The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-17
STATE CONVENT ton.
Massachusetts FEEDER
alton of Labor Will
Meet Oct. 2.
LOCAL DELEGATES WILL ATTEND.
Many Labor Questions Will
Demand Atten-
ton,
LOCAL DELEGATES WILL ATTEND.

rhe attention of 5000 members of local
labor organizations and as many more
wage-earners is centered upon the con-
vention of the state branch of the Am
erican Federation of Labor, in North
Adams, Oct ?.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, viii de-
liver an address in the course of the.
convention and enough business IS
slated to make the session the most
important in the history Of the branch.
The local Central Labor union viii be
represented by c. T. Hastings the
Moulders union by J. p. F. Frye and
l.. A. Randall, Brewers union by John
Ryan, Street Railway Mems association
by James O'Brien. Cigar Makers union
by George Apholt. The Core Makers,
Steam Filters, Lasters' and Machinists
local unions viii also have representa-
Jion in the convention.
The American Federation of Labor
was formed in November. 1881, when
the representatives of the trades unions
throughout the country, realizing that
conditions were constantly changing,
and that there was a tendency towards
combination of capital for the purpose
OF securing, at the expense of the work.
ingman, larger dividends, met in con
vention.a and decided that if combina-
tions, whose duty it was to look after
the welfare of those who controlled the
wealth Of the country. We're good fol
that element of society, a like com bin
alton to care for the interests of the
wealth producers, the wage -earners,
was needed. From the convention was
formed the nucleus of the most powers
full congregation Of workingmen known
to history, the American Federation OF
Labor
In the federation are represented Il
national and international unions 10
state branches, 81 city central bodies.
Il6 federal labor unions, and $50 local
unions Of trades not in national organ
lzations, aggregating total member
snip OF one million Since the intro
duction Of the federation, the unions
have made rapid strides. Hours of la
Dor have been reduced and a better
standard of wages maintained There
came time when the parent body was
able only to confine it's workings to
national affairs, and the need of a clos
eT unity of action among the wage
earnerS of the state was .demonstrat-
ed, and the result was the Formation.
OF state branches of the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor.
The Massachusetts state branch is
SoHposed OF central and local bodies
tnroughout the state, and more than
$4,000 organized wage-earners will be
represented in the North Adams con
Vention. United action in organizing
new unions, strengthening unions al
ready formed, and in carrying out the
policy of the national body and to urge
the establishment Of better laws for the
peneft OF the wage-earners, are the du-
ties of the state branch
oc,,
peclaly among workingmen, of having
more laws on the statute books for thts
purpose OF relieving the burdens of her
cltizens who are compelled to toll for
living, than any other state in tho
union The bitterest opponents of or
ganized labor candidly admit that
through the efforts of labor unions
acted.
The state branch of The American
Federation Of Labor maintains a legis-
latlve committee whose duty it is to
altend all hearings bkfore committees
81 the legislature in allNabor measures.
ne members of the state branch COM
mlttee are authorized to use every eff
Tort IN having these laws enacted. and
are also expected to demand yea and
nay vote on bills coming before the
legislature, and to keep a record of the
members voting. The report is filed at
the annual convention, and the politi-
cal course of the members of labor
unions is determined by the report
Politicians who are at loss to under
stana-tle reason of stout opposition
from labor unions in candidacy for
elecuon, VIII be. enlightened by this
statement of the inner workings of the
state branch of the American Fedora
ton of Labor.
worcester delegates are particularly
interested in the laws which the state
branch has endeaYored to have -inteo-
duceu IN the Legislature during the ma st
session: The raising of the school age.
the reduction of the hours of labor for
women anG children, the exemption of
traces unions from the operation of
insurance laws and an eight hour dav
Tor state, city and town employees.
The state branch has succeeded in
having the eight-hour law passed with
the referendum attached, and the la
becomes operative when adopted bv a
majority Of the voters of anv city or
town in the annual election. The To-
cal Central Labor Union and similar
nod1es in other cities of the common
wealth have requested the board of al
dermen TO instruct the city clerk TO
nave the question as to the adoption of
the eight hour law appear on the Off
cial ballot for the coming election.
More than 100 delegates are expected
IN North Adams when the convention
opens. Oct. 2 This city has furnished
the president of the state federation.
j. D. Pierce. for the past four years,
and may hold that honor among labor
unions again, if Mr.. Pierce consents TO
pc candidate. Opposition candidates
nave fallen by the wayside one by one.
ana with Vice-PresidenuJ j. H. Murray's
announcement that he would not enter
the contest for the state presidency
game a season of speculation. Presi-
aent Pierce maintains sphinx-like ST.
fence when questioned regarding his
convention aspirations.
-Four days will elapse before the con-
vehlon adJourns, and at it's close local
labor unions will enter upon seaeon
of activity in supporting the measures
adopted during the session.