The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-19
THE FEDERATION.
Labor's friends Hold an Interesting ses-
sIon-fAvor Cuban RecoknItlon-


Cincinnati. Dec. IL. - Wednesday
mornings session OF the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor opened with a full
attendance.
The business was interrupted at
10;30 by the introduction of Edward l..
Clark. secretary OF the Railway Con-
ductors. and representative Of the five
great railroad brotherhoods This had
been made special order. and was
looked forward to with great interest,
owing 10 the desire of the federation 20
affiliate these brotherhoods. Mr.. Clark
read an interesting paper on "Arbitrn-
tion," written with special reference to
national Legislation looking toward the
settlement of railroad strikes by a COM.
mission OF arbitration appointed by the
national congress.
Mr.. Clark read ind recommended for
the Endorsement of the convention
bill providing for the enforced arbi-
tration OF differences between railway
companies and their employees. which
congress will be asked to enact into "A
Inv. a number of delegates put ques-
tons To Mr.. Clark, which were prompt
ly and satisfactorily answered, and on
motion the matter was referred TO
special committee OF Eve to be appoint
ed by the president of the convention.
At the afternoon session Delegate
Samuel Woods, OF Great Britain, read an
exhaustive paper on European labor,
the late meeting OF the European labor
congress at Edinburgh. Scotland. and
the progress made in recent years by
the labor organizations of Great Brit
ain, setting forth what organization has
accomplished for working people and
what IL hopes TO accomplish in the flu
ture. The paper laid special stress on
the fact that trade unions have brought
about system of compulsory educa-
ton, which. while it was admitted was
greatly inferior to the educational sys-
tenn OF the United States, was yet
very important and gratifying accom-
plishment, which all previous efforts
had failed TO bring about, until the or
ganiZed labor unions took the matter
up and pushed il to its first fruition,
with good prospects that the work SO
well begun will be prosecuted until
public school system similar in many
respects. and equal in value TO the
masses and the poorer people to that
in vogue in the United States. will be
established throughout Great Britain.
a resolution favoring restriction Of
emigration was referred TO special
emigration committee. A resolution
fayoring six day week for all workers
was adopted. a resolution fayoring a
law requiring rigid investigation OF
boilers and ship bulls was passed. A
resolution demanding amendments 10
national and state constitutions so as
10 take from the federal courts the right
60 set aside regularly enacted laws
brought forth "A lively discussion. IL
was ordered printed. and 1870 o'clock
to-day set for further discussion. A
resolution to petition the pardon board
OF Pennsylvania for communication OF
sentence OF Alexander Bergman. WHO
shot Mr.. Frick of the Carnegie iron
works. during the strike at Homestead.
Pa. was unanimously adopted.
a resolution was introduced asking
congress to recognize Cuban belliger
ency. Delegate Weiseman. OF New
York, declared himself heartily in IA
yor OF the sentiment contained i'm the
resolution and stated that. though he
had signed it, he had since reached the
conclusion that it would be unwise for
the American Federation OF Labor 10
take any action on the Cuban war. be-
cause IL was n subject with which the
organization had no business 10 deal.
President Samuel Gompers spoke in
very fervid manner. urging the unani-
nous adoption Of the resolution and
frequently elciting hearty applause
by his eloquence. lie held that IL was
evidently appropriate that the senti-
ments OF the organized toilers Of the
great and free nation should be ex-
pressed through this convention. and
said he knew that that sentiment was
in favor Of extending to struggling,
bleeding Cuba n helping hand in is
hour of trial.
The resolution was finally adopted
by vote OF 60 too.
SIX MEN KILLED.