The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-12-05
Solidarity of Movement Now
Greater Than at any Time
IT, in the History.
GRAND SUCCESS SHOWN
BY OFFICERS REPORTS
Close Of Fiscal Year Finds Cause
At High Water Mark of
Prosperity.

The reports of President Gompers,
Secretary Morrison, Treasurer Lennon
and other officials of the American
Federation of Labor ito the convention
In Denver were the best reports that
nave ever been presented to a similar
convention since the organization Of
that body. The men Of organized la
Dor throughout the United States are
Tejotc1ng to think that there has been
such little impression made upon the
labor organizations by the recent pan
ic, to say nothing Of the strenuous
endeavors on the part Of labor's enem-
les to disrupt her ranks.
President Gompers.
The following excerpts from Presi-
dent Gompers' report are very encour--
aging to all loyal unionists. He said:
I'm the midst of such adverse cir
cumstances, that our trade unions
have maintained their existence, speak
well Of them and of the sound econ
omic and fundamental principles upon
which they are based. That they have
not succumbed to the fearful antag-
onism arrayed against them, to the
lack of employment and to other in
sidious influence, is the best evidence
that the movement of labor has found
the citadel Of it's protection Its mob
lest inspiration, in the hearts and
minds Of the workers."
1.-The American labor movement is
founded upon the inherent principles
Of justice and right. It's men are
as loyal to the institutions Of
our republic as can be found in any
walk Of life. The unions Of labor and
our federation have done so much for
the material, moral, and social uplift'
Of the toilers that they will be indel-
IDLY impressed upon the hearts and
minds not only of the workers them
selves, but of every earnest, intelli-
gent, liberty, loving, fair-minded citi-
zen of our country.
1.-The aim of our unions is to improve
the standard of life; to foster educa-
ton and instin character, manhood and
an independent spirit among our peo-
pie; to bring about a recognition Of
the interdependence of man upon his
fellow-man. We aim to establish
normal workday, to take the children
from the factory and workshop; to
give them the opportunity of the
school, the home and the playground.
In a word. our unions strive to light
en- toll, educate the workers, make
their homes more cheerful, and in
every way contribute an earnest effort
to make life the better worth living.
To achieve these praiseworthy ends,
we believe that all honorable and law
full means are both justifiable and COM
mendable, and will receive the SYM
pathetic support of every liberty-lov-
ing, right-thinking American.
Looking over the vast field of the
activities of OUT labor movement, the
great good it has accomplished for our
fellow-workers particularly, and for
our people generally, the conviction
has become ingrained in my very being
that there is no force SO potent in
all society making for the material,
moral, and social uplift as the much
abused, and as yet little understood,
labor movement.
Secretary Morrison.
1T is with much pleasure that I
$138,627.89 in the treasury, the high
water mark in the history of the
American Federation Of Labor
with the termination Of this year
I have served as secretary Of the
American Federation Of Labor for
twelve years. During that time have
had the qualification of watching the
American Federation Of Labor add l.
$4,000 members to it's grand total. To
be an officer of an organization dur
ing the period Of such great success
Is in itself something to be ever re-
membered with the keenest of appre-
ciation.'
Treasurer Lennon.
For a period of eighteen years I
have been each year reporting to the
conventions Of the A. f. Of L. as it's
treasurer. During that considerable
period Of time the trade union move
ment has encountered many obstacles,
and In large measure overcame them.
The calamity howlers have always
been In our midst, pointing out the
near dissolution Of the trade union
movement.
But in spite of all opposition, both
from within and from without and
despite all discouragements offered,
the trade union movement has steadily
made progress Improved conditions
advanced.
THE intelligence Of the workers has
made wonderful progress, and the
solidarity of our movement is greater
now than at any time in the past his
7 tory Of organized labor on this con-
: tinent. With this knowledge before
: us. there should be no gloom or dis
! ,couragement as to the future. OBJ
stacles will be met. but the trade
union will meet them successfully. The
spessimists, suppose, will always re-
main with us; but their lamentations
will not be sufficiently potent to re-
tard the progress Of organized labor
To the officers Of the federation, the
officers of the national and interna-
tional unions, and to the thousands OF
!. members. Of the local unions whom ]