The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-14
FEDERATION OF LABOR
IN ANNUAL CONVENTION
mpasSioned Warning of President Gompers Re
garding Conflicting Claims of Jurisdiction.
President Eliot of Harvard Scored For Recent UtterauceR
ports of Officers Read

III EW ORLEANS, Nov. 13.-Presideni
Samuel Gompers, at the opening
of the American Federation OF
Labor today. delivered an impassioned
warning to the members of the organ
ization that the Immediate future of
trade and labor assemblies was serious
" endangered by the conflicting claims
of jurisdiction made by different bodies.
Unless such things were fixed in calm
ness and handled with moderation, he
declared. the labor organizations of
the country would soon be involved in
a conflict which would, by comparison.
dwarf all the struggles in which labor
organizations have so far engaged. The
matter would, unless checked. he as
serted, come to a point where labOring
men would fight with labOring men
from behind barricades, in the manner
in which men deal with their mortal
foes. His warning of danger and his
counsels of peace and moderation met
with a hearty response from the as
sembled delegates, and wild applause
greeted the speaker as he closed that
portion of his annual address in which
ne had pointed out the perils which, in
his opinion, will surely come unless
methods are altered. and altered soon.
The first day of the convention, aside
from the address of President GOmpers,
was not of great interest to outsiders,
and many delegates found II fatiguing.
The morning session was occupied with
addresses of welcome and responses
and the report of the committee on
credentials. The afternoon was con-
sumed by the address of President
Gompers, which occupied two hours
and twenty minutes of rapid reading.
The reports of other officers required
two additional hours. Tomorrow it is
expected that the actual work of the
convention will be entered upon.
Called to Order.
The twenty-secOnd annual convention
of the American Federation of Labor
met this morning at 1890 in Odd Eel
lows hall, with about 400 delegates
present. The delegates were escorted
from the st. Charles mansion by the
members of the local Trades and Labor
president of the local organization, and
by James Leonard, the Federation or
ganizer for the state of Louisiana.
When the -eepVeatio had been called
10 order President Lee of the New Or
leans organization delivered an address
of welcome on behalf of the laborinG
men OF New Orleans. He closed with
a warm tribute to President GompeTs
personally, declaring that the members
of the Federation would follow him to
the end.
President Gompers declared in his
reply that he fully appreciated what
ever was said of him personally, and
thought he could best show his APP
probation by his silence regarding it.
Roasted Eliot.
After touching upon the scope and
bearing of the labor union movement,
President GOmpers declared that it was
amazing to note the ignorance among
so-called educated people regarding the
aims ana objects of the organization.
mo man who. as an educator" said
President GOmpers. poses as a strike
breaker is fit for the position he holds.
Compared to such a man. Benedict Ar
mold was a martyr and Judas Iscariot
a saint"
Although no name was mentioned. it
was understood by the delegates that
reference was made to the head of one
of the leading educational institutions
of the country. and they applauded
loudly. Cheers were again called forth
when il was declared that the man
who acted the role of a strike breaker
was looking backward to barbarism,
and not to the future.
A can was made for the report of the
committee on credentials and that body
not being entirely prepared consider
able delay resulted. The report de-
clared that sixty-nine national organi-
cations nine state organiza tons, fifty
five central bodies. fifty-four local and
federal bodies and four fraternal dele
gates had reported and were entitled TO
representation The total voting
strength of the bodies represented by
the delegates was about 10000
Credentials Committee.
1t was recommended that credentials
be denied TO a number of delegates who
We're opposed chiefly because of non
payment of dues. A protest against the
seating of the delegates of the Amalga-
mated Association of Carpenters was
made by the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners. Upon motion,
the contest was referred back to the
committee for further action.
]. B. Duncan moved that special
committee be appointed to which all
disputes should be referred. this COM
mittee to report direct to the conven-
ton. This motion, which removed much
of the work incidental to the dispute
between the carpenters from the floor
of the convention. was adopted
a special committee was also ap-
pointed to consider the differences be-
tween the longshoremen and other or
ganizations who claim the former are
intruding upon their territory.
On motion of Delegate Duncan the
convention adjourned to meet at p. m.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion President GOmpers called Vice
President Kidd to the chair and read
his report, which was as follows:
Gompers' Report.
Concerning the growth of the fed
GRAFTON. President Gompers reported as
follows: