New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-13
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THE FEDERATION OF LABOR
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
OPENED IN KANSAS CITY-ANNUAL
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT,
SAMIrEI. GOMPERS
SAMUEL GOMPERS.

Kansas City. No. Dec I2.-The eighteenth annual
convention Of the American Federation OF Labor
was called TO order I'm Stropc's Hall to-day. About
one hundred ard fifty delegates from all parts OF
this country, anc two from across the water. Will
lam Thorne and William Inskip. OF London. who
represent the British Trades-I'nlon Congress. were
present Mr.. Inskips mission Is TO plead for a
closer alliance between the United States and Great
Britain along industrial well political lines
The proceedings of the opening day included COM
mttee reports. the settlement OF seat contests. o..
which there are several. and the annual address OF
the president. Samuel Gompers
Mr.. Evans. president OF the Kansas City CONNER
cial Club. welcomed the delegates President Com
pers responding. After the usual preliminary mat
ters OF organization. President Gompers delivered
his annual address. which received by the dele
gates with much enthusiasm. In the course of IT,.
referring TO the growth of Internationally" he
said:
with the view to a closer bond o. sympathy and
unity among the organized workers OF the differ
ent countries. correspondence with many OF them
nos heen maintained and entered into with a num-
Der OF others We shall cndeavor by every means
within our power to cultivate fraternal feeling an J
interest in the weaTe OF me on an
calculated to materially, morally and socially I'M
where they may be located. and particularly to lend
that aid which may bc In our power To those who
show disposition TO stand upon the common polity
OF our movement From the officers OF our affiliated
unions come the satisfactory reports that they are
in closer touch with their fellow trades unionsts
everywhere and 1t is additionally gratifying that
the mutual recognition. exchange. and acceptance
OF union cards is being adopted Internationally
With each step taken In the direction 10 cement
the bond Of fraternity and the recognition OF the
principle Of solidarity in the international labor
movement. shall not only help to bear each
others burdens but continually make these bur
dens lighter and be the lever for that international
brotherhood Of man when the wars OF nations shall
te a thing OF the past and the song of the poet.
the dream OF the philosopher and the hope of the
phaanrhropis and Humanitarian be achieved.
Under the head OF NO Duality-Grcl:er Fedora .
ton" he SAID:
As result Of the engineers strike IN Great
Dritain combination and amagamatiOn OF union
VITA union and closer federation OF al IS he one
pC int to which The labor movement there Is 1t pros
en-; directed and duality of organization in one
passing away. Our de 'laratiOn that no two 0rgani-
zarons Of one trade, claiming equal jurisdiction.
can coexist without conflict and injury. The pIn-
cplc long recognized and established OF one uni IN
% one trade has been taken as the slogan or tho
Iabor movement. Of Great Britain and shall,
soon see a solicited army Of labor there upon the
most perfect lines 10 achieve success
And this state OF affairs teaches MS lesson. 100:
that in struggling for the upbuhdlng or national
and international trade unOnism ana also for irh n
tanning the integrity and entity OF the trade union
AMI with The development OF industry and tn con-
vibration OF wealth II becomes the bounden duty
Of our trade unions not only morally Dut man
cialy concentrate their efforts In battle or "h'nc
or defence when any allied organization IS engaged
In conflict.
III concluding his address Mr. Gompers referred
~ the sympathy with Cuba expressed by the coz
vention OF 1896 and the action In opposition 10
Hawaiian annexation and argued against ne pos
session OF the Philippines by this country an" ne
expanson policy.