The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-15

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. There may be five or six delegates =
. with socialistic leanings. but any q
= resolution looking toward the adop- .
. tion of socialistic tenets will. am q
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San Francisco. Cal. Nov. 1.-THE Amer
ican Federation Of Labor met to-day in
Lyric Hall in its twenty-fourth annual
convention. Delegates from every part of
the United States and representatives
from Porto Rico. England and Canada
were present. The hall was beautifully
decorated in the national colors. delegates
being seated in sections according to the
States they represented.
During the morning hours local and vis-
iting delegates assembled at the headquar-
ters OF the officers of the convention, and
at 10 o'clock, headed by a band, they
marched through the principal streets of
the city and to the convention hall. The
entire time OF the morning session was
taken up with the delivery of and reply
to speeches of welcome.
Mayor Schmitz extended to the delegates
the freedom of the city, and on behalf of
the labor organizations of the State of
California. j. o. Walsh. president of the
San Francisco Labor Council. and p. H.
McCarthy. president of the State Building
Trades Council. extended welcome.
The only business transacted during the
morning session was the reading and ac-
ceptance Of the report of the Committee
on Credentials.
Before the question of accepting the re-
port was put to vote William G. Schardt,
president of the Chicago Federation of
Labor, arose and called the attention OF
the delegates to the fact that he had been
given no standing by the committee This
threatened for time to bring before the
convention the question of trade autonomy
versus industrial issues.
The Chicago Federation was recently
suspended from the American Federation
because it refused to comply with the
demand that the Steamfitters' Chicago
the United Plumbers Association. Before
this question could be voted upon the mat
ter was temporarily disposed of by re-
fering Mr.. Schardts standing to a COM
mittee.
The afternoon session was opened with
the reading by President Samuel Gompers
OF his annual address. During the deliy-
cry the speaker was frequently inter-
President Gompers's report was, in part,
as follows:
un,hes The average ,I membership Of our affiliated
to the amercan Of bof las oea for pa :e
year as. ending septembsr 9, 1905 is l.s7s.ooe;
unions upon which per eaP,s tax our vas aiaa'fa a1 20
the American Federation OF Labor for the year
We shalf no doub; @ be- be eonsTonied MaS With til.
seensst see ,s opposition in the near future There
ot the nat bOp S ".
SS s1Sd WIZ THFk s which @ i is dong and which IT can
In -afa
EFFORTS more largely in bringing to the attention
the y ahd sh6se Il sese5 Is 5
tass snI upon them to secure and maintain the van
nnat uni,st ieaas from lack Of comprehensive and
hopes and aspirations Of the toilins masses sae
rh,sreISre, with unbounded faith in the ultimate
natua nPh Sr gap s5saI II the logical and
v,,,-n we may all take on new obligations and rs.
which hs Bring to within faTe tho sd fnd
ers e. the iSnS wealth, =. s producers of America;
Fight F T., denied 10 the people so long Is there work
We were fully aware that II would be Inn
pos possible to prevent all wage reductions, but We
ration of policy Of resistance to wage IeSuffans
with satisfaction and pride. We can chaiIenrs
Vea wSs and opp9nents to compare the past
dustriai stnaiia ssaS,iGn with With year Of similar IN
sond caxi or Doubt aa that: II WIN demonstrate be-
First.Wage reductions have been checked
SecondmThe industrial situation has not be-
coune acute, as was the uniform course for
merly.
Third-Much ildeness. poverty. suffering. and
misery have been prevented.
Fourth-The era of Industrial stagnation. as
compared with former like conditions. has been
Fifth-The prospect for a revival in industry
and commerce in the future is brighter. as com,
sixth-There is less acute feeling OF unres,
among worknen and employers generally. bust
seventh-There are more workmen and en-
pioyers in agreement and understanding.
rsaon. to
workmen and employers.
rights and duties e sn 70 oaeep,9n S more Of the
erai satisfaction among our people with the
look for the future
RESULTS JUSTIFICATION.
The results Of labor's policy our best justi-
fcation. and even though contemporary COM
and couimendation which are Justly our due.
We have the knowledge and satisfaction Of the
Gag ias.ing service and benefit which We have rem
In considering this entire subject in its eco
realize the Serenee between Tes!s.ense s. lesi TO
wage reductions and the movemnts for wage
1t is science becoming more generaIiy un:
derstood by labor to know when to strike and
and for what not to strike 1t is said that hi Il is
not wise to strike on a so-called failing mar
hct- L CaU not however, successfully
Eainsaid that a strike or preparedness to striSs
IN rssisting an offer OF wage reduction viii
prevent the market from falling still lower
II may not be. and undoubtedly is not wise or
prudent to strike for wage advancement on
downward industrial trend yet II Is better that
even this ecoEonic error be committed than a
complacement acceptance Of wage reductions
May use the homely phrase of saying that
We are not vet "out OF the woods and that
the advice and watchword should 60 forth from
this cons ention of the American Federation
Of Labor to the toilers OF our country TO resist
by every honorable and lawful means at their
any and every attempt to reduce
wages. AT the risk OF criticism / repeat last
years paraphra.e that in the offer OF wag.
reductions It is better to resist and lose than
not TO resist Mt all. The resistance Will a;
and factor which must not be ignored In the
material economic. Industrial Commercial ard
social affairs and welfare Of our people and
Dur country.
During the past year some strikes occurred,
and among them some were lost: that Is
they were not crowned with the immediate
81 ccess for which they were inaugurated And |
each Of these failed Of its objec. by reason |
of the fact that the men did not profit by
tie experience Of others and take time BY |
the forelock In times OF Industrial tranquility
and while they were employed they failed 10 |
contribute anything like commensurate dues in |
their unions and to provide themselves with |
The ammunition OF industrial contest-a good |
turing the entire year. but which the leaders /
Ind management were confident could and |
would have been crowned with victory IL hut |
good. round sum had been in the treasures |
,f their organizations. =
or course. nc enc pretends or believes that |