The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-25
CONVENTION. ]! OF
4. Of /. Ends

/. i. III I. MD
Confined From First Page.
union cards., and opposition to the ship
subsidy bill are among the more I'M
| portant of the minor propositions taken
up and indorsed. ~
Z One hundred and ffty-two resolu-
tons were considered in committee and
acted upon by the convention. While
none of the matters involved could be
called trivial in its own right, yet the
greater bulk Of them were of small i'm
/ portance when compared with the larger
issues before the federation. .:
Gompers' Position.
Samuel Gompers is at the head Of the
American Federation of Labor wheth-
er as commander-in-chie or drum ma
| jor it is difficult for any outsider to
say. While it is possible that the fed
Grafton wants to do whatever Com
pers orders it to do, it is also probable
that Gompers frames his orders with a
careful eye to the desires Of his follow
ing: :, !,
| Politically the federation has placed
itseil ~ tne ndHus " $tHS eAeouSiV9
council, which is: Samuel Gonlpers and
some others. with Nm rests the ac-
| tion which the federation will take, to
carry into effect the. policy of, f'pun-
fishing it's enemies and rewarding it's
| friends.' -, -
| . That Mr.. Gompers is none too sure
Of his position, despite the wild cheers
which have greeted his every utterance
and the decisive vote, which has re-
sponded. to his desires at every, occa-
sion, is evidenced by the way in which
he has handled his defeated opponents.
; On no occasion has he: failed to follow
an assault by counter attack This lbs
was particularly noticeable yesterday
when he announced in his speech of ac-
, ceptance that he considereit the soil
tary vote cast against him by Victor L.
Berger of Milwaukee, as the greatest
compliment he had received in the
course of the. convention. This, was
made all the more conspicuous by a
half. acknowledgement Of Mr.. Berger's
pluck and consistency: which preceded
Socialists Distinction.
Victor L. Berger, among 300 men all
filled with radical beliefs in some cause
or another, has won distinction as be-
ing the most indomitable fighter and
graceful loser in the federation. y Day
after day, with a. steadily dwindling
support, he has urged his propositions
on the: floor Of the convention While
Samuel Gompers carries off the prize,
credit as valiant foeman': belongs to
the man who, however mistakenly, has
faced hostile chair and Kissing au-
dience day, after day in advocacy Of
his beliefs VI ~ ID ~. :.
<. John Mitchell. president of the iron
workers and second vicepresident Of the
Federation; and Samuel Gompers, .presi.
dent of the. Fedora ton, are, all reports
ct the contrary, the best of friends
Both of them have said So Unques
tionably Mr.. Mitchell enjoys a popu
larity in the Federation hardly SECOND
J to that Of Mr.. Gompers. Twice Mr.
ton measures; not once has Mr.. Mitch.
ell spoken for the administration. even
when it was under a severe fire Of criti
cisn, and for the most part Mr. Mitch.
ell has been engaged. elsewhere than ir
the convention hall. &c: ~! s s.ss
Should Mr.. sGompers at some Future Ut &c
time fail to judge Alright the ssiressoi
the Federation land march off alone
on one path while his followers trudge
new leader can be found in the. ranks
and it is more than possible that The
leader will be John Mitchell, the silent
I The Eight Hour Day. 7:
Official action by the A.. +. of l.
looking to the universal eight hour, day
was deemed not advisable by the dele
gates assembled yesterday. afternoon
and the convention went. on record al
only. A, significant feature of the rec
concentrations adopted by the conven
ton, however, was the assertion that
shorter hours were more to be- desired
by the American workingman than in
creased wages. : z.f5 I:... ! s&.S.
A resolution. indorsing the forma
ton; ofiunion. label leagues, as in Den
ment Of an official Label league pres
organ, was referred TO the ,execu
tive council. y 49, 49,, r n u
/ Allen Gee of the British TIA des con
gross and Samuel Landers Of The Cana
dian Trades council, fraterna1 dele
gates to- the convention, expressed Their
! thanks to the, American Federation, foj
them on their visit to the 5Miihneapoli.
convention. 80 - ~. :L555$l
/ u. &s Gonpers Pleased. <4 liz ..s..s. s.
Satisfaction over the. outcome of the
convention was written large: on the
face, of President Samuel Gompers. OF
the American Federation Of Labor aft 81
| the adjournment. While he followed
his usual policy Of smaking ne, statement
4 for publication upon. the general effect
of. the business transacted at. the gath
ering, he made no effort to conceal the
fact that he was we'll pleased.
This has been one Of the most sue.
1cessful conventions in the. history Of
the Federation,D he said, Cuisines has
i been transacted with dispatch and de-
corum. The members have. every rea
son to be proud Of the. way they have
run their affairs. AS for myself, there
lis little to say except that I Shall en-
ldeavor to carry out the will Of this con
[vention to the best. of my ability. -,
Another and an instructive comment
was made upon the procedure of the
convention by Allan Gee, fraterna1 dele
gate from the British Trades Union
congress. e, 80 ....,.5s.. =, O.
StSThere are many points Of difference
between the. convention lust closed ano
q similar gathering in England, = said
MI. Gee. 81 think that you Americans
put a little more spirit into your ex
L A., u I