The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-15
MEETING OF THE
LABOR AGITATORS
The American Federation in Session at
Cincinnati. .
AN ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT GOMPERS
The Industrial Revival Has Not Been
Up to His ExpectatiOns..De Desires
Corporation of Fair Minded Men
and Women to Demand the En-.
fOrccment OF the Eight Hour Work
Inv

Cincinnati, o., Dec 1.-THE sixteenth
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor assembled at Odd
Fellows temple at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. 1t Is the largest in number and
most important meeting ever held by
the Federation. One hundred and
twenty-five delegates, some of them
from Europe, are in attendance.
The convention was called to order
by President Samuel Gompers Fred
BaZely, president of the Cincinnati
Central Labor council, welcomed the
delegates ON behalf of the local COM
mittee and T.. j. Denny, of the Iron
Moulders' union, on behalf of Cincin-
natl.
Mayor Caldwell delivered an address
of welcome. which was responded to by
President Gompers. The temporary
organization was then effected and the
convention proceeded with the business
before it. Opposition to the reelection
of President GOmpers and Secretary
McGraith developed this morning. The
candidacy of Harry Lloyd, of Boston,
member of the Carpenters lnternation-
al union for president, was announced.
Frank Morrison, of Chicago, delegate
from the International Typographical
union, is an active candidate for secre-
tary. He Is doing considerable work,
and this morning 1t was stated that ne
would start off with tWO-thirdS or the
23 votes of his craft, although Presi-
dent Prescott of the International Ty-
biographical union, is said to be in IA
vOr of the reelection of McGraith.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
President Gompers delivered his an
nual address. He said in part:
In the matter of our amendment to the
S-hour law we have had many manifesto
tions of opposition from quarters when
should have favored II. l would recom-
mend that the convention decide that rep
resentation of this federation be con-
stantly at the service of the government
during the session OF congress to guard
and further the legislation which our or
ganiZations demand in the interest OF Ia
Dor. While industry and commerce have
just about emerged from the paniCs or
1880, the changes or improvements nave
been very mcagre. There has not been
that industrial revival looked for and
hoped for, and which we had right to
anticipate after the crisis through winch
we have passed. Our membership dur
ing the year has increased nearly lOO,OvJ
The report of the secretary will show
that there We're POI charters issued to local
unions as compared with al last year, that
eleven national and International trade
unions have be,,pfne affiliated by charters
with the American Federation of Labor
uuIlIS lHt year, anu diso tWeHty I'M Sc
central bodies during the same period.
As per instructions the executive COM
mittee early set to work for the purpose
of securing some concessions for an S-hour
work day. number Of unions made the
demand and in many instances secured 1t
by strikes. \ larger number, however
had the reduction conceded to them with
o,st even the necessity of ceasng their
work.
Mr.. Gompers urged the holding of a
series of simultaneous mass meetings
by wage workers on national holidays
and continued as follows
I'VE earnestly seek the sincere CO.
operation of all fair minded men and
women of our time and declare openly
and unequivocaly to demand the en-
forcement of the eight-hour work day,
May 1. 1898. and to that end we shall
bend our every effort"