The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-07
Union labor N SESSION
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERI-
CAN FEDERATION at
LOUISVILLE
REPORTs oF OFFTCERs HEARD
President Gompers' Address to the
Delegates Touched on the Growth
CT the Order in the
Past ear.

LOUISVILLE. KY, Dec, Tomorrow
viii find the American Federation Of
Labor disposing of the business before
it, today's session having been devoted to
welcoming addresses, reports and the ap-
pointment Of committees. The attend
ance is the largest in the history of the
federation.
Prominent among the delegates are the
three women representatives, Miss Sarah
Groshans, of Streator, H.; Mrs Emma
Lanphere, of Galeshurg, ILL.,, and Miss
Ellen King, of Petersburg, Ind Each
represents a labor organization. They
mingled with the crowd and took an ac-
tive interest in the proceedings Among
those on the stage were Samuel Weir
the delegate from Scotland, and Peter
Curran, representing the British Trades
Union congress.
There are two protests against the,
seating of delegates, the first by the
National Brewers union fled against
the Stationary Firemen and Engineers
Brotherhood, and by the United Garment
Makers union against the Chicago Cen
trail Labor union The contests are on
questions of jurisdiction. Evidence will
be heard by the committee on creden-
tials and a report made to the conven-
ton.
When the presidents gavel fell Pr del
egates were in their seats. and the gal
leries contained many spectators Rep
resentatives were present OF the British
Trades Union congress and the Canadian
Trades and Labor congress, three won,-
en- delegates and two colored
PRESIDENT Gompers, in his annual adj
dress, said in part:
GoMPERs' ADDRESS.
Our economic and social life presents
60 US new and complex problems. The
century now opening before US REQUIRES
the keenest appreciation on the 9art of
al, tnat upon ourselves and upon our
unity IN sentiment, conviction and action
lies the safety Of the future manhood
Womanhood and childhood of our coun-
Iry. mere have been 10 rIehtS accorded
unless they have been conquered through
unity, the wisdom and the willingness
OF those Who have acquired them to
pear burdens and make sacrifices What
Is true OF the past is true of the present
ana Will be equally true in the future
10 organize the yet uuOrganized work
eTs' 10 pulId up national and interna ton
al unions; to make our organizations
daily more effective to defend the toll
ers; to protect and promote their inter
ests IN every way; to assure beyond al
pFeadVenture the advantage ground al
ready gained; to progress confinllaIIv in
abolishing that which the workers. their
wives and their children. have too long
pofH, ana the Achievement of that justice
TO which they are entitled
We have issued Street from the
American federation Of labor during the
past year S49 charters-to national and
international unions fourteen; state fed
erations OF labor, five; city central labor
unions nfnety-six; local trade unions
(having no nationaD, Ash; federal labor
unions, $50.
We have at the end of the fiscal year
Oct. 81, 1900, affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. National and Inter
national union, etghty-twU; state fedora
tons, eighteen; city central labor unions.
2O6; local trade unions and federal, 1.051.
There were issued during the year
from national and international unions
the American Federation OF Labor (di-
rect) charters to the following: Newly
formed unions, 1913; charters surrender
ed or unions disbanded. 948; leaving a
net increase Of local unions for the year