The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-12
President Bf American Ftdtra- tion of Labor Makes Ef-
 fectiVe Address
SPIRIT OF BOB EVANS
 INSPIRES MR. GOMPERS
Labor Leader Declares That, Be Is Fun, FroIic or Fight, His Follow CTS Will All Be There-other
 Prominent Men Heard.

Norfolk, Va, November 1.-The first
 session of the American Federation of
 Labor, which began it's twenty-seventh
 annual convention at the Jamestown
 exposition today. were devoted entire
 ly to speechmaking and the reading
 of reports. When adjournment came
 tonight President Gompers. Secretary
 Morrison and Treasurer Lennon, had
 submitted their reports and the par
 tal report of the credentials commit
 tee had been heard.
 In response to the address of vel
 come by Governor Hanson and EXposi
 ton President Tucker Mr. Gompers
 paid tribute to Virginia and to the
 exposition, holding up the fact that it is
 the first exposition of tho kind built
 entirely by organized labor. He con
 fined his remarks chiefly to general
 matters. but toward the end came down
 to labor principles and said;
 q know of no organization that
 makes SD little pretense of patriotism
 but in which true patriotism prevails
 to such large extent as in organized
 labor. We want peace; VIC love peace,
 and are working for peace; and in the
 proportion that our working people are better organized we will secure peace. But fe ire not supine. we are not driving sycophants; we know our rights, or we think we do, and that is just as good, and we are going to stand for them.
 Bob Evans Mentioned. la fta,
 or naval affairs or the policies of our government-not just now anyway
 but we all know that the federal gov ernment authorities have decided that the navy of the United States is going
 to be transferred from the Atlantic
 to the Pacific and that action or pro- posed action has created considerable comment, most of 1t favorable. some adverse Even that l do not want to discuss. but there is man chosen to boss the job of taking the entire fleet from one ocean to the other of wh om I wish to speak. That is Fighting Bob Evans. and he is the man who spoke
 thus in refrence 10 the transferenee
 of the fleet:
 "'I don't know what may be the re- suit of this cruise; l have only one | mission, and that is to see that the fleet goes to the Pacific coast. and whether it is to be for fun or frolic | or fight, we all will be there. 'Jt is to that l want to refer and | make the application to the labor | movement. If it IS to be peace, if it l is to be fun or if 1t is to be fight, we will all be there.
 | q don't think there is any man who ! loves peace more than l do. be- | lieve that industrial peace Is essential | to our progress, almost as essential as air is to lung breathing animals, but the | time is past when the possessors ot | wealth. the employers of labor who consider themselves masters can lov@ ! down on the laboring man who stoops | with bent shoulders and accepts the 1 order of the master
 | "J,abor today stands erect, lowering | the whole world in the fall if in the
 treatment by the opposition any at- tempt at injustice or willing wrong be ] done"
 Large Number Present. Fully 300 members and delegates at- tended the opening exercises, many Of the most prominent men in organized labor being on the stage IS were Gov ernor swanson of Virginia, Hon. St. George Tucker. director general and other officials of the exposition camp. II. $. Scott. calrman of the Central Labor Council of Norfolk. and Jamos O'Conneli, president of the Virginia Federation of Labor, made tellins | speeches.
 Governor Swanson was the recipient | of an ovation and his speech was ire | uuently interrupted by hearty applause During the latter part of the day an | aodress was delivered by Samuel Com
 pers MT. Gompers was rendered tre- i mendous ovation.
 The official report of the treasurer i was read by Secretary Morrison, fol- | lowed by Secretary Morrison's report. | The committee on credentials held
 session tonight in Norfolk ana LOOK up seven contests.