The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-24
Field o. Union LABOR
AMERICAN FEDERATION WOULD
EXTEND 1T TO ISLAND OF
PORTO RICO
OPEN LETTER BY GoMpERs
To Worlkinxmen Of the Colony In
Ratified by the Legislative Coun-
eli of the Central Body of
Organized Workers.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-At today,s
session OF the legislative council OF the
American Federation Of Labor Presi-
dent Gonpers submitted the text Of a
letter addressed to the workmen of Porto
Rico. which was approved and ordered
to be forwarded The Ietter says:
1T is our duty as organized workers
of the United States to aid to the fullest
extent Of our ability In the organization
of our fellow workers of Porto Rico and
their full utilization with the workers of
the United States.
We have requested all our national
and international unions An the United
states to have their constitutions. read
ings and other printed matter translated
published, and distributed among ali
Workingmen. We realize that our organ
lzation Is growing and that 1t Is essen
tlai Tor the benefit Of all working peo-
the conclusion that the workers of Amer
lea, no matter where they are located.
must fede1 ate, and thus make common
cause TOT the rightlng Of such wrongs
as may exist, and the retainment of sI1f,lI
rights to which We are entitled. with
this object in view we fully ask that
you correspond with the Office upon any
matter Of interest to Porto Riean x,orIr
men. and in any way that NAV bring
about their organization and attachmenf
as unions to their respective national ~.
international ter al Organization, or where.
can Federation of Labor"
Inc letter suggests that Porto Rfcan
organizers be volunteer organizers end
says the federation may. send commits
sion to Porto Rico at an early date.
1t is signed by President Gompers II
was decided that President Gompers be
authorized to visit Porto Rico and make
an investigation and report upon the con-
ditions found there, that he be author
lied to appoint an organizer to accom-
pany him and if necessary to remain ON
the island.
The controversy between the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists. the
Brotherhood of Blacks1nfths and the Far
ternmakers' National league. on the one
hand and the American section of the
Amalgamated Society of Engineers on
the other was referred to- a special COM
nltttee which recommended the exnres-
sion of opinion that better results could
be secured by all nachinists, blacksm1ths
ana patternmakers becoming or remain
Ing members of the unions Of their re-
spective trades; that the matter is to
be submitted to the coming convention
of the Amalgamated Society of En-
gineers, when an effort will be made to
amend the constitution as to permit It's
members in the United States and Cam
ada to hold men beIship in the unions OF
their craft throughout America to be
subject to the rules and regulations OF
the society OF engineers.
The council adopted the committee's
Recommendation.
In connection with the action OF the
Louisville convention and tho request of
the International Association OF Ma
chinists. the latter organization was Sc
lected to make the demand on May 70
for the enforcement OF the nine-hour
work day.
President Gompers and Vice President
Duncan were appointed a committee to
investigate and report upon the labor col
lege proposed to be instituted at Tren-
ton, Mo.