The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-15
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PREsI-
DENT OF THE AMERICAN FED
GRAFTON. q
STRIKES HAVE THEIR USES,
BUT ARE A. MEANS TO BE EN-
PLOYED WITH GREATEST
CARE.
CONVENTION IS NOW. N SESSION
Opening Day Given Up Largely to
Reports and to Preliminary
Routine BUSINESS.

CINCINNATI, Dec. 14.-The sixteenth
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor was called to or
der here at 10 a. m. today by President
Samuel Gompers. About $50 delegates
were present and many visitors. Mar
tin Fox, president of the Iron Molders'
Union of North America, had been Sc
lected by the labor organizations Of
Cincinnati to deliver the address of
welcome. Owing to the death Of his
mother, Mr.. Fox was not present. and
his address was read by E. J. Denny.
In the welcoming address, more effec-
tive action for the eight hour law and
other reforms were recommended Spe-
cial greetings were extended Delegates
Samuel Woods and John Mallinson, Of
England, and Louis Vigoureaux, of
France, who were seated with Secre-
tary McGrath and Assistant Secre-
tary Martin Walters, on the stage.
After the appointment of the COM
mittee on credentials and officers of the
convention, recess was taken till 2:30
p. M, awaiting the report on creden-
tials
At their hotel last night President
Gompers and John Phillips were
robbed of $50 each. Woods and NAL
linson, English delegates were robbed
of cash and jewelry.
Owing to the contests heard in the
committee on credentials, the conven-
ton did not resume business until D.
M, instead of p. m. The earlier part
of the afternoon was devoted to the
informal consideration of a resolution
to exclude from the convention all
representatives of non-union newspa-
pers. When the convention was per-
manently organized, the resolution
boycotting non-uniOn newspapers and
refusing them representation in the
convention was adopted without refer
ence. J. F. O'Sullivan, of Boston, was
the only one asking to, be recorded
in the negative.
The committee on credentials made a
| partial report seating 118 delegates out
of 126. Most Of the others had failed
to present their credentials to the
committee, but there were some bitter
contests. Wood and Mallinson, of Eng
land. and Vigoureaux, of France, were
| seated with all the privileges of the
American delegates. The committee
reported only on uncontested seats
| ana has not yet reported on the con-
| tests. The partial report on creden-
tails was unanimously adopted. James
II. Payne, representing the boxmakers,
| IS attempting to secure charter and
/
Woodmakers, is protesting. President
| Gompers appointed the usual standing
! committees, the most important being
constituted as follows:
Rules and Order Of Business-C. E. Lowe,
]. w. Quail Samuel Yarnell J. L. McFad-
den, James MARI
Resolutions-Jame O'ConnelI, John c.
Dernell, Robert Askew, Davis Black Frank
Morrison.
Law-P. ]. Mcclure, James Duncan. M.
M. Garland, John Mcbride, John Lennon.
GOMPERS' ADDRESS.
| President Samuel Gompers then pre-
| sented his annual report as follows:
Inc wrongs of the workers have not vet
been obliterated nor their rights attained
! The myriads of toilers of our country OBJ
serve with quickened and most acute sense.
| the burdens they have to bear notwithstand-
| ing the marvellous progress which should
nghten them. Greed and inhumanity pro-
viding they result in wealth. are still re-
| garded as human attributes of victory and
| respectability. Masses of the young and the
| innocent may suffer and decay in the pro-
| cess, but this is Of little concern, only that
| the end, wealth's possession by the few, is
| attained.
in the matter of legislation by congress
| only fa1r progress be reported There
| are few members of congress who are elected
| upon distinctive labor issues or committed to
| labor's interests, hence, the members of con-
| greSs imagine that the special interests of
! labor have small need to be considered In
the matter of legislation in the several states
much better progress has been reported. There
| are few states in which laws have not been
passed in the interest Of labor Nearly ali
the states now have bureaus of labor statistics
| and also factory inspectors. In, nearly every
/ instance the officers required to carry out
these laws have been appointed from the
ranks OF labor | would recommend that
| representatives of this federation be con-
/ stantly at the seat Of the government during
the sessions of congress. to guard and fur
| they the legislation which our organizations
demand in the interests of labor.
The present year has witnessed little i'm
proyement over the two preceding years.
! While industry and commerce have Just about
| emerged from the panics Of 1895 the
changes or improvements have been very
meager. There has not been that industrial
revival looked and hoped for, and which we
| had a right to anticipate after the crisis
through which we have passed. BY dint
| of energy and perseverance, q very large
| increase in the membership Of our general
movement has resulted. In round numbers