Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-11-14
ANNUAL CONVENTION
FEDERATION LABOR
Four Hundred Delegates AS
semble in New Orleans.
GoMPERS OPENS MEETING.


President Lee, of the New Orleans As
sembIy, Delivers Address of We'll
come In Behalf of Laborins Men of
New Orleans.
New Orleans, Nov. 13.-The twen-
ty-second annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor met
this morning at 10:S0 o'clock in Odd
Fellows hall, about 400 delegates be-
ing present. The hour originally set
for the opening Of the convention was
8 o'clock, but President Gompers was
delayed so long at his hotel by newly
arrived delegations who desired to
see him before the convention opened
that he was unable to appear at the
hall before 10 o'clock. The visiting
delegates were escorted from the
St. Charles mansion, official head
quarters, by members of the local
trades and labor assembly, headed sby
Robert E. Lee, head Of the local orSar-
ization, and by James Leonard, the
federation organizer for the State Of
Louisiana.
When the convention had been call
ed to order, President Lee. Of the New
Orleans assembly, delivered an ad'
dress of welcome in behalf OF the
laboring men of New Orleans, to
which Mr.. Gompers responded.
Mr.. Lee closed his address OF well
come with warm tribute to President
Gompers personally, declaring that
the members of the federation would
follow him to the end.
Mr.. Gompers declared in his reply
that he fully appreciated what had
been said of him personally, and
thought he could best show his ,appre-
citation by his silence regarding it.
After touching upon the scope and
bearing of the labor union movement
Mr.. Gompers said that 1t was arnaz-
ing to note the ignorance among So
called educated people regarding the
aims and objects of the organizations.
"No man who as an educator" said
President Gompers, poses as
strike breaker, is fit for the position
he holds Compared to such man
Benedict Arnold was q martyr, and
Judas Iscariot a saint"
Although 70 name was mentioned
it was understood by the delegates
that reference was made to the heal
of one of the leading educational in
stitutions of the country, and they ap-
plauded with vehemence. Cheers
were again called forth when 1t was
declared that the man who acted the
role of a strike breaker was looking
backward toward barbarism and not
toward the future.
A call was made for the report Of
the committee on credentials, AID
that body not being entirely prepared,
a considerable delay resulted. 1t de.
clared that 50 national organizations,
nine state organizations, 55 central
bodies, 81 local and federal bodies,
and four fraternal delegates had re-
ported and were entitled to represen-
tation. The total voting strength Of
the body reported by the delegates
was about 10000.
1t was represented that credentials
be denied to a number of delegates
who were opposed chiefly because of
non-payment Of dues. A protest
against the seating of delegates of the
Amalgamated Association Of Carpen.
ters WAS made by the United Brother"
hood of Carpenters and Jotners. Up
on motion the contest was referred
back to the committee for further ac.
ton, and it's other recommendations
were adopted. James Duncan moved
that a special committee be appointed
to which all disputes between ths
branches of the building trades should
be referred, this committee to report
directly to the convention. This mo-
tion, which removed much Of the work
incidental to the dispute between the
carpenters from the floor of the con-
vention was adopted.
A special committee was also ap
pointed 10 consider the differences be.
tween the lcngshoremen and other Or
CARNATIONS, who claim the former are
intruding upon their territory.
Upon former motion Of Delegate
Duncan, the convention adjourned at
1880 to meet at p. m, at which
time the reports of the officers of the
organization was on the program.
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