Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-13
HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS
President Gompers' Message
to Federation Of Labor.
CHINESE EXCLUSION
ADVOCATES THE ENACTMENT OF
PRoHIBITIvE MEASURES.
Panama Canal Touched Upon--Condi-
tions in Porto Rico-Eight-
Hour Movement.

Fellow Trade Gnionists: In this great
historic city. where in 1881 was laid the
groundwork OF our great federation. fell
low delegates and friends, representatives
of the organized workers of America, l
bid you welcome. Turning back our
mental gaze to these years of work, and
pain. and travail, the hardsilips endured,
the sacrifices made, and the burdens
borne, the advantages secured. the proud
position attained, despite the lukewarEn-
ness of friends and the antagonism of
foes. must cause us the deepest gratif-
cation and the keenest pride.
las time goes on. more and more Is ex-
pected from the deliberations and results
OF our work heavier and greater become
the responsibilities which rest upon US;
more and more do the toiling masses look
to you, yearning and praying that their
hopes for relief for right and for Justice
may be fully realized.
The labor movement represents in con-
crete form the discomfort of the masses
of labor with the unjust burdens they are
compelled to bear; and though we must
all be more concerned In those who par
ticlpate with us in the duties and re-
sponSibilities of our movement, as well as
the advantages accruing from our associ-
ated EFFORT, yet We dare not and do not
fail to appreciate our duty to our fellow
workers. even though they manifest in
difference to their own welfare and the
welfare of their fellows.
From October l, 1904, to september 30,
1905 we issued from the American Fed
Grafton or Labor the following charters:
International unions, 3; state federation.
/; central labor unions. g. local trade
and federal labor unions. PIG: total, 2S7.
Two of these international unions were
organized by US during the past year
from formerly affiliated chartered local
unions. Several other international unions
became arnalgamated with their kindred
trades. At the end Of this fiscal year, Sep
TENDER 80 1895. there Were affiliated to
the American Fedora ton of Labor: Inter-
national unions, us, comprising approxi-
mately 1000 local unions; state fedora
tons 33; central labor unions, 500; local
trade and federal labor unions, 1,046; to-
tai. 1.706.
Prediction Alleged to Be Verified.
My last report stated that we shall no
doubt be confronted with the keenest oppo-
sition in the near future This prediction
has been fully verified. Despite the more
general understanding that the trade union
organization OF the working people is essen
TALLY necessary to them and is of general
advantage to all our people In the great
work for the betterment of their material
moral and social condition, yet we cannot
but deplore the fact that ignorant, vicious
and bitter antagoniSm has been ieVeieo
against our humanizins movement by q
number of so-called employers associa-
lions and citizens alliances. These men.
Tor their own lHl1nRulale anu temporary
greed of gain, associate themselves in or
gan!zation for the purpose of deprivfng
workmen of that right and benefit.
I'VE should all devote ourselves more
thoroughly than ever before to organizing
the yet unorsaniaed workers, and endeaVor
TO bring them within the benefcent fold OF
union labor and organized effort.
Attention is called to the satisfactory
labor conditions in Canada, and referring to
the conditions in Porto Rico, President
GomDers says:
Some Improvement has come to a num-
Der of workmen in Porto Rico. Particularly
is this true of number of those working
on the sugar plantations. This is due TO a
strike inaugurated. resulting In an increase
of wages of more than Is per cent.
THAT we may realize the impoverished
condition of Porto Ricos worknen. IT may
be related that when the American Fedora
ton of Labor declared that in the construc-
ton of the Panama canal Americas work
men should be employed L had interviews
with Secretary of War Taft and Gov. Win
throp, with view to the employment Of
Porto Ricans. of whom so large a number
were and still unemployed. Gov. Win
throp approved the suggestion and recon-
mended 1t to Secretary Taft. Mr.. Taft as-
sured me that the proposition met with his
hearty approval, and that he would cause
an investigation to be made with a view of
carrying 1t into effect. Inasmuch moth
ing had been done in this direction for quite
period of time. wrote letter to the Sec
rotary TO ascertain the cause thereof. To my
utter establishment. received from him the
following letter:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c.. October IL, 1905.
My Dear Sir: | looked into the matter
of the employment OF Porto Ricans and
found that so many of them were afflicted
with anemia of contagious character that
we could not well run the risk of employing
them on the canal.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) "WM. II. TAFT.
Samuel Gompers. esq. President. Ameri-
Fnln %fOp - Lib
d. g."
when I returned from Porto Rico and
reported to cur people the poverty and hun
ger from which i observed the people there
are suffering. interested parties. DESTROYS of
hiding the true state of affairs existing
among the people on the island. undertook
to discredit my statements: and yet, more
than year and a half later, we have 1t
from the highest official sources definitely
declared, that after due investigation and
examination SO large a portion of Porto
Rcan workmen are so eneryated from hun
ger, for anemfa Is but another name for
paucity of blood. occasIoned by a lack Of
sufficient and nourfshing food, that they
cannot be considered in the employment
upon great public undertaking. Indeed
sad commentary upon ele benevolence of
our assimilation.
Recently. one of the great magnates OF
high finance in our country predicted that
in few years from now We shall witness
a financial and industrial panic unparal-
leled In the history OF the United States
This forecast was unauestionably predi-
Gated upon the power which finance for
meriy welded in Industrial affairs, and
based upon the policy of the former omnip-
otent power of financiers and greedy, short
sighted. antagonistic employers and entire
ly Ignored the worktngmen. the wealth pro-
ducers, in their organized capacity. as
new and potent factor
Resistance to Rate Cutting.
In the face of this prediction President
Gompers urges "the hosts of organized Ia
Dor to persstentiy pursue the policy of re-
sistance to wage cutting"
Already 1t is discerned that finance has
been largely dethroned from its ail-con-
trolling power over labor and industry
Up to decade ago, IL exposures had been
made as have been made In the recent past
of pecuiation as well speculation and of
the corrupting influences OF high finance
a financial panic. involving an Industrial
crisis and stagnation. with all its attendant
evils. would undoubtedly have been In
evftable.
The time is happily passing when purely
speculative finance can hold the dominating
power to endow undo Industry. With
more compact organization of labor. with