The San Francisco call., 1904-11-19
UNION MEN MARCH
Warm Welcome
IS Given to the
Delegates.
SPEAKERS
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Nov. 1S.-The biggest
labor meeting in the history OF San
Jose was held in the Garden Theater
this evening in honor Of a number OF
delegates TO the American Federation
Of Labor Convention now being h8ld
in San Francisco. The guests were o.
A TveitmOe of san Francisco; John T.
F1ett of Hamilton. Canada; James
Wignan Of Swansea. Wales Rein Orr
Of Detroit, Mich; I. A Clancy Of san
Francisco; ]. d. Buckalew and John
A. Lennon Of Bloomington, H., and
W. HOckam Malone and H j. Abra-
hams of Rudda Valley. Wales sam
uel c. Gompers and John Mitchell were
expected TO be present. but owing 10
the pressing business OF the labor con-
ventiOn were unable TO attend
The delegation was met at the depot
this evening by a reception COMMITTEES
and escorted to the St. James Hotel,
where they had dinner At 5 o'clock
FOUR hundred members Of various
labor unions assembled at the hotel
and escorted the speakers 10 the
theater. The Fifth Regiment band
headed the parade. A dozen carriages
followed with the guests and local
labor leaders and the local uniOnists
brought up the rear.
a large and enthusiastic audience, in
which were many ladies. The meeting
was called 10 order by K. ]. White, a
member Of the Carpenters Union. Az
ter a few words Of welcome he intro
duced o. A. TveitmOe, who made a
few remarks and introduced the va
r1Ous speakers
John B. Lennon, secretary Of the
TailOrs' international Union, was the
first speaker. He referred to the open
shop. He said he was surprised that
such a cry should be raised in the
Golden State, for it means cheap Ia
bor and that means Chinese and Jap
anese labor. The union man does not
believe in cheap labor. The success Of
the unions in San Jose in raising the
scale of wages. he said, contributed
more TO the prosperity Of the mer-
chants than to the WOrkmen-
Rein Orr of Detroit, treasurer OF
the Amalgamated Street Railway En-
plOyes, traced the origin and growth OF
trades unions. Trades unions. the
speaker declared, when disputes arise
only want the employers to sit down
and talk 1T over with them Unions had
been of great benefit not only to the
working people, but to all the people.
J. D. Buckalew. third vice president
Of the International Machinists' AssO-
citation, extOlled the trades unions and
ers could find 416 texts in the Bible
which would enable them to tell the
truth in regard to trades unions
H. J. Abrahams, international dele
gate for the British Trades Congress.
followed. He spoke Of the English
unions and their work. He said all
that the wOrkingmen demanded was a
fair and equitable share OF the wealth
which they produce jointly with caDital-
James WignaI, of Swansea, Wales.
organizer OF the Dock LabOrers OF
Great Britain, said this was the best
meeting he had attended since coming
TO this country. He was pleased to see
so many ladies present. Whether on
this side Of the Atlantic or in the old
country. he said, we are all engaged in
the same battle and should SUPPORT
each other.
John Flett Of the United Brotherhood
Of Carpenters and JOiners. discussed
the advantages Of the union label. and
said if the people demanded labels on
the goods purchased they were eufOrC-
ing demands for sanitary conditions
and good wages. and helping the union
men. Industrial peace is the object Of
the union. he said.
All the speakers were well received
and frequently applauded-