The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-25

Secretary-Treasurer +. ]. Mcclure,
of Philadelphia, yesterday presented
his annual report to the convention of
Carpenters and Joiners. A marvellous
increase in the membership of the
union was shown and the associations s
finances revealed to be in splendid
condition. Since 1898, when the bien-
nial convention was held in New York,
the membership has doubled, owing
in a large measure to the activity of
tho district organizers.
The place for the next convention
has been fixed, and Atlanta, Ga, will
be the favored city.
The morning session was begun at s
o'clock and the committee on resolu-
tions rendered part of it's report.
George Coneybear, of Auburn, n. Y,
is the chairman of this committee.
and the members are John Loring. of
Springfield, ILL.,: Guy Lathrop, of San
Francisco, Cal; Charles Speyer of
New York. An important suggestion
was made, in advising the adoption of
a union label to be placed on goods
turned out of planning mills, and es-
Establishments of a similar nature. The
convention passed the resolution,
which will now be submitted to a
referendum vote of the local unions.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
Secretary-Treasurer Mcclure then
presented his report. He opened this
by speaking briefly of the splendid
condition of the association. He re-
ferred to the local labor conditions,
and in speaking about the strike said:
Men and women waste their years in irksome
toll for mclgrc pay in factory, shop and mine
while palaces rear their stately heads and the
blackening shadows OF abor's novels darken the
hllsides and cast their placid gloom in the
alleys and by.strcets of our cities. Other states
have their full measure of wrong and injustice
TO the working people, but in none is there more
refined industrial robbery, more artistic political
jobbery than in the Keystone state.
Still it was not always so in this state, nor
did economic oppression stalk abroad in the lanl
as it does today. There was a time in this state
when labor well remuneratod and highly
honored when there was a spirit of political ir'
dependence and larger field of opportunity with
horizon of advancement. Heads of families
then did not fear for the future Of their children.
Individual incentive was accelerated by happy
homes, life made gladstone by chcery hopes
with loftier thoughts of still bettop conditions
lhen 1t was that trade organization among the
miners was almost complete. They had their
own representatives very largely in official posi-
tions in city, county and state. But in dark
hour the rancor OF religious and national bigotry
suEdered their ranks. The once powerful or
ganizaton Of miners melted away and corporation
rule and all its attendant evils assumed direful
power over them as il does in other occupa
tions.
More than a quarter Of a century has passed
and today this struggle of the miners brings to
us lesson of fOrceful moment. Much as they
have done of late years by repeated movements,
hdgmeEtary and spasmodic, at last they have
organized on a broad basis 10 try and regain
that which was lost to them for want OF pres
ervaton Of their organization long ago.
The entire industrial history of the working
classes is repletc in the ups and downs OF their
organizations from the days OF the Ancient
Guilds to those Of the Modern Trade unions
One mbroken continued effort for their owl
emancipation-one undying, impulsive effort soI
their liberation, marks the milestoncs of human
history and goadS us all to continue the strug
Gle.