The sun., 1901-12-06
labor MEN IN SESSION
Animal Convention Of the American
Federation Is Now On.
REPORT BY IT'S PRESIDENT
neiiberations of the Gathering Are
secret, and Delegates May BE
Dusy For Ten Days-Business
10 BE Transacted.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 5.--The twenty.
frst annual convention of the Ameri
oan Federation Of Labor has been call
"a IA order by President Samuel Com.
ners. and the greatest labor conven
lion that has probably ever been held
ii this country is under way. 1t is
estimated that 275 delegates are in at
tendance from this country and Eu.
rope. representing 100000 working
people. The convention is held in st.
Thomas College hall, and the delegates
marched to the meeting place In
body, preceded by band Of music.
lii the hall the band played Dixie"
ns an opening overture, the southern
delegates heartily applauding, and
when a moment later the band struck
NJ "The Star Spangled Banner" all the
delegates rose to their feet.
Chairman John Deyine of the local
committee Of arrangements welcomed
tGr delegates to Scranton and extended
the hospitality Of the thousands Of
organized workingmen of the Lacka.
wanna and Wyoming valleys. Fresi
dent Gompers responded.
After the naming of the various com
ntittees the list of delegates was read,
ma Tie first session closed.
President Gompers' Report.
President Gompers in his annual re.
port says:
"lufing the year we have formed
an} chartered $40 local trade unions OF
which trades there was no national On
International union in existence Near.
III all OF these are in fairly flourish
fng condition, and out of them we
hope 10 form national or international
unions rs soon as there is a sufficient
number Of any particular trade SO that
tEpy can be launched and successfully
maintained
"Wc have now lilo local trade and
federal labor unions affiliated TO the
American Federation of Labor and
these hold practically the same rela
tioHS to the officers of the American
Federation Of Labor as do the local I'M
ions 10 the officers of the national and
International unions under whose iuriS-
dletlnu they are chartered and whenthe
diversified trades and callings of the
laell trades unions, as well as the mis-
9elancous occupations Of the members
&c lr federal labor unions, are taken
tni9 consideration it requires no large
Imagination to appreciate that fair
attention to their interests involves
careful thought. close application and
an immense amount Of work
However, we should continue to ap.
ply ourselves to the organization Of
tha loeal trade unions and the federal
lahar unions, the first for reasons which
ate plainly obvious, the second because
i gives the opportunity for tho organ.
lzati9n Of the previously unorganized
workers and gives them, too the op
pMtmities to acquire the primer les
sons III the science ana gospel of the
unity Of labor. 1t Is In a large meas
ure prnmotive oe their members inter
GstS and constitutes check to the in
sidouS efforts of the agents of the en-
ploSing- class TO secure uninfOrmeC
workers to take the places of their fel
law toilers engaged in 4 contest for The
maintenance or Improvement Of theii
condition."
Executive Council Busy.
The executive council has been il
session for several days transactins
routine business. hearing complaints
and arranging to receive resolutions.
The convention will be asked to talk
notion on many disputes between trades
that are affiliated with the federation
The International Association Of Ma
clliniSts has demanded that the charter
of the English Amalgamated Socirt.
of Engineers, Machnists, etc, be an
nulled.
It is said the Brotherhood of Gnrpen
tors will demand the annumpnt Of til,
charter of the AnaIgamated Wood
workers union.
The International Tile Layers 'unioi
will demand jurisdiction over the Mo
Saic Workers union, and the Electrical
Workers will dispute the right Of GA
and steam filters to run electric con
dnit pipe.
There will be general contest owe
the question of trade autonomy. Tn
larger unions will insist upon the righ
10 form mixed unions under their owl
control where The workers in othe
trades are employed
The deliberations Of the gathering
are secret, and the delegates may b
hero ton .1nyc