The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-12-08

LOUISVILLE, KY, Dec. 6.-Tomor-
row will find the American Federation
Of Labor disposing Of the business be-
fore it, today's opening session hav-
ing been devoted to welcoming ad-
dresses, reports, and the appointment
of committees. The attendance is, the
largest in the history Of the fedora
ton.
Prominent among the delegates, are
the three women representatives, Miss
Sarah Gresham, of Streator, Ill; Mrs.
Emma Lanphere, of Galesburg, ILL.,, and
Miss Ellen King Of Petersburg, Ind.
Each represents a labor organization.
| They mingled with the crowd and
| took an active interest in the proceed
ings. Among those on the stage were
Samuel Weir, the delegate from Scot
land, 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, filed against
the Stationary firemen and engineers
brotherhood, and by the United Gar
ment makers union, against the Chi
cago Central Labor Union. The con-
tests are on questions Of jurisdiction.
Evidence will be heard by the commit
tee on credentials, and a report made
| to the convention. -:
President Gompers presented his an
nual report at the morning session,
| which was as follows:
"Our economic and social life presents
nr0hIpmS
i country now opening before us requires
the keenest appreciation on the part
OF all, that upon ourselves and upon
our unity in sentiment. conviction and
action lies the safety Of the future
manhood. WOmanhOOd and childhood OF
our country. There have been no rights
accorded unless they have been con-
ed unity t t Of the wSd s
acquired them, to bear burdens and
make sacrifices. What is true. of the
past, is true of the present and will be
equally true in the future: TO Organize
up national and international unions
to make our organizations daily more
effective to defend the tOilers; to pro.
tect and promote their interests ir
every way; to assure beyond all per
adventure. the vantage ground already
gained; to progress continually ir
abolishing that which the workers
their wives and their children have tor
long borne. and to an achievements Of tina
justice to which they are entitled.
by our great cause. now and for al
time to come, rests entirely upon the
working class itself.
'"The past year has witnessed a most
remarkable growth in organiza tior
among. the workers. who have realized
that there is no protection, for their
interests, or hope for justice and free
dom in the future. unless it. results
| nf ton wow >sS ~
masses. J..
1--WE have issued direct from thu
American Federation of Labor, during
the past ;n4ar year S4S charterst9 natt9na
federations Of labor. S: city centra
labor unions, SO; local trade union.
1havlng no No national>. 4s4; federal abo
'n"' %e had had at the end of the fisca
American Federation of Labor, nationa
and international unions, 50; stat
federations, IS; city central labo
unions, POS; local trade unions am
'There were issued during. the yea
from national and international union
and the American Federation of Labo
: (direct), charters to the following
s%g fSg%e ID unions unions @ Ssart
leaving net increase of local union
for the year Of 1927 and gain in mem
bership Of 294,329.
For Voluntary Arbitration.
; "Our movement seeks, and has to
| considerable extent secured
diminution in the number of strikes
particularly among the pest organized
Through more compact and bette
equipped trade unions have come int
agreement and Cancellation betwee
the workmen and associated employer
and only when Cancellation has faile
| has It been necessary to resort +