Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-14
EslDE HIM JUDAS lSCARIoT is SAINT
Labor Leader Does Not Mince Words in
Making Answer,
UNION DELEGATES APPLAUD STRUCTURES
Evidently Agree with All Federation Presi-
dent Says on Matter.
CONVENTION OPENS, BUT DOES LITTLE
Discusses Trouble Between Rival Car
penters' Organizations and Re-
fers IL 20 Special Building
Trades Committee.

NEW ORLEANS. Nov. 13.-samuel Comp
ers. at the opening OF the American Fedora
tion today, delivered an impassioned warn
ing to the members OF the organization.
The immediate future of trade and labor
assemblies was seriously endangered, he
said, by the conflicting claims of Jurisdic-
tion made by different bodies Unless such
matters we're approached calmly and
handled with moderation the labor organi-
cations of the country would soon be in
volved in a conflict which would, by COM
parison, dwarf all the struggles in which
they had so far engaged. Unless something
was done to check present tendencies the
time would come when laboring men would
fight with laboring men from behind barri
cades.
His warning OF danger and his counsels
OF peace and moderation met with hearty
response from the assembled delegates.
The first day of the convention, aside
from the presidents address. was not Of
great interest to outsiders and many dele
gates found 1t fatiguing. but tomorrow it 10
expected the annual work OF the convention
will be entered upon.
GOmpers scores Eliot.
When the convention had been called to
order President Lee OF the New Orleans
organizations delivered an address on be-
half Of the laboring men of New Orleans.
to which Mr.. Gompers responded.
MIR. Lee closed his address of welcome
with a warm tribute to President Com
pers' personality, declaring that the mem
bers of the federation would follow him to
The end.
President Gonpers declared in his reply
hot bo F,,l1 =
of him personally and thought he could
best show his appreciation by his silence
regarding it,
After touching upon the scope and bear
ing of the labor union movement. President
Gompers declared that IL was amazing to
note the ignorance among so-called edu-
Gators NO man who is an educator" said
President Gompers. "and praises strike
breaker is At for the position he holds.
Compared 10 such a man Benedict Arnold
vas nl5rtyr and lpdss Iacarsot n saint
Although no hame was mentioned. IL 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 with vehemence. Cheers
were again called forth when It was de-
clared that the man who acted the role OF
q strike breaker was looking backward to-
ward barbarism and not toward the future.
Delegates i'm the Convention.
call was made for the report OF the
committee on credentials and that body not
being entirely prepared considerable delay
| resulted. The report declared that sixty
| nine national organizations, nine state or
| ganizations, ifty-fve central bodies. ffty-
| four local and federal bodies and four fra
| ternal delegates bad reported and we're en-.
Titled to representation. The total voting
strength of the bodies represented by the
| delegates was about 10000
II was recommended that credentials be
! denied TO a number OF delegates who were
| opposed chiefly because OF nonpayment ot
dues. A protest against the seating of ths
delegates of the AmaIgamated Association
Of Carpenters was made by the United
Brotherhood OF Carpenters and Joiners
Upon motion the contest was referred bacl
to the committee for further action.
James Duncan moved that a special com
mittee be appointed to which all dispute.
between the branches OF the building trades
should be referred. this committee to re
| port direct to the convention. This mo
tion, which removed much OF the work In
cidental to the dispute between the carpen
ters from the floor OF the convention, wal
adopted.
A special committee was also appointe,
to consider the differences between tn
longshoremen and other organizations VIII,
claim the former are intruding upon thel
territory.
Growth of Organization.
President Gompers. In his annual repor,
said that in the past year six new ma
tional unions have been organized, tw
are in the process OF formation, Will
others are in a position to form nationa
organizations from existing local union
of the trade. Charters have been issue
to fourteen national and internAtiona
unions, six state branches. 127 central labo
unions and to ST. trade and federal labo
unions, a total OF ,024 charters during tn
year At the end OF the fiscal year ther
were afiliated with the Federation ninety
nine national and international unions
composed OF approximately $4,000 locals
twenty-six state federations, l24 city cen
trail bodies and / 1,4s3 local unions. Tn
afiliated national unions have chartere
not less than $500 local unions with a totG
membership OF not less than 10000
Mr.. Gompers cautioned the members
trade unions directly afiliated against IN
formation OF national societies before sui
hcient members and experience had bee
n htCuItu
Aside from the miners strike. he sal,
the contests between capital and labc
have been few-generally tor higher pa
and shorter hours-and have generally bee
successful, one organization reporting a
increase of not less than s10OO,OOO TO Il
members.
Mr.. Gompers then reviewed the miner
strike at length, saying that in the preseI
5 arbitration proceedings a great moral vie
tory had been won for union labor and IN;
the contest was a splendid exhibition I
). solidarity on the part OF the men.
a He denounced the idea Of compulsoI
{; arbitration. saying that as a remedy It
worse than the disease IL seeks TO cur
while voluntary arbitration after eoneilil
q tion has failed is the ideal plan. He OF
d posed the idea Of compulsory incorporate
n Of labor unions, saying that while the pla
. seemed fair on the surface. the well know
prejudice against labor organizations Z
n the part OF judges would make the pls
hazardous. and that the result Of ineOrpOrI
tion might be the outiawing OF the union