The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-13
LABOR MEETING.
Hudson Trades Council Heard
Speeches About Work
ingmen.
UNIONS EULoGIzED
Corporations and Rich Men
Scored-Banquet to
the Speakers
UNIONS EULOGIZED


pie filed the Bijou Theatre, yesterday
afternoon. at the Convention of the
Trades and Labor Union of Hudson
County. held under the auspices of the
Hudson Trades Council. Samuel Com
pers. President of the American Fedora
ton of Labor; Samuel B. Donnelly, Presi-
dent of the international Typographical
Union: National Organizer Stewart Reid
and other well known labor leaders made
addresses.
These organizations We're largely repre-
sented:-
Typographical Union No. "a. Typograph-
ical Union No. 1923, Hoboken; Journeymen
Horseshoers' Union, No. So; United Brew
cry Workmen, No. 10, Union Hill; Cigar
makers Union. No. 1S1; Cigarmakers'
Union, No. s, Hoboken; International As
sociation of Machinj;ts, No S04 Dam
rosch Musical Union, No. 1905; Theatrical
Protective Union, No. So; Journeymen
Tailors' Union, No. PSI; National Shop
Butchers, No. 20; Boilermakers' Union.
Bayonne; United Walters and Bartenders'
Union, Hoboken; Iron Moulders' Union,
No Z, and this German branch of the
Central Federation of Labor
Cigarmakers Union, No. 147, West Ho-
boken; Cigarmakers' Union, No 2S4, Gut
tenberg; United Brewery Workmen, No.
l; United Brewery Workmen, No. 2; Beer
Drivers Union, No. l, New York; Bak-
ers' Union. No Sc, Hoboken; Bakers
Union, No. 1872, Union Hill; FTemen's
Union, No. l. New York Silk Workers
Union, Union Hill; Peoples Orchestra,
Union Hill.
A number of prominent politicians oc-
cupied seats in the boxes and orchestra
circle These included Mayor Hoos, City
Collector Robert Davis. Mayor Lawrence
Pagan, of Hoboken; Congressman Will
lam D. DAILY, James T. Liliis, George B.
Fielder James c. Clarke, Carl Reumpler
Thomas j. higgins, William H. Peckham
Anthony Hauck Ferdinand B. Heintze,
Maurice Stack, Col. Robert G. Smith,
James S. Nolan, Charles Boltwood and
Edward Barr.
Prominent among the union men on the
stage or in front seats were:-President
George T. Nelson, of Typographical
Union, No. "a, who presided over the con-
vention; Secretary f. L. Barker, of Hud-
son Trades Council, and Treasurer James
O'Neell, Chairman f. G. Luehs, of the
Finance Committee; Chairman August
Ernholm, of Credentials Committee; Max
Schuncke, Thomas Rownan, Henry Trap
hagen and Kenneth NJ. Forbes, of the
Convention Committee, of which Mr..
Barker was chairman; Secretary Joseph
Seeley, of Photographed Union No. 81;
William Bible, George Jackson, M. j.
Culloo.
An orchestra furnished by the Dam
rosch Musical Union opened the pro-
gramme with an overture. Chairman
Nelson said the object of the convention
was to further the cause of organized
labor in Hudson County and to centralize
the efforts by bringing in all trades union
together that they might act in concert.
President Samuel b. Donnelly. of the
International Typographical Union was
the first orator He depicted the bene-
fits that have accrued by combined effort
of the typographical unions and all other
crafts.
While President Gompers, of the An.erl-
can Federation of Labor, was speaking,
an incident occurred that gave the pro-
ceedings an unexpected turn. Frederick
Kraft, the Socialistic labor agitator of the
Hudson City section, who recently resign
ed from the presidency of the Hudson
City Improvement Association, because oi
manifestation of evident intrigue when
Mr.. Muir was appointed to represent the
association at the opening exercises of No
&c School, interrupted the speaker by ask
ing questions There were cries of sSit
down. sPut him out!
Mr.. Kraft proposed three cheers for the
Socialistic Labor party. Quite large
number in the audience responded Ef-
forts were made to eject Mr.. Kraft. He
showed but little resistance and was .put
out gently.
incidentally it might be mentioned thai
Mr.. Kraft delivered lecture on Wars
to a body of Socialistic Labor men at
Pythagoras Hall, only few blocks from
where the Trades Council and their guests
were banquetting.
The Federation of Labor and the Social
istic Labor elements are not on good
terms, and it is claimed by some OF The
Federation people that Mr.. Kraft Is 9
paid agent whose business it is to inter-
rupt and disturb Federation meetings.
Mr.. Gompers spoke for over an hour
In the course Of his speech he criticized
the unions of the State for their mac
tivity and said they were in measure
responsible for the fact that SO many cor
porations and trusts had made the1l
homes in New Jersey. The men anf
women of our times, he said, are re
sponsible for the fact that laws IN tn
interests of labor are not enforced. HI
did not hold any individual politician re-
sponsfble The labor movement wa
larger than the individual. The speaker
said that the rich men of European
countries were paupers in comparison
with those in our country
with reference to the eight-hour move
ment. Mr.. Gompers said that no peopl'
who worked long hours could be pro
gressive as a nation. No such people Il
republic could long retain their free
dom and liberty, nor could they even lont
retain the respect of their employers. II
organized labor rested the hope to sue
cessfully grapple with the modern mon
ster-the corporations and trusts.
Mr. Gompers told little story about {
man who ran sweat-shop, died and p
piled for admission to heaven He ap
pi.cd on the ground floor and was asket
Peter If he ever ran sweat-shop
United that he had. but said he hat
Go to charity,
ID in here. said St. Peter, pointing
j open door that led into cage-lik'
e and the man stepped inside. H
.ted and waited Finally he asked st
HI what was the matter st. Pete
vered:-
sIhis car Of the elevator goes Up y