The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-03
LABOR FEDERATION.
State Branch Opened
It's Convention at
North Adams.
BOSTON AFTER THE PRESIDENCY.
Delegates From the Hub
Will Strongly Oppose
j. D. Pierce.
BOSTON AFTER THE PRESIDENCY.
Cspecial Dispath to The spy.)

North Adams, Oct. 2-The 14th con-
vention of the state branch of the
American Federation of Labor opened
in Foresters' Hall, this morning at 10
o'clock
Fifty-seven delegates reported at
headquarters in the Richmond House,
and before the session was formally
opened the Boston delegation declared
itself opposed to having a man from
Ioutside the unions represented by the
Hub delegates elected to the state pres
idency, which Jefferson d. Pierce has
fondled for four years.
Jonas Wiener, delegate of the Cigar
Makers Union of Boston, was the
prime factor in making the preliminary
vote canvass the most spirited in the
history of convention politics Mr.
Wiener has never occupied any promi-
nent position in labor circles long
enough to be seen, but his candidacy
lis backed by the Boston delegation,
(which asserts itself in boastful speeches
of strength. Secretary D. d. Driscoll
of Boston worked earnestly for his
candidacy, but he is doomed to fall by
| the wayside, unless he withdraws from
the candidacy for a place in the list
of delegates to the American Federation
Of Labor, in Detroit, Mich, in Deem
Der Fred ]. Kneeland Of the Boston
Painters and Decorators Union, Balti-
more faction, who was elected president
of the Boston Central Labor Union,
Sunday, has practically agreed to with
draw from the list Of candidates for
the state presidency.
When President ]. d. Pierce welded
his gavel there were no traces of the
death knell which Boston delegates
claim to be able to sound when the
election of officers takes place A con-
gratulatory telegram was sent to the
united steam engineers convention in
session in Boston.
The business of the morning session
was the election of a committee on
credentials, which consisted of II. A.
Mcdonald of North Adams, E. T. Hast
lngs or worcester, P. H. Shaughnessey
4 or Boston. The morning session adj
Journed at IL O'Clock, and the credential
committee was authorized to prepare a
report Tor presentation at the afternoon
session Half an hour of haggling over
/ the seating of a Fitchburg delegafn who
did not have the stamp of his local
union on his credentials, resulted in an
abrupt ending OF useless argument nv
a ruling of the credential COMMITTEES
that the delegate was entitled to a seat
because of official notification of his
election ms
w. T. Mcdonnell of North Adams wa;
electea sergeant-at-arms. Fifty-foui,
Votes We're cast, and as the Boston dele
gation favored the election of 7 I
Downing of the Sanitary Workers
union OF Boston, an effort was made IN
get 4 line on strength of the self-asser-
tive Hub delegation The Boston coming
ent was wary, and the leaders saw tba
game OF President Pierces supporters
ana crushed it by depositing blank bal
The election of committees resulted
as follows: Rules ]. J. DOWNING ,3os-
tom Philip Muehlburger, Boston: vii
nam Aaginnis, North Adams. Finance.
J. fl Murray, Marlboro; Simon Griffin
Springfield; L. A. Bolio Boston. Reso-
buttons: Lawrence Hackett. Boston.
John Black, Holyolxe; James Wiener.
Boston. Executive council: ]. J. Ma
money. Springfield; J. J. Mccarthy, Bos-
ton; W. j. Shields, Boston.
President Pierce's report was fro
quently interrupted by applause. When
reference was made to the Klobedanz
trouble there was prolonged cheering.
and Worcester's big pitcher was
adJGdgec a victim of misvised solicita-
ton on the part of employers in the
theater, when he trod on the toes of
! unlonism: The report Of President
| Pierce fo,iows:-
/
To-Day the representative state organi-
zation of the trades unions, and is at
present demonstrating that where in
d1vidual effort fails, united action
brings success, and it is our hope that
when our work is done we will have
succeeded in bringing about a closer
unity and the betterment of the condi-
tons of the toiling masses.
The growth of the federation durine.
the past year has been such as to lead
us to believe that its value is being an
preciated by organized labor Wehaye
animated the following unions FEEDER
al labor union and saw makers of
F1tchburg, bartenders of Holyoke.
moulders, coremakers, street railway
men, machinists of Worcester, bartend-
| ers of Pittsfield. weavers of Holvol,e
and bakers of this city. We have also
lent our assistance in unionizing the
six breweries of Troy and Cohoes. N
! ", under the banner of the Brewery
/ Workers National Union, but not I'M
til after five weeks of bitter fighting,
/ Following the revival Of business. the
last year came desire on the part of
| the wage earners for organization and
better conditions, with the result that
strikes and lockouts have taken place
Principal among the latter was the
/ boot and Shoemakers of Marlboro.
who, after the manufacturers had com
bined, refused TO accede to the demands
of the combine by signing an ironclad
! agreement to give them the privilege
of working. The lockout took place and
! although the shoe workers were not
affiliated with the federation vet,
when it's assistance was requested, it
been compelled to succumb, Temporal
! ly, to conditions imposed, the lessons
learned have been such as to make IT
almost a victory, it having been dem
onstrated that high dues and a good
treasury are absolutely necessary to
resist the demands of organized capt.
1 tai.
President Pierce then dwelt upon the
used for the purpose OF passing law
to stop this curse in our state, and that
your committee may have the assist
ance of the trade unions; also that
the Central Labor unions start the ag-
itation in their respective cities. and
see that only those who favor such leg
islation are sent to represent them at
the general court.
The president then extended his
thanks to the executive committee, the
difficulties Of the moulders and core
makers Of Worcester, the brewery
workers throughout the state and horse
shoers of Boston, which, while not set
tied, are in fair way to be favorably
settled soon. The trouble between the
theatrical stage employees on account
of the employment Of Klobedanz of the
Worcester base ball team, was de-
p Scribed at length and fhe si1nnorf ~