The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-15
Annual National Convention Of
Federation Of Labor.
Delegates Present From All Parts Of the
United States and Canada.
Address Of Welcome by President GOmpers.
Action in the Case Of the San Fran
cisco Delegates.
Ereeial TO THE MORNING CALI.

BIRMINGHAM (Ala), Dec. 14-The elev-
enth annual National Convention of FEEDER
alton OF Labor convened this morning. being
called to order by President Gompers.
ABOUT 15O delegates were present from all
parts of the United States and Canada.
only routine business was transacted to-
day.
president Gompers, in calling the conven-
ton to order. said he would reserve the de-
livery Of his annual address until tomorrow,
ana he proceeded to deliver a brief address
OF welcome. The growth of the organiza-
tlon during the past year, he said, has been
phenomenal, and the delegates before him
represented more than three-quarters of a
million OF organized laborers.
Gomptrs in conclusion said that much
yet remained to be done, and that the COM
oinat!ons against labor can only be success
tully c0red with by compact and thorough
organization OF wage-workers. The per-
petuity of the institutions of our country !;
freedom of our citizens; the burden upon
our sisters; the cry of children for relief,
all demand that we labor with all our
power to relieve ourselves from the great
wrongs by which we are surrounded.
AT the conclusion of the Presidents ad-
dress the convention went into executive
session.
General Secretary Evans, in presenting
his annual report. said that while the trade
union movement is doing noble work in the
line of reform, the unions are not making as
rapid progress as they should, and renewed
efforts were urged. The report showed that
during the term ended October 3lst
246 charters had been issued to
unions in thirty States. Charters
had also been granted to ten
national unions, making a total of 256
during the year. The receipts of the year
were S2l,3 ,344, and the expenditures S13,199,
leaving balance of S8l5S The statement
was rendered notable by showing that the
total outlay for salaries on account of the
organization. with hundreds of branches
and membership of three-quarters of
million, was $500.
In regard to a council of Federated Trades
on the Pacific Coast. the Committee on Gre
dentinls referred the question of admitting
delegates directly to the convention itself
The San Francisco case is tile most impor-
tant question likely to come before the IN
vention, with possible exception of the boy
c0tt Delegate Carter did not wish to on
pose the meeting of the San Francisco dele
gates, but he questioned the wisdem of such
action. They should be careful lest they
encourage Decentralization. They should
not let sympathy lead them astray.
Delegate Valentine believed if any local
union was guilty of insubordination it
should be suspended. The San Francisco
federation had been suspended for nom
paying an assessment. not on account OF
the money involved. but because they
knew it was unjust. Money was no object
in the matter.
Delegate Jones offered resolution that
special committee be appointed to con-
slider the San Francisco case, and after
prolonged discussion the resolution was
adopted.
The President appointed Blackmore.
Byron, Smrad, Faulkner and Shiels as the
committee, with instructions to report to-
morrow morning