The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-12

80
spersed Will, selections by the phinncs
Band.
Tic closing address Of the occasion
was By President Samuel Gompers. ~
tle American Federation, who was
orator of the day. He was given
MAGNIFICENT ovation. His nddress was
iIinstcrly and time after time brought
forth the enthusiasm nf hts bearers.
During the exercises President Com
pers announced tint all sessions OF the
convention, so far as lie could SOC
would be open to the public. notwith-
sttndng tho report that much OF thu
business would be done in executive
session. He furthm announced that the
business sessions would begin to-mor-
row morning In Norfolk. II Is .X-
pccted that the convention viii be in
session ten days or two weeks.
Eoiupcrs Annual Report.
At tlie afternoon session President
Gonlpers consumed three hours reading
MS annual report. after which Secre-
tary Morrison read the reports OF tho
E1oretury and treasurer. The Commit
,scs on Credentials held q session to-
A.ght In Norfolk and took up several
contests.
In the course OF his volnminous re.
port President Gompers says on the
subject of child labor.
The humane work inaugurated and
conducted by the labor movement to
eliminate child labor in the Industrial
and commercial affairs OF our country
has borne good fruit, and Is destined 10
bring still better results In the early
history of labors efforts to obtain TINS
end we were met by the hitterest ana
most relentless antagonism. our mo-
tives were aspersed and our efforts rid
iculed, Just as are now the demands
which organized labor makes upon so.
ciety in its claims for the present and
for the immediate future.
To-day there is not an institution III
our country--politicai commercial.
financial or religious, but which Is COM
child labor Better than all, it IS now
the universal judgment OF all orr people
that the facts as to the existence of
child labor shall be investigated and
acted as shall take the children from
ths factory. the workshop, the mill.
the mine and the Store or anywhere
they are employed for profit and give
TO them the opportunities and aGvan-
tages OF the home. the school and the
that they may imbibe the
and the light. TO grow into
the physical and mental manhood and
vomanhood of the future.
rclcgrnphcrs' strike.
Speaking OF the telegraphers' strike, |
Mr.. Compers says in part:
II was clearly the conviction of those !
who lad experience that the time for a
general strike among the. commercial
no matter how praise
worthy the cause. was inopportune, par
'icularly so when such pledges of fur
Their concessions had been made. 1t /
was at this period that 1 advised the
officers confidentially, and as strongly |
as / could. as to Tho impracticability /
,f "A. General strike a Ibut time ~
irgcd them to accept the offers made
md 10 work for the extension and I
strengthening of their organization.
Sith a view to constant betterment FOR
heir livelihood upon the operation of
he keys OF course, l had neither the /
light nor the desire unwarrantedly to
interfere with the management Of the
seemed to me- duty demanded that
should place my experience before the
,ftlcers. that they might reap whatever
'eneiit might result therefrom, so as /
membership. that the ontinuity of the
organization might not only be assured,
out also that it might prove of LASTING
oeneilt to the craft.
Hours OF Labor.
OF the law reducing hours of labor
of railway employees, he says:
The organizations OF railroad em-
ploycs. aided by our Legislative com
Inittce and other representatives of
our federation, urged upon Congress- |
the necessity for the passage of a Law /
of an effective and remedial character |
This bill was fought insidously and
by corporate power and
gress.
The bill in question was fathered by
Senator La Toilette. of Wisconsin, who
gave i; his almost undivided attention
ma 20 Srn
Though the law is by no means sat
tcfnctory or what labor and all the
people have right TO expect. never
theless its enactment makes for pro-
cress and Will render effective amend
n1ent less difficult IN the future. The
bin goes into effect March 4th of the
coming year.
Injanctions anu Taft.
), On the subject of injunctlons. Mr..
iompers says IN part:
IT has been The favorite utterance
IF abor's fiercest and most unfair OPP
ponents TO charge us with an effort |
% create "a favored class of wrong
ioers among the worlSingmen Parry,
cost and Van Cleave have SO declared :;
.ittleheld, Cannon and Others repeated
I in their campaign of last year and I
since. the latest assertion of thisI
character having been made from SO
high source as the Secretary of War.
Mr. Taft. in a speech and in an inter-
view immediately before his depart
ure upon his: recent trip to the Orient.
The uiteranSe of .Air. Taft was en-
tirely unDfov6ked. unnecessary anal
wholly gratuitoGs. and withal mn |
founded. From other sources. sor,iid
sources. We may expect malicious mis-
representations. but from high officials
Of our government never. 1
Mr.. Taft could not help but know |
hat iabor's bin TO regulate inmnc- |
lions was not designed To create a /
privileged class of wrouGdoers among