New-York tribune., 1901-12-06
LABOR DELEGATES CONVENE.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABoR-MR.
GoMPERs ON STEEL STRIKE

Scranton Penn Dec 5-Two hundred and eighty
five delegates. representing more than million
and a half workmen. responded to the rollcaH AT
the opening session of the twenty-hrst annual con-
vention Of the American Federation of Labor Wnlch
was called order by President Samuel Gompers
in St Thomas's College Hall at 10:SO O'Clock this
morning The convention is said TO be the largest
congress of workmen ever held in this country.
organfzation settlement of questions involving
contested seats and the reading of the annual re-
port of the president secretary and treasurer took
I'D the entire time of the convention During the
course of the day there was one surprise sprung
on the delegates and important decision was
also made The surprise came in the form of an
objection 10 the seating of the United Mine
workers delegates because of alleged arrearage
in their per capita The objection was over
ruled by an almost unanimous vote OF the dele
gates The important question decided related TO
the contested seat delegate from the Central
Labor Union of Richmond Va. which body refused
admit negro workmen TO its organization Inc
dispute adjusted by seating the Central LABOR
Union representative and instructing the Executive
Board of the American Federation of Labor TO form
d separate central union for cOIOred men
The delegates to the convention marched IN
body from convention headquarters at the Hotel
Jermyn to the place of meeting and were headed
by band
The address of welcome was made by John H
Devine, president of the committee arrange
ments of the Scranton Central Labor Union Presi-
dent Gompers responded on behalf Of the delegates
Gompers consumed three hours. Secretary Nor
rison's report and that of Treasurer John B. Len
non were also read. They were referred TO COM
mittees and at 8 D. m. the convention adjourned
until o'clock tomorrow morning . =.
Mr.. Gomperss report showed a net lncreaSe 90 9o
32 local unions for the year and gain or Soi, ,i10
members There four strikes of a general
character during the year About these the repolI
says:
That of the river and dock workers OF San Fran an
cisco was distinct victory The purpose for
which the strike OF the Amalgamated Associa a..otI @
IrOy, WAS
not achieved and 1t terminated upon conul-
tions less advantageous than perhaps could nave
been obtained Owing to the w1despread 80
which this strike aroused large number OF IRON
and steel workers employed by other comp conipdLies me-
than the corporation against whlcn tle stLlhe W.
inaugurated have been organized under the Juris-
CictiOn of the Amalgamated Association Inc nope
when every one employed the various branches
of industry and coming under the jurisdiction OF
a member' prepared to defend and promote the
interests of the entire craft and to further the
great cause for which We unite ana leuefdte' lhe
cause of human justice.
Officers of the International Association OF Ma
chinfsts report their strike has very largely
succeeded in blishng the nine hour rule IN the
trade They claim the settlements reacned nave
Is 600 Others are affected by compromises reached.
and that 70 machinistS will receive an average OF
. cents a day increase In wages
The report notes a growing tendency to agree
in industry
Mr.. Gompers says he has arranged an active
campaign for the re-enactment of the Chinese Ex-
of the Pacific Coast citizens in submitting to a
state of affairs horrible and degrading 1t ar
raigns Chinese immigrants as lowering American
standards.
Edward 2. McSweeney, Assistant Commissioner
of immigration at this port, to-day will address
the convention immigration problems. and as
sist the committee on resolutions in the prepara-
ton of the resolutions on the subject