convention of the
| National Federation.
NEW YORK, Dec. S.--The largest congress
Of labor leaders ever held in New York. as
far as the numbers reported and the interests
| involved are concerned, win begin tomor-
| row at Madison Square garden with the open
| ing Of the Fifteenth annual convention of
the American Federation of Labor. More
| than 100000 laboring men in the United
States are sending their deegates-l15 in
number-to represent them. Perhaps l. 900 900
wcrkingmen would be nearer the mark, but
the oficers Of the federation are conservative
as to numbers and Cnly reckon those who are
IN good standing with the subordinate unions.
1t is now twelve years since the Federation
met in this city in convention since which
time 1t has been expanding until it has Its
representatives, in every state in the union
and all over Canada 1t has affiliated with
1t eighty national organizations There will
be one woman delegate. Miss Frances Martell,
who will represent the Garment Workers
union of Chicago. For the last three days
the delegates to the convention have been
arriving. EXPresident Gompers of the fed
GRAFTON and several of the local officers are
finding quarters for the delegates at the
hotels
The executive council of the Federation
reached this city yesterday, and is at the
Ashland house. The council consists of John
Mcbride president OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor; p. j. Mcclure, vice president:
John Brennon, treasurer; Augustin McCraith
secretary, and N. NJ Garland, president of
the Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers. Ex-President Gompers at
tended a meeting of the executive council,
which was held yesterday afternoon at the
Ashland house. '.'
The business consisted Of preparations for
the opening of the conventions. T.. Convey and |
j. Mawdsley Of the Coal Miners and the |
Spinners' union of England which will at
tend the convention as representatives of those
bodies, arrived today. They were met by a |
delegation of the local officers and escorted to |
the Ashland house, which will BE- the head |
quarters of the executive council. They |
represent about 100000 workingmen in Eng
land and Wales. President John Mcbride
of the Federation is not delegate, having |
been defeated at the election for delegates from
his local union He will, however as pres-
dent open the convention.
Special arrangements have been made to
the visiting delegates mass
meeting will be held in Cooper Union tomor-
row evening, under the auspices Of the trade
and labor unions Of New York Brooklyn and
Jersey City. in connection with the conven-
ion, at which the visiting delegates will be
invited to speak Important questions will
ome before the convention. including the car
wing out OF an eight hour movement on
Nay !, 1896, Questions affecting the stand
ng OF subordinate national unions will be
discussed. The question OF harInonzing ma
ional branches will also be discussed and
norts made to eXtingush the knights of
.abor as trades union movement and compel
hat body to become a purely educational
ne. Ex-President Gompcrs win be a candi- |
ate Tor president In opposition TO President