The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-15
CONVENTION OF
LABOR LEADERS
Sixteenth Annual Gather
ing of the Federation
Of America.
President Samuel Gompers Makes
a Report on the Progress
of the Year.
While Conditions Have Not Improved
to the Extent Expected Mem.
bership Increases.

CINCINNATI, ONO, Dec. 14.-The six
tenth annual convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor assembled at
Odd Fellows Temple at 10 o'clock this
morning, 1t is the largest in number and
most important meeting ever held by the
federation. The lbs delegates are in at
tendance, some of them from Europe.
The convention was called to order by
President Samuel Gompers. Fred Basely,
president of the Cincinnati Central Labor
Council, addressed the delegates on behalf
of the local committee. and E. ]. Denny of
the Iron Molders' Union on behalf of the
city.
Mayor Caldwell delivered an address of
welcome, which was responded to by
President Gompers. The temporary Or
ganization was then effected.
When the afternoon session was called
to order seats on the stage were accorded
to Samuel Woods and John Martinson OF
Great Britain and to Louis Vigouroux of
France, all of whom are among the fore
most leaders OF the cause of labor in their
respective countries.
The committee on credentials not being
ready to report a recess was taken. 1t vas
almost o'clock when the convention was
again called to order and the report on
credentials read.
After the reading and acceptance of the
credentials committees report a resoIu-
tion to exclude from the hall during the
convention the representatives Of all nom
union newspapers was passed by almost a
unanimous vote of the convention.
Appointments OF committees were then
made by President Gompers.
After submitting the committees to the
convention, which promptly ratified the
appointments. President Gompers called
the vice-president TO preside and read his
annual report. He said in part:
In the matter of our amendment t o the
eight-hour law, we have had many mani
festations of opposition from quarters
ommend that this convention decide that the
representatives of this federation be constantly
at the service OF the Government dur
ing the session of Congress to guard and
further the legislation which our or
CARNATIONS demand in the interest of
labor While industry and commerce have just
about emerged from the panics of 1S93-95,
the changes or Improvements have been very
meager. There has not been that industrial
revival looked and hoped for and which we
had q right to anticipate alter tne Crisis
ship during the year has increased nearly
100000.
The report OF the secretary VIII snow tnat
there were 207 charters issued to local
unions. as compared with 141 last year; that
eleven National and international trades
unions have become affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor during the
year, and also twenty-three central labor
bodies during the same period.
AS per instructions the executive committee
has set to work for the purpose OF securing
some concessions for an eight-hour work day.
number OF unions made the demand and Sc
cured it by strikes. much larger number
hao the reduction conceded to them without
even the necessity of ceasing their work.
Mr.. Gompers urged the holding of a
series of simultaneous mass meetings by
wage-workers on National holidays and
said: 1--WE earnestly seek the sincere
cooperation of all fair : minded men
and women of our town and de-
clare openly and unequivocally our
purpose to demand the general enforce
ment of the eight-hour work day, May 1,
1898, and to that end we shall bend our
every effort"
The session closed with the reading of
she annual reports of the secretary and