Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-16
LABOR FEDERATION.
President Gompers Delivers His
Address Before the Convention.
new YORK PRINTERS TO STRIKE.
A Demand for a Nlne-llour Day Seminole
Indians Begin Negotiations with the
Dawes Commission Depart-
ment Of Commerce.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. l4.-The No
tional Federation Of Labor began Its
nth annual session in this city yester-
day with an attendance OF about 80
delegates. President Gompers presid-
ed. Havelock, Wilson and Edward
Hartford, delegates from England, were
introduced by the president William
Aimison, Of the local Typographical
union. delivered an address OF welcome.
President Gompers said, in his annual
address;
With two exceptions oil our affiliated M
tiOnal unions report u large increase OF local
unions and membership There Is m Increase
Of about "a, 900 members In the organizations
affiliated The strikes Of this year, with few
exceptions, have been for higher wages, shorter
hours and recognition Of union principles Our
organizations report, with gratifying unanimi-
ty, the very large number OF successes secured,
the advantages gained and the growth and ex-
tension OF the power Of organization enjoyed.
The movement to reduce the hours OF labor Is
always one which commands the first attention
OF organized labor. We hold that no condition
Is satisfactory nor any solution complete which
fails to eliminate the curse and the degrading
influences Of unemployment, and so long as
this evil shall be with us, our best efforts will
be concentrated to the reduction OF the hours
Of labor Of oil until the desired end Is attained
During the year, according to the
secretary's report, 276 strikes were off,
cially noticed, involving 1855, 4O7 work.
ers. OF these 1870 were won, 81 COM
promised and 33 lost. During the year
2l7 charters were issued to national,
state, central, local and federal labor
unions, Two charters for state feder.
atoms were issued to Ohio and Mis-
souri,. Treasurer j. b. Lennon sub
mitted his report, showing the income
OF the federation from November /,
1895, to November /, 1897, TO be S2l 1908
and the expenses $40, ll3, leaving a bal
ance Of 1894.
NEW YORK PRINTERS TO STRIKE.
New YORK, Dec. AT is probable
that within 4s hours the 5000 printers
employed In the 1852 book and job
printing offices Of this city will be idle
the result Of astrke. Typographical
union No. 8 has taken the first step.
The union men In special session have
decided TO give the boss printers
until tonight to accede to the deman nd
for a nine-hour day. II by that time
the demand remains unrecognized the
printers will strike. The union
agrees TO levy four per cent.
campaign tax upon every dol.
lar earned by the total member.
ship Of 5000 to be used as fund to
support the strike.
sEMINOLEs TREATING.
MUsKoGrE, |. T., Dec. 1.-THE COM
mission appointed by the Seminole
council TO treat with the Dawes COM
mission arrived here yesterday and at
once began negotiations for treaty
between the United States and the
Seminole nation. John f. Brown,
chief OF the Seminole nation; Charles
Harjo, X. N. Kinkike, Thomas West,
William Gully and Joseph Factor con-
stitute the commission on behalf Of the
Seminoles They will remain here un.
til treaty Is agreed upon.
A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
CHICAGO, Dec. l4-0fiicers OF the
Chicago Business league have received
word from Washington that President
Mckinley will make the proposed de-
partment OF commerce and industries
the subject Of special message to
congress. Immediately after the holi.
days delegation Of local citizens In
terested in the new cabinet position
will go to the capital to have the bill
inf roducad In eon0r