Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-08-20
18th ANNUAL LABOR
CONGRESS In SESSION.

Organized labor was the guest of
Bridgeton Monday, and the represen-
tations of the working men and
women of the state were here for
two days. in earnest convention.
1t is the first time that the New
Jersey State Federation of Labor has
met in Bridgeton, and Bridgeton is
glad to have the organization here.
Glad to personally meet the various
delegates who have been sent here to
represent the many trades unions that
are affiliated with the American Fed
GRAFTON. Glad to meet the efficient
officers of the organization who assist
in every way possible to make the
Federation working body for the
common good of the employees of
New Jersey.
The following taken from the official
call for the state convention may
prove especially interesting and of
some educational force to the reader
of the "Pioneer'
"The aim of the State Federation is
establishment and promotion of local,
national and international trade unions
and the combination of all such trades
nuions in the American Federation of
Labor, for the purpose of aiding and
assisting each other, and securing
State and National legislation in the
interest of the wage workers. and
influencing public opinion by peaceful
and lawful methods in favor of organ
lied labor. No question of political
partisan character can be entertained,
received or acted upon by the congress
From present indications the
twenty fifth annual convention of the
New Jersey State Federation of Labor
bids fair to be more generally attended
and more widely represented than any
previous convention of the Federation.
Every local in the State oragnized on
trades union priciples, and which is
affiliated with the national or interna-
tional union of its craft, is urgently
requested to fully represented by
its most active and best qualified
members. Many advances have been
made during the past year organiza-
tion has progressed steadily wages
have been increased; hours have been
reduced recognition has been secured !:
conditions formerly irksome have been
modified; permanency of organization
is established To continue these be-
neficial results, and to meet the grow
ing demands of labor. organized and
unorganized; to more strongly assert
our rights in legislative halls and the
courts; to obtain a more general
shorter work day to eqalize the pro-
ductive :distributive and consump-
tive effects of modern improved ma
chinery and to contend against the
gradual transforming of human beings
into mere ohattels, all these needs
show the necessity of the workers
meeting in still closer affiliation.
VO1AAh6AAOA OISduAAC Al 1OCdl
unions for local trade purposes local
unions unite in national trade unions
for national trade purposes they then
federate in the American Federation
of Labor in order to combine all labor
forces nationally; local unions also
unite in local central bodies for the
purpose of cobmining all local labor
forces, and the same local unions
should unite in the State Federation
whit view of combining labor forces
within the state for state purposes.
The State Federation of Labor con.
tains the largest possibilities of benefit
to the movement in general by
strengthening the weak points within
the State, by agitation for the various
of unoin labels and union cards. by
fostering and promoting short hour
movements, and by giving attention
to the matter Of Safe legislation. It's
true that meagre results are usually
accomplished in the direction of OBJ
tanning labor legisl5ion, but that has
been secured during the past.twenty-
five years is the result of earnest
efforts of the State Federation. An
important field of work in legislative
mattres, in which the State Fdera-
tion has exerted great influence, is
its ability to defeat the passage of
anti-labor laws 1t can and does ex-
ercise most powerful opposition to
measures detrimental to the interests
of labor, as we'll as exercise influence
in favor of the passage of the mea-
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