Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-12
LABOR LEADERS
IN CONVENT ton
A Total Federation Membership Of
Eight Hundred Thousand.
PRESIDENTS REPORT:
REPORT
Samuel Gompcrs, IN His Ahnunf Ad-.
dress, Charges Mr. mckinley with
Aiming TO Erect n Throne OF Dea.s
pottsm Upon Tho Tomb u Freedom
Gratifying Growth In Trade Un-
ionism I'm the Pnst Year.
(By Telegraph to vlrgln.an-Pilot.)

(By Telegraph to Virglnian-Pilot.)
Detroit. Mich, Dec. 1i-Nearly 200
delegates. representing all branches of
trade unionisIn. with an estimated total
membership of nearly 100000. were
seated Mt writing tables scattered over
the floor of Harmonic Hall to-day when
the nineteenth annual convention of the
American Federation OF Labor was
called 10 order In the absence OF both
President Gompers and vice-president
McGuire. the gathering was called to
order by James Duncan. of Baltimore.
second vice president. Mr.. Duncan an
nounoed that Mr.. Gompers was still
suffering severely from distocated
Knee and other injuries resulting from
u recent wagon and street car collision
IN Washington. and possibly might not
DE able to attend the convention.
Alter adoption OF q resolution OF
sympathy for President Gompers, the
annual report OF President Gompers
was read by Vice President Duncan.
II discussed the lnbor question ut
length. In reference to the admlnistra-
IONS policy in the Philippines 1t said:
THE PHILIPPINES.
The principle of self government is
being denied the Tilipinos. Some have
sald the filiDinos are incapable Of self
government. This Is the same charge
made against every people who have
ever underworld to achieve indepen-S
dence and establish f-government
The people there are entitled ito the
right to institute government of their
own choosing, the highest or best form
or government that they can Institute
and maintain. and to institute it, too.9
without let or hlndrance on the part
OF any nation much less our nation, the
IN nf tIn o.
foundation stone is carved In inlmutable
letters the declaration that .'govern-
mcnts derive their Just powers from
the consent OF the governed"
When the treaty of peace between
Spain and the United States was under
| consideration in the United States Sem
ate, every effort was made by our i'm
pcrlalists and cxpanslonists to secure
its I'll tificatlon. Coercion and threats Of
the most far-reaching character were
employed to change The votes OF some
Senators from opposion to- to an
| prevail of, the treaty The fallacious
| argument then advanced was TINT UNI
less the treaty was signed we would
| sun be at war with Spnin--ns IL Spafn
were longer able to contend against us.
1t was urged that the form OF the GOV
eminent and the disposition of. the
| former Spanish possessions cotid be
disposed of later. Now that the treaty
| has been ratified, ana ratified by oues-
! tionnble means-and methods. it de-
| ciared that these islands have come to
us by solemn treaty" and that we
are bound tn take possession of them
ana govern them ms we may deem best.
TIfD TOMB or FREEDOM.
The question of these Islands and the
| peoples therein the principles involy-
| ed, the interests at stake, are of vital
moment to us and 10 them; but be-
meath 1t all there Ia the purpose of
! those who have lost faith in tho prin-
ctples Of our Republic, those who have
no confidence in. or reliance uDon ths
honor, honesty. and stability of our
! people and our form OF government
ana who aim TO erect throne or desl
| potlsm upon the tomb of freedon,,
! whose initiatory step ia n large stand,
| ing army, and who. with militarism
rampant. hope to crush out the tncmorv
OF. and the aspiNt ton for. true llhertv
and freedom for all our people.
STATISTICS.
The report Of the Credentials Com
mittee announced that the brewery
| workers and the stationary enefnaaIy
had each withdrawn their protests
| against the others being seated. and
| had expressed willingness that 4 their
troubles so to the Committee on Grley-
| unces. 35tGfSI
The reports Of Frank Morrison sec.
rotary, and John B. Lennon, treasur-
er. were read. Tho former gave the
| following interesting statistics:
The receipts show an increase Of s17!-
S62.9S over that of last year. or the
foregoing Increase s5,22o6t was receiv.
| ed from the two-cent assessment levied
| by the last convention to defrays en-
| penses of organizers In the Southern
and Inter- Mountain States.
| = ~ II Z