The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-06
LABOR men MEET
FEDERATION OF LABOR IN SESSION
AT SCRANTON.
G0MPERS' ANNUAL REPORT
LARGEST CONGRESS OF woRKMEN
EVER HELD IN AMERICA.


MIR. GOmpers Report shows Very
Large Growth in Membership-Re-
suits of Recent Strikes Discussed
and Employment of Young Chill
dren Denounced.
Scranton, Pa. Dec. 5.-Two hundred
and eighty-five delegates, representing
more than a million and a half work
men, responded to the roll call at the
opening session of the twenty-first an
nual convention OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor which was called to
order by President Samuel Gompers
in St Thomas College hall this morn
ing. The convention is said to be the
largest congress of workmen ever held
in this country. Organization, settle
ment 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 course of the day there
was one surprise sprung on the dele
gates and one important decision was
also made. The surprise came in the
form of an objection to the seating
of the United Mine Workers delegates
because of an alleged arrearage in
their per capita tax. The objection
was overruled by an almost unani-
nous vote of the delegates
The important question decided re-
lated to the contested seat of the dele
ga re from tho rantroI T,olor, JTo;0,, ~
Richmond, Va, which body refused to
admit negro workmen to its organiza-
ton The dispute was adjusted by
seating the Central Labor Union rep
resentative and instructing the ex-
ecutive board of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor to form a separate
central union for negroes.
Negro Question Disposed Of
The negro question came before the
convention in the shape of a report
from the Committee on Credentials.
William Z. Seal was elected by the
Central Labor Union of Richmond to
represent it at the convention. 1t APP
pears that the Richmond central body
refused to admit to membership negro
workmen belonging to colored tobacco
workers unions in Richmond. Henry
Fischer, president of the National To-
bacco Workers Union, was instructed
by two local negro unions of Richmond
to oppose the seating of Mr.. Seal en-
the ground that the organization he
represented drew the color line. The
committee heard both sides and rec
commended that Mr.. Seal be seated and
also recommended that the Executive
Board of the American Federation of
Labor be instructed to form a separate
negro central union in Richmond. The
recommendations were accepted by the
convention without opposition.
The reading of the annual report Of
President Gompers consumed three
hours. Secretary Morrison's report and
| that of Treasurer John B. Lennon
| were also read. They were referred
to committees and the convention adj
journed until tomorrow.
President Gompers' report showed a
net increase of 313 local unions for
the year and a gain of 1854. 410 members.
From the national and international
unions and the federation direct there
were issued 4.056 charters for newly
formed unions and charters surrender
ed or unions disbanded number 1.150.
On Oct. 81, last, there were affiliated
with the federation: National and In
formation unions, 81; city central labor
unions, 327; state declarations of labor,
20; local trade unions, 1893.
Recent Strike Discussed.
The report says:
THE purpose for which the strike
of the Amalgamated Association of,
Steel and Iron Workers was inaugu-
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, a large number of iron and
steel workers employed by other COM
panies than the corporation against
which the strike was inaugurated,
have been organized under the juris-
diction of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. The hope is entertained, too. that
the day is near at hand when everyone
employed at the various branches of
industry and coming under the juris-
diction of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton may be enrolled as a member.
Officers of the International Associa-
ton Of Machinists report that their
strike has very largely succeeded in es-
tablishing the nine-hour rule in the
trade. They claim the settlements
reached have given $4,000 machinists a
shorter work day, $4,000 others are af-
fected by compromises reached and 75'-
900 machinists will receive an average
of Is cents per day increase in wages.
To create a defense fund the report
recommends changing the federation's
constitution so as to admit of a larger
assessment. The report denounces the
employment OF young children and con-
tends for greater organization among
women workers. Mr.. Gompers says he
has arranged an active campaign for
the re-enactment of the Chinese ex-
clusion act.
Advice to Textile Workers.
OF the convention Of textile workers
held in Washington lately President
Compers says unity has been accom-
plished. but qualification is tInged
with regret that the organization did
not deem 1t wise to provide for rails
ing sufficient funds for the successful
propagation of organization or the
full performance of the duties and
Functions involved. The hope for the
future is that at an early date ex-
perience will count for something with
the new national union instituted I'M
der the title of the United Textile
Workers of America, and that by prop
err and better financial provision the
organization may be perfected and the
trade thoroughly organized"
Mr.. Gompers says the textile opera
tlves' strike at Danville. Va, would