The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-11-12
'TWENTY-sEVENTH ANNUAL CON.
vENTioN or AMERICAN
FEDERATION.
WORK FOR PEACE:
Victor |. Berger, the Milwaukee So
ciaist, Says That He Will Continue
Fight Against President Gompers
and Protest Against His Reelection
Governor Gives Address.

< ~ = \ z Y : II
Governor Gives Address.
Norfolk, Va, Nov 1.-THE first
session Of the American Federation of
Labor, which began its twenty-sey-
enth annual convention at the James
town exposition today, was devoted to
speechmaking and the reading Of re
ports. When adjournment came to-
night, President Gompers. Secretary
Morrison and Treasurer Lennon had
submitted their reports and a partial
report Of the credentials committee
had been heard.
In response to the addresses of vel
come Governor Swanson and Exposi-
tion President Tucker, Mr.. Gompers
paid tribute to Virginia and to the
exposition, pointing to the fact that
this is the first exposition Of this
kind built entirely by organized labor.
He confined his remarks carefully to
general matters, but towards the end
came down to labor problems, and
said:
II know Of no organization that
makes so little pretense of patriotism,
but in which true patriotism prevails
SO much as in organized labor. We
want peace; we love peace and are
working for peace and in the proper
tion that our working people are bet
ter organized we will secure peace.
There is a man chosen to boss the job
of taking the Atlantic fleet to the Pa
cific ocean of whom I wish to speak.
This is Fighting Bob Evans, who said
in connection with the fleet:
Quotes Admiral Evans.
3"' i don't know what may be the re
suit Of this cruise. | have only one
mission, and that is to see that the
fleet goes to the Pacific coast, and it
may be for fun, frolic or fight we
will be there
1T is to that / want to refer and
make the application to the labor
If it is to be peace, If it
is to be fun or if it is to be a fight,
we will all be there.
"T don't think there is any man who
loves peace more than do. believe
that Industrial peace is essential to
our progress, almost as essential as
air and lungs to breathe, but the time
is past when the possessors Of wealth,
the employers of labor will consider
themselves masters and look down
upon the laboring man who stoops
with bent shoulders and accepts the
orders Of the master.
Labor today stands erect, looking
the whole world in the face, insisting
upon equal treatment, equal opportun-
ity and resenting any attempt at In
juctice or wrong"
Five Hundred Delegates.
Fully 500 members and delegates
the opening session. Many
men prominent in organized labor had
seats on the stage, as did Governor
Claude A. Swanson Of Virginia. H. st.
George Tucker and other officials of
the exposition company.
The report Of the credentials com
mittee was the first business matter
to come up. At the afternoon session
Mr.. Gompers read his annual report.
Secretary Frank Morrison read his
annual report and also that Of Treas
urer j. B. Lennon.
The committee on credentials held
a session tonight in Norfolk and took
up various subjects.
Fighting Gompers.
All sessions will be open to the
public. Victor L. Berger, the Mil
Waukee editor and socialist leader,
announced this morning that he was
continuing his fight against President
Gompers and would file protest
against his reelection, but that the
of President Gompers
could not be looked for at this time.
Mr.. Berger said he would tomorrow
a resolution demanding fed
eral legislation preventing Transports
ton in interstate commerce of all
"child labor" manufactured products
Arthur A. Hay, special representa-
tive Of the International Typographi-
cal union at Los Angeles, Is here TO
ask the federation TO assume control
and finance the fight on behalf OF Ia
bor now being waged by the Citizens
of Los Angeles against trades
unions. Among the delegates to the
are representatives from
Canada, Mexico and Cuba.