The San Francisco call., 1901-12-06

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 1.-Two hundred
and eighty-five delegates, representing
more than a million and a half work
men, responded to the rollcal at the
opening session of the twenty-tirst annual
convention of the American Federation Of
Labor which was called to order by
President Samuel Gompers in ST Thomas
College Hall at 1880 o'clock this morn
ing The convention is said to be the
largest congress of Workmen ever held in
this country. Organization, settlement OF
questions involving contested seats and
the reading of the annual report of the
president secretary and treasurer took
up the entire session of the convention.
During the course of the DAY there was
one surprise sprung on the delegates and
one important decision was aIso made.
The surprise came in the form or an OBJ
lection TO the seating OF the united Mine
w WorkerS delegates because OF an alleged
error in their per capita tax. The mo
ton was overruled by an almost unanl-
nous vote OF the delegates.
The most important question decided
related to the contested seat OF the dele
gate from the Central LABOR Union OF
Richmond, Va, which BODY refused to
admit negro workmen to Its organiza-
rion. The dispute was adjusted by seat
ing the Central Labor Union representa-
tive and instructlng the executive board
of the American Federation of Labor to
form strong central union for colored
men.
Contest Over Coal Miners Seats.
When the names of the delegates rep
resentlng the United Mine Workers of
America were reached on the rollcan a
stir was caused by c. L. Shamp of Chi
cagO, international S6cretary-treaSurer OF
! the Brotherhood of Stationary t1remen,
objecting to their being seated. He main
| tanned that the mine workers were not
| entitled to representation in the conven-
! tion because the epr capita tax of $4,000
| had not been paid to the federation.
President Mitchell of the mine workers
replied that his organization was not
! thousand of it's members were on strike
almost continually for the past two
years and he said he had asked the ex-
| ecutiVe board to remit the levy because
the miners had paid an assessment of
5000 for the aid of the machinists. He
| said If the committee decided that his
! mediately draw a check for the amount
! due. The matter went no further, and by
! an almost unanimous vote the coal min
! ers' representatives were seated.
| The negro question came before the
] convention in the shape of report of the
committee on credentials. William E.
! Seal was elected by the Central Labor
! Union of Richmond, Va, to represent ii
! at the convention.
1t appears that the Richmond central
/ body refused to admit to membership
negro workmen belonging to GoloEed I9loI to
! Henry Fischer, president of the National
! Tobacco Workers Union, was instructed
by the two local colored unions of Rich
mond to oppose the seating of Seal OF
/ the ground that the organization he rep
resented drew the color line, The com
| mittee heard both sides and recommend
ed that Seal be seated, and also recon-
mended that the executive board of the
American Federation of Labor be in
strueted to form separate negro eentra
union in Richmond, The reeommenda-
! tions We're accepted by the convention
! without opposition.
Gompers Reports on the Strikes,
The reading of the annual report o
| President Gompers consumed three hours
| Secretary Morrson's report and that o
| Treasurer John Il. Lennon were also read
| They were referred to committees, and "a
6 p, m. the convention adjourned until
o'clock tomorrow morning.
Gompers' report shows an increase o.
81 local unions for the year and gail
of 364 40 members. From national ant
international unions and the federation
direct there were issued 4056 charters fo
newly formed unions, and charters sur
rendered or unions disbanded numbered
1850. On October 81 last there were aff1li
ated with the federation 81 national AM
international unions. 321 city central labo
unions, 20 State fedora tions of labor as
local trades unions and 399 federal labo
q a