The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-12
FEDERATION OF LABOR
PRESIDENT GOMPERS UNABLE TO
ATTEND ANNUAL MEETING.
His Report Read by the Vice Presi-
deRt-TrOuble Between Stage
Employees and Musicians.

DETROIT, Mich, Dec. ia presenta-
ton Of difficulties existing between the
atrical stage employees and theater musi-
clans was the most interesting feature Of
the first days session of the annual con-
vention of the American Federation of La
bor The situation in Detroit, where the
stage employees have been locked out for
some months, with their union unrecog-
nized by the managers, is the primary
cause of the disturbance. 1t developed
during this afternoons proceedings that
the action of the Detroit Central Labor
Union in expelling the Detroit theater
musicians, after they had declined to strike
and join with the stage employees, is strong
ly upheld by the stage hands alliance, and
as heartily condemned by the Musicians
National Union. special committee will
endeavor to bring about harmony.
Nearly 200 delegates, representing all
branches of trade unionism. with an esti-
mated total membership of nearly 100000,
were seated in Harmonic Hall when the
nineteenth annual convention of the fed
Grafton was called to order. In the absence
of both President Gompers and Vice Pres
ident Mcguire. the gathering was called to
ond vice president Mr.. Duncan announced
that Mr.. Gompers was still suffering Sc
verely from injuries resulting recently from
bicycle accident in Washington, and pos
sibly might not be able to attend the con-
vention.
After adoption of a resolution Of sympa-
thy for Mr.. Gompers, his annual report
was read by Vice President Duncan. The
report congratulates the Federation on the
progress made during the year, and urges
that the ground gained be made vantage
point from which to render an increased
activity still more profitable to the order.
1t refers to the industrial revival of the
times and refers TO the part organized Ia
Dor bears in bringing it about and it's share
In the result Additional affiliations during
the year have brought the Federation fig
ure up to seventy-three national and inter-
national unions, eleven state federations, lis
city centrals and assemblies, sos locals and
202 federal labor unions. All glassworkers,
except window glass blowers are affiliated.
Regret is expressed that responses are so
meager to the call for participation in a
Federation exhibit at the Paris exposition.
The increased use of the union label is
noted and work to the end of a further
increase is urged. The right to use the
boycott is insisted on, and more general
contribution to the defense fund is urged.
The federal government, the Idaho State
government and the federal courts are de-
nounced on account of the Idaho mining
troubles, and "militarism'' is unsparingly
made anathema. A shorter work day is
declared to be necessity and efforts to
secure the reintroduction of the eight-hour
law is urged. Child labor is denounced and
the seamen's rights bill. now a law, is
commended. "Pinkertonism' comes in for
a scoring and Expansion is treated in a
para graph which takes general grounds
against it. The prevention of pending
strikes at Havana is classed as IAN out
rage" and 1T is said ''the principle Of self
government is being denied the Filipinos. %
International peace is declared to be the
mission of organized labor
The reports of Frank Morrison. secretary,
and John B. Lennon, treasurer, were also
read.
Delegate James OConnell, president of
the Machinists' Association, one of the
fraternal delegates to the British trades
union convention, gave sketch of that
convention.