The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-14
TO HELP PRINTERS.
An Assessment Levied ON All Mem
bers of American Federation.

Pittsburg, Pa, Nov. 1.-THE second
days session of the American Fedora
tioE of Labor convention was raped
to order promptly at O'Clock by
Mitchell, second vice president, to the
chair and James Duncan, first vice
president, read the annual report of
the executive council It gave in de-
reports of the president, secretary and
treasurer
The coppersmiths made application
for charter but it was denied and the
organization was urged to affiliate
with the Amalgamated Sheet Metal
Workers International Alliance. Ar
rangements have been made for the
consolidation of the two organizations.
There are a large number of or
ganizatons not now affiliated with the
federation and the executive council
urges that additional efforts be made
to bring them into the federation. 1t
is recommended that unions establish
funds and insist on higher dues.
In the matter of protection of chill
dren, the executive council had bills
introduced in the legislatures of many
states prohibiting the employment of
children in mills, factories, mines and
Industrial establishments. The prog
reSS made during the year was not en-
ttrely satisfactory and President Com
pers was authorized to enlist the as
slstance of other organizations in Sc
curing the passage of legislation in all
states prohibiting the employment of
child labor 1t was decided that in
the future that the executive council
shall not interfere in disputes be-
tween labor organizations unless the
unions involved have exhausted all
means to bring about an adjustment
of the differences.
An assessment of one cent Il mem
Der a week for Il period of four weeks
was levied on the entire membership
of the federation for the benefit of the
International Typograp phical union in
its efforts to establish an eight hour
work day in the job and commercial
printing establishment in the United
States and Canada. The Typographical
union has levied a substantial assess
ment for that purpose and all organ
izatiOns are urged to render all the
assistance possible to the printers in
their efforts to establish the eight
hour day by January 1, 1906
The question of immigration was
given consideration by the executive
committee. 1t was shown that over
1,OOO,0 600 foreigners reached these
shores last year and that there would
was urged that efforts be made to or
ganize this foreign element as the
low wages for which they now work
are not only insufficient but have a
bad effect on all American toilers.
The auditing committees report
.
good condition and that the report OF
Treasurer Lennon was correct
The committee on credentials re-
ported in favor Of seating C. p. Shea,
president of the teamsters' union. The
recommendation was adopted. The
committee also recommended that all
the delegates of the unions delinquent
on the assessment levied by the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor for the benefit of the
! striking New England textile workers
| be seated as they had made satisfac-
| tory arrangements with the secretary
/ The American Federation of Musi-
clans offered a resolution which was
adopted thanking the labor unions OF
/ San Francisco for supporting Mayor
Schmitz against the enemies of organ
lied labor. telegram was ordered
sent to Mayor Schmitz, informing him
! of the action taken. At the after
noon session discussion of tubercu-
losis, its prevention and cure was
| taken up.