Workmen's advocate., 1889-12-21
his annual report, of which the following is synopsis,
GROWTH OF THE FEDERATION.

trades union movement. Many local unions, of which trade no national union existed, have been formed. During the past year several new national trades unions have been formed by the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, and of these two have affiliated with it. The Feder- ation has at present affiliated with It nearly every trade union of the country. With $500 local unions, the Federation claims a larger membership than any other labor organization in the world.
 CONFERENCE WITH THE K, OF L.
 "The Executive Council has held sev- aral conferences with the General EX- ecutiye Board of the Knights of Labor to try to bring about more harmonious action. At the first conference mani festo was drawn up, out the Knights renewed their hostility. Later on letter was received from the Knights which seemed to remove all objections to the publication of the manifesto, Then the Knights proposed a mutual recognition of cards and labels. The Executive Council made a counter proposition that trade districts and locals be discontinued in the order. and that the trades unions WOuiN III turn tntbuld age hlitll ilAS Sliptlo to become Knights in mixed locals. The Executive Council maintains that where there exists a dual organization and au- thority in any trade a conflict is inevt- able and can only end disastrously to all interests.
 THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.
 "The eExecuhveCouncilha have endeavor- ed to secure the cooperation, and to establish fraternal relations with all labor organizations. During the year correspondence was opened and con. tinued with representative men of labor of Europe as we'll as in this country and with good results. There is no doubt that had the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers thrown aside their policy of isolation" which is unworthy of their grand organization, there would have been established federation of all rail road workmen.
 FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS.
 "In regard to letters and propositions that have been received for cooperative purposes from organizations of farmers, it has been learned that these OrganiZa- tions are composed of employing farmers. The Federation should, in prefere nee, organize and ally itself with farm laborerS.
 THE EIGHT HOUR WORKDAY.
 "The agitation of the eight-hour movement has arrested the e>downward tendency of the labor movement. With regard to the proposed enforcement of the eight-hour system May 1 next, one or two trades whose organizations are affiliated with the Federation should be selected by the convention or by the Executive Council upon which to con- centrate the whole efforts of organized labor to secure that system. The old organizations affiliated should contribute a specified sum per member to aid in winning the first victory. The attempt should be made to win this without re- sorting to any strike, but should the employers refuse to make any cOnces- sions strike should be authorized, and the strikers be supported out of the funds raised for the purpose. Upon the successful termination of the first contest another trade should be selected to fight for tue system, and so on until victory shall have been gained on all sides.
 EUROPE AND EIGHT HOURS.
 "So far has the influences of our eight-hour movement reached, that the International Labor Congresses, held at Paris this year, resolved, in sympathy with our movement, to hold simultane- ous mass-meetings in every city in Europe, May lst, 1890.
 "In England, where there was an apparent adverse vote on the eight-hour l,pr of the working people have not only made gigantic strides in improving their condition by increasing their wages and reducing the hours of their labor within the past few months, but the battle-cry for eight hours, May 1st, 1890, is taken up and reverberated throughout GI Ieat Britain with an earnestness and enthusiasm that will, no doubt, insure success and command the admiration of the world.
 ALIEN CONTRACT LABOR.
 ''The law to prevent the importation of laborers under contract IS not properly enforced, and frequently the officers who should enforce 1t, by their action endeayor to bring it into ridicule.
 CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
 "The Chinese Exclusion act is fragrant ly violated. Chinamen are permitted to come over our borders from neighboring countries, and, under pretense that they cannot be returned, they remain in opposition to the expressed wish of the people. The tariff law and laws that seek the protection of other interests are, however, strictly enforced.
 THE CENSUS OF IDLENESS.
 "The omission in the present census law of any provision to ascertain the number of unemployed persons in the country is greatly to be regretted. It is