The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-06
FEDERATION OF LABOR ANNUAL CONVENTION BEING HELD IN SCRANTON. Objection Was Made to the Seating of the Mine Workers Representa-
 tives, But They Were
 Admitted.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 5.-Two hundred and eighty-five delegates, representing more than a million and haif work men, responded to the roll call at the nual convention of the American Feeder. ation of Labor which was called to or- der by President Gompers this morning The Convention Is said to be the largest congress of workmen ever heid m thus
 When the names of the delegates rep: resenting the United Mine Workers ot America were reached in the roll call easo str Tss fns.Fnssons sauio s of the Brotherhood of Stationary Fire men, objecting to their being seated. lie maintained that the mine workers were not entitled to representation in the con, vention because the per capita tax bad not been pald to the Federation. Prest dent Mitchell of the Mine Workers, re- piled that his organization was not ask- sand of its members were on strike al- most continuously for the past two years and he said he had asked the executive board to remit the levy because the min CTS had paid an assessment of 5000 for the aiu of the machinists. He said that if the Convention decided that his or- ganization was in arrears. he would im- mediately draw a check for the amount due. By an almost unanimous vote the coal miners representatives we're seated.
 The negro question came before the Convention in the shape of report of the Committee on Credentials. William Gnion of Richmond, to represent it at the convention: It appears that the Richmond Central body refused to admit to membership negro workmen belonging Richmond. Henry Fischer: President of the National Tobacco Workers Union. was instructed by two local colored unions of Richmond to oppose the seat 1R he nd hot hn IT, ganization he represented drew the color line. The committee recommended that Seal be seated and also rccommended that the Executive Board of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor be instructed to form a negro Central Union in Richmond. The recommendations were accepted by the Convention.
 The reading of the annual report of Secretary Morrison's report and that of Treasurer John E. Lennon were also read They were referred to committees and at p. m., the Convention adjourned until g o'clock tomorrow morning.
 Mir. Gomperss report showed net in- crease of S1l local unions for the year and a gain of 364, 40 members. From netional and international unions and the charters for newly formed unions and charters surrendered or unions disband- ed numbered 1,150. October 31, last, there were affiliated with the Federation: Ma
 
 Central Labor Unions, 32I; State Fedora tions of Labor. 20; local Trade Unions. having no national or international 7eO. and Federal labor unions. 399.
 There were four strikes of general character during the year. The report says the river and dock workers strike of San Francisco was a distinct victory. The purpose for which the strike of the Amalgamatcd Association of Steel and Iron Workers was inaugurated was not achieved. Officers of the International Association of Machinists reports that their strike very largely succeeded in establishing the nine hour rule in that trade. They claim the settlements reacn- ed have given 60,000 machinists shorter work day; 15,000 others are affected by compromises reached. and 75,OOO machin- istS will receive an average Of 70 cents day increase in wages. The report notes a growing tendency to agreements in industry. To create defense tund' 1t recommends changing the Federation s assessment and the levy for the Execu- tive Council early in the year Of DOT ton of the assessment provided, so that fund may be at its disposal at any time in the interests of any or the a1- filiated organizati tions engaged in a pro tracted struggle which they could not singly support.
 active campaign for the re-enactment Of the Chinese exclusion act.
 Treasurer Lemons report showed an ln- come of $1z6,522: expenditures, SIS, US; total funds on hand, $S,S4.
 Secretary Morrison's report shows the total number of strikes of all kinds re- ported, aggregated O56. in which 1885 not benefited Their total cost was S54S OO3