Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-13
UNIVERSAL
EIGH7--HOUR
DAY ASKED
FEDERATION OF LABOR WOULD
AID T0ILERs
PLAN DEFENSE AGAINST WAR OF
MANUFACTURERS
Annual Convention Discusses Ways
and Means for Raising Fund to
Combat with Powerful
Enemy
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
NORFOLK. Va, Nov. 12.-The Ameri.
can Federation of Labor in annual con-
vention here today took aggressive steps
toward the establishment of universal
eight hour working day In America. The
federation also began action looking to
ways and means for the raising of a
sufficient fund to resist the attack that
has been begun by the manufacturers
association against the efforts of the
American federation for the amelioratior
of conditions of the working class.
The federation authorized President
Gompers to appoint a special committee
for the consideration of both these ques.
tions, the committee to report during the
present session. u
President Gompers also was authorized
upon resolution of the executive council
and unanimous vote of the federation, to
appoint a third special committee to pro-
vide ways and means for the increased
circulation of the American jFederationist
the official organ.
- resolution was presented by Mr..
O'Connell of Washington calling for a
report by committee of a bill to be pre-
sented to the next congress giving the
same relief at law to employees in United
States navy yards who may be disabled
by accidents or to the heirs of navy yard
employees who may be killed while in the
pursuit of their occupation as that en-
joyed by persons employed by private
corporations.
Another resolution was presented by
Mr.. O'Connel asking congress to legalize
the half holiday on Saturday during the
months of July, August and September
which employees of all government navy
yards, individual stations, governmental
factories and arsenals have enjoyed by
proclamation of the president during the
past two years.
The important features of the annual
report of the executive council were on
the revocation of the brewery workers
charter, because of their alleged refusal
to relinquish Jurisdiction over the brew
cry engineers, firemen and teamsters
and the report of tie court proceedir gs
which have been brought at Washington
through the Manufacturers association
restraining the members of the executive
council from placing the goods of a cer-
tain stove concern on the we dom t
patronize" list.
This, the report declares, was an effort
by the ''arch-enemies of labor after fail
ure to disrupt all labor unions to dis
credit the discretion, the honesty and in
tegrity of the American Federation of
Labor and it's officials, and to deprive
them of the freedom of speech and of the
press, and of their personal liberty"
The report declared that the federation
is without sufficient funds to meet the
war that the Manufacturers association
will be able to put forth and asked for
action by this convention for raising the
same. The federation, at present, has
only a per capita fund of six cents a
year for meeting all expenses and emer-
gencies.
On behalf of the electrical workers at
ter tion was called to the alleged dis
elimination and unfair treatment" by
the American Telephone and Telegraph
company.
Denver, Toronto and Cleveland are in
the field for the 1908 convention, with
Seattle bidding for 1909.