The record-union., 1897-12-14
Over One Hundred Delegates From Differ
ent States in Attendance.
President Gompers Delivers His
Annual Address-Reviews the
the Steps Taken Toward Secur-
Ing an Eight-Hour Work Day
Comments on the Supreme
Court Decision Relating to
Seamen Quitting Employment.


it's seventeenth annual session in this
city to-day with an attendance of more
than 100 delegates from different
States and an equal number of visi-
tors President Gompers presided.
The hall was decorated with the flags
of many nations.
Havelock, Wilson and Edward Har-
ford, delegates from England, were
introduced by the President
After the meeting had been called
to order William Amison of the local
Typographical Union, delivered an ad
dress of welcome.
President Gompers responded to the
address.
The report of the Committee on Gre
dentials was presented after which
President Gompers read his annual ad
dress.
President Gompers said: with two
exceptions all our affiliated national
unions report a large increase of local
unions and in membership. There IS
an increase of about 81, 600 members III
the organizations affiliated.
1T has been the constant aim to or
ganize our fellow workers engaged in
unskilled labor. With the invention of
new machinery and the application of
new forces the division and subdivision
of labor, many workers who have been
employed at skilled trades find them
selves with their occupation gone and
to which they have devoted long terms
of years to acquire. Thus we see the
citizen of yesterday the unskilled la
borer of to-day.
1T is a source of qualification to
report that within the past year a
very strong majority of federated la
Dor unions for unskilled workers had
been organized, and from them a much
larger number of trade unions.
There have been quite number of
strikes with the past year, but the
change in the causes which have pro-
duced them are worthy of note. The
strikes of this year, with few excep-
tions, have been for higher wages,
shorter hours and recognition of union
principles. Our organizations report
with gratifying unanimity the very
large number of successes secured. the
advantages gained and the growth and
extension of the power of organization
enjoyed.
THE movement to reduce the num-
Der of hours of labor is always one
which commands the first attention of
organized labor We hold that no con-
dition is satisfactory nor any solution
complete which fails to eliminate the
curse and the degrading influence 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 all until the desired
end is attained.
THE establishment of postal saw
ings bank system, also a postal tele-
graph, long since demanded by or
ganized labor, seems no nearer ac-
complishment than at any previous
time.
.'It is submitted whether it would not
be better to modify our position inso-
far as to impose no objection to the
passage of a law providing for COM
pulsory arbitration in disputes Of or
ganized employees of railroads and rail-
road companies, and of giving award
by such lawful arbitrators, but we
should hesitate to give our indorse-
ment to any legislation, State or Ma
tional, empowering the compulsory
enforcement of award and the enforce
ment of a contract of labor.
I'VE not only demand the right of
trial by jury for any offense charged
Mr.. Gompers says. ''but also that we
as workers and citizens shall not be
restricted in the exercise Of our lawful
and natural rights Courts do not and
cannot issue injunctions restraining
persons from committing crimes or
misdemeanors, and should not when
there is another complete remedy at
law"
The President submits the question
whether the per capita tax from local
trade unions and local federal unions
should not be increased, so as to come
nearer the sum usually required by ma
tional unions, thus removing a very
large obstacle to the transfer of local
trade unions TO their proper jurisdic-
ton"
The steps that have been taken to-
ward securing an eight-hour work day
are reviewed, and the address con-
tinues
Nothing remains now but for the
final decision of this convention as to
the ways and means by which the
project shall be carried into effect, or
whether the Judgment of the conven-
tion is that the time stated is. in view
of industrial conditions. a practical
one. or whether it would be advisable
TO await the full flood tide of an in
dustrial revival for its general and
simultaneous enforcement. This ques-
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