The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-16
Federation
HAS MUCH
WORK AHEAD
Flood Of Resolutions and Re-
ports as Well as Election Of
Officers to Be- Disposed Of.

Boston, Nov. 1e--when the delegates 10
che 23d annual convention of the Aiuer.-
can Federation OF Labor reassenibled In
raneuil hall today 10 begin the second
week OF the deliberations there was no
certainty that the end OF the week would
ee+ the end OF their lab Drs
More than 23O0 resolutions had ytt TO
be acted upon, and that there would be
long debates ON many of these was quite
probable. Again. there were reports of
coT:mittses to be heard ana the election
OF officers TO be held. with a possibility
~ contest.
After the rest of yesterday the delegates
wele ready and eager Cor work when
President Gompers called for order at 3
o'clock. Many delegates will leave for
home by the middle of the week. and they
were anxious 10 have the important busi-
ness disposed OF before their departure.
The first brush OF debate Of the day de-
vsloped when the committee on resolu-
tions reported that the resolutions endor-
sing the granting OF charter 10 the in
surance agents Of the country be referred
20 the committee OF the executive council.
The resolution read that 1T is the sense
OF this convention that therc IL nothing In
the occupation OF an Insurance agent
which should debar those following that
occupation from organizing under the
American Federation OF Labor"
In supporting the committees recon-
mendation several delegates declared
that the insurance agents are not wage
earners and not therefore entitled 10 n
charter.
Delegate O'Connell OF washington. OBJ
tected TO recognizing the insurance agents
as an affiliated union, because OF the
OF unionists to become insured.
Delegate Carey OF Haverhill the So
cialist, said the question was whether the
federation was to distinguish between
productive and non-productivo labor. III
the federation would not permit the in
surance agents to organize. 'they being
non-productive, then countless other
workers who are non-productive would be
excluded from uniopism. Mr. Carey COM
tended that the productive labor be-
longs TO the working class and have the
right TO organize for self protection. Ho
was opposed TO the existing conditions,
but as long as they necessltated the la
boring OF men as Insurance agents. he
certainly believed the insurance people
should he organized, because they are an
important part OF the working class, even
IL non-productive.
President Gompers took the floor In op-
position 10 the resolution. He believed
the reason why many unions were not
well organized was that they paid too
much attention 'to the curse of Insurance
which we are asked 20 indorse"
The resolution was favored by Dele
gate Wilson of the mine workers and
opposed by Delegate LAWN OF the Cen
tral Labor union. WIlkesbarre, Pa
The committees report was concurred
In by vote of III In favor and n
against.
Resolutions were adopted that the fed
eration request all the affiliated organiza-
tions TO instruct their organizers TO as
ffst the Actors National Protective
union OF America In organizing all non
union actors In vaudeville theatres. mu-
sic halls. parks, etc, that the federation
make special efforts 10 assist the Italian
laborers OF New York 10 organize; that
y,tie federation's organizers do all poss-
ole TO. organize the asphalt street PAYERS
throughout the country: and that the
executive council grant a charter to the
saw grinders with the sanction OF the
Saw Smiths International union.