Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-11-20
Federation Of LABOR.
The American Federation of Labor
Assembled In Convention
at New Orleans.
-FOUR HUNDRED DELEGATES PRESENT.
President Gompers Utters an Impassioned
Warning Against the Danger of Internal
Conflict Over the Claims of Jurisdiction
Made by Different Bodies of Working
men,

men.
New Orleans, Nov. 14.-The twenty
second annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor met,
Thursday morning, at 10:3o, in Odd
Fellows hall with about 400 delegates
present.
The visiting delegates were escort
ed from the St. Charles mansion, the
official headquarters, blythe members
of the local trades and labor assem-
bly,, headed by Robert E. Lee, presi-
dent of the local organization, and by
James Leonard, the federation organ.
izer for the state of Louisiana.
When the convention had been
called to order, President Lee of the
New Orleans organizations, delivered
an address of welcome on behalf OF
the laboring men of New Orleans to
which Mr.. Gompers responded.
President Gompers, in the course OF
his annual address in the after
oonn, delivered an impassioned
warning to the members oi
the organization that the i'm.
mediate future of trade and labor as.
semblies was seriously endangered by
the conflicting claims of jurisdiction
made by different bodies. Unless such
things were approached in calmness
and handled with moderation, he de-
clared the labor organizations of the
country would soon be involved in }
conflict which would, by comparison
dwarf all the struggles in which labor
organiza ations have so far been en-
gagged. The matter would, unless
checked, he asserted, come to a
point where laboring men would fight
with laboring men from behind barri.
cades, in the manner in which men
deal with their mortal foes.
His warning of danger and his coun
sells of peace and moderation met
with hearty response from the as
sembled delegates and wild applause
greeted the speaker as he closed that
portion of his annual address in which
he had pointed out the perils which in
his opinion were sure to come unless
method 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
sion was iatsSnbhTagd ooeSdnpbhTad WIFI whIthf aarRipg ses;
welcome and responses and the re-
port of the committee on credentials.
The afternoon was consumed by the
address of President Gompers, which
occupied him for two hours and TWEEN
ty minutes of rapid reading. The re-
ports of other officers required two
additional hours.
The words of praise accorded by
the speaker to President Mitchell, of
the mine workers, were greeted with
great applause. The applause deep
ened when the declaration was made
that no trade should attempt to ex-
tend its rule where another union al
ready existed.
Secretary Morrison report, which
embodied much detail of routine mat
ters, was then read. 1t covered the II
months ended with September 80 last.
The federation's aggregate income for
this time was $144,49 and the expendi-
lures $119,0S6. Of the receipts, $780,
423 consisted of contributions to the
defense fund. Mr.. Morrison also
stated that for the II months 1924
unions were chartered, a larger num-
Der than for an entire year. These
additions increased the total number
of unions to 1869. The average mem
bership is set down by the per capita
tax to be 1,025,3o0, a gain of four-fold
in the past six years. Mr.. Morrison
says that the increase of the defense
fund tax has resulted benefeially, and
he advocates still further increase
of the per capita tax.
Reports from international local
unions show that there were 1868
strikes in which 412,s7t persons were
involved Out of that number 352,-
967 were benefited and 14,o16 were not.
The total cost of strikes was $685.
O64. In the federation there were 217
strikes of which 131 were won, 4S
compromised and 81 lost. Ten were
still pending when the report was
prepared. The number of persons in
volved in the strikes was 34,3S0; num-
Der benefited, 2o,654; number worsted,
1856.
The cost of the strikes in the way
of money expended by the unions was
$90,o53.
The report submitted by National
Treasurer John b. Lennon showed the
total receipts OF the order for the en-
tire wear to have been S152,312 and
the total expenses $120,0S6.
The report of the executive commit
lee was then read by Vice-President