Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-12-12
MET IN SCRANTON.
Federation Of Labor Holds It's
Annual Convention
A Growth OF 364 900 Members and 3I3
Local Unions Is Reported for the
Past Eear-Total Membership
Aggregates 1,50O,OOO -
Gompers' Report.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 6.-Two hun
dred and eigh ty-five delegates, repre-
senting more than 100000 workmen,
responded to the roll call at the open
ing session of the twenty-first annual
convention of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, which was called to
order by President Gompers in ST.
Thomas college hall yesterday. The
convention is said to be the largest
congress OF workmen ever held in this
country. Organization, settlement
of questions involving contested
seats and the reading of the annual
report of the president, secretary and
treasurer took up the entire time of
the convention.
During the day there was one sur
prise sprung on the delegates 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 be-
cause of an alleged arrearage in their
per capita tax. The objection was
overruled by an almost unanimous
vote of the delegates. The important
question decided related to the con-
tested seat of the delegates from the
Central Labor union of Richmond,
Va, which body refused to admit ne
gro workmen to the organization.
The dispute was adjusted by seating
the Central Labor union representa-
tive and instructing the executive
board of the American Federation of
Labor to form a separate Central
union for colored men.
Mr.. Gompers' report showed a net
increase of 313 local unions for the
year and gain of 364,410 members.
From national and international
unions and the federation direct,
there were issued 4,056 charters for
newly formed unions, and charter sur
renders or unions disbanded num-
bered 1,150. On October 81 there
were affiliated with the federation:
National and international unions 81,
city central labor unions 327, state
federations of labor 20, local trade
unions, having no national or inter
national bodies $50 federal labor
unions 800. There were three strikes
of a general character during the
year. About these the rep~rt says:
That of the river and dock workers
of San Francisco was a distinctive
victory.
The purpose for which the strike
of the Amalgamated association was
inaugurated was not achieved and it
was terminated upon conditions less
advantageous than perhaps could
have been obtained. Owing to the
widespread 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 inaugurated,
have been organized under the juris-
diction of the Amalgamated associa-
ton.
Officers of the international Associ-
alton of Machinists report that their
strike has very largely succeeded in
establishing the nine-hour rule in the
trade. They claim the settlements
reached have given 10000 machinists
a shorter work day $4,000 others are
affected by compromises reached and
$4,000 machinists will receive an aver
age of 25 cents a day increase in
wages.
Treasurer Lemons report showed
receipts $126,522, expenses $11S.70S,
total funds on hand $s,s14. Secretary
.Morrison's report shows that the
total number of strikes of all kinds
reported aggregated 1856, in which
153. SOB members were benefited and
12.707 were not benefited. Their total
cost was $54S,00S.