Evening star., 1901-12-05
Annual Convention A, F. of L. Opens
at Scranton Today.
LARGE ATTENDANCE OF DELEGATES
The Meeting VIII Be of Great I'm
portance to Labor.
CON TIE SITS TO COME U P

SCRANTON, Pa, December 5.-The twen-
ty-first annual convention of the American
Federation Of Labor was called to order
shortly after 10 o'clock this morning by
President Samuel Gompers, and the great
est labor convention that has probably ever
been held in this country was under way.
1t is estimated that 27o delegates are in at
tendance from this country and Europe,
representing 1,503.O 900 working people. The
convention is held in St. Thomas College
Hall, and the delegates marched to the
meeting place in body, preceded by a
band Of music.
The executive council has been in session
for several days transacting routine busi-
ness. hearing complaints and arranging to
receive resolutions
The credentials committee must act first.
and has several complaints to consider.
Chief among these protests is that of the
United Hatters of North America against the
seating of Gabriel Joseph, cigar maker. the
delegate sent by the United Labor League
of Philadelphia He is being protested on
the ground that the United Labor League
permits the Philadelphia Hat Makers
Union to retain it's membership, although
it has been suspended by the national Or
ganization.
Alleges Race Discrimination.
In addition, protests have been filed
against the representative Of the Richmond
Central Labor Union by some of the col
ored delegates, who assert that that organ
ization has Disseminated against colored
working people, by refusing to admit col
cred trade unions to membership.
A protest has also been filed against seat
ing the representative of the Chicago Cen
trail Union.
The convention will be asked to take ac-
ton on many disputes between trades that
are affiliated with the federation. The In
ternational Association of Machinists has
demanded that the charter of the English
Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Ma
chinists, etc, be annulled
1t is said the Brotherhood of Carpenters
will demand the annullment of the charter
OF the Amalgamated Wood Workers Union.
The International Tile Layers Union will
demand jurisdiction over the mosaic work
ers' union and the electrical workers will
dispute the right of gas and steam filters
to run electric conduit pipe.
Question of Trade Autonomy.
There will be a general contest over the
question of trade autonomy. The larger
unions will insist upon the right to form
mixed unions, under their own control,
where the workers in other trades are en-
ployed.
The deliberations of the gathering are
secret and the delegates may be here ten
days. '.-e -
In the hall the band played Dixie as
an opening overture, the southern delegates
heartily appauding, and when a moment
later the band struck up 1.-The Star-Span-
gled Banner" all the delegates rose to their
feet.
Chairman John Devne of the local COM
mittee Of arrangements welcomed the dele
gates to Scranton and extended the hospi-
tality Of the thousands of organized work
ing1men of the Lackawanna and Wyoming
valleys. President Gompers responded
After the naming of the various commit
tees the list Of delegates was read and the
morning session closed.