The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-18


ing fealty to the trade labor move
ment of our country, devoting our best
efforts to the uplifting of the wage
earners of our country, giving them
hope and encouragement, and appealing
to them to unite with organized work
ers so that the fraternity of man
throughout the world may be accom-
plished at the earliest possible date"
This is the message sent out by the
American Federation of Labor on the
21st anniversary of its birth, to the
Iaboring men throughout the world.
President Gompers made a brief adj
dress, saying that of all the delegates
present at the formation of the or
ganization in Pittsburg in 1881, he was
the only man present. He was ap-
pointed a committee of one to frame
an appropriate resolution and the mes
sage given above is the result.
During the day there were two ami
mated debates, the first over the reso-
.Sution declaring against the ship SUBJ
Fsidy bill and the second over that de-
claring against the construction OF an
isthmian canal.
The committee Oh resolutions report
ed favorably on the motion declaring
against the subsidy bill and the con-
vention was about to adopt the report
when William ]. Gilthorpe, of the
Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron
Shipbuilders took the floor to speak in
its favor He declared that its enact
ment into law would result in the i'll
creased employment of skilled labor
and enable this country to construct
ships as cheaply as they could be built
la foreign countries. He declared that
q a
ton and that this could be secured
through the passage of the subsidy bill
and he urged that the report of the
resolutions of the committee be not
eoncurred in.
James O'ConneII president of the In
ternational Association of Machinists
delivered a vehement address, declar-
ing that no greater combination existed
in the United States than that of the
great shipyards, and that union labor
Rad no more relentless foe.
On the final vote the report of the
committee on resolutions was adopted
Mr.. Gilthrope casting the sole negative
vote
The resolution declaring against the
Nicaragua or Panama canal came next
and on this resolution committee re
ported adversely and motion to adop
the report was made at once. Dele
gates FureSeth of San Francisco, who
introduced the resolution, insisted thai
the American navy was Inferior aG1
not strong enough to protect the cana
and that in time of war an army would
be necessary. This army could only
march through Mexico and Centra
America and that permission for it tt
do this would be refused by the Latin
American countries and then the United
States would be compelled to conquer
them in order to protect its own on the
isthnus. He was in favor of the con-
Of h. %l,a
- Ythrough which it passed or by private
enterprise.
D. A Hayes, president of the Glass
Blowers Union, declared the fedora
ton was meddEng too much in ex-
traneous matters. He was in favor Oi
the canal but considered it wise fol
the federation to let the subject alone
After several other speeches, the en-
tire subject was laid upon the table. A
movement was inaugurated today b.
Delegate Charles Sherman, of the
Sheet Metal Workers having for its
object the holding of a special con-
Ventlon within one month or six weeks
OF representatives Of all iron workers
engaged in the building trades, the OBJ
Ject OF the conven ton being to deter
mine accurately the lines of jurisdic-
ton belonging ito various bodies.
New Orleans, November 15.-As usua
the committee On credentials had the
noor when the convention Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor opened this
morning. Its report was that John L;
O'Leary, of the Coremakers of Denve4.
and q. A. Bassette. of the Denver
trades and labor assembly be seated
The report Of the committee was
adopted. The auditing committee re-
ported the following financial condition
Of the organization:
Balance on hand at the opening of the
last fiscal year $S,S14; total receipts
$144.498: total cash received during the
year $153.S12; expenditures s119,1S6;
balance on hand s34. .226 Approved.
The president announced that mas
much as many delegates were unable
TO prepare their resolutions on time fol
presentation yesterday. they would be
allowed to submit them today. The
most important submitted today werz
as follows:
That the good offices of the incom-
ing executive council be asked to secure
the enactment OF national laws for dis
abled working people and to provide a
system Of national insurance for their
assistance during enforced idleness.
That the American Federation. of La
kar apDeal to congress fo sl1bruif fo II, @