The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-06
Color Line Question from Richmond, !,
Va, Decided in Favor of the
White Delegate.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
GAIN OF 311 UNIONS AND 364,41O
MEMBERS IN A YEAR.
Recent Strikes Reviewed by Mr.. Com
pers-Campaign for Re-Enactment
of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

SCRANTON. Pa, Dec. 5-Two hundred
and eighty-five delegates, representing
more than a million and a half workmen,
responded to the roll call at the opening
session of the twenty-first annual conven-
ton of the American Federation of Labor
which was called to order by President
Samuel Gompers in St Thomas College
Hall this morning. The convention is said
to be the largest congress of workmen ever
held in this country. Organization, set
tlement of questions involving contested
seats and the reading of the annual reports
of the president, secretary and treasurer
took up the entire time of the convention
During the day surprise was sprung
on the delegates and one important de-
cision was made. The surprise came in
the form Of an objection to the seating of
the United Mine Workers delegates be-
cause of an alleged arrearage in their per
capita tax. The objection was overruled
by an almost unanimous vote of the dele
gates. The important question decided re-
lated to the contested seat from the Cen
trail Labor Union from Richmond, Va,
which body refused to admit negro work.
men to it's organization. The dispute was
Union representative and instructing the
executive board of the American Fedora
tion of Labor to form a separate central
union for colored men.
When the names of the delegates repre-
senting the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea were reached in the roll call c. L.
Shamp, of Chicago, international secre-
tary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Sta
|
seated. He maintained that the mine
workers were not entitled to representation
in the convention because the per capita
tax of $4,000 had not been paid to the
Federation.
President Mitchell Of the mine workers.
replied that his organization was not ask
ing for special privileges. Several thou
sand of its members were on strike almost
continually for the past two years, and he
said he had asked the executive board to
remit the levy because the miners had paid
an assessment of 5000 for the aid of the
machinists. He said If the convention de-
ctded that his organization was in arrears
he would Immediately draw a check for
the amount due. The matter went no fur
ther and by an almost unanimous vote the
coal miners representatives were seated
The contest between the American Fed
GRAFTON of Musicians and the Detroit
Central Labor Union over the seating of the
i
trail Labor Union being recognized The
decision in this case was accompanied by
recommendations looking toward an ami
cable adjustment of the differences between
the Central Labor Union and the Mus-
clans Union of Detroit.
PRESIDENT GOMPERS'S REPORT.
The reading Of the annual report of Pres
ident Gompers consumed three hours. Sec
retary Morrison's report and that Of Treas
urer John B. Lennon were also read Mr..
Gomperss report showed a net increase of
81 local unions for the year and a gain
of 364, 410 members From national and in
ternatiOnal unions and the Federation d.
rect there were issued 4,056 charters for
newly-formed unions. and charters sur
rendered or unions disbanded numbered
1150 On Oct 81 last there were affiliated
with the Federation: National and interna-
tional unions, eiehty-Seven; city central la
Dor unions 327; state federations of labor.
/ twenty; local trades unions, having no ma
tional or international, 80, and federated
| labor unions, S99
There we're four strikes of a general
character during the year. About these
the report says that of the river and dock
workers of San Francisco was a distinct
victory.
The purpose for which the strike of the
| Amalgamated Association of Steel and
/ Iron Workers was inaugurated was not
achieved and II was terminated upon con-
ditions less advantageous than perhaps
could have been obtained. Owing to the
/ widespread interest this strike aroused
a large number of iron and steel workers
employed by other than the corporation
against which the strike was inaugurated
have been organized under the jurisdiction
of the Amalgamated Association. The
hope is entertained, too. that the day is
/ near at hand when every one employed at
the various branches of the industry and
coming under the jurisdiction of the Anal
gamated Association may be enrolled as
a member prepared to defend and promote
the interests of the entire craft, and to
further the great cause for which we unite
and federate the case OF human justice.
Officers Of the International Association
of Machinists report that their strike has
very largely succeeded in establishing the
/ nine-hour rule in that trade. They claim
the settlements reached have given $4,000
machinists a shorter workday, 1900 others
are affected by compromises reached and
| * 600 nachinists will receive an average of
25 cents day increase in wages.
The report notes "A growing tendency to
agreements in industry. To create a de-
fense fund, Ii recommends changing the
Federations constitution To admit of
a larger assessment and the levy by the
/ executive council early in the year of a
/ position assessment, divided that a fund
NAV be at it's disposition at any time in the
interest of any of affiliated organizations.
engaged in a protracted struggle which
they could not singly support. II also rec
ommends authorizing a committee TO meet
with representatives OF the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners looking 10 their affilia-
/ Ion. The report denOunces the employ
ment OF young children and contends for
greater organization among women work
ers.
Mr. Gompers says he has arranged an
active campaign for the re-enactment of
the Chinese exclusion act and expresses
surrrise at the patience of the Pacific
coast citizens I'm submitting TO a state of
affairs so horrible and degrading" Ii ar
raigns Chinese immigrants lowering
American standards.
Treasurer Lemons report showed an in
come OF SD. .522 expenses, Slls.7OS; total
funds at hand. SSSls.
Secretary Morrison's report shows the
total number OF strikes OF all kinds re-