The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-14
.GOMPER5 SPEAKS
To LABOR LEADERS.
Many Attend Twenty
Fifth Anniversary Of
Federation.
PRESIDENT TREATS
LABOR PROBLEMS
Urges Limitation of Eight Hours
for Work-Cornmends CO.
operation With Govern
ment in Construction
of the Panama
Canal. ss

{By Assoclated Press., Il

(By Associated Press.) 81
PITTsBURG, Nov. 13-old city han \
was crowded to-day when President Sam
uel Gompers called the American Fedora
ton Of Labor to order for the opening OF
the silver anniversary Of the organiza-@
ton. All the delegates. representing
every State In the Union, Canada, Eng
land and other foreign countries were In y
their seats and all the available space OUT
side was utilized by visitors. $s5. Il 3s
Shortly before ten o'clock the delegates
assembled at the headquarters in the
Colonial hotel and headed by monster
band Of 125 pieces made up of federated
musicians In Pittsburg, marched through
the principal streets to the place Of meet
ing. # 59S55 & sis " Ss3$
AS President Gompers and Second Vice.
President John Mitchell entered the hall
there was prolonged applause. A few
minutes later President Gompers raped !
for order and introduced G. c.. Douglass
chairman OF the entertainm ent committee,
who welcomed the delegates on behalf OF
the labor organizations OF the city. $
Attorney John Drew, speaking for
Mayor William Hays, welcomed the dele-%
gates to Pittsburg and Mayor James g.
Wyman extended the hospitalities Of the
sister city, Allegheny Mostly routine
matters will be considered at the session.
to-day. The presentation OF the creden-
.tlals was the first matter on the program
ana occupied considerable time. s8
One OF the interesting fights to be in-a3
sugurated at this convention Is tho
trouble between the plumbers and the
ssteam-f1 tiers unions. It Is said the offi-5
5clals of the steam filters union will make
an effort to unseat William ]. Spencer
the plumbers representative In the execu-a
tive council asssi n "
President Gompers is out for; re- election
and tits generally believed that he willabe /
successful The majority Of the other
iolilcers are also candidates for election
and tits likely that no changes will res
suit with the exception Of fifth Yice-presi-# /
dent. Thomas Il Kidd Is not a candidate
for another term W. D. N1ahon, presi..5
dent of the sAmalgamated 5AssoclntionSof@4 =
Street and Electric Railway Employees. Of
Detroit. Mich, will probably succeed him.
President Gompers' Report.
groundwork OF our great Federation,
fellow delegates and friends. representa-
tlves Of the organlzed workers Of Ameri-58
ca. II bid you welcome. Turning back our
mental gaze to these years OfeWork. and 81
pain, and travail the hardships endured. .
the sacrifices made. and the burdens
position attained. despite the lukewarnl-i is
ness Of friends ana the antag agonlsm of
foes must cause us the deepest grauaca-s
ton and the keenest PRIDE. ttss1 yatE
Here was made the effort to bring into &
some general, comprehensive form Of orr
ganization or federation the fra gmentary8 NJ
branches Of what then constituted the
labor movement ofsAmerica. All of those
then assem- bled We're not friends or advo-
Gates Of ederation. Indeed, some there
its failure. No tongue can tell, no no pen pen
portray the hardshps borne and the sao
rltices made by the few men who de-
yotsd yots s their energies and abIlties to up
cess. Lest we forget may be pardon
II. Foster. Robert Howard, Samuel Lcf-
others, to whom the merest appreciation
compels me to pay the need of honor
amd praise due , them Ing for securing for that
OF u federated trade union movement.
The mere statement that there were ia I
delegates at the Pttsburg convention
that there were but II delegates at the
succeeding convention at, Cleveland, o..
In 1882, will convey to all the conditions
Of the labor movement which then OBJ
tanned, But be 1t said that at least those Y
II men there assembled We're true trade
unonlsts and friends OF federation, and q!
they proceeded TO thelr, task. M
a PSFs hsoFe nsse events Is Gseoms N
labor movement OF that day. Tho fact &
OF our meeting In great Industrial Pitts
burg impelled me TO recall what have,
for We are now in the home Of our
friends and fellow trade unionists. STheir
hearts now beat In unison. their hopes
and aspirations are one with the great S
Of the workers of our entire
continent, upon the broad platform and
under that benign banner OF the Ameri-
can Federation or Labor, our federation, n
whose. watchword is. Onward and Up-
ward" whose hope and work are for
humanity, whose incentive Is labor omnIa
vlnclt
expected from the deliberations and re-
suits OF our work; 1; heavier and greater Y
become the responsibilities which rest Il
upon us; more and more do the tolling
Ing that their hopes for relief, for Fight. (
and for Justice may be fully realized.
The labor movement represents In con- 81
of labor with the unjust burdens they III
are compelled 70 bear ana. though va
must az be more CONCERNED IN those
of our movement. as We'll
IS the advantages accrung from our ass
'ociated effort. yet We dare NOT and do
not fail e appreciate our duty 20 our 4
md tho welfare Of their Fellows, s5
To the American Federation OF Labor 4.
$ conceded the hegemony OF the Ameri-
,an labor movement. We must prove "
rue our trust. true to the Condolences. ~
he hope. and the good Will reposed IN
~, gi.S
I Will, pride and love for our own land
We may yet assume for ourselves Tho
that the wufd - our coIG-e
ny; to do a2od our rellgiosa.
From my .Apf. icnee of the growias s
Intelligence and intense, faithful devotion
of the men of previous conventions Of B$
our felerat;on am justified In express. S
ing the conviction that the delegates ~
this convention will prove thsmselyes N
equal to every requirement., and at t8the3s#
close of our proceedings shall have earn. @
ed and deserved well from their fellows
80. .lnd hIatln fIer. saM