The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-08
TRADES FEDERATION
MUCH BUSINESS BEFORE THE BIG
CONVENTION.
REAL WORK BEGINS MONDAY.
COMMIpTEEs WILL DISCUSS REso.
LUTIoNs TODAY.

British FraternaI Delegates Ad-
dress the ConventtOn-one Strong
Iy Advocated sOciaIism-Many
Resolutions IntrOduced-GOvern
ment Control of Railroad and Tel
egraph Lines Dema nded-Shlp
Subsidy Legislation Protested
Against and sympathy Expressed
for Beers.
Scranton. Pa, Dec. THE American
Federation OF Labor, which has been
in session here for three days, COM
pleted its organization to-day and the
real work of the convention will be-
ing on Monday. The last of the con-
tested seat cases were settled at the
morning session. The official roll Of
the fedora ton shows the presence of
312 delegates, the largest number in
the history of the organization. Dur
ing the past two days 1877 resolutions
were presented for consideration by
the convention and all of them were
referred to committees. The commit
tees will hold sessions tomorrow be-
cause of the enormous amount of bus
mess to be disposed of. and it is not
unlikely that some or the resolutions
win be reported to the convention on
Monday.
The morning session was given up
to the completion of organization and
in the afternoon the British fraternal
delegates addressed the convention on
the trade union condition in Great
Britain.
Among the large number of resolu-
tons presented to-day We're several
relating to the question of trade juris-
diction. Other important resolutions
introduced were these:
increasing the salaries of the nation
al organizers Is per cent, and also in
creasing the salary of the president
from SITS to 5000 per month, and that
OF the secretary from $3.50 to 5000 per
month.
Demanding municipal, state and
governmental ownership of railroads,
telegraph lines, etc.
Asking workmen to aid in the ac-
quirement of the power of government
for the purpose of Matchmaking indus
trial combinations.
Demanding the organization Of an
Independent political tarty.
Protesting against ship-subsidy leg
islation
Expressing sympathy for the Beers.
For the establishment of socialism.
increasing the number of vice presi-
dents of the federation from six to
eight.
Providing for the organization of
state labor declarations in Tennessee
and Pennsylvania.
Providing for the organization of
school teachers.
Requesting workmen to hold aloof
from. the militia and indorsing the
Swiss military system.
British Delegates Heard.
Frank Chandler of the Amalgamated
Association of Carpenters and Joiners,
who is here as one of the fraternal
delegates from Great Britain, was in
PRODUCED at the opening of the after
noon session. He reviewed the labor
conditions as they now prevail il the
British Islands. He referred feeiingly
to the assassination of President Nc
Kinley, and said that the bond be-
tween the American and English peo-
pie is so strong that politicians and
intriguerS cannot break it,"
Benjamin Tillett, of the British
Trades Union Congress, made an ad-
dress advocating socialism. Mir Til
lett held the attention of the delegates
for an hour and half. He said that
the force that is doing more for labor
than any other is the intellectual force
of socialism.
President Gompers replied to the
foreign delegates on behalf of the del
egates.
Addresses were also made by Miss
Harriet Keyser of the Church League
for the Advancement of the Interests
of Labor, and Mrs. Julia Llewellying,
organizer of the Woman's Internation>
al Labor League.