The Glenwood post., 1904-11-19
LABOR COUNCIL
AMERICAN FEDERATION MEETS
Delegates From All Parts of the coun-
try in Convention at San Fran
cisco.-Report of President
Gompers

San Francisco, Nov. l5.-The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor met yesterday
in its t~enty-tourth annual convention.
Delegates from every part of the
United States and . representatives
from Porto Rico, England and Canada
were, present. The hall was beauti-
Iully decorated in the national colors,
delegates being seated in sections ac-
cordlnS 10 the states they represented.
Inc entire time Of the morning ses-
sion was taken up with the delivery
and reply to speeches of welcome.
The afternoon session was opened
with the reading by President Samuel
Gompers OF his annual address. Dur
ing the delivery the speaker was ire
Quently Interrupted by bursts OF ap-
plause. He said:
From october l, 1902. to September
80. 1904, We issued from the American
Federation OF Labor the following char
ters:
International unions ............. II
otaIe leueFallOnS .......-....,.....
Central labor rnIons .............. 9y
Local trade unions and federal la
Dor unions. ...,................3 32S
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 4io
Eight of these international unions
were organized by us ftom formerly al
hliated chartered local unions during
the past year. A number of interua-
tional unions have become anna. gam
ated with other International unions
kindred to their trade Al the end OF
the fiscal year. September 80, 1904.
there were. affiliated to the American
Federation OF Labor:
International unions ............ l2O
State federatiOns ............. 80
Central labor unions. ns............ 5b3
Local trade unions and federal la
, Dor unions. ...................1 .1,21l
Total. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. W.
The average membership of our al
hliated unions upon which per capita
tax has been paid to the American
Federation of Labor for the year end
in September 80. 1904. is l.G76OOO
The labor movement of Canada has
advanced and is progressing. keeping
fun pace with the movement of the
remainder of the American continent
At the recent Congress held in Mon
treal the officers were enabled to report
an increase in the members ship of the
unions of 5,9O2 over the preceding year,
that there was then in excess in Can
ada 1887 local unions"
/ President Gompers thus enumerated
the accomplishments of the federation
during the past year:
"First-Wage reductions have been
checked.
"Second-The industrial situation
has not become acute, as was the uni
form course formerly.
"Third-Much idleness, poverty suf-
tering and misery have been prevented
"Fourth-The era of industrial stag
nation, as compared with former like
conditions. has been shortened.
"Fifth-The prospect for a revival OF
Industry and commerce in the future is
brighter. as compared with any similar
previous period.
"Sixth-There is less acute feeling of
unrest among workmen and employers
generally, business men AMI all our peo-
pie.
f., "Seventb-There are more workmen
and employers in agreement and under
standing.
"Eighth-There is a more general eff
I fort to bring about more rightful rela-
tions between workmen and employers.
"Ninth-There is better conception
of the rights and duties of man to man,
a more general satisfaction among our
people with the present, and more
gratifying and hopeful outlook for the
future"
When President Gompers finished he
was greeted with prolonged cheering.