The San Francisco call., 1906-11-11
EDITED BY o. M. BOYLE

world will be turned toward its delib-
erations. 1t will be confronted with
several questions which are bound to
bring forth much oratory and spirit.
Not the least of these questions VIII be
the radical departure from long -estab-
lished custom of the Federation to en-
ter politics. There are many who doubt
the wisdom of the executive council 8
action in the recent political campaign,
and the debates on the floor of the con-
vention will be worth reading. There
will however, be no backward move,
but ii is believed that a well defined
policy will be outlined for the future
and that the Federation will play an
important part in the politics of this
country from now on.
Wonderful strides have been made
in the past quarter OF a century IN the
uplifting OF the workingman, and the
Federation has been conspicuous in
lettering the conditions of the wage
Garner. The Federation was launched
in Pittsburg in 1881 by few sturdy
trades unionists, of whom Samuel
Gompers still shines as the bright par
ticular star. With the exception OF one
year Gompers has been at the head of
the Federation, and to him it owes
much of it's great usefulness. During
the first year of his presidency the re-
ceipts amounted to sI25. For the past
twelve months the receipts were $217,-
SELLS, and the balance in the treasury
on October / was S113, $4,000. Com
pers worked without any recompense
for a long time, but he has had the
satisfaction of seeing the organization
grow to be the largest and most inffu-
ential body of workingmen in the
world.
In the current number of the Ameri-
can Federationist President Gompers
I - 4I,a dirc
of the coming Minneapolis convention:
More than at any time, in the ex-
istence of the American Federation OF
Labor the convention at Minneapolis
will have riveted upon il the atten-
tion of the civilized world. The op-
ponentS to the labor cause will be
glad TO pick any flaw in its proceed
| ings, magnify its shortcomings, glorify
in any mistake. Our own fellow union
lists will look to it hopefully and con-
fdently. The yet unorganized toilers
will yearn for such wise action as
will reach and relieve them of their
mute apparent docility that they may
be given the opportunity and the power
to organize and take their stand side
by side with their already organized
brethren. Our friends and sympathizers,
in perhaps q different manner. pray for
light and wisdom that existing wrongs
may be righted and that the dawn of
a better day may be inaugurated.
Never in the history of our country
has any general labor organization had
such a long-continued. uninterrupted,
successful and growing existence as
the American Federation of Labor. 1t
has the respect of its foes. the sympa-
thy of its friends, the confidence of it's
members and the hope of all. The true
and progressive trade union movement
as advocated and defended by the
American Federation of Labor is
founded upon the eternal rock of eco
nomic. social. moral, political and fun
damental truth. 1t has proved a Glib
raltar against its bitterest antagonists.
It is the rock of hope to which clings
the hearts and aspirations of the toll
ing masses. Nothing can seriously in
jure IL or impede it's progress or de-
feat It's purpose but the unwisdom of
its members. 1t may not advance as
rapidly as some impatient spirits de-
sire. It can only advance as rapidly as
the conscience, intelligence and sin
cerity Of its own members will permit.
AS a chain is no stronger than its
weakest link, or as an army cannot
advance faster than its slowest divi-
sion, so the trade union movement of
the American Federation of Labor ad-
vances and is solidiied the spirit
of fraternity and the Willingness to
Dear SdCn OIHST lS iHOIG
clearly and intelligently manifested by
the great rank and file of the grand
army of labor"
At the end of twenty-five years or
ganized labor has within its embrace
almost 100000 wage earners. If the
same wisdom is manifest in the next
quarter of a century, who dare predict
the influence and position the Ameri-
can Federation will occupy in this
/ 4,. f1of eLA
The next meeting of the Janitors'
Union will be held in the Labor Council
nations will take place at this meeting
and all members should be present.
Business Agent Matheson for the union
wishes to thank the theatrical stage
employees for their generous help in the
settling Of their trouble in the play
houses of the city.
All records have been broken in Sc
curing a jury to try President Cornelius
p. Shea, of the Brotherhood of Team
sters before Judge Ball in a Chicago
court. Only seven jurors have been Sc
cured so far and Ii has cost the county
/ $40, 600. Up to date $500 veniremen
have been examined, the average cost
for each one having been about
1920. The record held by the famous
Gilhooley trial has been broken. The
Shea trial began on September 13 and
seventy venirement on an average have
been examined each day States At
torney John J. Healy threatens crimi-
nal prosecution if his detectives are
able to secure the necessary evidence
that wholesale perjury has been COM
mitted. He says: "At this time 1 am
not in position to prove that perjury
has been committed, but if evidence
is secured / will promptly take action.
have no idea what the defense has
been aiming at in first accepting jurors
and then challenging them. l never
heard of such tactics in all my life.
Neither have / heard of so long time
being required to secure a jury In
either a criminal or civil trial" Hun
dreds of citizens are believed to have
made false statements in order to es-
cape service.
At the last meeting of Laborers' Pro-
tective Union No. Se44 forty-five cam
didates were obligated 1t was de-
cided to raise the Initiation fee to Sc
after December l. The monthly re-
ports of the treasurer and financial
secretary showed that the union was
more prosperous than ever before
Business Agent Meakin was granted