Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-11
SINCERE WELCOME
Accorded John Mitchell by
American Federation of Labor.
Tuesd','s Session Devoted to Seating
Delegates ard Hearing Reports.
Burlington, VI, Bakers and confec-
tioners Delegates Not Seated.

ident of the United Mine Workers OF
America, presided for a time, this after
noon, at the convention of the American
Federation of Labor, and he received a
greeting from the delegates which was
rs sincere and spontaneous as it was
enthusiastic. 1t was Mr.. Mitchelrs first
appearance as speaker at the conven-
ton.
The day was largely devoted to re-
ceiving reports from committees and
dlsposing of the cases of protested del
egates. The report of the executive
council, review of what the board
had considered during the year, occu-
pied the greater part of the forenoon
session. The report decreed the juris-
diction disputes between affiliated uni
ons. 1t contained all the correspond
ence with President Roosevelt in the
Miller case at Washington, but re-
Trained from all comment on the mat
ter.
The feature of the afternoon session,
aside from Mr.. Mitchell's appearance
as presiding officer, was the general dis
cussion of the report of the commit
tee on credentials, which recommended
that Delegates Guild and Steele of the
International Journeymen Bakers and
Confectioners, and Delegate Jones Of
the Central Labor Union of Burlington.
VT. be not seated, because irregularly
selected to act as delegates. This re-
port was finally accepted in toto.
The first business of the morning was
the receiving of the report of the COM
mttee on rules, which recommended
that the convention sit from to H.
and 10 daily except Sunday. With
the amendment that the afternoon ses-
sion be extended to $50, this report was
accepted.
James Duncan of Washington. D. G..
first vice president of the Federation,
then read the annual report of the
executive council of the organization.
This was an exhaustive statement
largely review in detail of what had
been acted upon and accepted by the
council. The report contained an en-
phatically framed disapproval of the
internal troubles Of the Federation
arising from differing conceptions as to
over what trades the various unions
should have jurisdiction. Mr.. Duncan
read a long list of complaints received
by the Federation from various inter-
national unions against some other
union. most of them founded upon al
legged interference with their supposed
| field of activity. Almost always the
! executive council had recommended
conferences between the unions to set
tie the difficulties and stopped at that.
Among the differences which arose
during the year were those between the
| longShoremen and the seamen, the
wood and wire metal fathers and the
carpenters, and the silk workers. and
the textile workers. The council re-
GREETED that it's proposition to amalga-
! mate the silk and the textile workers
was not accepted.
| The report contained all the correspon-
dence in the Miller case at Washington
| arising from the question of employing
union or non-union labor at the govern
ment printing office. 1t has been under
| stood that this case. in which President
Roosevelt decided he could not discrim-
| mate against non-union labor in federal
! employment, will he brought later be. ore
the convention The executive council
| made no comment upon the correspon-
| dence but labor added that the trades
union NOV, mont stands for the strictly
union shop and also discouraged the rec
Ognition Of the open shop.
| The reading of the executive councils
report was concluded at 1l.15
The delegates next listened to the re-
port of the delegation Of the Federation
which was sent to the last convention of
the International Confederation of Labor
of England. This was read by M. S.
Hayes CT Cleveland. o. The report was
chiefly a narration Of the convention pro-
| ceedings together with a reference to the
, Taft-Vail decision in the British courts
under which labor unions were sued for
pickettng and boycotting
The committee or credentials then
made a supplementary report on the cases
Of protested credentials. The committee
recommended that the international
Union of Bakers and Confectioners be en-
titled to one delegate instead Of three.
that G. f. Jones. representing the Central
Labor Union of Burlington. VT. be not
seated. since his election was Irregular.
and that the United Textile Workers be
entitled to three instead of four delegates.
The unseating of two delegates from the
Bakers Union caused general discussion.
the Inseated delegates declaring they le-
gally represented the bakers and the
members Of the committee en- credentials
claiming that according to the evidence
presented the two to whom they had re-
fused papers had not been elected as dele
(CoDtipnad IN papa