The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-10
In Membership Of Amer
lean Federation.
GOMPERS' REPORT
That Of the Amalgamated Association
q Failure-Ma achinists' Strike Some.
what Of a success-conventlon Of
Federation Convened, at Scranton.

z Scranton, Pa. Dec.S6.-The twenty
FIRST annual convention of the Amer
? lean Federation Of Labor was called
to order by President Samuel Comp
ers, and the greatest labor convention
: that has probably ever been held IN
this country was under way. 1t is5es-
timated that 275, delegates are in n1at.
tendance from this country and .Eu.
rope, representing 100000 working
people. The convention Is aeld in st.
Thomas College hall and the dele
gates marched to the meeting place
In q body, preceded by q band Of
music.
The executive council has been in
session several days transacting
routine business, hearing complaints
and arranging to receive resolutions.
''m' The annual reports of President
Gompers, Secretary Frank Morrison
and Treasurer John b. Lennon were
: made public.
eidusome Points Of Gompers' Report.
~. Mr.. GoInpers report showed a net
increase of 313 local unions for the
year and gain of 364,41O members.
From national and international
unions and the Federation direct
,thera were issued 4,056 charters for
/ newly formed unions, and charters
surrendered or unions disbanded mum:
bered 1,150. On Oct. 81 last there
were affiliated with the Federation
National and International unions, 81;
city central labor unions, 327, state
declarations Of labor, 90; local trade
unions, having no national or inter.
j national, $50, and federal labor unions,
, 099. There were four strikes Of a
general character during the year.
About these the report says: 20
- That OF the river and dock workers
OF San Francisco was distinct vic.
tory. .s b. q. -.7.. .,slt. u u.
z The purpose for which the strike
OF the An,algamated Association of
Steel and Iron Workers was :inatigu-
rated was not achieved, and it was
terminated upon conditions less ad.
vantageous than perhaps could have
been obtained. Owing to the wide
spread interest which this strike
aroused, large number of iron. and
steel workers employed by other, com.
panies than the corporation against
which the strike was inaugrlrated
have been organized under the juris-
uietioni OF the Amalgamated associa.
ton 1.-The hope Is entertained, too,
That the day Is near at hand when
every one employed at the various
branches Of industry and coming un-
Der the Jurisdiction of the Amalga.
mated association may be enrolled as
, member, prepared to defend and
promote the interests of the entire
craft, and to further the great cause
sor which we united and federate
.he cause Of human justice.
OMcers OF the International Asso.
iation of Machinlsts report that their
strike has very largely succeeded in
establishing the nine hour rule In the
rade.
.r Recommends Defense Fund.
Mr.. Gompers recommends the crea-
lion Of large defense fund; shorter
work day, more stringent laws
> against the employment OF child IA.
: bor; equal pay for women's work In
/. competition with that Of men; ener.
getic and immediate action to secure
the extension of the Chinese exclusion
act that will expire May s, 1902; the
establishment Of a general system of
free school books, and education of
the blind. The death Of President
Mckinley is deeply deplored.
Party bossism Is denounced.
The right to boycott is maintained.
30; The judicial injunction comes In for
q scoring.
Treasurer Lemons report in part
showed an income of $126,522; ex.
tpenses, $11S,70S; total funds at hand,
1854. u
Secretary. Morrison's report In part
shows the total number of reported
strikes Of all kinds aggregated 1885,
In which 153,505 members were bene.
hted and 12,707 were not benefited
Their total cost was $54s,003.