The San Francisco call., 1904-11-15
Host Of Socialists Are Present
in the Gallery.

can Federation of Labor for the sincere words
OF welcome extended to the federation, II II
that they might some time come TO California
and there hold one convention of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor in this great state
and city.
one by one representatives of trade unionism
have come to the coast. but others followed,
the federation for the first time in its history
held session in this city
Il seemed to typical of the growth of
this great city ard State as the old maxim
says, Westward the course Of empire
takes its way" that as the men OF the early
tremendous odds. to establish camps. then
boom towns. then villages and after that
cities and t.e great State. 1 repeat it seems
to me that this growth is typical OF the steady
advance Of organized labor California.
We are honored by your words of well
come and believe we are not vain when we
say that bring honor to your State. The
men who make W the conventions of the
American Federation of Labor are men who
have graduated from the factory, the work
shop the mill and the mine They are men
who have stood the test Of shoomates. and
there is better place IN this world to find
out the character of a man than in the shop
and at his work. There. If anything in the
man is mean 1t will show itself.
To me 1t is always an inspiration to meet
the delegates to the national convention. No
matter how tired and worn out I am when
I meet any delegates meet men. and 1 have
an opportunity to drink at the fountain of the
elixir of life.
We shall be conservative-only just as far
is essential to the success of our movement.
no more We have learned the meaning OF
that term and its various constructions - II is
to know what you want and then know YOU re
right in wanting 1t. To be conservative in
every way that will help to conserve success
the best conception TO place upon the word
Be moderate in your demands but radical in
tn determination to achieve them.
The men that paved the way for civiliza-
tion here overcame obstacles and the prejudice
and ignorance of the former inhabitants. So
TO do we have to contend with these forces
There is no charge under the sun, no crime
on the calendar with which the men Of the
American Federation have not been charged
We do not claim that any one joining the
federation thereby becomes angel or an
arcnangel We have no choice; we must take
the workmen the are, and II our opponents
charge that they are ignorant men and some
Of vicious propensities, all that we can say
in answer Is that 1t is the fault Of the greed
of the modern CAPITALIST. who doesn't care
where he goes who will rake the four COR
ners OF the earth to oIlng In men, SO long as
The employer will say that his work people
enough to be employed they are good enough
for us to- organize for their betterment No
man can say that by joining an organization
a vicious man will become more vicious
While stopping over in Indianapolis l had
occasion to visit the various labor headquar-
ters While on the street 1 met Mr. Parry
who requested a private talk / made an ap-
pointment to meet him before my train left.
aa Mhen ehone saqp s sro,, Nj s re-
ing that the house of the club to which he
belonged was burning and that he could not
meet me. quote THIS merely 10 snow that /
am not certain but that / shall be charged
with setting fire to the clubhouse.
The American Federation of Labor stands for
everything that is best in the labor move
ment 1t is constructive. not destructive. 1t
builds up manhood and citizenship. The rec
ordS of the movement at the homes and fire.
sides show our advancement 1t has been our
lot for years in the East 10 guard against dan
ger but thanks to Providence and wise thought
organized labor has placed vanguards of the
labor movement at the Golden Gate. Your
mission is to guard the gate from those who
ina rfxf fIfzor
We do object to the Chinaman because
he Is Chinaman. Call him by any other name