The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-12-07
'DEL[GAT[S HOME ].
I. From NORFOLK.
Local Men Tell What Convention
Accomplished. -.

Local Men Tell What Convention
Accomplished.
Reports Received BY International
Federation of Labor Show That
$4,000 Members We're Received
During the Year - Lines Are
Strengthened For Fight For Eight
Hour Day. # T. .
| A. e. Kellington, who attended the
convention of the American Federation
of Labor which closed its deliberations
at Norfolk, Va, last Saturday, has re-
| turned. He represented the Interna-
| tional Union Of Flour and Cereal Mill
Employees. Mr.. Wellington reports the
convention as the most IMPORTANT In
the federation's history. Membership
has reached hign-water mark, an in
crease of $4,000 members being re-
corded. He was a member Of the
| auditing and credentials committees,
A universal .eight-hour day was de-
| clared to be paramount to all other
questions, even to an increase in pay,
except in occupations where earnings
are so small that it is difficult to main
| tain a fair standard OF living. A. cam
paign of education and organization Is
called for that will aid in securing the
| shorter workday. The federation,
realizing that it is impossible to secure
a universal eight-hour day by any sud-
| den or radical concerted step, has is
sued call for the accumulation by all
| tradesmen of sufficient amount Of
money to equip them fully for the
fight, when opportunity will favor the
most immediate success with the least
degree Of suffering and privation."
| Considerable time was consumed In
discussion Of the several trade con-
troversies which have been before the
federation for years. Now, however,
there is brighter prospect for a COM
plete settlement than ever before. In
the matter Of the dispute between the
various trades engaged in the work of
the breweries, which has been waged
with more or less bitterness for years,
a resolution was passed providing that
! "the charter of the International Union
Of Brewery Workers be restored;" that
the previous action Of the federation in
regard to the matter reaffirmed; that
within 80 days after the close of the
| convention a conference shall be held
at the headquarters of the American
Federation Of Labor, the conference to
consist Of three representatives Of the
International Brewery Workers, one
from the International Engineers, one
from the Brotherhood Of Firemen, one
from the Brotherhood of Teamsters,
and one member Of the executive coun-
Gil. the conference to endeavor to eff
] oa,,f S,,vi tod
ton, harmony and cooperation Of &C.
ton Of the organizations in interest
and for the protection and promotion
Of the interests of the workers emu
ployed in and by breweries" In the
event of an agreement, the terms Of
the same shall be submitted to the
international unions involved for rati-
|f1cation, under the supervision Of the
Executive council; but IF the confer
ence shall fail to reach an agreement,
the executive council is hereby author
ICED and directed to impose such dis
lciplinary punishment upon the organi-
lzation responsible for such failure as
the Judgment of the executive council
may direct"
In the matter of the jurisdictional
dispute between the Brotherhood Of
lCarpenters and the Amalgamated
Woodworkers, the convention instruct
led the presidents and secretaries Of the
contending organizations, together
with the president of the A. F. of L.,
Jointly to recommend amalgamation in
i accordance with the action of the Min
neapolis convention of last year. This,
it is thought, will have the desired
effect.
| Time Not Ripe.
+ The proposition of the Wisconsin
delegates for a universal union label
received considerable support, but tho
convention decided that the time is not
ripe for such label, declaring "the
present system Of craft labels best
calculated to serve the purposes for
which the union label is designed"
Trade union members are asked to de-
mand the union label on all products
purchased, and especially to demand
he blue label upon their tobacco A
resolution was passed calling for a
committee Of five to meet in Washing
ton soon to work out union label
digest
Among other important actions
taken was the following: Sustaining
the executive council in the revoca ton
of the charter of the Columbus, Ohio,
Central Labor union; calling for all
international unions to have their
locals affiliate with central bodies;
calling for a minimum wage of 50 a
week for all female retail clerks; re-
ferring to the executive council the
suppression of the two contending Gen.
trail bodies in Spokane, Wash, and is
suing a new charter tor the analga-
nation of the two; calling for the uni
versal organization Of Union Label
leagues such as those in Minneapolis,
Denver and other cities; calling upon
| the women of the country to demand
the union label, and referring to the
axec11tfve council the question of nav.