Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-12-14
GREATER FEDERATION.
Solidarity Of Interests, it is Said,
Should be the Wage Earn
erS' WatchWOrd.

Kansas City, Mo-, Dec 12-The eight
zenith annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor was called to order
in Strope's hall at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. About $50 delegates from al parts
Of this country and two from across the
water, namely, William Thorne and Will
liam Inskip of London, representing the
British Trades Union congress, were pres
ent. Delegate Inskip's mission is to
plead for a closer alliance between the
United States and Great Britain on in
dustrial as well as on political lines. The
work mapped out for the opening day
includes the committee reports, the seat
ing and rejection of contested delegates,
OF whom there are several.
After the usual preliminary matters Of
organization, President GOmpers deliv-
cred his annual address. Mr. Gompers in
his address. referring to the growth OF
Internationally" said:
With the view of closer bond of sym
pathy and unity among the organized work
ers OF the different countries, cOrrespon-
dence with many of them has been main
tanned and entered into with number Of
others. We should endeavor by every
means within our power to cultivate fra
ternal feeling and interest in the welfare
or the Wage-earners of all countries. to
lated to materially, morally and socially
improve the conditions of the workers. no
matter where they may be located, and par
tlcularly to lend that aid which may be
in our power to those who show d:3po-
sitfon to stand upon the common polity Of
| our movement.
From the officers Of our affiliated assoca-
lions come the satisfactory reports that
they are in closer touch with their fellow
trade unlonlsts everywhere, and it is addi-
t1onally gratifying that the mutual recog
| nd Atnn Tf ion
cards is being adopted interna tionally.
with each step taken in the direction to
cement the bond Of fraternity and the rec
| ognitiOn of the Principle Of solidarity in the
international labor movement. we shall not
only help to bear each others burdens,
but continually make those burdens lighter
brotherhood of man when the of ma
tions shall be thing of the past and the
song Of the poet. the dream Of the philOso
pher and the hope of the philanthropist aud
humanitarian be achieved
Our fraternal delegates to the British
trade union congress, James Duncan and
barry Lloyd. report that the greetings
Which they received at the hands Of our
fellow trade uniOniStS abroad were of q
marked generous and gratifying character.
Their report a most interesting document,
Will be submitted to YOU We have with
US today the return fraternal delegates
from the British trade union congress tG
Thornempe. who have given the best years
of their lives to the organization of the
workers and uplifting of the masses OF
| labor
For the first time the convention last
year elected a fraternal delegate to the
trade and labor congress of Canada. Thorn
of his greeting ard his interest IN his mis-
sion. Our Canadian fellow unionists have
horored us by electinG 4 delegate TO at
tend this convention in the person of d.
A Carey. 1t should require no word at
my hands that our fraternal delegates are
heartily welcome. that their stay among
US may be full of interest to them and Of
Advantage to our common cause.
Under the head of ''NO Duality; Great
er Federation he said:
As a result of the en- lneerS' strike of
Great Britain, combination and amalgama-
ton of union with union and closer fedora
ton of all is the orc point to which the
labor movement there is at present direct
ed, and duality of organization in one
trade. so long prevailing in Great Britain,
is fast passing away. Our declaration that
10 two organizations of one trade. claiming
equal Jurisdiction. can cO-eXiSt without con-
fiict ard injury, the principle long ago rec
| OgriZed and established of one union
! of one trade, has been taken as the slogan
| of the labor movement of Great Bri+--n.
and we shall soon Il solicited army of
| labor then upon the most perfect lines to
achieve success.
And this state of affairs teaches Us a les
sOr, too: that in struggling for the upbuild-
UniOnism and also for main tanning the in
tegritv and entity of the trade union. and
with the DEVELOPMENT of industry and the
concentration of wealth. it becomes the
Orlv morally but financially concen ira tie
their efforts in battle of otfense and de
Tense when any allied organization is en-
gagged in conflict.
The strictest attention was accorded
President Gompers in the delivery of his
address. which was received by the dele
gates with much enthusiasm. At its con-
clusion, a recess till 2 o'clock was taken