Evening star., 1896-12-14

convention when it was declared as tho cot
uea pohcy OF the American t, ade union
| movement that party political action of
| whatsoever kind shall have no place in
the convention Of the American Fede, a ton
of Labor You are asked. and you should
| have no hesitation to answer whether yeur
| Guiding that this declaration had a binding
/ force upon them and to which hey should
conform their course. not only during the
eventful and all-absprbing party polft,ca,
campaign recently closed. but for the eui-
dance of your cffcers in the future.
Having had the experience of occupy
ing the presidency of the American Fedora
ton of Labor during three previous presI-
dental campaigns. l knew to what tactica
and tricks party managers and their uneer-
strappers and wire-pullers resort in order
to commit active men in the labor move
ment to one or the other party The slight
est casual remark ts distorted .nto a declar-
alton of Endorsement or Condemnation
Hence, before the campaign opened. 1
tnought II necessary to warn our fellow
unionists against regarding as true any
statement attributed to me as fayorfnp
either Of the political parties 1 had not
long to wait for a verification of my judR-
gram sent from Indianapolis while I was
In northern Michigan In the interest of the
miners. in which I was supposed to rrRe
the nomination Of a certain man for the
presidency
by my course that Is. in refusing to
commit our organization or myself to either
OF the parties, by no means allayed per-
sonal or official criticism. or rather abuse
and slander. By the partisans of one side
l was supposed to be working in the inter-
ests of the silver barons;' by the other,
was captured for the gold bugs
AT least the officers Of the American
Federation of Labor have kept .aloof from
party political action and have sought to
Induce affiliated unions to keep this apple
of discord from without their councils. /
feel assured. now that our fellow Enion;sts
Ia MR. S,rnd
they will agree that our movement Is above
party. and that our organizations are tust
as essential as at any time in The history
of labor and would he so. regardless or
which way the political pendulum would
have swung.
The Eight-HOur Movement.
LAS per Instructions. the executive coun-
ell early set to work for the purpose of
securing some concessions for an eight
hour work day. A number Of unions made
the demand and in many instances secured
1t by strikes. much larger number how
ever, had the reduction conceded to them
without even the necessity of ceasing their
work. keenly sensible Of the responsibility
| imposed. I submit the following for your
consideration: That the executive officers
OF each national or International Union
recommend to the American Federation
OF Labor a representative of It's organiza-
ton who may reside In the city in which
the headquarters of the American Fedora
tlOH VI LdUOE may De located, these to
stitute an advisory board. That these rep
resentatives hold regular meetings ence a
month, at such time and place as the off,
GERS of the federation may provide, and
that all officers of the federation who can,
should be required to attend these meet
ings and conduct the official duties thereof
That the conclusions of these conferences
shall not be binding unless approved by the
executive council of he federation. That
the president by and With the consent of
the executive council, select some one to
assist him in the perform ance of his duties :
that Is. In his correspondence, In editing
the American Federationist. and 10 tempo
rarily take his place during his absence
from headquarters. and to perform such
ether duties as may be required N the in
terest of the movement.
The appointment of special organizers
as recommended under another heading OF
this report.
The issuance of pamphlets. circulars
and other literature upon the advantages
of the shorter work day.
ITO generally request all public speakers
newspapers and the labor press, to make
the aims and purposes of the eight-hour
movement the theme of a Simultaneous dIs-
course.
The issuance of circulars to the employ
ers generally and directly, requesting the
concession of the eight-hour work cay.
THE appointment of committees by local
central bodies and local trade unions to
wait upon employers with view of sccur-
ing the eigbt-hour work-1ay without cessa-
ton of work
That the officers Of national, intcrna-
tional ard local trade unions furnish Cata
as to the progress made in The matter cf
organization and preparation for the inaug
uration of a general movement to reduce
the hours of labor.
That this convention will recommend to
all organizations that an effort be made
to secure reduction in the hours Of labor
at early time possible. and psrticu-
larly during the spring, or May ], 1S97.
/ boo nf b,t ify
resting upon us: with recognition CT the
cessity of our action. W. call Ipon all
workers to organize in the unions of their
respective trades. We earnesdy seek the
| sincere cooperation Of all fair minded men
and women Of our time, and declare epen-
ly and unequiyocaliy our purpose to de-
mand the general enforcement of the eight
hour work-day, May /. 1898. and to that
end we shall bend our every effort.
Immigration.
1.-The immigration question is one which
has often commanded the attention of our
conventions, the problem increasing in its
perplexity as it is proposed to be dealt with
in practical manner under existing socie-
tary conditions.
"At this time there are a number of bills
before Congress upon this subject. Wheth-
er this convention will tndorse a measure
looking to greater restriction of immigra-
ton. or whether the lines of restriction
should be upon the qualifications imposed,
are subjects upon which this convention
should declare it's attitude in no unmstak-
able terms. We cannot remain neutral while
this question is widely discussed and
seeking adjustment.
complaints from many quarters have
reached headquarters that system which
mas had somewhat Of quasi Endorsement
from US, namely, the circle check system,
has been utilized by some persons who
nave brought discredit upon the name of
labor among large number of people. All
xmas or schemes were resorted to to secure
the Endorsement of local and central bodies
Fair employers. employers of union labor,
nave been duped into paying tribute for
patronage which they would and were en-
titled to receive"
The Secrctary's Report.
The report of Secretary McCraith, which
was examined Saturday and found to be
correct by the auditing committee, Messrs.-
John Phillips of Brooklyn. N " Edward
Barrett of South Norwalk. Conn. and j. T.
Elliott of Baltimore, was next submitted.
The receipts and expenses for the Year
amounted to the sums named as follows:
receipts, per capita tax, $10.057. SO: supplies.
$4,214.u: Federationist, $l.T76l advertis-
ing. $lOo which with the sum on hand No
vember l, 1885,. which was $3.33l.12 amount
ed to $l9,621.D The expenses were: Cen
>eral $l3.352.s7; Federatlonist, s21OOOS; to-
tai, $3,45295. leaving a balance on hand