Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-12-18
LEADERS OF LABOR.
National Federation Meets mt NASH
vilIe-PreSIdent Gompers' Address.


vilIe-President Gompers' Address. |
Nashville. Tenn, Dec. 1.-THE Ma
tional Federation of Labor began it's |
annual convention session in this city |
Monday with an attendance of more |
than 100 delegates from different states |
and an equal number of visitors. The |
federation met in the hall of the house |
Of representatives at the state capitol |
at one o'clock, President Gompers pre-
siding. President Gompers read his
annual address, which was in part as
follows:
with two exceptions. all our afflllatei
national unions report a large increase or
local unions and in membership. There Is
an increase of about $4,000 members In the
organizations affiliated.
'It has been the constant aim to organize
our fellow workers engaged In unskilled
labor. With the invention of new machin-
cry and the applications of new forces, the
division and subdivision of labor, many
workers who have been employed at skilled
trades find themselves with their occupa-
ton gone, to which they have devoted
| ,ong terms of years to acquire. Thus we
see the artisan of yesterday the unsktled
| Iaborer of to-day. 1t Is source of graft
fication to report that within the past year
| a very large number of federal labor unions
| for unskilled workers have been organized
| ana lTOIH LneU u HuCH ldIBcE u
| trade unions.
There have been quite a number of
| strikes within the past year. but the change
| In the causes which have produced them
| Is worthy of note
"The strikes of this year with few ex-
ceptions have been for higher wages, short
er hours and the extension and recogni-
| tion of union principles Our organizations
| report, with gratifying unanimity, the very
large number of successes achieved, ad-
| vnn QaInad and the growth and
| tension of the power of organization en-
| joyed.
1.-THE movement to reduce the hours Of
labor is always one which commands the
| first attention of organized labor.
| I'VE hold that no condition is satisfac-
| tory nor any solution complete which fails
| to eliminate the curse and the degrading in
| huences 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 all until the desired
end is attained.
THE establishment of a postal savings
bank system and also a postal telegraph
| system, long since demanded by organ
ICED labor seems nearer accomplishment
| than at any previous time.
| 1T is submitted whether 1t would not be
wise to modify our position in so far as to
lnterpose no objection to the passage OF
law providing for compulsory arbitration
| in disputes between the organized en-
ployes of the railroads and the railroad
companies, and the giving of an award by
such lawful arbitrators; but we should
hesitate to give our Endorsement to any
legislation, state or national, empowering
the compulsory enforcement of an award
and the specific enforcement of contract
to labor.
There should be no equivocation as to
our position on any question, much lesi
one of such Importance as immigration.
Recently one of the branches of the
federal courts decided by majority vote
\
ton is made that upon any letter or cir
cular issued upon matter of this char
acter. after stating the name of the unfair
firm and the grievance complained OF. the
words: We have been enjoined by the
courts from boycotting this concern could
be added with advantage"
After the reading of the address the
federation adjourned until 2:15 p. m.
Vice President McGuire presided at
the afternoon session, which was well
attended. Secretary Morrison present.
ed his report, showing an increase in
receipts of $2,349 over the previous
year. An extra amount had been eX
pended in organization and 34,2S0 new
, members were enrolled. The greatest
item of expense was $3.50 for organiza
ton, and of this $4,000 had been used il
sending organizers among the miners
during the great strike. Expenses fol
the year were $19,113. During the year
. the report states, 376 strikes had beer
officially noticed, involving 165,4
4 workers. OF these 1s9 were won, 3
y compromised and 33 lost. During tn
O year PIT charters were issued to nation
q al, state, central, local and federal Ia bo
n unions. The report states the indica
y tions are favorable for continuance o
e the use of labels. The secretary recon
}. mends that the per capita tax for loca
e and federal labor unions to the fedora
I tion be increased from one to five cent
u per member.
e Treasurer John B. Lennon then sut
}. mitted his report showing the incom
d of the federation from November
y 1896, to November l, 1897 to be $21 80
4 and the expenses $19,113, leaving a ba
E. ance in the treasury of $2,69+ whicl
II added to 81 900 now in the hands of tn
r. secretary, gives total balance of SO
694.