Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
WILL AID
PRINTERS
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LA
Dor URGES UNIoNIsTs TO
GIVE ASSISTANCE
YEARS STRIKES 1,157
cost of Labor Disputes to Labor
Unionists Totals s2,517,2e1, That
Sum Being Loss Of Wages for Idle
Time - Strikes of Year Involve
1888 Men.

Pittsburg, Pa, Nov. 14-John Mitch
ell, president of the United Mine
Workers of America, presided at to-
days session of the American Fedora
ton of Labor convention. The annual
report of the executive council was
read. It gave in detail many points
covered in the reports of the president,
secretary and treasurer.
viii Aid Printers.
It was decided that in the future the
executive council shall not interfere
in disputes between labor organize
lions unless the unions involved have
exhausted all means to bring about an
adjustment of their differences. All
the organizations affiliated were urged
to render all assistance possible to
the striking printers in their efforts to
establish the eight hour day by Janu-
airy /. 1906.
Strikes and Their Cost.
There were LIST labor strikes dur
ing the year ending October i, 1905.
These strikes involved 1O7, 1858 mon, of
whom $3.50 were benefited and 62,-
O2S worsted. The strikes cost the
unions in loss OF wages $2,517,291.
These were the notable figures pre-
scented to the twenty-ffth annual con-
vention of the American Federation
Of Labor In session here today. The
statement was made in the annual re-
port Of Secretary Frank Morrison.
The secretary's report admits that
the figures are not complete. They do
rot include the Chicago teamsters'
strike. nor the strikes of the iron and
steel workers, mineworkers, painters
end textile workers. The strike Of the
textile workers alone involves 10000
persons and cost 100000.
The annual report Of Treasurer
John B. Lennon showed that for the
fiscal year ending Oct. 1, 1905, the in
come of tha American Federation of
Labor from all sources had been $685.
1876 and the expenses $196,17O, leav-
Ing balance on hand of $112,265. OF
this balance, $4,000 is deposited In
five banks at Bloomington, ILL.,, and
uIawing 2 per cent interest.
President Gompers' Address.
In his annual address President
Gompers quoted figures showing that
there are 1.796 labor unions affiliated
with the American Federation Of La
Dor. Of this number 118 are interna-
tional unions, aggregating $4,000 local
unions. Abiding to the widespread
character of the federation, the presi-
dent said:
t"On the continent of America our
labor movement Is expanding and ex-
tending, to all its beneficent influences.
We have not only our international
trade unions, with their nearly $4,000
le, Ia MI h,1t oil hor
out state, dominion, insular and terri
torial decorations. our COL central labor
unions, trades assemblies and local fed
erations. Our limits are no longer
from Maine to California. from the
lakes to the gulf, but we include the
whole OF the United States, Canada,
Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico, Mexico, the
Philippines and British Columbia.
st is supernuous here to refer to
the vast advantages secured by our
international unions for the members
Of their respective crafts and callings
they have been more than thrice
told. They will bear telling again
and again, and It Is strongly urged
that our International unions, as a
further Illustration Of the greater pos
Hibilities for good in the future by
trade union unity under the banner of
international trade unionism, should
gather the material and data so that
they may put their achievements be.
fore the world and demonstrate to the
Indifferent, and to the scoffers, and
the unthinking, as well as to the
friends, the vast good already accom-
plished."
Favors Labor Insurance.
One of the most important recon-
mendations made by President Com
pers was system of insurance
against illness, unemployment, loss Of
TOOLS, approximation, travelling, and
death
Another recommendation was fol-
the establishment of trade union
schools"
Socialists Oppose Gompers.
President Gompers is a candidate for
reelection, and 1t is generally con.
ceded that he will be allowed to con.
tinue in the Office His only opposition
will come from the socialists, who op.
pose him at each convention.
TO ENLARGE WORK.
WapeIo County Humane Society tc
Aid Those in Distress.
The Wapello County Humane so
siety which has been in existence in
Ottumwa as an incorporated society
fer almost year and whose specially
foc hoan the nrotact}on Of dumb ami