The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-14
labor FEDERATION.
|oth Annual Convcution Has
begun Its Sessions.
OF PRESIDENT GOMPERS,
have Secured nm Advance OF
y-tSvO Per Cent-The Lat
Ter Massacre Condemned.

pe. Tenn, December -3.--The
Federation OF Labor began its
Nh annual session here today With
ance of more than 100 delegates
krent States ana an eaual number
$. The Federation met la the
e house of represea ;tives at tie
itol az | o'clock, President Comp
ding. The hall presented mtst
appearance. being decorated with
OF many nations. Hayeloek Will
Edward Hartford, delegates from
we're introduced by the president.
hon is a member OF parliament and
ford is ex-secretary OF the Rail.
ployes' organization. After the
had been called 10 order. William
of the local typographical union,
an address CT welcome IN be-
he labor organlZati ons OF the city.
ent Gompers responded 20 the adj
anking MIR. Aim,son and the labor
Itlons for tho hearty welcome ac-
The report of ,he committee en-
his was presented, G',or which
II Gompers read mis- annual address.
delegates TO the Seventeenth An
Convention OF the American Fedora
Il Labor.
des and Fellow Workers: pusu-
The laws as we'll as custom oil our
lton, the president of the%'Ameri-
eratiop of Labor Is required to re-
the annual conventions resume
york OF the year, ana 1t is akin TO
that this report is submitted TO
your careful consideration ana ac-
Miners strike.-There have been
number OF strikes within the past
BIT the change in the causes which
roduced them are worthy OF note,
the strikes of this year, with few
bns, have been for higher wages.
hours and the extension and recog-
bf union principles. Some time ago
lar was issued from our office Tor
tpose OF obtaining statistical infor-
upon the question OF strikes. the
OF persons involved, those benefited
)ted and other valuable information
ught and obtained. Our organiza
report. with gratifying unanimitv,
Rrge number of successes achieved,
hges gained and the growth and ex-
OF the power of organization en-
The secretary has engrafted in his
in condensed form, some of the re-.
gained. Other and more detailed Ill
pon VIII be avilable for future use
ference.
purse, among the most notable strikes
| year was that OF the Goa. miners,
PIG nearly 10000 men. At the time
the strike occurred there were few
J organized, and the national orgaui-
had no means with which either 10
the men involved nor TO conduct
fairs OF the general Office, nor had
eanization the means to place IL the
PIE organizers which experience dan.-
led SO necessary to attain success.
being advised as 10 The time Mncn
pike would take place. immediate &C,
pas taken to enlist the whole body
Hnized labor in sympathetic accord
deportation with the miners. 1t Is
|ing 10 be enabled To state Thar 40
hs done nor left undone but which
fend 10 bring the very best possible
Y W Wv AhNli anu luN VI LeAill AlOA4 Nii-
In the conflict.
source Of satisfaction, however,
|nt OF the mlasnatic atmosphere of
and unjust attack stands the gratifl-
and the voluntary evidence of the
lnd file of the miners OF the country
splendid services rendered by the
IS. the generous financial aid con-
80 by the trade unions. and above all.
out In bold relisf the success at
g the miners Contest, an increase
per cent in wages having been secured
ore than $4,000 and some increase,
not so large, for all other coal
Lattmer Massacre. An incident
Dted with the miners strike requiiCS
mention here While body OF un-
and defenseless miners were march
'on the public highways from Halle
Lattimer, Pa, they we're met by the
o. the county with posse Of armed
naries, who, without cause or provo
ana III violation OF the constitu-
and natural rights of men, turned
them and in cold blood murdered
1.-TWO and MANNED and crippled as
more Of them. All reports agree that
en- attacked were violating no Jaw,
Vi no wrong, many or them shot TO
Whiie fleeing from their malignant
'rs' mis- crime against our laws.
Iutailty against inoffensive men. tide
u wldo~s and orphans, the wounled
VI american citizenship and common
MY cry out not only thG. justice shall
-ed out TO these modern bs enas, hut
ever again shall so -reat a wrong be
va unon any OF our people. An at
Has oeen made 10 becloud the judg-
u onr people under the cry that the
ilied and wounded are foreigners"
zen though this be true, these for
were lured here ny the cupidity Of
,ary corporations. II is submitted
noush man oe a foreigner, tbere
ihe rights. some protection 10 which
nutied. which even corporations and
'heiinss are hcunl 10 respect
.thour Movement.-The movement
uce The hours o. labor Is always one
commands The first attention OF or
- .'uo'' 4Ae daly improvements in
itiy IN methods of production ana
uu'h' the extension and application
ioless OF steam ana olect.icity. the
.ement in the tools OF labor. the
u and subdivision of labor and the
desire of the employing class 10
machines to their fullEst possible
lhat is, the longest number of
Fer day, must. Of necessity. unless
= ahotoer counteracting influence.
suppiant labor and throw numbers
.e1lo~ workers out ot employment.
-noe-hteraeting influence is logically
necessity The organized effort Of cur
workers in trade unions. That
my being the reduction IN the hours
: 90 mat the evil Of long hours IN
nand ana lack of employment on
-, nay both be remedied at one and
no, the diminution of the productive
iaoor which prompts our "nurra
~ give srfater leisure and larger
to