The Advocate and news., 1898-02-16
Labor Congress at Omaha.

1hDOL VVuBToSS ~ OuhnA'
A national labor congress will be a
feature Of the Omaha exposition. Rep
resentatives Of organized labor from all
parts Of the Union will be present, and
much good will undoubtedly come from
the sessions.
The Central Labor Union Of Omaha
has endorsed the idea and will aid in
pushing 1t.
The following is in substance the SEN
timent of the Exposition Congress COM
mittee in reference to holding a labor
congress:
First-That it be so conducted that
it will be recognized as a national af-
fair, which will give to it greater scope
and magnitude. To accomplish this
they offer the following suggestions:
That two committees be appointed, one
to be comprised of local members of Or
ganiZed labor. This committee to be
known as the committee on ways and
means and to have charge Of all local af-
fairs. The other committee to be COM
prised of prominent men of national
reputation in labor circles. This com
mittee to be known as the committee of
arrangements, who will have charge of
the program and selection of speakers.
I..e two committees to work in har-
mOny, and in conjunction with the
Trans Mississippi Bureau Of Education.
Second-The exposition management
will furnish halls and necessary incl
dental expenses. The management of
said labor congress will practically be
left to the labor committees, but the ex-
position managers will extend all aid in
their power. They do not wish to die
tate as to who shall constitute either
the local or national committees, but in
order that the labor congress may be rec
OgniZed as a national movement and
under the direction of the exposition
management, they wish to officially ap-
point the said committees, on recommen-
datiOn Of the Central Labor Union. It
can be arranged to hold the labor con-
gress during the week commencing with
Labor day, Monday, September 5, said
week to be known as labor week, and
will be extensively advertised through
out the country.
All details necessary to making this
project grand success will be formu-
lated upon action of this body, through
a committee properly empowered to act
and work in conjunction with the Bu-
reau of Education.
Fred M. Youngs, labor's representa-
tive on the exposition board, has made
the following report to the Omaha G..
L. u:
Upon investigation of the objects Of
a labor congress, and the ultimate good
which am led to believe will result, in
educating the large numbers of unOr-
gani2ed by bringing them to understand
that in organization is their protection
and that they are now only standing in
their own light, and preventing labor
from fully reaping and enjoying it's own.
Also in proving and convincing the
preacher, the banker, the lawyer, and
the public in general (who now cry
out against trades unions, because of
their misunderstanding of their Objeots),
by inducing them to listen to the able
expOnents of industrial issues, who will
address the masses at the labor congress
Speakers that all classes will be glad to
hear, and who win convince the weak
element of labor that organization is nee
essary for their own safety; speakers
who will convince the public that the
trade union is an American institution,
an educator, and tends to elevate the
standard Of citizenship, and increase the
happiness of the labOring people by in
surfing living wages; that they are not
anarchistic, but have mission as broad
aS the church or any organised business
interest.