Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-10-19
United Textile Workers
Meet at Lowell.
President and Secretary Pre-.
sent Their Annual Reports.
Discussion Of Matters RELATING to The
Industry.


were to be discussed at the annual con
ventIon OF the United Textile Workers
OF America, delegates to which as
sembiet Ill this city. today, for a three
days deliber1tiOn. 1t was apDarent
that the representation at the conyen-
ton would be almost entirely from tho
textile centers in New England and the
Middle states, the past year having
been Snch a dlSadVanta geouS period for
the southern industry that the unions
could not see their way clear to dis
patch delegations. Moreover the word
ing of the call issued BY the executive
council was that "all unions i'm a posi-
ton To DO SO, are requested to send
delegates. 1t was generally accepted
that the principal topic to be discussed
at the convention was the present
strike of the 10000 cotton mill opera
tiveS AT FAN River. Another subject of
interest 10 the weavcrs was the with
draWal of the New Bedford weavers'
union from the national organization.
The convention was called to order
by President Golden with about 90
delegates present. President Golden
read his report of work during the past
year. and was followed by Secretary
Hilbert. both reports being accepted
by the convention. Secretary HILBERT
announced that tho convention would
adopt resolutions denouncing the ac-
tion Of Coy. Bates i'll Vetoing the over
time bill. X was also said that both
President Golden and Secretary Hib-
bert would be candidates for re-elec-
tion. and would be reelected beyond
any doubt.
ALBERT HILBERT, the secretary. re-
ported that conditions in the textile
trade had been such tnat it had been
impossible to create 4 sentiment in
favor of organization. with the result
that the textile workers body had de-
creased in membership. The secretary
also cited the action Of the last con-
vention in raising the per capita tax
as contributing cause to the loss but
held that the action increasing the tag
was wise.
He suggested that the convention
adopt Il rule making it compulsory on
all local unions to have their treas
urers bonded, lin as much as two of
the treasrrers of local unions affiliat-
ed with this body have absconded and
left the local unions in n helpless con-
dition"
The number of unions in good stand
ing at the present time is 13O, loss of
p: unions on the suspended list 49,
nine less than last year.
Under the head of strikes and griev-
ances Secretary Hilbert reported that
Il.
New Bedford. had withdrawn from the
rganization because the textile work
ers declined to give financial aid in a
strike called without the consent of
the general body. Endorsement had
been declined a strike einaugurated by
the Siasher tenders ut the Granite mill
No. .. Fall River. for a similar reason.
On this point the secretary said:
You must all realize that in order.
that we may have a successful organi-
zation you must frs have discipline.
The general officers intend so long as
they ho,d Office to live up to the con-
stitution and viii refuse to endorse any
strike that IS not brought about in a
proper way
The secretary discusses the Fall Ri
WI Sti at Soiuc. lsIiStu, EtiellillS u
the endorsement of The movement ana
the generosity of local unions in sup
porting the strikers and said:
This strike has been on now for II
weeks and the people are just as de-
termned to resist this reduction as
they were on the first day of the
strike"
The secretary described new union
label which was adopted in July. ana
which bad been registered in Indiana.
mad which he expected to be registered
in Minnesota, Michigan. Idaho, Maine
ana Oregon within a few days and he
urged all members that they make
the fact that the textile workers have
! label and that they buy nothing but
goods bearing the label Of organized
Ia bor"
Touching upon legislation the secre-
tary told of efforts made to pass vari-
Gus measures in the Massachusetts |
Legislature, especially the sO-called |
Gov. Bates veto of the bill: |
..Massa chusetts never had a govern V
or who enjoyed the confidence of the
textile workers to such an extent as
the present occupant up to that time.
believe that this convention should
take up this matter and pass the
strongest resolutions possible censur-
ing Gov. Bates and that we SHOULD
urge all delegates to this convention to
vote and work against his reelection"
The secretary called attention also to
he fact that union button had been
adopted and said that it was the duty
Of every member to wear it and he
urged consideration of passing rules
which would enable the president to
,se funds now restricted, in the work
Of organization. II
President John Golden said:
1.-The textile industry, not alone Of
his country, but Of every country in
he civilized world where cotton man
ia acturing is carried on, has been pass
ng through one Of the greatest de-
,ressions which the industry has ever
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