River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-17
FEDERATION oE LABOR.
Called to Order by President 6ompers-
HI Ann...t AAaraa.

His Annual Address.
Cincinnati. Dec. l5.-One hundred and
fifty delegates and four times that mum
Der of onlookers 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
hs nded in represented total member
ship OF over 100000.
Immediately upon calling the con-
vention to ort.er President Gompers in
vited 20 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 more
extended influence than Samuel Woods
\ miner by occupation he sat for sew
sral years in the house OF commons as
representative of one of the colliery
districts of Lancashire. tie 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
jChn Malinson is tall, slim and decidedly
lelicate looking. He was president OF
the trade UNION congress that met in
i.dinburg in October and is a repre-
sentative Scotch unionist.
Alter the transaction of the regular
routine business the call for the con
vention was read by Secretary August
McCraith and then President Gompers
delivered his annual address. The
speaker proceeded to review at length
tle labor legislation of congress, which
he characterized as only fair progress
lie concluded his remarks under this
head as follows:
II would recommend that the convention
decide that the representatives of this fed
Grafton De constantly at the seat of gov
erSment during the sessions OF congress.
to guard and further the legislation which
our on organizations demand in the interests
of labor. We can secure the abrogation Of
Jaws inimieal to the interests OF the masses
and the passage of others for their advance
rlcnt and protection. The lines suggested
have proved successful IN every instance
in 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 pursuing the course which
all experience demonstrates is conducive
TO the best results The workers OF our
country need immediate relief. immediato
improvements. They cannot afford to wait
until the millennium shall come. and mean
lime suffer Che wrongs which exist, more
especially when the opportunity OF secur-
ing that relief is 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
essary and essential to our we'll being ana
progress, should be sufficient incentive to
seek IL on such lines and by such meth DDS
as promise and assure success.
Reference was made to the fact that when
Utah was admitted into the union a clause
in tie constitution authorized the legis-
lature to limit the hours of labor to eight
per day. The legislature complied The
mineowners were convicted of violating
the law, failed in an appeal to the supreme
court of the state, and have now taken the
case to 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:
1.-THE present year has witnessed little
Improvement over the two preceding years.
While industry and commerce have just
about emerged from the panics Of lSy395
the changes or Improvements have been
very meager. There has not been that in
dustral revival locked 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 diq
not DO more harm than II did is due more
to our movement than TO all other elements
and forces combined. Industrial crises ana
stagnation result from many causes. but
particularly from the lack OF opportunity
of the workers TO consume more largely
of the products OF their iaDor. A reduction
In wages 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. W hat
ever else the enemies OF our movement
may urge against IL, no one can dispute that
the organizations OF labor have very large
IN, III not entirely, prevented a great reduc-
lion in wages which would have otherwise
taken place. Hence the world owes TO t..-
trades union movement debt OF gratitude
which it can never repay, for the mseries
il has prevented and the opportunity thai
Ii presents for the natural and gradual
progress of industrial, social and moral
Influences.
There was loud applause when the an
nouncement was made that the unions al
Inflated with the federation had gained
In round numbers oFer 100000 members
during the year. In dealing with This sub
iect the president said:
''In the case of/the Brotherhood of Lo-
COuAOtiNe Elfctlens the d4llidtioB OF lildl
organization would be cOusummated at
THIS time were IL not Tor the tact tina 1.
there IS sgme feeling manifested by its
members upon the question Of striking the
color line" out OF tbclT constitution. The
olficers OF the brotherhood state mat the
members have good grounds for complaint
against the cheap LABOR OF the colored man,
Mao IS always utlilzed 10 Geieat the aims
II the brotherhood. The answer was made
Inat this is all the greater reason why the
advantages OF organization shOu4u DC CA
tended 10 the co-oIed man. IA oruer thdt ne
may no longer De so utlli%eu 10 ahtasOliize
our interests.
Mr.. Gompers urged the holding OF
series of simultaneous mass-meetlnGS by
wage workers Oh national hoilddSs, anu
,.o.ttinued as follows; ~ < earnesI! seen
me sincere cooperation OF aIi faIr-mu.ueu
men ana women OF our time and declare
ypenly and unequIvOcally our purpose 10
ieruttnd the general enforcement vi the
,-taut.nour Work Gay Aay l, 1875, and ~
,t.t emu We small bend OuI every eiOr1-
1rtsiaent Gof. Iers touched al iensth
upou strikes ana their eieCtiN chess, Jassl-
MA the officers Of the federdilOn IA hClu
ing aioOt from the recent pOiitlcai cain
uaTgu. urged renewed agitation OF TIE
etgnl hour movement and new Cdnlpal6N
for the orgamzation of textile Industries
insisted that the federation could not re
main neutral on the question OF restricting
ImTni grafton. ana congratulated the or
s-aufzatiOn urOn being In close touch with
the leading oreauiza lions of workers in
England and continental countries.
A Duluth i;ank suspends.
Duluth, Mimi. Dec. 12.-The National