The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-07
LABOR FEDERATION
TWENTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION
- NOW N SESSION.
THERE ARE 217 DELEGATES.
PROTESTS AnE MADE AGAINST
SOME OF THE UNIONS.

President Gompers Discussed the
strikes of the wear aud Other
Featurrs-t.rrat Cain shown In the
Federation's Mrmbcrship Dele
gates Present From British aad
Canadian Unions-ConVrntion 90
Get Down Co Dusiness To-day.
Louisville. Dec. 6-To-morrow VIII ana
the swcutieth annual convention OF tha
American Federation of Labor disposing
of the business before o. to-days OPEN
ina session have been devoted 10 well
coming addresscs. reports ana the app
pointment of committees. The attendance
Is che largest ia tho history or tho feder.
alton
There arc two protests against the seat
iug of delegates. ,ho nrst by the National
Brewers Union. nlcd against the station
AIRY Fircmeu ana Engineers Brothcrhood.
and by the United Garment Makers TN
ion against the Chicago Central Labor
Union The contests are on questions oe
Jurisdiction.
When the PRESIDENT Favei zen 2i7 dele
gates were in their seats. Representatives
were presont from the British Trades TN
ion Congress ami che Canadian Trades
and Labor Congress There are three wo-
men delegates and two colorod
President Gompcrs introduced William
81 Higglns editor 90 the Irish Amari-
can OF Louisville. who delivered the ad-
dress Of welcome. Presiden, Gompers re-
piled:
Thomas Tracy of Boston, chairman OF
the Committee on Credentials then pro-
sented tho report OF that committee. The
reading consumed half an hour. The
committee. Il stated had examined the
crs-iersials OF 2b delegate. representing
81 national and International unions. 70
local trades unions and three foreign fod-
eratons
To report was unanimously adopted and
the delegates were seated.
Gompcrs' Annual Address.
President Gompcrs then began his an-
nuai address. Among other shlngs he
said:
Through che pages Of written history
runs the thread of the organized struggle
of the workers for the attainment Of Jus
tlce. Those who studiously search may
learn that IN tho efforts OF the workers 70
remedy wrongs and establish riehtr fhs
trade union has been the factor BY which
concessions have been formed ifom es-
istlng society. with the beginning Of thu
nineteenth century. and almost with tho
initiative Of our own government as an
Independents nation. an immense impetus
vas given 20 the movement OF lab0 but
from tho fact that ours was entirely an
agricultural country. the trade unions
we're sparco aud fragmentary.
II affrm. without fear Of succesaful
contradiction. and IN spite ~ the inalnu-
ationa and slandorous charges OF the en-
ernies Of our cause. that our government
has been frecr from dishonest and faith
less men than any institution. organlza-
ton or movement in our own. aud per-
haps In any other country
In our time We are not. and for the
future will not bo called upon TO deal
with individual employers Industry has
become 50 DEVELOPED ana wealth 80 con-
eentrated that We are confronted with thu
associated interests of the employers
The situation. however. need cause ua no
alarm. provided We possess the wisdom
70 unite the forces Of labor and have the
foriltude and tho courage 20 meet asso-
ciated capital by organized labor Work
men. a. individuals. ln our day. are as
much at the mercy Of che employing
class as r. a ruddcriess ship IN a tenn
pestuous rea az the mercy OF the waves
Struggling FOR the weak and the de-
tenseiese. conciouF of our rights with TIE
courage and manhood 20 DO battle for
their attainment. We confront the new
conditions and situations as they arise
We therefore. AZ this convention ma
ourselves face 10 face with important and
momeutous questions. but with which I
have 40 hesitation IN believing we shah
deal Intionally ana inteiiigcntly and thus
place another milestone behind an in Tho
path Of the struggle for human freedorn.
We have issued direct from the Amer
lean Federation of Labs during the past
year $40 charters-to national and inter
national unions. n. state federationa of
labor. 9. city central labor unions. -. lo-
cal trade unions thaviug no nati0naD,
81. federal labor unions 30
We had AZ the end OF tho fiscal year,
Oct. 81. 1900. afhliated with the Amer
lean Federation q Labor. national aud
international unions s2 state fedcrntions.
iG. city central labor unions 2s: looaI
trade unions and federal labor unions.
iGf
There were issuei during the year
from national ana international unions
ard the American Federation OF Labor
tdirecD charters 10 the following Newly
formed unions $50. charters surrendered
or unions disbanded. sls. leaving net IN
crease of local unions for the year - a.
os7. and gain Ia membership of 2sl.sza.
The Matter of strikes.
quite a number of strikes have bean
| reported. although tho main features %
/ the strikes for the year have n0t been
of a defensive character. but rather for
higher wages and shorter workday ras
statistics IN tho Secrc'ary's report tn
dicate very substantial improvements ard
| achievements. eS strikes were reported.
gg.Iss persons bcin involved or this
/ number as were succcasfth. i0S lose. "a
COMPROMISED and SO are snil pending aiT.-
/ ie3 persons were directly benefited while
II. 81 were involved IN lost or compromises
I strikes.
1T g. our aim 60 avoid strikes: but
trust chat the day will never come when
the workers Of our country VIII have 90
Ear lost their manhood and Independence
40 10 refuse 20 strike. regardless Of the
provocation. or 20 surrender their right
to strike. We seek 10 prevent strikes. but
1 we realize that the best means ny which
they can ba averted Is to be the better
prepared FOR them. We endcavor TO pre-
] aIIr N.rna