Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-10
THE LABOR MEN
Meet at Boston for Their Nth
Annual Session.
Of Pres. Gompers and Reports
Of Secretary and Treasurer.
Pres. Gompers Tells of Wonderful
Labor Growth in Past Year.

Boston, Nov. 9.-The 23d annual con.
Ventlon of the American Federation Oh
Labor, which was opened in this city
today, and which will continue prob
ably for at least IA days, was in work
ing order before adjournment was tax
en-, late this afternoon. President Sam.
uel Gompers delivered his annuel ad-
dress to the delegates, and Secretary
Frank Morrison and Treasurer John B.
Lennon presented their annual state
ments.
About $50 delegates We're present
When the session was called to order.
They We're welcomed to Boston by
Denis d. Driscoll, president of the Cen
trail Labor Union of this city. Mr.,
Gomners was presented with a block
and gavel.
President Gompers' address took up
most Of the afternoon. 1t showed that
the gain in membership of the affiliated
international unions and OF the Amer
lean Federation of Labor during the
last year had been 100, reviewed at
length what the Federation had accom-
plished during the year, and made
=
ed out that the very grave danger
which confronted their movement was
the internecinc strike. due to the con-
1ilcting claims of trade jurisdiction Mr..
Gompers urged eternal vigilance with
respect to legislation.
The treasurer'S report showed the in
come of the year was $257, 800, the ex-
penditures $196,015, and the balance on
hand $4,000.
President Gompers called the con-
vention to order and after the creden-
tialS had been examined President D.
D. Driscoll of the Central Labor Union
of Boston. extended the cordial well
come to the visiting delegates.
After extending the greeting of Bos-
ton, President Driscoll made reference
to the state board of arbitration, say
ing that the workingmen We're always
ready to abide by the decision of the
tribunal. 1--WE have many good state
laws, but want better" he continued,
I'VE mean to have the child labor law
lived up to-"
In closing Mr.. Driscoll presented to
President Gompers a block and gavel
workers.
In accepting the gift. Mr. Gompers
touched upon many phases of the labor
movement. He said that a new battle
was waging for the trade union move
ment. 1T is fight" he said for the
people in the cause of justice" He
asked that the American Federation
of Labor be judged from it's merits, and
upon what it accomplished, and that
all preconceiyed notions be abandoned.
Chairman Owen Miller of the commit
tee on credentials then reported Gre
dentiais from representatives of 161 in
tcrnational unions, 1913 Central Labor
Unions, and 40 local and federal labor
unions, besides delegates from the
state branch. Credentials also were re-
ceived from the fraternal delegates.
John Grady and William Mullen, rep
resenting the United Trades Congress
of England. John Simpson of the Cana
dian Trades Congress, and Harrietta
A. Neysey of New York City, repre-
senting the church association for the
advancement of the interest of labor
Protests were filed against the dele
cations from the Bakers and Confec-
toners international Union, the Cen
trail Labor Union of Knoxville, Tenn,
and the Central Labor Union of Bur-
linCton. VT.
Resolutions We're adopted to the eff
feet that the delegates while in Boston
purchase newspapers from the Boston
NeWSboyS Union. These We're fol-
lowed by a flood of motions bearing
upon union printing. smoking union
cigars and wearing union made cloth
ing. One delegates suggested that if
there We're to be any entertainments
furnished to the delegates that the
talent be actors and actresses who are
members of unions. All of these We're
quickly disposed of by the Chair, who
declared that they We're entirely out
of order.
The nature of the motions and the
manner in which they We're presented
occasioned considerable merriment.
Before adjournment at noon. President
Gomrers announced the appointment OF
Harry Mcmahon of Boston Topographic
cal Union No. 10, as assistant secretary
of the convention. and of Thomas J. Min
Than of the Team Drivers Union: and An,
drew J. Lambert of the Hosting and
Portable Engineers Union. as the ser
geant at arms and messengers.
The afternoon session was called to or
der by First Vice President James Dun
can o. Washington. d. G; Mr. Duncan
at once introduced President Gompers
who delivered his annual address
President Gompers occupied hours and
IS minutes in delivering his address He
was greeted with loud applause and when
he had finished he received an ovation
which lasted several minutes.
Frank Morrison. secretary of the feder-
alton, then presented his annual report.
The financial statement was read by John
f. Lennon. treasurer of the federation
All these reports were referred to the
committee on distribution
At $50 O'Clock. the convention was ad-
iourned until 9 o'clock tomorrow