The San Francisco call., 1904-11-15

The wage-earners have come to realize that
Their only hope for the protection OF their
portunities for the promotion Of these in
teres-- in the future, well as the mainstay
IoE n,, The rights ana Liberties in the present 70
~hich they and those who may follow are
entitled. lie In uniry. organization and fedora
ton And they have recognized, too TO
greater extent than heretofore that their
cohesion during period OF Industrial reaction
is the efectual check upon the material de-
teriorat ton IN their condition. with An that that
implies To these reasons and causes to-
gether with greater intelligence and fair con-
cepiion OF their rights. may be attributed the
almost innnitesimal decline in membership
within the recent past
When II is borne in mind that the trade
union movement Of America is comparatively
speaking. still in its infancy; when there is
taken into consideration the vast extent. of
territory as well as the makeup OF different
nationalities speaking foreign tongues the
great Development in industry and the con-
centratton Of wealth, using its powers to pre-
vent or crush out ORGANIZATIONS when all
these things are given due consideration, that
We have brought about any degree OF fra
ternity and homogeneity should be counted to
our credit rather than 70 our detrlment
Il is not necessary here to recount the ad-
vautages which have been secured by our
movement in the interests OF our fellow work
ers- Not only are our records OF achieve
ments available to all. but the better results
IN the home the more material Improvement
the social and moral advancement as well as
political independence. and the character and
manhood Of our working people are the best
attestation. demonstration and proof OF the
X, FHlnO0S
ennobllng purposes Of our movement
ISSUE OF CHARTERS.
Despite the destructive purposes of labor 5
antagonists I am in a position TO report that
with the exception of a slight recession AL
ready indicated, there has been a sum total
OF great gain in the membership Of the or
ganizations affiliated to the American Fedora
ton OF Labor. From October 1. 1908. to Sep
tember 80 1904. We issued from the American
Federation OF Labor the following charters
International unions, II; State declarations, s.;
central labor unions 80: local trade unions
and federal labor unions 32S total 443
Eight OF these internstio1a1 nnio,s ,,,.-a
organized by US from formerly affiliated char
tered local unions during the past year A
number OF international unions have become
amalgamated with other international unions
kindred 70 their trade. At the end of the
nscal year September 80 1904 there were
animated with the American Federation Of
Labor 10 International unions consisting Of
approximately. 1900 local unions OF theii
lions. 5ee central labor Unions I27I local
trade unions and federal labor unions; total
The average membership Of our affiliated
unions upon which per capita tax has been
paid TO the American Federation Of Labor for
the year ending September 30 1904 is .6T6.
OU0. The average membership Of our affiliated
unions upon which per ca pita tax was paid 10
the American Federation OF Labor for the year
eLllns september 80. 1903. was 465 500.
We shall no doubt be confronted with the
keenest opposition in the near future There
are tlos- VINO VIII not understand the purposes
OF the organized labor movement and the good
work which II is doing and which II can and
VIII do. and ii therefore behooves US to de-
vote our attention and TO concentrate our
eIorts more largely in bringing TO the atten-
ton or the yet unOrganized how necessary 81
Is Tor the protection Of themselves and those
dependent upon them to secure and maintain
the vantage ground already gained. and not
only TO save all from the Inevitable downward
peth that leads from a lack of comprehensive
and united effort. but TO secure and realize
the hopes and aspirations Of the toiling masses
Therefore. with unbOunded faith in the ulti-
mate triumph Of our great cause, the logical
ana natural development OF our great move
nent we may all take on new obi cations and
assume new vows 10 leave no effort untried
which shall bring within the benehcent fold
q the trade union movement the wage workers
the wealth producers OF America. So long
a. there Is wrong unrighted, or a right
for the trade union movement to do