The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-09-20

FRANK MorllSon, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor.
recently visited Minneapolis, for
the purpose of looking after ar.
rangementS for the convention or
the a. +. of l.. TO be held there on
Nov. II. Mr.. Morrison went over
the convention program with the
local men, and devoted all his time
to business in connection with tho
proposed union label exhibit. II
is hinted that the exhibit will not
be confined strictly to a display of
union made products, but that sev.
eral sweat shop scenes will show
conditions under which the nom
unlonlst works, particularly i'm the
tailor and cigarmaking industries.
That the convention will cover
lully two weeks there is no doubt.
and the chances are that it will last
considerably longer. The present
Is critical time in the history of
the American Federation of Labor,
and the advent of the federation
into politics and the success or fail
ure OF the move will have had n
pretty fair trial by the date the
convention assemblies. That the
political aims of the organization
Will be well considered and take
up considerable time of the dele
gates is conceded by nearly all.
Besides the political questions
there are several stubborn contro-
yersles between affiliated unions
which will come before. the conyen.
ton. Among these is the dispute
between the steam filters and the
plumbers, which has been an issue
ut every gathering of the federation
for seven or eight years. 1t was
thought in some quarters that the
recent action of the executive coun.
Gil III granting afiiliation and a
charter to the steamfitters would
settle this matter, but notice has
been given that the plumbers will
continue their fight in the conven-
tion for jurisdiction over the steam
filters, so the end is not yet.
Two other organizations which
annually air their grievances are
the longshoremen and the scamen.
neither being able to agree as to the
control of some lines of work. Year
in and year out these unions come
before the convention in an effort
TO 'get together,' but each success.
sive attempt has proved failure.
Then, too. the brewery workmcn
are In hot water, their trouble be-
ing that they are unable to control
the teamsterS, engineers and fire
men employed in the brewcries. In
this case several other organizations
have stepped in and claimed con-
troll of the respective lines. For
instance, the tcamsteIS' union asks
that brewery teamsters be compell-
ed to affiliate with that organization
and the same with the Stationary
engineers and iremen, all three of
which are claimed by the Brewery
Workers union.
One dispute which will in all
probability be settled, and settled
permanently, is that of the Anal
gamated W0odworhers and the
brotherhood of Carpenters. Nego-
tlatlons have been i'll progress for
several years, with the result that
an agreement now seems certain.
The entertainment committee at
Minneapolis has arranged for a
banquet, Il trolley ride i'll and about
the twin cities, Il theater party and
a mass meeting at the Auditorium.
at which prominent union labor
men of the United States and Can
ada will be present. Samuel Com
peIs will be the speaker of the
evening, and John Mitchell, Den
mis- A Hayes, William Huber.
James F. Ballantyne, Daniel j.
O'keefe, Max Morris, James O'Con
nell, James Duncan and John b.
Lennon, all members of the execu-
tive council, will be present.
Victor Berger, of Milwaukee.
will attend the convention as the
representative of the Wisconsin
Federation of Labor and Max
Hayes of Cleveland, as the repre-
sentative of the Cleveland Central
Labor council. Both of these men
are well known eNponents of social
ISM Frank K Foster of Boston.
Will represent the International