The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-19
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Called to order by President Gompers--
His Annual Address.

Cincinnati. Dec. l5.-One hundred and
fifty delegates and four times that num-
her OF onlool<ers were assembled In the
auditorium of the Odd Fellows temple
Monday morning when Samuel Gompers
called 10 order the sixteenth annual con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor. Under the revised allotment the
number of delegates was not larger than
In previous years. but the credentials
handed in represented total member
ship Of over 100000.
Immediately upon calling the con-
vention To order President Gompers i'm
vited to the platform the delegates from
the English trade union congress and
amid rousing cheers Samuel Woods and
John Malinson stepped TO the stage.
Next to John Burns no labor leader in
England is better known or has a more
extended influence than Samuel Woods.
A miner by occupation he sat for sew
eral years in the house OF commons as
a representative of one of the colliery
districts OF Lancashire. lie Is now sec
rotary of the parliamentary committee
OF the trades congress, the highest
honor that organized labor in England
can bestow upon one of lis fellows.
John Malinson is tall, slim and decidedly
delicate looking. lie was president OF
the trade union congress that met in
Edinburg in October and is "a repre-
sentative Scotch unionist.
After the transaction OF the regular
routine business the call for the con-
vention was read by Secretary August
McCraith and then President GoInpers
delivered his annual address. The
speaker proceeded to review at length
the labor legislation of congress, which
he characterized as only fair progress.
He concluded his remarks under this
head as follows:
~ would recommend that the convention
decide that the representatives OF this fed
ovation be constantly at the seat OF gov
erSment during the sessions OF congress-
10 guard and further the legislation which
our organizations demand In the interests
OF labor. We can secure the abrogation or
laws inlmical to the interests OF the masses
and the passage OF others for their advance
rcnt and protection. The lines suggested
have proved successful In every instance
I'm which they have been fairly tried, and.
although we may all desire to secure the
purposes for which we are organized
through other methods, that should not
deter us from the SOuISe WHICH
all experience demonstrates is conducive
to the best results. The workers OF our
country need immediate relief, immedinto
improvements. They cannot AFFORD 10 wait
until the millennium shall come. and mean
time suffer the wrongs which exist. moro
especially when the opportunity OF secur-
ing that relief Ia at hand. We may not al
ways be favorably impressed with the
means by which that relief Is obtained.
but that II must be secured. that II Is nee
I'll ata.a.
progress. should be sufficient incentive to
seek II on such lines and by such methods
as promise and assure success"
Reference was made to the fact that when
Utah was admitted into the union clause
In the constitution authorized the legis-
lature TO limit the hours OF labor TO eight
per day. The Legislature complied Tha
mineowners were convicted OF violating
the law, failed In an appeal 10 the supreme
court OF the state, and have now taken tho
case 10 the United States supreme court.
President Gompers recommended that the
federation render financial assistance for
the employment OF competent attorneys.
On the Industrial situation the presi-
dent said:
THE present year has witnessed little
Improvement over the two preceding years.
While industry and commerce have just
about emerged from the panics OF lS9S-95.
the changes or improvements have been
very meager. There has not been that In
dustrial revival looked and hoped for. and
which we had a right TO anticipate after
the crisis through which we have passed.
That our panic was not more acute and did
not DO more harm than II did Is due more
10 our movement than to all other elements
and forces combined Industrial crises and
stngnation result from many causes. but
particularly from the lack of opportunity
OF the workers TO consume more largely
OF the products OF their labor a reduction
in waKes means a lesser consumption OF
these products, thus rendering the labor
OF other workers unnecessary, and throw
ing them out OF employment. The crisis
becomes intensified ana prolonged. What
ever else the enemies Of our movement
may urge against II. no one can dispute that
the organizations OF labor have very large
w. II not entirely, prevented a great rcduc-
ton In wages which would have otherwise
taken place. Hence the world owes TO t..e
trades union movement debt OF gratitude
which Il can never repay. for the miseries
IL has prevented and the opportunity that
IL presents for the natural and gradual
progress OF industrlai' social ana moral
Influences"
Mr. Gompers urged the holding OF a
series OF simultaneous mnss-meetings by
wage-workers on national holidays. and
continued as follows: we earnestly seek
the sincere cooperation OF all fair-minded
men and women or our time and declare
openly and unequivocally our purpose 10
demand the general enforcement OF the
eight-hour work day May |, 1888. and TO
that end we shall bend our every effort"
president Gompers touched at length
upon strikes and their effectiveness. justl-
fed the officers OF the federation In hold
ing aioof from the recent political cam
paign. urged renewed agitation OF tie
eight-hour movement and n new campaign
for the organization OF textile industries
insisted that the federation could not re-
main neutral on the question OF restricting
Immigration. ana congratulated the or
ganization upon being In close touch with
the leading organizations OF workers ir
England and continental countries.
Named by tho President.
Washington, Dec. i5.-The president