Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-07
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

Now that the state elections OF 1908 are
over, all eyes In the labor world are CEN
tered on Minneapolis, where the twenty
sixth annual convention of the American
Federation Of Labor will be opened next
Monday forenoon. The Importance Of the
coming convention, which will mark the
rounding out Of twenty-five years of the
existence of the federation, is recognized
by President Samuel Gompers in the Amer
lean Federationist. He says:
Beyond question the coming convention
will be required to discuss and dispose of
some Of the most momentous questions
which have ever come before the American
Federation Of Labor conventions, affecting
the interests Of the toiling masses.
More than at any time in the existence
of the American Federation Of Labor. the
convention at Minneapolis will have riv-
eted upon 1t the attention OF the civilized
world. Never in the history of our coun-
try has any general labor organization had
such long-continued. successful and grow
ing existence as the American Federation
of Labor. 1t has earned the respect of its
foes the sympathy of its friends, the conf
dence of Its members, and the hope Of all.
"The true and progressive trade union
movement as advocated and defended by
the American Federation of Labor is found
ed upon the eternal rock of economic social,
moral, political and fundamental truth.
1t has proved Gibraltar against it's Bit
tel est antagonists. 1t is the rock Of hope
to which clngs the hearts and aspirations
Of the toiling masses Nothing can serious
ly njure it or impede its progress or defeat
its purposes but the unwisdom of its own
members. 1t may not advance as fast as
some impatient spirits desire. 1t only
advance as rapidly as the conscience. intel
ligence and sincerity of its own members
will permit. AS chain is no stronger than
its weakest link, as an army cannot ad-
than ttS S1OyeSt division
the trade union movement of the American
Federation of Labor advances, and is solid
flied as the spirit of fraternity and the will
lingness to bear each others burdens is
more clearly and intelligently manifested
by the great rank and file of the grand
army of labor.
"All hail to the Minneapolis convention
Of the American Federation of Labor. May
1t confuse its enemies give hope and en-
ooura cement to the toiling masses and its
friends the world over, not only for the
present but for all tiTne!'
Referring to the growth of the A. F. L.,
Luke Grant says:
when Mr.. Gompers carried the office in
his hat and worked without any salary the
correspondence was hardly as voluminous
as 1t is today. The growth of the move
ment can be better understood by the fact
that for the past eleven months there were
sent out from the headquarters In Wash
ington an average Of 1928 letters. circulars
and packages q day.
"At the first convention in Pittsburg
there were ten national unions represented
At Minneapolis there will be 120 national
and international unions represented with
approximately $4,000 subordinate locals.
The aggregate membership on which per
capita tax Is paid is about 1900 900, al
though the actual membership is, more than
that.
1.-THE Importance Of the coming conven-
ton does not lie. however. in the fact that
1t will be larger and more representative
than ever before. Since the last convention
liberation Of Labor has entered the politi-
cal arena for the first time In its history.
The success of its efforts in the coming
election will be known by the time the
convention opens. If 1t can be shown that
labor had any marked success at the polls
no doubt the policy of the executive coun-
Gil will be enthusiastically Endorsed. If no
successes can be shown the council will
probably be criticised by some OF the Of
ficers of national unions who are now on
the fence.
Credentials have been recently filed with
the Washington Central Labor Union by the
following: -.
Wakefield. vice John M. .Touey.
Lathers, Wood Wire and Metal-Frank
Crovo S. Hutchinson. William McDermott,
M. Baden and H. Hyman.
Machinists. Washington Lodge-Ernest
Henry and J. F. O'Neil.
Musicians No. 161-A. c. Hayden, vice A.
Samuels.
Stonemasons. No. 2-Daniel Shea, e. I.
Shue and John Guirk.
Transfers. No. 43O-J. T. Sanders. w.
Smith and ]. Reynolds
Indications are that the United Typoth-
etae of America, which has waged a fight
against the printers for more than year,
is only in the beginning. of Its. troubles.
The electrotypers have determined to go
out for an eight hour day on January l
next. The printing pressmen and book
binders have tried to rake. the electrotyp-
ers hold OF until next May. when the three
organizations would he ready to start
fight at one time. The pressmen are under
an agreement which does not expire until
next May. The electrotypers. however, re-
fuse to put OF their demands. so that 1t Is
apparent the typothetae Is to have its
hands full next year IL It persists in refus-
ing the shorter workday in the printing in
dustry.
Reports received at the headquarters of
the International Typographical Union
show that gradually the larger firms In the
United Typothetae are weakening and sign
ing the demands of the printers. They have
had about all the fight that they want for
a while. and II the other trades make
concerted move II does not require much OF
prophet to tell what the results viii b.