Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-15
GOmpers Tells the Nations Laborers What
They Should Strive For,
SIXTEENTH CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER
One Hundred and FIFTY American
Delegates and Three Foreign Rep
rcscntntiVcs Gnthcr for Discuss
sion of Masses improvements.

Martin Fox, president of the Iron Moul-
ders' union of North America had been
selected by the labor organizations of Gin
cinnati to deliver the address of welcome.
Owing to the death of his mother, Mr.. Fox
was not present and his address was read
by f. |. Denny. In the welcoming address
more effective action for the eight hour law
and other reforms were recommended. Spe-
cial greetings were extended Delegates Sam
uel Woods and John Madison of England
and Louis Vigoroux OF France, who were
seated with Secretary McGraith and Assist
ant Secretary Martin Walters on the stage.
President Gompers in responding to the
address of welcome referred to attacks on the
organization because 1t was merely fed
Grafton and not a more compact union. lie
showed how the fullest scope was given to
individual opinions and rights in the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and thus the affila-
tons of different labor organizations was
possible in one general federation. He ap-
pealed for continued efforts for the cultiva-
ton of public opinion as well as favorable
legislation and for the most earnest CO.
operation of labor organizations. After the
appointment of the committees on creden-
tals and officers of the convention, a recess
was taken till 2:3O p. m, awaiting the re-
port on credentials
At their hotel last night President Com
pers and John Phillips were robbed of $50
each Woods and Madison, the English
delegates, were robbed of cash and jewelry
and several delegates of other articles.
DELAYED BY CONTESTS.
Owing to the contests heard in the COM
mittee on credentials the convention did not
resume business until p. m instead Of 2
p. m. The earlier part of the afternoon was
devoted to the Informal consideration of
resolution to exclude from the convention all
representatives of non-union newspapers.
When the convention was permanently organ
ized, after the special report of the COM
mittee on credentials was adopted, the reso-
luton boycottng nCnunOn newspapers and
refusing them representation in the conven-
tiun wao adopted without discussion.
The credentials committee made a partial
report seating 11S delegates out of 1875 Most
of the others had failed to present their ere
dentials to the committee, but there were
some bitter contests. Woods and Madison CT
England and VjourouSe of France were
seated with all the privileges of the Ameri-
can delegates. The committee reported only
on uncontested seats and has not reported on
the contests. The partial report on creden-
tials was unanimously adcrted.
James II. Payne, representing the box
Makers is attempting to secure charter
and Thomas j. Kidd of the Amalgamated
Woodmakers is protesting
President Gompers appointed the usual
twelve standing committees, the most I'M
portant being constituted as follows: Rules
and order of business c. e. Lowe, j. w.
Quail Samuel Yarnell. j. L. McFadden,
James Mari; on resolutions, James OConnen,
John c. Darnell, Robert Askew, Davis Black,
Frank Morrison; on law, T. j. Mcclure,
James Duncan, NJ. NJ. Garland, John Nc
Bride, John Lennon.
President Gompers then presented his an
nual report as follows:
GOMPERS' ANNUAL ADDRESS.
The wrongs of the workers have not yet
been obliterated, nor their rights attained.
The myriads of toilers of our country OBJ
serve with a quickened and most accurate
sense the burdens they have to bear, not
withstandng the marvellous progress which
blossoming forth like a rose through our
handiwork. Yet countless thousands of our
their reward or their consolation, cncircled
with the wizard-lke instruments, the result
of the concentrated genius of ages, labor to
produce the necessities ana iuXuries OF me,
but still the struggle of life is most intense
and often eNcruciating. Greed and inhu-
manity, providing they result in wealth,
are still regarded as human attributes of
victory and responsibility. Masses of the
young and the innocent may. suffer and de-
cay in the process, but this Is of little con-
cern only that the end wealth's possession
by the few, is attained. t..
by all the memories which bind us to its
heroic sacrifices of the struggles of the
lowly, by the recognition of the battles
fought and won and the wounds received in
the battles of our day, by the nobility of our
purposes the freedom for which we strive
for all success Is as sure as that night fol-
lows day and day follows nie2t.
In the matter of legislation by congress
only fair progress can be reported There
are too few members of congress who are
elected upon distinctive labor issues or com
mitted to labors interests. Hence the MEM
bers of congress imagine that the special
interests of labor have small need to be
considered. Experience, however, has dem
onstrated that with persistency on the part
of the organized labor, legislation IN IN the IN IN
be secured, providing we have at the halls
of Legislation our committees who VIII act
regardless of results to any party or to any
man. looking only to success along the line
of the labor legislation sought.
In the matter of legislation in the several
states much better progress has been re-
ported There are few states in which
laws have not been passed in favor of
labor, Under the police of many states
of health, life and limb of the workers,
better sanitary conditions of factories and
workshop. lien laws and factory laws have
been enacted. Nearly all the states now
have bureaus of labor statistics and also
factory inspectors. In nearly every in
stance the officers who are required to
carry ont these laws have been appointed
from the ranks of labor. OF course there
remains much to be desired on this score
and the making of constant advances
should receive your earnest consideration
| would recommend that representatives,
of this federation be constantly at the
seat OF government during these sessions
of congress, TO guard and further the leg
islation which our organizations demand
I'm the interest Of labor. We can secure
the abroEatiOu of laws mimical to the in
tercsts OF the masses and the passage of
others for their advancement and prOtec-
ton. Although we may an desire to Sc
cure the purposes for which we are or
ganlzed through other methods, that should !
not deter US from pursuing tho course
which all experience demonstrates is CON
duCiyc to the best results The workers
of our country need immediate relief inn
mediate improvements. They cannot afford |
to wait untn the millennium shall have |
come and in the meantime suffer the |
wrongs which exist. more especially when |
the opportunity of securing that relief is |
az hand We may not always be favor |
ably impressed with the means 10y which !
that relief Is obtained but that IL must |
tial to our well being and progress, should |
be n sufficient Incentive TO seek II on such |
lines and by such methods as promise to |
assure success.
The present year has witnessed little |
Improvement over the two preceding years. |
While industry and commerce have lust |
about emerged from the panlCs of lS93-5 |
The changes or improvements have been |
very meagcr There has not been that in
lustrial revival looked and hoped for and |
which we had a right TO anticipate after |
he crisis through which we have passed |
That our panic was not more acute and |
more TO our movement than TO all other |
dement's and forces combined, Industrial |
rises and stagnation result from many |
'auscs hut particularly from the lack OF /,
opportunity of the workers TO consume |
more largely of the product of their labor
\ reduction in wages mtan5 "A lesser CON
sumption OF those products thus rendering |