The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-12
OF LABOR.
..,rn rwo HUNDRED DELEGATES
MEET AT DETROIT.
.-..,aent Gompers In His Annual
z Report Claims That All Advances
4. wares Are Due to work Of va
10. Bodies Of Organised Labor.

4slreatee representing al prahchts Va u"os
,rionlsm, with an estimated total member
ship, of nearly 100000, were present at Har-
~.rsc hall today when the nineteenth an
NM conference OF the Amerlchn reoe'a-
,ssr n Labor was called to order.
- Inc Absence Of both President Gornpers
"a vice President Mcclure the gathering
-. called to order by James Duncan. OF
Baltimore. second vice president Mr.. Dun
~ announced that Mr.. Gompers was still
s..rarlrr severely from injuries resulting
ssr,n bicycle accident in Washington and
sns~ihIv might not be able to attend the
- compliance with the federation rules,
..sb,hitinr speeches by outsiders. no well
s,,,,Ss were rendered by officials Of the city
Y NE. The only address Of this char
y ss,sr vae BY Herbert J. Greville, president
y me Detroit council of trade and labor
unions.
vs,corne said that the convention Is the
arrest meeting Of organized labor repre-
entativss ever held In the United states
SsS,des containing affiliated delegates from
ssyors the sea and from Canada.
wben the committee on credentials had
,.rorfed the seating of the brewery work.
- was protested against by. representa-
No d the stationary steam engineers. The
hrevery men retorted by protesting against
AZ credentials OF the stationary engineers
"a fre1nen. All the other delegates were
declared seated.
Affer sdoption OF a resolution OF SYM
nsfbv for President Gompers. the annual
,snort OF President Gompers was read by
We President Duncan.
tsompers' Report.
ss,n avsrv side" said President Gompers,
n m address, I'VE see the splendid evil
6ences Of our efforts In the improved econ
oinic and social condition Of our people.
ssVyhen the present Industrial activity
All manifested itself. employers generally
sauei,f is Increase the hours OF labor OF all,
sud' had ii not been for the determined
sfand made by our fellow untonists, as
isree number would be unemployed dur
M this period as were unemployed during
tie period OF industrial depression.
1T h beyond question that the wages az
fhe oe9anined workers have been Increased
md III many instances the hours of labor
either reduced or at least maintained.
practically, the only advantage which
Ma coma to unorganized labor from The
Industrjai revival has been longer hours
Il daily labor, with additional burdens to
beas'~
President Gompers reviewed the growth
81 the order during the past year, sug-
rested that he should be authorized to
make another lecturing and organizing
tour IN the intermountain states, and add
ed:
aThe Western Federation of Miners,
though unaf7I.ated with the American
Federation at this time. could no doubt be
persuaded that their present unaffiliated
position renders them liable to attacks
from which they would practically be free
when thoroughly organized and affiliated
with their fellow workers under the BAN
uay n fhc American FaderQ finn of
S Ser.s = ny Ae'''aA s0eia'A -
Reviews wardner Trouble.
Reviewing the events of the past year
at Wardner, Idaho, President Gompers de-
clared that from the best sources available
be learned that the destruction or property
Of the bunker Hi and Sullivan mines was
the act of unorganized miners. OF the
cofralling Of 1900 miners by the state au-
thorities, aided by Gen. Merriam. he said:
The whole proceeding is so outrageous
az to bring a blush of shame to the cheeks
q every liberty-loving American. If, as
they at least should be given a fair trial
before a. jury of their peers, confronted
with their accusers, and, ii guilty, pun
ished; II innocent. they should be given
tner liberty and their wrongs should be
redressed. This convention in no mistaken
'erms should express it's keen Indignation
and emphatic protest against this outrage
upon human rights. The killing of inno-
cent men upon the public highway of Lat
timer the shooting down of unarmed men
a Buffalo. the incarceration of workmen
gury OF no offense In Idaho, and the out
aWry OF organized labor must be frowned
upwn upon; must be met with the con-
ssciousness OF our rights, the manhood to
aeeiare them and the determination to
achieve them"
President Gompers urged renewed and
tad saPfn ~ t.,t..
aaction of the hours of toll in all depart
ments Of labor. He suggested that the
convention authorize an investigation In
regard to the eight-hour law of Colorado,
wn'en the supreme court of the state de-
eAreu 70 be unconstitutional, land, IL
lsere be good grounds for an appeal to
wy United states supreme court such an
appeal should be taken by the American
seuerauon OF Labor in cooperation with
organized labor Of Colorado"
objects to Anti-Black List Law,
ne recommended that the federation
protest against the passage of any black
mt DILL unless 1t contains a provision
nhtcn snail, In distinct terms. exclude
.iVm us provisions workmen organized in
y association or union having for it's
uolect the advancement of wages, reduc.
~. ,oh pi hours, or other improvements In
"e condition of its members" and added;
/, we have seen laws passed, ostensibly
h, I've ~ interests OF the people and particu-
h M. N The interests of labor, construed
ssva We courts to apply with particular
severity upon labor"
ne instanced the Interstate commerce
"a" ana the Sherman antitrust law.
oppoaes Retaining Philippines.
\, resident Gompers discussed at length
mi, wis which, according to his view,
~ result from forcible annexation of
su .rhiiippines and other islands and from
a, IT, which he called an attempt
TAM AZ erect throne of despotism upon the
'0mo Of freedom"
Afternoon Session,
pier er the conclusion of the reading of
toas s'uene Gompers' report the convention
w recess until 2:30 p. m.
arrss. 'eport or the credentials committee
m ~ that the brewery workers and
sro. stationary engineers had each with
ba,n mn their protests against the others
nsss s seated, and had expressed willing
m,,,os '''at their troubles go to the com
'ee on grievances.
~, "eport of the Secretary,
tars n' report of Frank Morrison. secre-
raa 49,, ana John b. Lennon. treasurer ,yera
'ssu as follows: Wow
Morr,a~ annual report Secretary Frank