Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-13

The credentials committees report led to
a reopening of the old controversy between
the plumbers and the steamfitters. The
plumbers entered a protest against seating
the steamfitters' delegates and will take the
matter before the executive committee
Encouraging Reports Made.
Financially as well as otherwise. the
American Federation of Labor has had
prosperous year." says Secretary Morrison
in his report for the year ended September
80. The year was closed with $40 in
the treasury
The total receipts from all sources are
$217 S151S, divided as follows: Per capita
tax, $1OS, 1888; supplies, $l2 SS1. "a; Ameri-
can Federationist, $25912s7; International
textile assessment. $2056 10; defense fund.
SIS, $500; premium on bonds. $73635 The
expenses are $21S54004. as follows: FROM
general fund, $124, S1S.24; American Fed
erationist, $26,S6S.12; defense fund, $13,-
643. 40; premium on bonds, $591.16 Inter-
national Typographical Union assessment,
So. 619.12
John b. Lennon, treasurer Of the fedora
tion in his annual report says:
Marked changes have taken place IN our
organization. Then We were struggling to
maintain our existence. Now the fedora
.ton Is as strong as the everlasting nils
Then the advice and help of the federation
was sought for by but few of our unions.
Now none of our international unions
makes any great trade movement without
the approval and cooperation OF the Amer
lean Federation of Labor"
President Gompers' Report.
In his report President Gompers said. in
part:
by constant. consistent and persistent
| application and concentration of our efforts
along trades union lines We have steadily
but surely advanced onward and upward.
,I,ct oil INN
ment of the material, moral, political and
social condition of the working people
aye, Of all the people.
81 am quite sure that all will agree that
am safe within the limites of truth in
stating that at no previous convention Of
our great movement have hopes. courage,
expectancy and interest been 80 thoroughly
aroused and conferred as upon this gather
ing-consummating as 1t does the quarter
of century of the existence of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
TOO many of the burdens and the wrongs
of ages the result of prejudice, bigo.r
and greed, are yet borne by the myrads of
workers Despite the progress and achieve
ments, 1t is the mission and the buonden
duty Of the much-abused misunderstood
and misrepresented organized-labor move
ment of our country and our time to tighten
burdens. abolish wrong and attain the
rights too long denied.
Growth of the Organization.
lHefe "cIe diuildtc0 ~ tuC fAHicE iCdh
Federation of Labor by charter September
80, 1906:
International unions. "110
state decorations. ..................... 81
Local trade and federal labor unions. S59
Consisting Of approximately q 800 local unions
Despite the bitter antagonism Of the
worst elements In the capitalist forces and
the relentless war upon our movement
which they have undertaken to wage, as
well as the attempt of those who mask I'M
der pretended friendship for labor, and
their efforts at undermining and uIviding
our organization, our movement steadily
FORCES to the front, Is augmented by large
numbers of the previously unorganized,
and by utilization brings into the fold Of
our brotherhood international, state, city
and local unions.
Reduction of Hours.
Experience has invariably shown that
with the reduction in the hours Of labor
has come material, intellectual and moral
Improvement In the condition of the work.
ers. Despite this self-evident fact, how
ever. our opponents have never halted in
their claim that more leisure from the bur-
dens Of daily toll would prove the incen-
tive to its abuse and the indulgence of in
temperate and immoral habits.
I'm the Inauguration of the strike Of the
International Typographical Union 1t adopt
ed as its watchword, I'VE propose to sell
to the employers eight hours out of twen-
ty-four. and We will do as we please with
the remaining sixteen. That watchword
has been changed as follows: We are
selling to the employer eight hours out of
twenty-four. and we are doing as we please
with the remaining sixteen. This altered
watchwOrd shows at once the change that
has come in the printing trade the practi
cal achievement of the eight-hour day.
The union printers deserve the highest
commentator for the splendid struggle
which they have made ar are making and
for the great achievements they have won.
Whatever may come or go. the Interna-
tional Typographical Union has irrevocably
established the great boon of the eight
hour workday in the prlntin craft
No Wage Reductions.
IF we adhere firmly to he policy, estab-
lish and maintain 1t as fixed principle
in the industrial affairs Of America that
at any and all hazards we viii. resist any
attempt at wage reductions, we shall es-
tablish, not only a new economic principle.
but a new philosophy by which Industrial
panics and crises will be obIiterated, and
we shall set an example for the whole
world to follow.
ut Is not presumed that all of labors
contentious and struggles can result in i'm
mediate victory; yet none can dispute that
every Justified battle undertaken by labor
has been fraught with advantage. and that
particularly every defensive struggle OF a.
boris rights has had a potent influence to
check deterioration in the condition of the
workers.
"At present we are confronted with no
imm siiate danger or threat that the en-
pleyers of labor contemplate reductions in
wages. There is not now even an excuse
for such a course. II therefore all the more
commends itself to our Judgment that dur
ing this year of comparative Industrial
tranquility and more general employment
Of our people we write on our banners, be-
side the watchwords and slogans which
he toll oIn ffo Nf
progress to victory, that which for ages
has been the missing word in our social