The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-13
BIG LABOR ORGANIZATION.
Amer lean Federation Will Convene
at Nashville Today.
SOMETHING or THE GREAT BODY
Number of DcIegntcs--Its BUSH
ness Ii Important.

Nashville. Tenn, December 12.--Nearly
all the delegates to the convention of the
! American Federation OF Labor have arrived
Tho attendance is not expected to be ex-
ceedSngly large. but there will be a fun
representation. The examination of creden-
today and the report will be ready when the
convention meets. All the members OF the
executive council have arrived.
The Federation will meet in the house OF
representatives tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock. The first order of business will be
the address of welcome by William Almison
of the Nashville Typographical Union. The
response will be made by President Com
| pers and the business OF hearing reports
| will then be begun. That OF the committee
on credentials Will be taken up first, and
after it is disposed of the presidents TO
| port. the treasurers and the secretary's
will be read.
Most Of the delegates attended a meet
ing this afternoon OF the trades and labor
| council and brief speeches were made by
several.
Henri Al Cardozo OF Paris, who is IN
this country investigating the steel making
industry fer the French government, is
attending the convention. II is expected
that definite action will he taken in refer
encc TO the institution of postal savings
banks by the government.
Ed Hirsch. delegate of the International
Typographical Union; Audrey J. Casey OF
Massachusetts and Willard Lloyd. delegate
from Illinois Federation, will push this
matter and obtain, II possible. the lndorss-
ment OF the Federation
when on Monday. December 13, President
Samuel Gompers calls the seventeenth an
Lual convention of the American Fedora
ton of LLtor to order In the hall OF rep
resentativcs in the State capitol at Nash
vile, Tenn. there will be gathered In that
hall working men and women from every
state and Territory in the United States.
several delegates representing the British
trades union congress Of Great Britain.
aud il is expected that Canada and Japan
viii also be represented. 1t will mark an
eroch in the history of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. the greatest and strong
est alliance OF bone, SNOW and skin the
world has ever known.
The object OF the American Federation
OF Labor is Ito render employment ana the
means of subsistence less precarious by
securing to the tolers an equitable share
Of the fruits 0i their toll" AS means to
this end 1t proposes,
free federation of Ill trade and labor
unions in America; the establishment u
| self government in unions o. wage workers
| IN every trade and legitimate occupation.
| the formation OF pubic opinion by the
| agencies OF the platform. press and leeisla-
| nSn, and the rurIherance OF civilization by
| securing to the toilers a reduction in the
| daily hours OF labor encourage The forma-
| itou OF local trade and labor unions and
| the closer federation of such societies
through the organization OF central trade
ana labor unions in very city, aud the
further combination Of such bodies into
state, territorial and provincial oreauiza-
lions, TO secure Legislation IA the intcres,
OF the working classes, the establishment
OF national and international trade unions,
based upon a strict recognition OF tho au-
tonomy of each trade, and the promotion
and advancement OF such bodies to aid aud
encourage the labor press of America, and
an American federation OF all national aud
International trade unions to aid and as
sst each other and, furthermore to SO
cure national and state and municipal leg
!S'atlon In the interest of the working
people, and influence public opinion by
peaceful and legal methods. in favor OF or.
gam3ed labor. Tho Federation OF Labor
endeaNotS TO unite all cla5scs Of wage
workers under one head. through their
several organizations. 10 the end tl,at
class. race, creed. political ana trade pre.
!udiceS may be abolished. that suprort.
moral aud financial. may he 2tven 10 each
other 1t siVes to any organization Joining
its ranks recognition in the 'ield of labor
|
boycotts, strikes. lockouts. attentive lcnr.
ing before all affiliated bodies and renders
tlnoncal aid TO the extent os it's ability
II allows each organization to control /, ;
own funds, to establish and expsnd la
own benefits without LET or nndrance II
aims to all0w-in the light OF expe.icrce-
inc utmost liberty to each organisation in
the conduct of it's own affairs consistent
with the generally understood urilcjules
Of labor. IT has established intercolnn,u |
mcatiun created agitation, AMI Is in ai- !
rev VurtesNondt nee VITA corps OF repre- |
sentative organizers Throughout the col,n.
Try. II watches the interests - the work |
ers IN the national congress: I; indotsos
ana protests in the name OF labor and has /
secured vast relief from burdenSome laws
ana government officials IT Is in tum,,,u.
nication with reforiners and sympathizcrs
IN almost all classes, giving Information
aud cnlisting their desperation Il asks
the cooperation Of all wage wom;ers who
believe in the principle OF unity and that
there is something better in life than LONG
hours, low wages, lack OF employment and
all that these imply. Its existence is based
upon economic law
That the American Federation OF Labor
rs an examination of growing power and
influence is due to the fact that its officers
IN the main have tried to be guided by
reason and wise Judgment in eadeavoring
to better the condition of the toilers whom
eney represent. This explains IN good part
why the federation has been stpa,lilv cSin.
ing IN strength. stability and influence.
while other organizations that al tmas
nave hold a moro nromlnent nlnrn In - |