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| Samuel Gompers. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, Dec. 6, 1901.
WORKMEN'S CONGRESS.
Representatives of 1,500,000 Toilers In Convention.
OBJECTION TO MINEWORKERS.
Chicago Delegate Claimed They Were Behind In Tax, but Mitchell Told Why and Was Admitted—Interesting Report Submitted by President Gompers.
SCRANTON. Pa., Dec. 6.—Two hundred and eighty-five delegates, representing more than a million and a half workmen, responded to the rollcall at the opening session of the 21st annual convention of the American Federation of Labor which was called to order by President Samuel Gompers in St. Thomas College hall yesterday. The convention is said to be the largest congress of workmen ever held in this country.
Organization, settlement of questions involving contested seats and the reading of the annual report of the president, secretary and treasurer took up the entire time of the convention. The address of welcome was made by John H. Devine, president of the committee on arrangements of the Scranton Central Labor union. President Gompers responded on behalf of the delegates.
When the names of delegates representing the United Mine Workers of America were reached in the rollcall a stir was caused by O. L. Shamp of Chicago, international secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen, objecting to their being seated. He maintained that the mineworkers were not entitled to representation in the convention because the per capita tax of $4,000 had not been paid the federation. President Mitchell of the mineworkers replied that his organization was not asking for special privileges. Several thousand of its members were on strike almost continually for the past two years and he said he had asked the executive board to remit the levy because the miners had paid an assessment of $5,000 for the aid of the machinists. He said if the convention decided that his organization was in arrears he would immediately draw a check for the amount due. The matter went no further and by an almost unanimous vote the coal miners' representatives were seated.
The reading of the annual report of President Gompers consumed three hours. Secretary Morrison's report and that of Treasurer John B. Lennon were also read. They were referred to committees and the convention adjourned.
President Gompers Report.
Mr. Gompers' report showed a net increase of 313 local unions for the year and a gain of 364,410 members. From national and international unions and the federation direct there were issued 4,056 charters for newly-formed unions and charters surrendered or unions disbanded numbered 1,150.
On Oct. 31 last there were affiliated with the federation: National and international unions, 87; city central labor unions, 327; state federations of labor, 20; local trades unions, having no national or international, 750, and federal labor unions, 399. There were four strikes of a general character during the year. About these the report says that that of the river and dockworkers of San Francisco was a distinct victory.
The purpose for which the strike of the Amalgamated Association of Steel and Ironworkers was inaugurated was not achieved, and it was terminated upon conditions less advantageous than perhaps could have been obtained.
Officers of the International Association of Machinists report that their strike has very largely succeeded in establishing the nine-hour rule in the trade. They claim the settlements reached have given 60,000 machinists a shorter work day, 150,000 others are affected by compromises reached and 75,000 machinists will receive an average of 25 cents a day increase in wages. The report notes a growing tendency to agreements in industry. To create a defense fund it recommends changing the federation's constitution so as to admit of a larger assessment and the levy by executive council early in the year of a portion of the assessment provided so that a fund may be at its disposition at any time in the interests of any of the affiliated organization's "engaged in a protracted struggle which they could not singly support."
Mr. Gompers says he has arranged an active campaign for the re-enactment of the Chinese exclusion act and expresses surprise at the "patience of the Pacific coast citizens in submitting to a state of affairs so horrible and degrading." It arraigns Chinese immigrants as lowering American standards.
Treasurer Lennon's report showed an income of $126,522; expenses, $118,708; total funds at hand, $8,814.
Secretary Morrison's report shows the total number of strikes of all kinds reported aggregated 1,055, in which 153,505 members were benefitted and 12,707 were not benefitted. Their total cost was $548,003.
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| Gen. Carlos Alban. |
PEACE PAPERS SIGNED.
General Domingo Diaz Surrenders to General Alban.
COLON, Dec. 6.—The following message was delayed by the Colombian censor: General Alban, wearing his own uniform and accompanied by a body guard of soldiers left Panama Wednesday morning to receive the surrender of the Liberal General Domingo Diaz. The two generals met at Gorgona station on the railroad and returned to Empire station, where the peace papers were signed.
General Diaz, with about 80 followers, and accompanied by General Alban, reached Panama at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening. General Alban conducted the Liberal leader, who still wore the Liberal emblem, a red ribbon around his hat, to a carriage and drove with him to his family house in Panama.
That part of the Conservative forces under General Alban which was dispatched to Agua Dulce has not yet returned. It is surmised this expedition is in pursuit of the Liberal General Victoriano Vorenzo, but there is absolutely no information as to whether those two forces have become engaged. It is rumored in Panama that two hundred Liberals from Tumaco have landed in the department of Panama to reinforce the command of General Belizario Porras. The Conservative government is in no way disturbed at this rumor.
Since Wednesday all trains have been running across the isthmus without escorts of American marines.
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| Leon Czolgosz. |
CZOLGOSZ APPLAUDED.
WILD SCENE AMONG THE ANARCHISTS OF CHICAGO.
Question as to Whether He was an Anarchist or a Socialist Precipitated the Disorder—Isaak, the Leader of the Reds, Declared, "He was a Better Man Than I."
CHICAGO, Dec. 6.—President McKinley's assassin was cheered publicly in Chicago last night while policemen were standing at the doors of Mueller's hall where the meeting was held. A challenge from the platform that anarchists dared not condone the crime at Buffalo was met with a vigorous "You're a liar." Abraham Isaak, the recognized leader ol the "reds" in this city, declared openly that he could not condemn the assassin's act. He said that as to personal merit he took a second place to Czolgosz.
The meeting was marked with the wildest scenes of disorder. For two hours A. M. Simons, editor of the International Socialist Review, and Abraham Isaak, editor of Free Society, fought out the subject of "Socialism Versus Anarchy." The confession of lsaak was accompanied by a scene of intense excitement. Simons ridiculed the anarchistic idea that their Utopian dreams would ultimately give birth to an individualistic society and taunted the anarchists as being unwilling to meet the subject of assassination face to face.
"You say I am dodging the question of Czolgosz," lsaak said, "that is not true. You can no more dodge assassination than you can lightning. I saw that man eight weeks before he committed what you term his crime. I asked him if he knew anything of anarchy and he said he did not. I asked him what he was and he said he was attending the Socialistic meetings and was enrolled in Cleveland."
"You lie," shouted the Socialists in the audience, but lsaak kept on. "I do not condemn him; I cannot. He was a better man than I am," continued lsaak. "I pass misery on the street, go home and write an editorial. He saw misery and could not stand it. He took the life of the man he thought was the cause. I repeat, he was a better man than I."
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| Booker T. Washington. |
IN THE OLD BAY STATE.
Booker T. Washington Refused Admittance to the Hotels.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 6.—Booker T. Washington, the famous colored president of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
Institute, who recently dined at the White House with President Roosevelt, was
refused accommodations at three Springfield hotels Wednesday night. He finally
procured a room at the Russell hotel. The hotels which are said to have turned
him away are the leading houses of the city. [Green Book, CC ed.].
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Dream of independent Poland.
That the dream of Poland free and independent again taking its rightful place among the sovereign nations of the world has not utterly faded is shown in the fact of the recent conviction of several Polish students at Posen charged with treasonable participation in a movement to re-establish the kingdom.
It is more than a century since Poland was ruthlessly partitioned between Russia. Austria and Prussia and her national independence drowned in blood and consumed in flames. Yet deep in the Polish heart there has been maintained a spark of hope of its ultimate resurrection. Seventy years ago the Poles made a desperate struggle for the restoration of their nation, but the result was the suppression of the insurrection and the obliteration of even the shadowy form of national life. Thirty years later the Poles made another heroic struggle, keeping up for four years a determined but hopeless struggle for independence against the mighty power of Russia, but at the end Poland lay crushed and helpless at the feet of her grim conqueror.
Since then Poland has seemed hardly able to raise a hand for freedom, though the trials just ended reveal the fact that the hope of a redeemed and regenerated nation still finds lodgment in some patriotic souls. Secret propaganda is at work, particularly among Polish students, and there is a revolutionary fund in Switzerland to which patriotic Poles at home regularly contribute. Time is awaited when the great powers are once more at each other's throat which, it is hoped, will furnish Poland's opportunity, when the national standard will again be raised. Until there shall be a decided reaction from the prevailing spirit of national concentration, of the stronger powers absorbing the weaker, there is little hope of Polish independence.
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| William George. |
GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC
A Christmas Box to be Sent from Cortland—Contributions Solicited.
Many Cortland people are uninformed concerning the work going on in Freeville at the George Junior Republic. There are over one hundred boys and girls living as citizens in this remarkable institution, where each does his share of the necessary work, where all unite in common interests, and where the daily needs are largely met by contributions from friends who realize what a splendid work is going on in this republic. Cortland is one of the cities so nearby that one would expect it to be especially interested, while as a matter of fact it does almost nothing for this work. Effort is now being made by some of the young people of the city to send a Christmas box to the Republic, articles for which are to be solicited throughout town. Cortland people are asked to respond as freely as possible. Further notice will be given in order that any who desire may contribute even though they are not personally called upon.
NOW SERVING HIS TIME.
Failed to Return at the Expiration of His Parole.
On Oct. 3 James Lansing of Truxton came before Cortland City Judge R. L. Davis, and upon advice of his council, City Chamberlain G. J. Maycumber, asked to be given a few days in jail in which to sober up. The request was granted, and Lansing was given five days.
After the sentence had been pronounced he wished to be given a few hours in which to straighten up a few matters before entering upon voluntary confinement, and he was paroled in custody of his counsel until 3 o'clock of the day mentioned.
Nothing further was seen of Lansing in Cortland after that till yesterday afternoon when Chief Barnes met him on the street. He was again taken before the judge and recommitted for the time first allotted him. He gave as an excuse for not appearing that he had obtained a job. His counsel was notified to appear, but failed to respond to the invitation.
Knights of the Maccabees.
Cortland tent, No. 307, Knights of the Maccabees, have elected these officers for the ensuing year:
Past Commander—John Clare.
Commander—F. J. Baum.
Lieutenant Commander—Frank Rice.
Record Keeper and Keeper of Finances—George W. Long.
Chaplain—Irving Smith.
Sergeant—Ernest Woodward.
Master-at-Arms—Ray Hollenbeck.
Master of Guard—Joseph Swymler.
Assistant—Thomas Ashworth.
Sentinel—Fernando D. Crofoot.
Picket—Samuel Luther.
Trustee—John Clare.
Modern Woodmen of America.
At a meeting of Cortland camp, No. 9,568, Modern Woodmen of America, in G. A. R. hall last evening the following officers for the coming year were elected:
Consul—D. F. Benedict.
Adviser—A. C. Rosa.
Clerk—M. B. Howes, McGraw.
Banker—A. D. Williams.
Physician—Dr. P. T. Carpenter.
Escort—A. D. Randall.
Watchman—H. C. Wilcox.
Sentry—W. Garbarinni.
Manager, Three Years—H. P. Drexler.
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| Old passenger and freight depot buildings behind waiting trolley car. |
Steam Heat for New R. R. Station.
The work of putting in steam pipes at the new Lackawanna station is well under way. The steam for heating both passenger and weight stations will be generated in the basement of the latter building.
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| Nathan Lewis Miller. |
N. L MILLER CONSIDERED
As a Successor for Judge Parkhurst on Court of Claims.
The Albany Journal of Wednesday in the course of an article on probable state appointments by Governor Odell says: "The choice of a successor to Judge Parkhurst on the court of claims is yet to be determined. The two leading candidates are G. D. B. Hasbrouck, who was deputy attorney general under Theodore E. Hancock and who is now Republican state committeeman from the Ulster-Dutchess-Putnam district, and Nathan L. Miller of Cortland, chairman of the Republican county committee of that county." Cortland would feel a local pride in having the appointment come this way.
BREVITIES.
—The Cortland Praying band will hold a cottage prayer meeting tonight at 7:30 o'clock at the home of Frank Hopkins, 3 Pomeroy-st.
—Rev. M. H. Kendrick will preach at the Free Methodist church Saturday evening at 7:30 o'clock and also Sunday morning and evening.
—The ladies of the Presbyterian church are making arrangements for a sample sale to be held in the church parlors the latter part of January or first of February. This is something entirely new in Cortland.
—New display advertisements today are—Hudson Crockery Co., Closing out sale, page 8; Glann & Clark, Shoes, page 4; M. A. Case, Christmas things, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., Dressing Jackets, page 4; E. M. Mansur, Pickles, page 8; J. B. Kellogg, Cloak prices, page 7; M. W. Giles, Christmas goods, page 7.
—Mrs. Mary Davis Moore of Binghamton will this evening at 8 o'clock at the residence of Mrs. N. H. Gillette, 20 West Court-st., address the Ladies' Literary club and their guests, the Fortnightly club and the Science club. Her theme will be, "How to think about the Style of a Book," based on James Lane Allen's "Reign of Law."
—Dr. John E. Beers of Danby, one of the most prominent physicians of Tompkins county, died Wednesday of apoplexy at the age of 61 years. He was a lifelong resident of the county. For eight years he was a physician and surgeon in the regular army. He represented the county for one term in the legislature and was for eighteen years the supervisor of his town, for several years being chairman of the board.
—Jack Frost got in his work with a vengeance last night. The government thermometer on the Normal school grounds registered 10 degrees below zero at 7 o'clock this morning and private thermometers not under Uncle Sam's jurisdiction and surveillance in some parts of the city got down as low as 10 degrees below zero. The night was clear and very frosty. It has warmed up very rapidly today.
—The gilded lion which used to repose upon the lawn of the late Dr. H. A. Bolles and the colored boy hitching post in the gay jacket which stood before the Bolles' house, yesterday moved to the residence of Dr. P. M. Neary, 17 Tompkins-st. The lion now guards the entrance to Dr. Neary's office and the colored boy extends the glad hand to receive the hitching strap of any of the doctor's callers who stop and wish to hitch before his door.
