The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 15, 1904, Page 3

COMPERS MAKES REPOR —_— GOMPERS SUMS UP MEMBERSHIP. Despite the destructive purposes of labor’s antagonists I am in a position to report that, with the exception of a slight recession al- ready indicated, there has been a sum total of great gain in the mem- vership of the organizations affiliated to the American Federation of Labor. From October 1, 1903, to September 30, 1904, we issued from the American Federation of Labor the following charters: Interna- tional unions, 11; State federations, 5; central labor unions, 400; lo- cal trade unions and federal labor unions, 328. Total, 443. At the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 1904, there were affiliated with the American Federation of Labor 120 international unions, consisting of. approximately, 27,000 local unions of their respective trades and callings, 32 State federations, 509 central labor unions, 1271 local trade unions and federal labor unions. Total, 1992. TELLS OF CONVENTIONS HELD AT BOSTON. Deals With History of Strikes of a Year in the United States The wage.earners have come to realize that an hour’s re- & = or ag t 2 0" their onlv hope for the protection of their cess, came together again at 2 0°clock. | material intereats in our time, the only op- Soss Alier esident Gom- |portunities = for the promotion of these in- | e 8 o | terese= in the future, as well as the mainstay | pers 1al report, of | 5"y Nights and liberties in the present, o wh eral extracts are as follows: '\h‘clhdmfix and those who may TYollow are 23 % entitled, lie in unity, organization and federa- REPORT OF JMPERS. tion. And they have recognized, 0o, to a e LR roll so swiftly by | ETeater extent than heretofore that their cohesion during a period of industrial reaction is the effectual check upon the material de- terioration in their condition with all that that implies. To these reasons and causes, to- | gether with greater intelligence and a fair con. ception of their rights, may be attributed the nal when ocounted nistory and develop- e find the people con- litions and new problems. fraught with pain and narticulate yearning hes & & F etruggle for mew light and the | lmost infinitesimal decline in membership f new hopes. From the dark d within the recent past | d serfdom to the era of wage, When it is borne in mind that the trade| in ftsel?, a great progress. The | tniion movement of America s, comparatively | the waxe earners into the reaims | SPeaking, still in its infancy; when there is . broeher and brighter vision of | taken into consideration the vast extent of - e been fraught with achieve. | terTitory as well as the makeup of different ents com & the wonder and admiratioa | Pation: speaking forelgn tongues, the | vere great opment in industry and the con- | centration of wealth, using its powers to pre- vent or crush out organizations; when all | these things are given due consideration, that we have brought about any degree of fra- ternity and homogeneity should be counted to ay, we are comscious, 1s the credit. of being crystallised effort of | wrong and injusticc by the most peace- | umane method. The | our credit rather than to our detriment. et . nt with good or is not necessary here to recount the ad- for the e of our country. It devolves | vantages which have been secured by our| Zed labor movement to deter- | movement in the interests of our fellow work. Not only ts availabie nall assume. are our records of achieve- to all, but the better results in the home, the more material improvement, the s _«\1 and moral advancement, as well as !‘ Hifa, indy ndence, and the character and nhood of our working people, are the best attestation, demonstration and proof of the | efforts, the work, the aims, methods and | ennobling purposes of our movement, ISSUE OF CHARTERS. | Despite the destructive purposes of labor’ antagonists T am in a position 1o report that, with the exception of a slight recession al- ready indicated, there has been a sum total great gain in the membership of the or- ganizations affiliated to the American Federa- tion of Labor. From October 1, 1903, to Sep- tember 30, 1904, we issued from the American Federation of Labor the following charters: International unions, 11; State federations, 5; | r<r!‘5i: labor unions, 99; local trade unions | and federal labor unio 25; total, 443. | Eight of these international unions were organized by us from formerly affiliated char- tcred Jocal unions during the past year. A h.'nvh‘r of international unjons have become lgamated with other international unions | red to their trade. At t end of the | | fiscal vear, September 30, 1904, there were | arfiliated with the American Federation of | 0 international unions, consisting of, | 27,000 5 local unions of des and ca D not heard liings, 32 State federa- the past, the s central labor unfons, 1271 local - & the hopes for = | trade unions and federal labor unlons; total et for all are repre i 5 g ol aeireted average membership of our affiliated of o cou o n which per capita tax has been d to the American Federation of Labor for )h:rr ending September 30, 1904, is 1,676, The average membership of our affiliated | unions upon which per capita tax was nalld‘tg! th. deration of Labor for the year r 30, 1903, was 1,465,800, doubt be'confronted with the fon in the near future. There not understand the purposes & jvantage of the organized abor movement and the good work which 1t is doing and which it ‘oan and will do, and it therefore behooves us to de- | a vote our attention and to concentrate our| -9 efforts more largely in bringing to the atten- | r I n f the vet unorganized how necessary it | ho is for the protection of themselves and those 5 :‘Aur-r':f t up them to secure and maintain | t antage ground aiready gained, and not Iy to save all from the inevitable downw: Peth that lesds from a Tack of comprenencive | and_united effort, but to secure and realize the hopes and aspirations of the tolling masse | Therefore. with unbounded faith in the ulti- mate triumph of our great cause, the logical | and natural development of our great move- we may all take on new obligations and new vows to leave no effort untried vhich shall bring within the beneficent fold of the trade union movement the wage workers the weaith producers of America. 8o long as there is a wrong unrighted, . or the trade union movement to- do, THE BOSTON CONVENTION. t Fran e American Federat TON’S STATUS. CONTFEDERAT ecord the | e S s father to the | Tn my report to the last conventio - :, s about what | sion was taken (o call attentiom or woni . ately deciared | Was then apparent to but few, that we were 3 ation of labor | then confronted with an impending Industrial unions. » their souls | reaction. It was stated that though the re w 3 membership in | action was then mot pronounced yet it was L rade a brief period | impending, and that if a wise course was : beginning of | pursued by us the reaction could and would be | a th prevented from developing into an In- strial crisis or panic. The Boston conven- n, readily realizing the situation, promptly organized labor is as tiie un m as it is by others | adopted the suggestion made to mee sclination to in- | and unorganized, responded 1h & man- g d e formation of the | ner that shouid cause us not onl a movement in mod- | great gratification, but should recelve each era of in te | ¢ lasting gratitude of all the people of our D o i s | entire country. ~ The recommendations we hut with cach | made to our fellow workers consisted of six the Jeeree of | important features: mh Tocur- | First—Organize, unite and federat Tradmer o & | Second—Have faith and confidence in them- iate prefecessors. | seives and each other. them. The antagoniey | Third—Stand shoulder to shoulder in stress T i, SPtAgOOIS | ang strife; to help bear each other’s burdens ponggh ey ™I | and perfect the bonds of brotherhood. i Fourth—Endeavor to maintain® industrial [NPE‘ hh)'\lrlld‘ agreements with employers. " 7 ifth—Voluntarily and faithfully abide b ADVERTISEMENTS. and fulfll the ferms of agreements and the - — | awards of arbitrators thereunder. | Sixth—Prevent industrial conflicts wherever 1) possible, and particularly to resist all attempts or nuous to reduce wages. Of course, no one who understands the com- | plex conditions of industry, economics and it is necessary to have your system in | the makeup of modern soclety, and who aided 00d working order s s in the formulation of this policy of our move- 1 ment, expected to escape criticism, d - born of perfect health and strength— | tion. and condemnation from Tabors. enpe: it is imperative that each organ be | Pehi Ii was expected and anticipated. It would have given us cause to inquire as to the accuracy of our course had the position we took met the approval of those who did | not understand, and those who, sordid, short- sighted, mad, rush for immediate gain and greed behind them to a beneficent movement, | aot for labor alone, but for the common weal. In former periods when an industrial tion was manifest, employers generally viewed the situation from their own immediate stand- point only, without regard to their own broad interest or the general good. Their first re- course was to that which to them seemed kept in free action, and BEECHAM'S PILLS are foremost of the few things that will do it. For Active Brains your liver must be right, your stomach in a healthy condition and your kidneys | prevent the market from falling still lower. It | fatled auring the easlest course to continue the o of their plants—to find markets. TE:;.“;'? | duced wages. Reduction of wages followed in quick order; the consuming power of the masses was curtailed and still more .mited, | entailing wholesale discharges of workmen who were formerly employed in producing the things the masses, the workers, formerly con- sumed, inducing and giving the further cause Lo still further entaument of consumption and production and still more discharges of work- men, until millions were unemployed: thi wheels of industry apd commerce paraiyzed until men were walking the highways and byways of our country in idleness, while pov- hunger and misery stalked through our land. It i= held now that there can be no real natural famine in the world because of the y facilities with which the remotest cormers properly performing _their peculiar unctions, or your body won’t stand the strain and your brain won’t be ,a]r'l\j& d“k you would have a clear cad and keen perception, a of I'LEECHAM'SPIEILIYS. usegl;tmm see how much more alive you will be. For Perfect Health | there isno. ter promoter than these famous Pills. You will find it so all over the world, and, mark you, the most perfect specimens of manhood, | of the earth can be reached. &urely if thi womanhood and childhood are the | P® true. and no informed, sane, reasonable users of being disputes it, there is an utter absence of excuse for non-employment, hunger, poverty or misery in our land, a land so. richly and bountifully blessed. “When idleness and its consequent misery are permitted to come among our people it is due entirely to rapa- cious, sordid avirice, mismanagement and in- competency on the one hand, or to ignorant indifference and culpable pliancy on the other. The employers generally typify the one and the workers formerly typified the other. MAKES MANY CLAIMS. BEEGHAW'S PILLS Sold Everywhere In Boxes, 10c. and 25c. THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 1904. HEAD OF ORGANIZATION REVIEWS WORK OF YEAR AND EXPRESSES OPINIONS STRONGLY UPON GREAT VARIETY OF MATTERS, INCLUDING SUBJECT OF INCORPORATION OF UNIONS ASKS FOR STRONGER MEASURES FOR EXCLUDING THE CHINESE Takes Notice of the Open Shop Urges Upon Followers That They Must Resist Reduction of Wages by Lawful Means at Their Command. o in the present era? Are all the dire experi- ences and sufferings of our people to go for Daught? Should we permit ignorant indiffer- ence on our part to make us culpable for a repetition of the awful conditions which fol- lowed in the wake of the former mischievous and wrongful course of our employers, or shall we continue the course which we last year de- clared when we had the prescience to foreses the danger with which we were threatened? Organized labor then called a halt and de- clared the entire policy of wage reductions un- ‘wise, wrongful and dangerous to the well be- ing of labor and of all our people. We were fully’ aware that it would be Im- | possible to prevent all wage reductions, but we can view the result of our last year's| declaration of policy of resistance to wage re- ductions with satisfaction and pride. We can challenge our critics and opponents to compare the past year, when we were confronted with an industrial reaction, with a year of similar industrial situation, and it will demonstrate beyond cavil or doubt that— First—Wage reductions have been checked. Second—The industrial situation has not be- | come acute, as was the uniform course for- merly. Third—Much idleness, poverty, suftering and misery have been prevented. Fourth—The era of industrial stagnation, as | compared with former like conditions, has | been shortened. > i Fifth—The prospect for a revival in indus- try and commerce In the future is brighter, as compared with any similar previous period. Sixth—There is less acute feeling of unrest among workmen and employers generally, business men and all our people. Seventh—There are more workmen and em- ployers in agreement and understanding. Eighth—There is a more general effort to bring about more rightful relations between ‘workmen and employers. Ninth—There is a better conception of the rights and duties of man to man, a more gen- | ;rll satisfaction among our people with the resent, and a more gratifying and h outlook’ for the future,” . * SR The results of labor's policy are our best jus. tification, and even though contemporary com- | ment may not generally accord us the credit and commendation which are justly our due, we have the knowledge and satisfaction of the lasting service and benefit which we have ren- dered our fellow man. In considering this entire subject in its eco- nomlc and socfal aspect, we dare not fall to realize the difference between resistance to wage reductions and the movements for wage advances during periods of industrial reactions It 1s a sclence becoming more generally un- by labor to know when to strike and when not to strike; to know for what to strike and for what not to strike. It is said that it is not wise to strike on a so-called “‘falling market.”” It cannot, however, successfully be | gainsaid that a strike or preparedness to strike | in resisting an offer of wage reduction will | may not be, and undoubtedly s not, wise or | prudent to strike for wage advancement on a | downward Industrial trend, yet it is better that even this economic error be committed than a complacent acceptance of wi - o ptance of wage reduc. RESISTANCE IS URGED. May T use the homely phrase of saying that We are not yet “‘out of the woods,”” and that | the advice ‘and watchword should go forth | from this convention of the American Fed- eration of Labor to the tollers of our country to resist by every honorable and lawful means &t their command any and every attempt to reduce wages At the risk of criticism I re- peat last year's paraphrase that Im the offer of wage reductions it is better to resist and lose than not to resist at all. The resistance will at least demonstrate that labor is an equation and factor which must not be ig- nored in the material, economic, industrial, commercial and social affairs and welfare of our people and our country. During the past year some strikes occurred, and among them some were lost: that is, they were not crowned with the immediate success for which they were inaugurated. And It is not only just. but timely, to say that each of these failed of its object by reason of the fact that the men did not profit by the experience of others and take time by the forelock. In times of industrial tranquillity and while they were employed they failed to | contribute @nything like commensurate dues in their unions, and, to provide themselves with the ammunition of Industrial contest. a good treasury. There was not one strike which the entire year but which the leaders and management were confident could and would have been crowned with victory if but a good, round sum had been in t! tre; urles of their organizations Of course, no one pretends or belleves that all strikes can be won, but that greater victories will be won and fewer defeats will ocour when our unions have accumulated funds not even our most rabid antagonists will dispute. But apart from strikes concretely considered and the accumulation of funds with which to | win them when undertaken, there is another important side to this question to be con- sidered, and that is, the maintenance of in- dustrial peace. It is a condition for which we may devoutly pray and work; but so long as private greed or short-sighted Interests dominate the judgment and actions of employ- ers, just so iong will strikes, or better still, the preparedness of labor to strike, be the determining factor to bring about industrial peace on a more equitable basis, ahd to pre- vent gn industrial rupture. WeAlth and the combination of wealth are the means and the power of the employers in any difference or dispute with labor as to the conditions of employment. Those possess- ing means and power yield little or nothing to those of opposite interests, when the latter possess little or no means or power to resist oppression. We must come to realize what & prominent newspaper recently frankly, even if brutally, uttered, that ‘‘there is no senti- ment in business,”” and that ‘‘Industrial plants are not eleemosynary institutions.” Altruism, though more generally preached, is not prac- ticed; and particularly does this apply in the relations of employers to workers. Though we may contend that ethical considerations should enter into the discussion of the wage workers' demands for a better return for their labor, thelr rightful demand for a higher and a bet- ter life, we should all realize that the con- ception and desideratum in the industrial prob- lem will receive a magnificent impetus when labor is better organized, federated and equipped with means and power to enforce its rights. We would abolish war, industrially as well as internationally: but its abolition must come, and it will come from conscious power, in- teliigent and broader humanity. May the day never come when peace is proclaimed or main- tained because of the inanition of the work- ers. Peace, to be desirable, to be lasting, advantageous and humane, must come from a virile and intellizent manhood. We want no peace, and there never will be peace, found- ed upon the servility and degradation of the workers. The vantage position now occupied by labor was not brought to it on a silver platter, but was contended for and won by the unity of the workers, by the burdens which they have borne, and the sacrifices they have made. More thorough organization, a greater willing- uess to accumulate funds in the unions, the spirit of fraternity and solidarity, will bring their own reward and the recognition not only of employers but of the world, It may be safely asserted that as a rule, in our time, those who have no power to insist upon and maintain their rights have no rights to main- tain. DISCUSSES OPEN SHOP. /In many citles employers, antagonistic to labor, have formed themselves into so-called citizens’ alllances and have undertaken to prop- agate the policy of the destruction of organ- { ized Tlabor, thelr first effort being directed to what they are pleased to term the ‘open shop,” and to attack the union shop under the false assertion that it is a ‘‘closed shop.' In my last revort I had occasion to give this subject considerable attention, Since then some have pretended that the entering into an agreement of an employer with a unfon by which exciusively union men are to be em- ployed by him is in violation of law; that it denes the right to employment ot workmen who are not members of the unions. In the first Instance the claim Is absurd when it is known that the union not only opens wide its d inviting all to join, but sends out its orgdnizers and missionaries to induce by every honorable means within their power the non-unionists to share in the ad- vantages that come from united and associated effort. But quite apart from this consideration is ¢his fact, that an employer may give a con- tract to a dealer to furnish him with raw ma- terial, or to erect a plant, or to furnish him with machines, the contractor to have the ex- | lengthen the hours of daily tofl and make the | lows that if the workers have the right to sell | recent congress held in Montreal the officers an employer and a union is for members of the union to furnish that employer with labor of certain qualifications for a specific period of time, the consideration being the payment of stipulated wages &s a minimum. That others are by their own short-sighted policy or indifference excluded from the provisions and benefits of such an agreement is their own fault and against Which they have neither the legal nor the moral Fight to contend. The organized labor movement is the asso- clated effort of more than two million of adult Wealth producers. It is the unselfish action of the most intellizent and the earnest mani- festation of the most enlightened self-interest which sees that interest best served by help- | ing to protect and promote the interests of | others, The open-shop cant and hypocrisy alm at organized labor with the full knowledge that it, and it alone, stands between the toilers ' with those dependent upon them and the greed and avarice that would force down the conditions of labor to a bare subsistence, home wretched and desolate. The division and subdivision of labor and its | spectalization, brought about by inventions of | machines and_new tools of labor, have robbed workmen of their power of indlvidual freedom of contract with their employers. Their only opportunity for anything llke fair or advan- tageous terms under which to sell their labor is in assoclating themselves with thelr fellow workmen in making a collective bargain, a working agreement; in other words, a union and a contract by the union with employers for their labor and the conditions under which it shall be sold. The union shop in no sense involves a denial of the right of every man to sell his labor as he may see fit, nor the employer to hire such | labor. In fact, it is an affirmative to that right. Employers have the lawful right to hire any labor they may choo: but it does not give them the right to impre: workmen or to en- slave them, or to drag them into a factory on any terms the employer may choose to grant as an expression of his “‘kindliness.” Empioyers_have the right to make contracts for labor. This right carries with it, also, the same rights of the workmen. It, therefore, fol- their lubor as they see fit, they also have the right NOT to sell It to employers, unless it be through the collective bargain of the union shop. As an {llustration, I recently asserted that every man has the right to say, “I will not work for you unless you make a contract with the union to which I belong and agree to employ none but members of that union.” To claim that he may not say this is equiv lent to saying that he must sell his labor, not as he sees fit, but as the employer sees fit. Can any reasonable answer be made, or criti- cism indulged in, when employers find it to their advantage to make a contract with a reputable body of men to empioy union labor exclusively and thus eliminate the possibility of strikes, disputes, factions and losses? = To this our opponents, the Bo-called citizens’ al- liances, can make Do answer. Their policy consists of evasion and willtul misrepresenta- tion of the alms and purposes of organized Jabor, of the collective bargain, of the working agreement, of the union shop. WORK OF ORGANIZING. It is a matter of keen gratification to be enabled to state that the labor movement of Canada bas advanced and is progressing, keep- ing full pacé with the movement of the re- ma'nder of the American continent. At the Wero enabled to report an increase in the membership of the unfons of 5002 over the preceding vear; that there was then in exist. ence in Canada 1567 local unions. We ha continued ‘the sajaried orsanizer for Canads organizers and have contributed from our fun the annual graht of $500 for legislative pur- poses to the Dominion Trades and Labor Con- gress. The congress, 1 have been advised, was entirely harmonioue and successful in its ‘work and has horored us by electing as its fra- ternal delexate its former president and our general organizer, Jobn A. Flett. In my last report I took occaslon to refer to a number of detail matters In connection with the labor movement of Canada affiliated to that of the United States which, though appropriate to-day, need not be .recounted here, but simpiy referred to as a matter of information and continuity. 1 am pleased to add that the kindly and fraternal relations heretofore existing have been cultivated to the fullest and, \f possible, been more firmly cemented. Let us hope and work to the end that as time goes on we may be helpful to each other in every way to further the com- mon interests of the workers of both countries. The nwmber of unions in Porto Rico di- rectly affillated to the American Federation of Labor the first of the year were 1 insular or State organization, 3 centrals, 7 locals, making a total of 11. September 30, 1904, there Were affiliated 1 insular or State organization, 3 centrals, 38 locals, meking a total of 43. In addition to the above Organizer Iglesias reports that forty-two locals were organized and attached to the international unions dur- ing the twelve months. A comparison of the figures and dates shows that a large majority of these unions were organized after my visit to_Porto Rico. The people of Porto Rico are intensely sympathetic with the institutions of our re- public and universally desire the recognition of the principles of equality with the soverelgn citizenship of the United States. These rights they are eminently qualified to exercise; these rights they are entitled to, and it should be our aim to atd them in achieving them. Porto Rico literally translated into English words reads ‘‘Port of Riches,” the name given by & monarch of Spain. Now the misnomer of their island mocks the people in their grim and grotesque misery. 1 strongly urge that every effort be made, not only by this convention. but also by every union, unfon member and sympathizer, to help to the very best of his ability the worthy workers of Porto Rico to a realization of a better and brighter day. : PRINTERS’ MOVEMENT. Taking cognizance of the vast progress in the development of the printing trade, the In- ternational Typographical Union at its last conventicn adopted & resolution declaring that on January 1, 1906, a generai eight-hour work- day shall be enforced. The effort is to be made to secure the co-operation of the printing employers and to bring about the change by mutual agreement. These propositions were submitted to a ref- erendum vote of the membersnip of the Inter- national Typographical Union. No official_in- formation yet been given me as to the final result of tht vote. From information received, however, it is certain that the proposition has been favorably- decided. The membership at the same time voted in vor of assessing themselves to accumulate a defense fund in the meantime, to stand the members in good stead should necessity require them to enforce their demands by a cessation of work. The American Federation of Labor has been of incalculable benefit to a large number of international unions and local unions in_the introduction and enforcement of the eight-hour workday, ttested by the large number of our fellows who now work under that rule. Inasmuch as the International Typographical Union has taken the initiative of its own ac- cord in the matter of introducing and enforcing the eight-hour*workday, 1 submit for your con- ridération and recommend tnat this movement of the International Typographical Union re- ceive the sincere and hearty Indorsement and co-operation of this convention of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, and of every union member as well as every wage earner and those who sympathize with practical, evolu-) tionary, economic progress. Tt is not now known whether there will be any contest against the elght-hour day; Whether any antagonistic action will be taken by the employers to the men. We do know, however, t at the last convention of the employing printers of the United States, or- ganized under the mame of the Typothetae, 2 resolution was adopted declaring against that ‘movement. In any event, it seems clear to me that every action should be taken by this convention and by our organizations generally, not only to pledge the support of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor and its affiliated unions to the International Typographical To-Day’'s Events. Convention in session at Lyric Hall, morning and afternoon. EVENING. Mass-meeting in Oakland, to be addressed by national dele- gates. Stationary Firemen's smoker to representative delegates at Shiels Hall, 32 O'Farrell street. | the promotion of the conditions and interests | of our fellow workmen, | every assistance within our power. | unanimousfy then president of Columbia mg\:g-‘ prize, — Inion in its effort to enforce the eight-hour day, but that a special committee be appointed by this convention to give the subject-matter ter consideration; that the committee should consult with the officers and representtives of the International Typographical Union during the convention and report thereto before ad- Jjournment; that either that committee or an- other committee be authorized to be appointed for the purpose of co-operating with the excu- tive council of the American Federation of La- bor and the officers of the Typographical Union, S0 that he best possible ald can be rendered to | our fellow workers in the great movement that they have undertaken and in which they have the hopes, wishes, prayers, and co-operation of every ome interested in the welfare of the human family and the progress and civilization of our people. Of course, In the effort to help one particular organization, egpecially in the laudable purpose it has mapped out for itself to achieve, we are mot circumscribed or limited in our effort to help any and all of our fellow sworkmen | who are in a position to make any effort for the advancement or promotion of their | interests. We shall, therefore, welcome not | only the initiative of our fellow unionists to | obtain improved conditions, and particularly | the {mproved conditions that come from & shorter workday, but we shall be glad to help in the initiation of any movement that will | contribute in any way toward the protection, and to render them JURISDICTION TREATED. Notwithstanding every effort to help in the solution of the disputes relative to trade unlon jurisdiction much progress cannot be reported. In the case of the International Association of | Allied Metal Mechanics and the other ma- chinery and metal trade unions, you will be | grutified, 1 am sure, to be officlally advised | that by a conciliatory spirit - manifested by all directly Interested an addition to the vol- untary seif-effacement of the officérs of the | allied meta] mechanics, that international as- | socfation, November 1, 1904, amalgamated with | and became part of the International Associa- tion of Machinists. | It also affords me pleasure to be enabled to | report to you that the effort to eliminate a | source of constant friction and conflict in the carpentry trade will in a short time, I firmly ! believe, be crowned with success. At our recommendation the United Brotherhood of Carpenters_and Joiners of America and the | American District of the Amalgamated Society¥ of Carpenters and Joiners submitted their mat- | ters of difference to arbitration, selecting A. | Strasser as umpire. His award made pro- vision for a rational and advantageous form of amalgamation, providing in the meantime for a working agreement, which in the main has been falthfully compifed with. I am ad- vised that the United Brotherhood has in- | structed its president to appoint a committee | to meet a like committee of the Amalgamated | Socfety for the purpose of arranging the de- talls of the amalgamation and to submit the same to a referendum vote of the membership | of the brotherhood for ratification; that the | Amalgamated_Society is now voting upon the proposition, the highest authority in that or- | ganization having favorably recommended it to the membership. If this be ratified and | amalgamation occur, which we earnestly hope | will be done, one great source of contention will have disappeared from labor's field of | usefulness. The matter is more fully covered | in_the executive council's renort. | In several cases, after conferences, many | matters of jurisdiction have been adjust:d with go0d results to all parties concerned. A num- | ber of the jurisdictional disputes which have | largely oceupted the attention of former con- ventions, have, 1f possible, bacome still more acute and have entafled upon your officers an enormous amount of work, expenditure of time as well as expense to the federation without bringing a compensatory advantage to the men or to the organizations engaged in such | controversies. No observing, experienced and faithful trade urionist believes that a hard and fast rule of | jurisdiction can be proclaimed and enforced | Which will apply with exactitude to all trade | unfons alike. There are different conditions, | cifcumstances and environments in most in- stances and each must be approached, con- sidered and determined with particular refer- ence to its immediate and kindred trade, oc- cupation and develonment. The Scranton convention appointed a special committee, consisting of James Duncan, John Mitchell, John Mulholland, T. M. Hughes and myself, to consider and report upon the ques, tion of trade autonomy and jurlsdictional dis- putes. The report of that committee was adopted. Perhaps it was then, as it is now, the best expression of the judg- Mment of our movement upon these subjects, and it is commended anew to your very serious | consideration. - It stands out in significant con- trast to the logical disastrous consequences Which would result to the Interests of labor were it possible to introduce what some are pleased to term industrialism. UNITED BROTHERHOOD. 1t a policy of so-called industrial form of or- ganization be justifiable and advantageous, s against that of the trade union form, with its constant development, with changing condi- tions In industry, then an organization formed a few months ago in San Antonio, Texas, Is the best expression and exponent of that mo- tion, for that organization sneers contemptu- ously at the organization of the different untons of the building trades, and styles itself ‘“The Tnited Brotherhood of Builders of America.” It denounces roundly the trade unions, and in the usual language of the so-called Industrial- lsts invites to membership in the one organ- {zation carpenters and plumbers, painters and bricklayers, plasterers and bridge and struc- tural fron workers, electrical workers and hod carriers, building iaborers and machinists, and v man who is either directly or remotely employed in the preparation of the material for a buiflding or in the construction of the buflding itself. It necessarily follows that if such a form of organization is most mdvan- tageous to the workmen emploved in the build. ing trades it will apply with equal advantage to all others. This is the logical result of the reasoning - of some of our mistaken fellow trade unionists, who, with more enthusiasm than clearness of vision, urge what they eu- phoneously call an industrial form of organ- ization. Our trade union movement, which deals with conditions as they arise and takes advantage of experience to turn it to the best account of our fellow-workmen, may not be so alluring; it may not bear the apparent glamour and dash which some would have the labor movement assume, but ours is the movemert of labor, founded upon the historic development of the toilers’ associated effort; it battles in labor's interests to-day, and is marshaling the forces of united labor in its regiments and bat- falions the hetter to defend, the better to withstand, the better to maintain, the better to clear the pathway for a safer and more suceessful advance to-morrow and to-morrow. The defense fund has been of vast benefit to our directly affillated unions, not only in sustaining our members in any difficuity, byt particularly in preventing_employers’ at- ks, The realization that the men of or- ganized labor have a defense fund which can be concentrated upon any given point to tect the rights and interests of our fellow- workers hae had a palpable and beneficent | ) and which it has been necessary by administrative cts to overcome. . howaver, tha ey be remedied by thelr Tegai enactm st into our. constitution, and therefore recommend the tion of changes and amendments. union labels have been a source of great advantage to labqr and to all people. The la- bel is at once a guarantee and an assurance that the conditions under which an article is roduced have been comparatively fairer and tter; that the labor of children has not en- tered fato ite productidn; nese, sweat shop or other inferior labor is no component part entering into the production of {he article; that the sanitary conditions at- tending its uction are of the highest or- der, thus affording the friends of our move- ment the opportunity to sympathize with its purpose, as well as giving our own constitu- ent membership the opportunity of exercising their powers of patronage, that they may give thelr material as weil as their moral sup- port and encouragement. In order that the best information upon the history, philosophy and purposes of the union Jabel may be available to the uninformed and the opponent, as well as to afford our own membership the better opportunity to answer the whys and wherefore of the union label, the executive committee gave me power to of- fer prizes for the best three essays upon the subject of the union label. Impartial examin- ation and awards were made upon the ew- says submitted, the judges being Hemry W. Sherman, general secretary of the Brother- hood of Electrical Workers; Arthur E. Holder, assistant_editor of the International Aseocia’ :hnn(mm:ml.m:m M. thur of P. H. Shevlin of prize, Charles D. ‘Cincinnati; ¢ | there were present delegates represent- | Hemming, Scranton Pennsylvania. GOMPERS CRITICIZES EMPLOYERS. In former periods when an industrial reaction was manifest, em- ployers generally viewed the situation from their own immediate standpoint only, without regard to their own broad interest or the general good. Their first recourse was to that which to them seemed the easiest course to continue the operation of their plants—to find markets. They reduced wages. Reduction of wages followed in quick order; the consuming power of the masses was curtailed and still more limited, entailing wholesale discharges of workmen who were formerly employed in producing the things the masses, the workers, formerly consumed, inducing and giving the further cause to still further cur- tailment of consumption and production and still more discharges of workmen, until millions were unemployed, the wheels of industry and commerce paralyzed. o SUBMITS CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE REPORT. Many Delegates Are Still to Be Seated Before Work May Proceed. Washington State Federation of Labor—W. Frank Moyer, 1 vote. Signed: James F. Grimes, chairman; Johm T. Dempeey, George Mackey. Following the report of the committes on credentials the president of the con- vention appointed the following com- The committee on credentials of the American Federation of Labor reported at the forenoon session yesterday that ing 79 national, 14 State branches, 29 central bodies and 46 local trade and The following list shows federal union: mittees: the délegates having 200 or more votes Report of president—A. Furuseth, H. W. in the convention: Sherman, D. A. Carey, Henry C. Barter, Col- s Lovely, Martin Lawler, John Fahey, Thom- as F. Tracy, C. W. Petrfe, Willlam S. Smith, James C. Shanessy. Report of secretary—James Wilson, John Golden, Charles Dold, Fred Zepp, A. D. Por- ter, John Brady, J. B. Conroy, E. J. Lynch, L. W. Quick, George H. Warner, Willlam H. Frazter. Rules and order of business—L. A. Electrical Workers of America, International Brotherhood—H. W. Sherman, M. J. Sullivan, George Burns, Charles Nelson, 210 votes. Bar- bers' International Union, Journeymen—W. E. Klapetzky, Frank X. Noschang, George K. Smith, George C. Shanessy, 236 votes. Clgar- makers' International Union of America—Sam- uel Gompers, Thomas F. Tracy, James Wood, Mahlon J. Barnes, 405 votes. ~Carpenters and Tan- Joiners of America, United Brotherhood— | quary, John Fitzpatrick, James H. Sullivan, Frank Duffy, James F. Grimes, A. M. Swarts, | T. J. Duffy, Patrick Maloney, Martin Me- | Samuel Yarnell, Willlam B. Mactarlane, John | Graw, Anthony McAndrews, B. B. Rosentbal, | Zaring, T. M. Guerin_ 1554 votes. Boot and | J. Isadore, Jersmiah P. Murphy. John Clark. Shoe Workers' Union—John F. Tobin, Coilis | ~On organization—John Mitchell, J. R. Cro- Lovely, Emmet T. Walls, Charles E. Lowell, | zfer, Charles Hank, John Zaring, John Devine, John P. Meade, 320 votes. International | C. L. Shamp, Nathan Woiff, Thomas J. Ma- Union of United Brewery Workmen—Louls | honey, Herman May, John J. Joyce, A. E. Kemper, Edmond F. Ward, August Priesters- | Ireland. Hotel and Restau- bach, Fred Zepp, 305 votes. Jere Report of treasurer—Louls Kemper, F. C. rant Employes’ Alllance—T. J. Sullivan, Gengenbach, Timothy Healey, A. B. Kelling- L. Sullivan, -Robert A. Wharton, Paul Riechen- | ton, D. J. Murray, Richard Pattison, Frank bacher, C. B. Wiseman _ 404 votes. Interna- | Sweeney, Ernest Dicks, Frank Hells, Harry tional Longshoremen's Association—Daniel J. | Hajles, Frank C. Lowe. Keefe, Henry C. Barter. John J. Jovce, 500 Om resolutions—James Duncan, W. D. Ryan, votes, International Association of Machinists | ;¢ Balhorn, Frank K. Foster, William —James O'Connell, George H. Warner, A Ireland, John Hamerstrom, 627 votes. Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Amalgamated—Herman May, C. E. Schmidt, 344 votes. United Mine Workers of America—John Mitchell, W, B. Wilson_ T. L. Lewis, W. D. Ryan, W. H. Haskins, John B. | Cohen, R. H. Metcalf, Frank B. Monaghan, D. D. Mulcahy, Santiago Iglesias, Archy Grant, John Slocum. On _laws—John B. Lennon, W. H. Haskins, D. A. Hayes, Max Morris August Priesterbach, Samuel Yarnell, Edwar Brown, George Sauer, James H. O'Neil, J. T. James Lynch, Fahy. Jonn 'T.’ Dempiey. 25717 votes ' Iron | jovery Moldérs' Union_ of North America—M. J. > - . ©On labels—Martin Higgins, Charles E. Low- Keough, James H. O'Neil, 300 votes. Ameri- | 0T Innere—31aton, THEEES SREIET on, Bmil can Federation of Musicians—Joseph N. Web- er, Owen Miller, D. A. Carey, 220 votes. Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Pa- perhangers of America—J. C. Bahlhorn, James H, Sullivan, George C. Campbell, John W. Finan, Frank C. Lowe, 607 votes. Amalga- mated Assocfation of Railway Employes, Street Schaerer, Max S. Hayes, Morris Brown, Sarah Hagan, O. F. Lindow, E. W. Miller, Henry Fischer. Oa grievances—James O'Connell, John A. Motfitt, W. D. Mahon T. L. Lewis, Walter Macarthur, James C. Cain, Willlam J. O'Brien, W. E. Klapetzky, James Wood, Ed- and Electric—W, D. Mahon, Rezin Orr. Rich- 20 Cornetias. 300" volen. Heamen's Interna- | "o Hirech, E W, B Wilon tional Union of America—Wm. H. Frazier, P - WL v =2 Willam J. Gilthorpe, George . Smith, 1 Walter Macarthur, —Andrew Furuseth, Wm. | 1j,m B. Macfarlane, David Kreyling, J. Mah- Penje, 201 votes. ~ International Typographi- | Lam B. Mactariane, Oore en 7. W. Morton. cal Union—James M. Lynch, Frank Morrison, | 1 ;. Downey, Joseph N. Weber, Jers L. Sul- Max . Hayes Frank K. Foster, Vietor L. | oy 4 . s Berger, 467 votes, Wood Workers' Inter- 4 nk Nosch- national _Unlon of America, Amalgamated— | O g oy By e el e D. D. Mulcahy, Thomas I Kidd. Richard | Pr€p 0 Pt on i M mocs Jonn P, Meade, Braunschwelg, E. W. Miller, 253 votes. | yar o *p Maher M. J. Keough, John W. Votes by State organizations are as| Finan, J. J. McKee. follows: On building (r-‘i\-~4Wl||\lm n'! m.—;;. e Herman Lallian, O. Tveitmoe, Aan a b s g -y 3SR g Frank Feeney, E. V. Hoenick, Thomas J. b5 rperlic— S i = < g g Lyons, George C. Campbell, Charles Nelson, b B : N Joseph Hammill, Edward A. Whits, Theodor: Jllinois—M. B. Madden, 1 vote. Towa—L. M. Jaeger, 1 vote. Massachusetts—James R. Crozier, 1 vote. Missouri—E. T. Behrens, 1 vote. New Jersey—John T. Cosgrove, 1 vote. New York Workingmen's Federation—Wil- liam White, 1 vote. Porto Rico Free Federation of Working- men—Santiago Iglesias, 1 vote. Paine, Willlam Fyfe, Henry Ketter, W. W Woodward. Cn education—Thomas 1. Kidd, John F. To- bin, Owen Miller, D. G. Ramsay, F. M. Gue- rin, Roady Kennehan, Daniel P. Sullivan, T. C. de Villlers, Lester Greenlaw, T. J. Dinan, George Powell. On State organization—James J. Beegan, D. Texas State Federation of Labor—G. W. | D. Driscoll. Robert Wharton. Herman Robin- Woodman, 1 vote. son, George Burns, John Davidsom, William T'tah State Federation of Labor—J. T. Lav- | White, C. W. Woodman, John T. Cosgrove, ery. 1 vote. M. B. Madden, L. M. Jaeger. + " wers summoned befors secret meetings of these greedy monopolists, and simply because they refused to acquiesce in the employers’ out- rageous conduct, were summarily deposed from office and the agents of the employers directed to usurp these offices and perform their functions and duties. In ome instance a rope with a noose at the end was tossed &t the feet of an officer of the local government, elected by the people, with the cholce given him of peremptorily resigning his office or to take the consequences of the other silent, yet effective, alternative presented to him. DENOUNCES GOVERNOR. The Governor bas aided and abetted this criminal procedure ands utilized the military forces of Colorado to violate every vestige of human right recognized for more than seven centuries, as wrung from an unwilling mon- arch in the Magna Charta, asserted in the Declaration of Independence, guaranteed by the canstitution of our country and of our States and fortified by every statute in our land. Govarnor Peabody not only declared martial The iniquitous policy of the so-called Citi- zens' Alllance has had its fullest fruition in Colorado. In that State it has not only of it- seif had full sway, but it has.been aided in the execution of it edicts by the executive with_the full power of the military. Indeed, the Citizens' Alliance hag but the simple dec- laration to make as to its wishes and what in its judgment constituted the law to have the Governor of the State order the troops to-the most convenient point to execute what was accepted as a decree. Clvil government has been set at naught, and constitutional and natural rights and guarantees wantonly tram- pled under foot. A brief resume of events leading up to and In connection with the outrage against not only the rights of labor but civilized society, may not here be amiss. Four years ago the Colorado Legislature passed a law limiting the hours of labor of men who worked i the mines and in the smelters to eight per day. The courts of the State declared that inas- much as there was no constitutional authority for the enactment vested in' the Legislature law and military rule, applying to districts, of such a law, the act was void. The subse- | wiinoue guthority of law and in conflict with quent Legislature adopted an amendment to | pe plain prcvisions of the constitution of the constitution giving the Legislature that | Cojorado, but he even demeaned himself to needed authority, and made it mandatory | the exercise of that great power to apply to a single_individual. Men charged with no crime or offense against the laws were cor- ralled and with the butt end of a gum or at the point of a bayonet driven like cattle into a bull pen, while others were bodily carried or driven into another State We_amert that under no circumstances had the. Governor of Colorado, without the con- sent of the Legislature, the right or authority to declare martiad law or military rule; that holding men ‘n duress in that brutal military prison, the bull pen; that depriving mea of thelr iiberty without due process of law, was not only a brutal outrage of the rights of the men themselves, but an unbl to all men. If the miners in the districts of Colorado were gufity of any crime. if they violated any law of the land, there are in existence upon the statute books laws for their aporehension and trial before the duly constituted courts by a. jury of their peers according to the due processes of law as made and provided in such cases. The tyrant of old exercised his spleen with those from whom be differed and deported. banished or exiled them. Civilized man has come to recognize such punishments as un- just and unnatural. Even Russia has recently abolished the decree. It has remained for the unspeakabie Peabody, Governor of the great State of Colorado, to revive and put this be- nighted punishment Into execution; and this, too, in salte of the fact that there is not in our country ome scintllla of law authorizing upon the Legisiature to enact such a law. The amendment was submitted to a vote of the people of Colorado, and it was ratified by more than 47,000 majority, and thereby became a part of the State constitution. The Legislature which bad this direct man- date from the people utterly falled to comply therewith, and it is authoritatively asserted. and not denied, that Governor Peabody owed his nomination. and election to the office he cccuptes upon the distinct understanding and agreement with the prime movers of the so- called Citizens' Alliance that he would pre- vent, If possible, an agreement by the two of the Legislature upon any eight-hour or that if agreement was reached, despite his ‘effort, “that he would veto such a bill. It Was unnecessary for him to exercise his right of veto, inasmuch as his efforts to prevent agreement in the passage of the bill made the exercise of that function unnecessary. The indignation of the people generally, particularly the working people, at this polit- jcal manipulation and trickery, was emphatic, and a keen sense was clearly manifested that their rights and their interests had been fla- grantly betrayed. Disputes arose resulting in the effort to enforce by private agreement What the lawmakers, the misrepresentatives of the people, had failed to do; that is, the establishment of an eight hour workday. In several Instances strikes occurred: some directly for the eight hour day, others in sym- pathy. At once a system of persecution was |any court or any officer to deport. banish o Ihausurated by the employers' associations, | exilo a citizen from his Stats or from the Which assumed the title of Citizens’ Alllances. | country. Iion against whom no charge of wrongdoing | We bave mot. cannot and will mot condone could be made were dragged from thelr homes o other | oo ed Page TS and deported to other districts a - 3, © 2 ic officlals, elected by the people, ADVERTISEMENTS. CPICUREAD wme JOI FRRILLS 101 SANDWICHES 101 SALADS 101 CANDIES 101 BEVERAGES 101 CHAFING DISH RECIPES Publ! 5 Gustatory Classics invaluable for all occasions. Each volume Paper, 50c net. Post 4c. Canvas, $1.00 net. 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