The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-08

and Labor assembly; II. II. Bengough,
Pittsburg Printers assembly, NO. l.
$50. X. of L., and w. c. Pollner, Cleve-
land, Ohio. Trade and Labor assembly
who was also secretary of the Terre
Haute meeting.
The second convention of the feder-
alton was held in Cleveland, ONO. No
yrmber 2l 1882. At this meeting
manifesto was issued guaranteeing the
Industrial autonomy of each union. and
while deprecating antagonsm to other
labor organizations, made the qualities
Of a man as a worker the only test OF
fitness and set up no political or relig-
ious test of membership.
The most notable feature of the third
convention, held in New York city OF
Aug. p. 1888, was a declaration favor
ing arbitration as preferable to strikes,
and the legislative committee was in
structad to present q bill to congress
creating q national department of -
bCr. steps were also taken to com
with the Knights of Labor that tho
ough unihCation and consolidate,
might be had. This proposition Wa
rejected by the Knights.
At the fourth convention held in Chi
ca"o oct. :, 1884, steps were taken for
active propaganda, for the eight-hour
day, and May /, 1886, fixed for its gen
cral inauguration. The turbulent
scenes Of the first week of that month
in Chicago, and the terrible rOnse-
Quences of the memorable and fatal
meeting on the Haymarket, where "A
bomb was thrown from behind the red
flag of anarchy, created a violent re-
action in the public mind. However, q
| number of unions were sucCC ssful in
securing the cight-hOur system.
Washington was the scene of the
| fifth convention. held Dec. S. 1885 Be
! sides preparing for The cight-hour
! struggle important measures were TAX
| en- to check the abuses of the boycott,
50 often levied upon trivial prcteXts.
UNDER THE NEW NAME.
At the sixth conventions held in CO.
lumbus, Ohio. Dec 8. 1856, the old fed.
Grafton was dissolved, more perfect
| plan of organization was adopted. and
the name-American Federation of La -
| ICr--WaS chosen. The next convention
of tie American Federation of Labor.
hut the seventh consecutive annual
gathering of delegates from trade and
labor unions, was held in Baltimore,
Md. Dec. 13, 1887 This convention rep
resented 2,42l unions or branches, and a
! total membership of 500, $40 members
in good standing, as against 316469 of
the year previous, thus vindcating the
| wisdom Of the change adopted At Co
| lumbus
The eighth convention, held in st
Louis, Dee. II, 1888, is memorable foI
the unanimity and enthusiasts will
which the delegates fixed the date fOl
the general Inauguration of the eight
hour WOrkday for May |, 1890. To Sc
cure more efficient agitation il was re-
solved to call simultaneous mass meet
ings all over the country on four grea
national holidays, viz: Washington
! birthday, Feb. -, 1883: July 4. 1889
Labor Day, 1889; Washington's birth
! day 1890. As illustrative of the inter
est taken i'm this action by the tOiler
il is a noticeable fact that the frs
Series of these meetings embraced "A
cities and towns, the second 81, tn
third 42O, and the fourth 526. Th
Labor Day of the European working
men was adopted at the suggestion O
| this convention of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
steps for an international congress
We're taken at the ninth convention
held i'm Boston, Dee. 10, 1889. An invi
tation was extended to the labor or
gani2ations of the world to attend al
International labor congress in Chicag
during the worlds fair. a resolution
of thanks to European workngmen fO
cordial Endorsement of the proposed in
auguration of the eight-hour workda,
was adopted and steps We're taken T.
further such cooperation. Other reso
| lutions indorsed the Australian ballo
system and favoring an employers liza
bility law. A resolution looking to "th
formation of a political labor party
was defeated. At this convention tn
executive council was empowered an
selected the United Brotherhood o