The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-12
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.
.GOMPERS COVERS
FEDERATION YEAR
PRESIDENT OF TRADES UNION
lists REPORTS TO CONVENTION.
Takes Up the Political Campaign Made
by Labor representatives Against
hi Certain Congressman, and Deals with
Other Work Of the National organi-
cation, 5as4

/ j -
Advance sheets of the annual report
of President Samuel Gompers call at
tention to the fact that the report COM
| pletes a quarter of a century Of the his
| troy Of trades unionism in the United
States, and he comments on the fact
| that each annual convention finds the
cause of labor farther advanced, union
men better educated and qualified in
Gent service, and to take their places
as American citizens.
The most interesting subject in the
report is labor's political campaign
against those congressman who We're
| branded by the federation leaders as
legislators hostile to the interests of the
lahoring man. President Gompers' re-
port was written before the elections
Nov. 8, and so is not conclusive as
based upon the results of those cleo
lions. The, report, however, asserts
that if labor s efforts may not have full
filed it's hopes, still the members Of the
federation Will continue their efforts in
behalf of labor g bettermen. The re-
port declares that whatever the result,
the endeavors were successful from
many points of view in that the cam
paign opened late and was hampered by
a lack Of funds. The subject is to be
covered more fully when the executive
council of the federation reports.
The laborer makes his gains by hard
work, and Mr.. Gompers finds that his
advance along industrial lines has been
beset with difficulties and opposition
where there should have been co-opera-
ton. D.. ...-.. ~. .'-|.
Growth of Unions.
Charters have been issued within the
| year to 6 international, state, SO city
central, l67 local trade and 81 federal
labor unions, total of 81. There are
now affiliated with the A. F. of l.. 119
international, So state, 53S central la
Dor, and 759 local trade and federal
| unions.
Ideals of unionism, Mr.. Gompers says,
are not perfec. and all growth is made
by adapting the principles, not always
clearly defined, to the workmen as they
! are, not as they should be. The work
IS one Of patience, education, and fra
tcrhal association. Emphasis is laid on
the city central bodies, Of whatever
name, as efficient courts in which local
disturbances may be neutralized, and
Tor their help in furthering the general
interests Of labor. ~ r.
Mr.. Gompers comments with satisfac-
ton on the growth Of unionism in
| Canada and of the feeling Of fraternity
existing between the laboring men Of
that land and this. ORGANIZATIONS
among the working people of Porto
Rico are increasing, and in general con-
dltlons there are more satisfactory. than
| heretofore.
| Eight Hour Contest =
The eight-hour contest of the Inter
national Typographical union has been
| on the whole successful. Of the 200
| odd unions involved in the eight hour
| controversy, about one hundred have
been successful. Thirty nine thousand
printers are now working under the
eight.hour rule, and 5000 are still on
strike. Mr.. Gompers can see no reason
why the universal working day should
day of that length has proved to be
better for the material, moral and in
tellectual advancement of all con-
eerned. - ~. -
Labor is more generally employed
now than a year ago. For 1905 the
percentage of the unemployed was
about 8, while for this year it will prob
ably be 2.75. The no wage reduction
policy is considered wise and humane,
altho there is at present no Indication
|
Congressional legislation will be I'M
dertaken in the form of a perfected
eight-hour labor bill, anti-injunction
measures, Chinese exclusion, convict Ia
Dor and employment on the Panama
canal.
Ship Subsidy.
! The protest against the ship subsidy
bill is reported, with stress on the con
tention of the federation that the bill
| contained provisions which practically
made CONSUMPTION of seamen a condi-
ton precedent to their employment on
privately owned vessels.
Touching on the, defeat Of an i'm
migration bill in the, national house of
course taken by Speaker Cannon. The
passage of the denatured alcohol law is
noted with satisfaction. Regret is ex-
pressed that little or no progress has
been made toward the, passage of the
hill limiting railroad men g hours OF
labor, and the federation is urged to
renewed efforts for, the measure. -
! The report counsels a conference OF
railroad organization heads over the
Erdman arbitration act which prohib
it's discrimination by railroads against
members Of labor organizations because
of such membership. The conference is
deemed necessary because court has
declared this provision of the act null
and void, ~, -. -s-
The employers limited liability law
is hailed as a basis for future action
extending it's provisions to all persons
employed in interstate commerce., -
The federation is urged to renew its
efforts to secure the passage of reso
luton in congress directing the depart
ment of commerce and labor to investi
gate the industrial, social. moral, edu
cational and physical conditions Of wo
men and child workers in the United
4 States. @-s
i Hearst in Congress.
Reference is made to Congressman W
r.. Hearst's failure to secure the pass
age of bill limiting the number of
barges lowed out to sea or off coast
by single vessel. :
The San Francisco disaster is referred
to with partial report on the relief
measures taken by the federation fol-
trades unionists in San Francisco
! Workmen are advised not to 90 to FRS.
co in hope Of finding employment.
Continued efforts to relieve humanity
from the scourge Of tuberculosis, are
recommended, Further movements are
urged to. secure the use Of schoolrooms
as meeting places for labor unions
tst Arrest of Miners. ,y$#