Gilpin observer., 1908-11-26
REELECTED BY AMERICAN FED.
GRAFTON OF LABOR AT DEN-
YER CONVENTION.
SUCCESSFUL MEETING
sETTLEs LABOR CONTROVERSIES,
FAvoRS POLITICAL ACTION
AND URGES PUBLIC I'M
PRovEMENTS.

| Denver.-The election of the Ameyi-
can Federation of Labor Saturday re-
suited as follows:
President-Samuel Gompers of New
York.
Vice President-James Duncan Of
Massachusetts,.
Second Vice President-John Mitch
ell OF Illinois.
Third Vice President-James O'Con-
nell of Washington.
Fourth Vice President-Max Morris
Of Colorado.
Fifth Vice President-Dennis A.
Hayes Of Pennsylvania.
Sixth Vice President-W. A. Huber
Of Indiana.
Seventh Vice President-James F.
Valentine of Ohio.
Eighth Vice President-John Alpine
OF Chicago.
Treasurer-John B. Lennon of ILL
nois.
Secretary-Frank Morrison of Illi-
nois.
Next convention at Toronto, Canada.
John Fry and B. A. Larger were
elected fraternal delegates to the Brit
fish Trades congress and Jerome Jones
delegates to the Canadian Trades con-
gress.
For the first time in many years the
American Federation of Labor is freed
from serious internal strife and organ
ized labor is in position to devote all
OF its energies 10 taking care of it's
interests.
This situation was achieved as re-
suit of the Denver convention OF the
organization that came to an end Sat.
urday night at 1880. "Auld Lang
Syne" was still echoing against the
vaulted ceiling of the auditorium when
the gavel of President Gompers fell.
announcing that the convention was
adjourned to meet in Toronto, Canada,
next year.
Nearly all the many trade disputes
brought before the convention were
settled or placed in the way Of settle
ment in a manner that works for har.
mony.
The federation, in addition to getting
rid Of the internal disputes, went on
record as being in politics to stay. 1t
pledged fealty to no party or no or
ganization. but declared that it would
as body support the measures 1t
wanted through whichever party might
grant its demands. To make its posi-
tion on this point emphatic it deposed
as a member Of the executive council
Daniel ]. Keefe, president of the Long
shoremens union, and told the newly
elected officers OF the council that they
must abide by the decision of the ma
Jority of the recognized officials OF the
labor unions Of the country or get out
Of office.
In approving the final report Of the
resolutions committee the convention
instructed the various international un.
ions state and city central bodies to use
their influence with the state, national
and municipal governments to under
take as much public Improvement work
as possible to give relief to the mil
lions Of unemployed men. In that con-
nection John H. Walker OF the Miners
unions urged the construction OF
deep waterway between the great lakes
and the Gulf of Mexico as a means Of
employing thousands Of workers and of
peHciitius tue
cial interests Of the country.
The strike of the shopmen against
the d. & r. G.. r. r. was in
dorsed and the executive council in
structed to issue an appeal for funds
to aid the strikers
Another resolution attacked the en-
ployment Of illiterates and non-English
speaking sailors as dangerous to life
and property.
The blue cross button adopted by the
Denver Union Label League was IN
dorsed and referred to the label con-
ference for adoption for general use.
The convention went on record as
determined TO fight to finish the legal
proceedings instituted as result OF
the strikes and boycotts against the
Buck Stove and Range Company of st.
Louis and the Lowie Hat Company Of
Danbury. Conn. that threatens to
send Gompers, Mitchell and Morrison
to Jail for contempt Of court.
Tho last act OF the convention was
. demonstration in favor OF John
Mitchell. who was attacked bv A. B.
Grout. . Socialist delegate from st.
Louis, in an alteration growing out OF
the boycott against the Buck Stove and
Range Company.
The vote to adjourn was a rousing
"hurrah" instead Of the usual aye.
Presldent's Thanksgiving Turkey.