The Advocate and news., 1897-12-22
KANSAS CITY NEXT YEAR.
A. F. Of L. Convention viii Come Further
Waat Next December.

notable meeting ana accomplished great
things for the cause Of labor
Kansas City gets the next convention,
being successful over Detroit by vote
Of 1,SO61s to SO61a. President Samuel
Gompers was reelected by vote Of
1,845 to 4O7 for Ernest Kreft, Of Phila-
delphia. p. J. McHuire, James Duncan,
Robert Askew and M. M. Garland were
chosen Vice Presidents, and John Brown
Lennon and Frank Morrison were re-
elected Treasurer and Secretary rospec-
lively without opposition. Andrew Fur
usuth, Of San Francisco, was chosen
member Of the Legislative committee
President Gompers' annual report was
a strong document. It was read at the
opening session Monday, and in part is
as follows:
During the early part Of the year my
attention was called to the fact that
there was an effort being made to divide
the labor movement Of the country on
geographical lines. This was studiou'ly
Somented and afterward openly avowed.
The employing class, the wealth posses
sors, the corporate power Of our country,
allow no geographical lines to interfere
with the recognition Of the identity of
their interests. In everything that af-
feCts them alike they stand unit The
territory of our country Is extensive, but
not large enough to admit Of division
of our labor movement. Our efforts and
our hopes should not be circumscribed
by cities, States or geographical divi-
sions Of our country; our aim should be
to unite the workers Of our continent
and to strive to attain the unity, soli-
darity and fraternity of the workers
of the world"
SUCCESS OF THE MINERS STRIKE.
OF the miners strike he says:
above all stands out in bold relief
the success attending the miners con-
test, an increase Of % per cent. in wages
having been secured for more than 80,-
600, and some increase, though not so
large, for all other coal miners.
AN incident connected with the min
ers' strike requires special mention here.
While a body Of unarmed and defense
less miners were marching upon the pub
lio highways from Hazelton to Latimer,
Pa, they were met by the Sheriff of
the county with posse Of armed mer-
cenaries, who, without cause or provo
cation, and In violation of the Constitu-
ton and natural rights Of men, turned
upon them and In cold blood murdered
twenty-five and MANNED and crippled
as many more of them. All reports
agree that the men attacked were vio-
lating no law, guilty of no wrong, many
Of them shot to death while. fleeing from
their malignant pursuers. This crime
against our laws, this brutality against
inoRfensive men, the wall of widows and
orphans, the wounded pride of American
citizenship and common humanity cry
out not only that justice shall be meted
out to these modern hyenas but that
never again shall 80 great a wrong be
inflicted upon any Of our people"
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
On the subject of postal savings banks
Mr.. Gompers says:
"The establishment of postal saw
ings bank system and also postal tele-
graph system, long since demanded by
organized labor, seems nearer accom-
nlishment than at any previous time
Powerful allies have been won to our
side Of these demands and public opin-
ION has undergone much Of a change
in their favor A well-directed effort
ON our part will beyond doubt soon
result in success.
"It is worthy of note that a greater
public spirit is being manifested all
| through our municipal life And mu-
nicipal ownership OF public works, a
bugaboo Of decade ago, when first
demanded by labor, Is now fast becom-
ing popular. It Is safe TO say that there
is now more extensive municipal
ownership and control of water-works,
gas and electric light systems and other
features, which, in their natures, are
nonopolies, than Is extant elsewhere
in Aha wyNnlA fhop Rn1lnvv ,ewn2r~lnkn