The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-08
prOa-hing Annual Con.
VentiOn of That
Organization.
F. J. MAAS Times Herald.


Carpenters and Jolncrs on which to
concentrate all efforts to secure the
adoption of the eight-hour day on May
l. 1890. The movement was successful
i'm 1877 cities, and benefited 4G197 work.
men of that trade; in many others also
the impetus thus given secured like
benefit.
The tenth convention was held in
Detroit Dec. s. 1890. There were pres
ent 1O3 delegates, representing eighty
three organizations. The national and
international trade unions reported
having established 9l3 locals during
the year;also reported having had l.
lG3 strikes, of which 9S9 were success
full, 76 lost. and 9S compromised. All
but one reported increase of wages
from to % per cent The miners were
selected as the next trade to move
toward securing the eight-hour day.
Most interest. for the time being, was
provoked by action defining the att
tude of the American Federation of
Labor toward political parties seeking
afiliation. This was the cause OF the
refusal of a charter of afliliation to the
Central Labor Federation of New York
CITY. because to that body the Ameri-
can section of the socialist labor party
was attached After protracted de-
bate the action of the officers in refus-
ing the charter of afiliatiOn was in
dorsed by a large majority.
For the first time IN the history OF
| the general labor movement one Of its
| conventions was held in the south, the
scene being Birmingham, Ala. Its in
! tluence was of vast benefit to the or
| ganization i'm that section of the coun-
ry. At this convention it was resolved
| to test the constitutiOnality of the con-
! spiracy laws and the rights Of the
| courts to issue irjunctions on wage
| workers charged with no otcnSe
! against the Law. but engaged in a con-
| test with employers. An INVESTIGATION
| of the sweating system was asked at
| the hands of congress; n protest
AGAINST all convict Labor that compet-
| ed with free labor was entered, and the
abolition of child labor demanded, as
| well as other legislation in the interest
| Of the tCiler.
RECENT HISTORY.
An unusual interest is attached to
| the twelfth convention by reason of
| the fact that it met at Philadelphia
| in independence hall. 1t was the first
time any labor organization had been
permitted to hold its convention in that
historic building. The convention took
| strong grounds against the use by ma
tiOna and state authorities of the mill
tary in labor disputes, as demonstrat-
ed in Homestead, Buffalo and COeul
/ D'Alene. It declared that the powers,
DESIGNED To rest with the people as eX-
pressed IN the United States COnSti-
tuition, for the protection of life and
property and guaranteeing the rights
| and liberties of the people have been
| diverted from the purposes of the!
authors and that the powers have bee
uSurped by COrnOratiOns.' The con.
Vention demanded the creation of Z
board Of commissioners to be electer
10y the peonle, the commissioners, il
conjunction with the governors, t,
! have sole power to call out the militia
declared against the Pirkertons, an(
for the enactment of laws pruhbitins
nOnTesidentS from serving as peace of.
ticcrS i'm any community; advised un.
I'll these measures should be enacted
into laws, unionists should not enter
the militia or national guard.
The thirteenth convention was hclC
in the council chamber, Chicago, Dec
II. 1898, i'm the midst Of the ndustra
! depression. Notwithstanding this fact
there were ninety-tVe delegates pres
ont, renrescntins as large a member
ship as at any time in the history o
the federation. Among the resolutions
approved We're those faNOring govern
ment ownership of telegraphs and tele'
phones, institution of postal savings
banks, better food and quarters fOl
Seamen. abolition Of the sweating
system ana subCellars for bakers; ju
dicial decisions inimical TO labor wer,
denounced, and a congressional inves
tigatiOn demandod a political pro
gramme" was referred to affiliated or
; gani2atiOns: large sums OF money pre-
viously loaned to organizations engag
ed in disputes were donated. This con