The San Francisco call., 1904-11-15
Delegates Are Young Men
Gray Heads Are Few.
gates. What he said was in part as fol-

gates. What he said was in part as fol-
lows:
In the name OF the organized workers of
san Francisco I bid you hearty welcome TO
at your disposal, and We trust that you viii
do US the honor to consider yourselves not our
guests. but members OF our family and house
To the delegates representing the American
Federation Of Labor in this convention, TO the
fraternal visitors representing fellow
trade unionists in Canada and Great Britain,
ana 10 the representatives OF those kindred
organizations now assembled in the common
cause OF labor, the trade unionists of san
Francisco extend fraternai greetings, coupled
with the assurance that, although you may
have Travelled far from your own firesides you
are still at home in the hearts and by the
hearths Of your co-workers in the labor move
ment
Trade unionism knows no distinction of race
color or creed; neither does it know any geo.
graphical limitations. North. south. and
west. in every country and cline. in this year
of grace as In all the years that have passed
away, the hearts Of the organized workers
beat in unison to the music of that noblest
inspiration Of the human race, industrial lib
erty and equality.
san Francisco has never failed to raise her
voice in the grand chorus Of the worlds
the voices raised from the uttermost corners
OF the earth As have been with you in
spirit throughout the past are with
you in the flesh to-day-comrades in arms
brothers and sisters in the noble cause. Long
may our meeting last and when the parting
comes. may the fraternal nandshake place a
hrner seal upon the union of our hearts.
WALSH GIVES WELCOME.
During your visit with us it will be our
pleasure to show you some Of the beauties Of
California, a State in which nature has COM
bined the elements in the production of her
choicest handiwork. The citizens Of California
proud OF their heritage of mountain and
valley, OF river and field. We are proud too
0f our e9Re 4 he e bTe of the hardy po
proud Of labor movement-that struct-
ure Of our own hands-which. in extent and po-
tency, so nttingly compliments the physical
characteristics Of our surroundings
The seeds of that movement were planted by
the giants Of the early days and through sun
ceeding well. 1t is our boast, and a justiiable
one 1 hope you viii admit. that San Fran
cities in the United States We owe that fact
to the soundness Of the principles upon which
our work is founded and upon which IL has
been conducted Those principles, | hardly
need remind you, are the principles of the
American Federation Of Labor.
1t is sixteen years since the San Fran
cisco Labor Council, then known as the Fed
Grated Trades. secured charter at your hands
a charter which, bearing the OF your
still graces the hall OF the Labor Council a
charter which has never been disgraced and
which, God willing, shall forever remain with
us as the emblem OF our faith and the in
spiraticn of our hearts and hands.
In 1888, when that charter granted, the
Labor Council stood here upon the shores of
movement separated by a thousand miles from
the nearest company of friends. To-day
we stand in the midst Of the great army of
organized labor, the lines Of which extend
north, south. east. aye, and west. in un-
broken phalanx, ready TO do. battle for the
cause in which we are enlisted.
During these years many stirring events have
occurred, but the principles of organized labor
have triumphed over all opposition. whether
from without or from within. In all this we
do not claim any special merit in ourselves
We recognize and here make personal ac-
lxnowIedgment OF the fact, chat but for the
support of our fellow trade-unionists in other
parts OF the country, organized and federated
under the banner Of the American Federation
of Labor, could not possibly have prosper
ed so gloriousIy we have.
Mr.. President and delegates to the conven-
ton l feel that words of mine no words
however eloquent, of human tongue can ex-
press the pride and qualification with which
the trade-unionists of San Francisco greet you
upon the eve OF your labors. / feel too. that
no formal expression Of our regard is needed
Let me ask you in all sincerity to take the
deed for the word
Again I bid you welcome. thrice welcome
within our gates. Stay as long as you can
and may the all-seeing One guide and bless you