The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-15
.G0MPERS MAKES
ANNUAL REPORT
President Of American Fedora
ton OF Labor Reviews Work
Of the Past Year.
THE ANNUAL SESSION BEGINS
Delegates From Every Part Of
United States Present at
j Meeting.
V-s "
lTlIE
nv Associated Press

l+si4lSi -, : - .
TIE $500 ~
(By Associated 1'ress)
BAN FRANCISCO, CAL, November II.
The American Federation Of Labor met
to-day III Lyric Hall at the twenty fourth
annual convention. Delegates from every
part Of tho United States and representa-
tives from Porto Rico. England and Can
ada were present. The hall was deco.
rated with national colors, delegates being
seated In sections according to tho States
they represented.
The morning session was taken UP with,
tho delivery Of and reply to speeches OF
Z welcome and the reading and acceptance,
OF the report or the Committee on Gre
K dcntials
Gomper's Report.
The afternoon session was opened with
the reading by President Samuel Com
pcrs Of his annual address.
The report covered the years work OIL
President Gompcrs and comprchcnded q
review of the events OF the preceding
year together with such rccofnnendh,
lions M he saw 1T 70 make. It dealt
E.,ccessvely with tho various phases OF
the work-organzed Lnbor's Law o.
Growth; industry, Reaction. Resistance
Revival Power; Industrial Peace; Union
Shop-Tradc Agreement versus Open.
shop Our Canadian Brothers: Porto
Rico: Printers 7Slght-Hour Movement;
Jurisdictions: Directly Affiliated Local.
Union Strikes. Union Label. The Colorado.
Situation, and so on. Concerning the
growth, Of the orEaniza Il on the president
< sasd;
..From October 1903. TO September 30.
$780, we issued from the American Fed
Grafton OF 1a'bor the following charters:
4 International unions. IL: State fedcratons.
g; central labor unions. %; local trade
+ In fnnS
total. A3. 5t
Eight or these international unions
were organized by us from formerly ANIL
lated chartered local unions during the
past year. A number OF international.
unions have become amalgan,atcd With
other international unions kindred to their
trade At tho end OF this fiscal year.
September 30. 1904, there were Affiliated
& to the American Federation OF Labor:
international unIons, 120 = State fedora
tons. 80: central labor unions se9: local
trade unions and Federal labor unions,
1,271; toial 49,.
The average membership Of our anil
1atsd unions upon which per capita tax
has been paid to the American Federation
OF Labor for the year ending September
30 1904, Is 1.s76,tO0.
..'rhc average membership Of our afll-t
lated unions upon which per carita TAX
was paid to the American Federation OF
Y. cr FIR The year ending September go.
labor for the year ending September 3d.
1906 was .lfs' 500. Z ~ sS
Work Of Year.
The report referred to the policy laid
down ut the beginning Of the year. and
4 had this to 1saw concerning it:&5ssS
We were fully aware that II would be
impossible to prevent oil wage reduc-
lions. but ne can view the result OF our
& last years declaration OF policy4of resist
ance to wage reductions with satisfaction
and pride We can challenge our critics
and opponents TO compare the past year,
when we were confronted with an Indus
9 trlal reaction. with n year OF a similar
Z Industrial situation. and It Will demon
strate beyond cavll or doubt that
First-Wnge reductions have been
Il checked. lH
b second-The Industrial situation has
not become acute, as was the uniform
course formerly.
i4 Third-a1uch idlcncss, poverty suffer-
ing and misery have been prevented.
Fourth-The era OF industrial stngna-
ton. as compared with former like condi-
tions. has been shortened
Fifth-The prospect for a revival q In
d,stry and commerce in the future Is
brightcr,ea as compared with any similar
previous period
q sixtl,-There is less acute feeling OF
unrest among workmcn and employers
ga,lcrally, business men and all our peo-
pc.
scycnth.-There d, e moro workmen and
employers IN agreement and understand
Ans. .5'
E!ghth.--There Is n more general effort
Ia bring about more rishtfuf tons be-
tween tWor klncn and employers.
Ninth-There Is n better conception o.
the rights and duties Of man to man.
more general satisfaction among our peo-
sple with the present, and a more grati-
fving and hopeful outlook for the future.
The results Of labor's policy are our
best Justification. and even though con
Temporary comment may not generally
accord us the credit and communication
whi:j1 ara Justly nu. due. we have. the
knowlcdg, and fGtlffnctlon OF the lasting
ecryic. ami ttntht Which we have rem
dered our fellow ma ". 4 !,
In considering! tins entire subject In Its
ccouomits anu social aspect. We dare not
81 fail tn realize the difference between re-
sistence to wage reductionsgand the move
morts fer wage, advances during PERIODS
OF industrial reactions, 81 . 5f
During the past year some strikes oc-
CURED and among them some were slost
PHYSICIANS EVERYWHERE
Know the Value of Pyramid Pile Cure.
"Gratltudc alone prompts me to testify
to the efficacy of Pyramid Pile. Cure
Last March bought dollar package
at the drug store, which cured me OF
bleeding piles, and was a sufferer from
: = 80 l.>n