The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-11-11
AMERICAN FEDERATION
of LABOR MEETS MONDAY

full, but Gompers' adherents express
full confidence in the reelection Of
their chief.
The open shop and anti-labor move
ment, as personified by so-called cit
liens alliances and Parry organiza-
lions, will come in for a great share
Of the discussion scheduled for the
convention. The open shop agitation
has made a great deal Of trouble in
trades unionism within the last year.
Leaders Of the federation declare that
the open shop slogan and the alleged
non-Americanism of the closed shop
have been used by employers as an
excuse for not dealing with the
unions. The agitation has affected
nearly every trade in the country
and because OF it many agreements
that might otherwise have been con-
tinued have not been renewed. Per-
, haps the strongest resolutions of the
entire session will deal with this
question and the issue Of union shops
will be pushed promptly to the FORE
Equally earnest will be the debate on
the citizens alliance movement. It's
growing power is admitted, but
President Gompers points to the fact
that the membership Of the American
Federation has grown to 1880, 900
since the last convention--an increase
Of nearly 400,000--as an indication
that the trades union movement is
too powerful to be affected by ad-
versities of that character. Withal
he admits that the last year general
ly has been one of business depress-
ion. and that the federation has
trimmed to meet any emergencies Of
the future. One Of the most import
ant questions before the convention
will be the Colorado strike. There
are strong Indications that there will
be conferences looking to the amalga-
nation of the Western Federation Of
Miners with the federation.
Conservative influence Of President
, Gompers, 1t is believed, would do
much toward reestablishing the min
ers' organizations in the west. An
other important labor matter will be
the indirect result Of the butcher
workmen's strike in Chicago and else
where, it being the present program
to reorganize the butcher workmen
along better lines. For the first time
In the history of the American Fed
Grafton politics will cut a figure in
the proceedings. The proposition to
quigz candidates on subjects pertain
ing to the labor movement will be
discussed and the plan will probably
be adopted as a permanent policy Of
American labor, with the tacit UNDER
standing that those whose replies are
most satisfactory will receive the
support Of the members Of the feder-
alton.
Jurisdictional disputes which occu-
pied much time at the last convention
have practically disappeared. The
| only one remaining Is that Of the
brewery workmen who want to take
In the engineers and firemen that
work In breweries. President Com
pers is opposed to them. and is urg.
ing autonomy, and has threatened to
revoke the charter Of the brewery
workmen unless they shall end the
dispute. the threat going to the ex-
tent of withdrawing federation sup
port from boyootts and traLle Aabels.
The program to be urged on the next
congress will include the passage of
an eight hour law and the multiplying
Of the government by injunction"
statutes. There will be discussion Of
the proposed Chinese exclusion
treaty. Reports Of officers will show