Evening star., 1896-12-01
The Federation of Labor Convention
in Indianapolis.
IMPORTANT TOPICS TO Be DEBATED
Probable Action on Pending Ques-
tons Affecting Labor.
W II o WILL BE TIL ERE

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, November 20, 1896
The coming annual convention of the
American Federation of La bor will be the
greatest representative labor body that has
ever convened in this country if not in the
Wcrld, according to the opinion of Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers, who yesterday
talked as follows to Star correspondent:
The convention of the American Fedora
tion OF Labor which will assemble In Gin
cinnati December IA will be composed Of
representatives of nearly all the great
trades urions of the United States.
1t may be necessary to dispel an Illusion
Prevailing in the minds of many that these
gatherings of the American Federation of
Labor are meetings of great masses of men
Uhere being but about 12J deleSates); but
lew are aware, or, if aware, care to inves-
tgate the causes which have led the Fed
Grafton tc adopt the plan by which its con-
VentloLs are attended by an apparently
small number of delegates for an ora.anlZa-
uoh Oh sucn vast numerical strength, the
membership of the A. F. of l.. beng fully
S50.O1O.
Experience has fully demonstrated tha:
gathering OF large numbers never was
anu never can be i reasoning intellieen;
legislative body; that where large numbers
II eet In conventions, whose time is neces-
safily limited, the work is really decided by
the manlpulators of what becomes not a
convention but machine awaiting ONLY
the formal Endorsement of the assembled
delegates. In other words a few constitute
themselves the bosses while the masses
SIMPLY become their tools of trade
Teaching Citfzenxhip.
With this object lesson constantly be-
lore the workers they have protited by it,
Inc trade unions are in their very nature
the acme OF democracies; they retain all
That is best in representative gatherings.
oiscaroing all that is vicious tending to
evil, hence it was determined that the CON-
Nentioh OF the federation shall be COM
PoSeo OF the smallest possible number of
delegates consistent with the rights of ali
anu SUN give the full voting strength of
lhe membership represented.
Inc constitution of the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor provides that an oreaniz.
tlon with less than 1000 members shall he
enltled TO but one delegate; from 4NM Ia
1eo put TWO delegates; from 5000 to
io,oo three delegates; from 1900 to 90
W., tour delegates; from $1,000 to "a l.D
HEe ueieSates, and so on. Thus it will he
seen that the membership increases in a
SeoInetrlcal ratio to an arithmeticaI in
crease in the number of deIegat.s who
shaH represent them: yet, in order that the
iuli rights and wishes of tine masses NAV
nave full weight and influence each dele
gate casts one vote for every 100 members
he represents.
I'm the hands of this gathering of the
representatives of the real workers of our
country the interests and hopes of all are
committed To this convention the gaze of
all are directed; on its decisions grave oues
tons of the future depend
The work of a more thorough and COM
plete organization of the workers is of
paramount Importance to all things else
There need be apprehension that the
workers. when once organized. will fail to
md way out of their unjust environ
ments. but to organize them to organize
upon permanent basis, is the first uues-
uon. and to secure that We must earn and
deserve their confidence. This we have al
ready obtained to large degree and We
should continue to extend our field of oper-
ationS until the righteous shield of organi-
Zauon covers protects, defends, advances
and emancipates all the toiiers. To devise
the plans by which this-the organization
OF all the workers-may be secured is the
first duty of the convention.
Hours of Work.
THE question of securing reduction in
the hours of labor; the enactment of oct
ter laws to advance the interests of the
workers, adult and young; the means to
fully present the claims of the wage earn
Ers upon modern society; the creation OF
a healthier public opinion of the demands
and the underlying principles of the iabor
movement; to beat back the forces which
seek to crush the organiZa ton of labor;
these and host of other questions of
greater and smaller moment will come be-
fore the delegates to the Cincinnati con-
vention for action and decision.
Much of our success will depend upon
the manner Win which We conduct our
affairS-the wise conclusion at which We
may arrive. 1t is hoped that each dele
gate will feel that upon him rests the great
responsibility OF representing the best inter-
estS Of the working masses; that their lives,
their hopes, their liberty, now and here
after are in his maids, and that after the
work is done, the workers may with glad
deDed and upturned eyes. with cheeks glow
iig with eXultation, their hearts throbbing
with joy, gather around the banner oil
labor, that their children with them in one
accord will exclaim to the delegates to
Cincinnati: Well done, thou good and faith
full servants.
Organizations to BE Represented.
The following ne tional unions will, it is
expected, be represented in the convention:
American Agents Association, Actors Ma
tional Protective Union. International
Broom Makers, Journeymen BARRIERS, Ma
tional Journeymen Bakers and ConfectioI-
ers International Boot and Shoe Workers
Union, National Union of United Brewery
Workers, Brickmakers National Alliance,
brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron
Snip Builders United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joners of America, Cigar Max
ers' International Union of America, ANAL
gamated Society of Carpenters and Jo-ners,
Retail Clerks National Protective Assoc.a-
ton, Carriage and Wagon Makers lnterna-
tional, Coopers International Union of
North America, National Brotherhood OF
Electrical Workers of America, American
Flint Glass Workers Union. Glass En-
ployes' Association of America, United
Garment Workers of America, Table Knife
Grinders National Union, Granite Cutters
National Union, United Brotherhood of
Harness and Saddle Makers of America,
International Union of Horseshoers If
United States and Canada, Hotel and Res
taurant Employees National Alliance,
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers, National 'Longshoremen's Asso-
eiation of the United States. Iron Molders'
Union of North America, Metal PolIshers,
Buffers, Platers and Brass Workers Union
of North America, International Associa-
ton of Mac achinists. United Mine Workers
of America, Amalgamated Association of
Marine Water Tenders, Oilers and Firemen
of America, Northern Mineral Mine Work.
ers' Progressive Union, Western Fedora
ton of Miners, Brotherhood of Painters
and Decorators of America. Pattern Max
ers' National League of North America,
PotterS' National Union of America, Inter-
national Printing Pressmen's Union, Stone
Ware Potters' Union. Quarrymen's Nation
al Union, National Slate Quarrymens
Union. Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway Employees of America, Cotton
Mule Spinners Association, International
seamen's Union, Stove Mounters' Interna-