United labor bulletin., 1910-07-28
WESTERN FEDERATION
IN ANNUAL CONVENTION
CONTINUED from Page l.

those who sought its destruction has
been almost continuous. We have en-
countered many defeats, not because of
lack of solidarity of those directly in
vOlved, not because our cause was un-
just, but because of the unorganized and
uneducated condition of the workers
Both organized and unorganized, labor
has failed to recognize their class inter
ests- The employer has depended on the
unorganized workers to assist in defeat
ing our efforts to better conditions and
have had little to fear from the organ
lied forces owing to the fact that there
has been little unity of action, the great
majority standing aloof. watching the
unequal conflict, failing or refusing to
recognize in it the class struggle and
that the small faction of their army was
helpless in the hands of our opponents,
REINFORCED as they invariably have been
by having placed at their disposal the
forces of government But no strike of
the Western Federation of Miners has
ever been lost, no protest of the working
class has been in vain. We may not see
the results today. they may not be di-
rect, but out of each conflict comes the
aroused workers, conscious of the sys-
TEN of legalized robbery and determined
that it shall be abolished for one that
Will insure equal rights to all"
The action Of the convention that
arouses most interest among other labor
organizations relates to the attitude of
William Randolph Hearst, part owner of
the Homestake mines. and also to the
outcome Of the application of the W. F.
OF Ms application for membership in
the American Federation of Labor.
which application is hung up for the
present, owing. it is understood, to the
opposition put up by President Jas.
O'Connell of the Machinists, who is
member of the executive council of the
A F. of l.. and who claims that the af-
filiation of the W. F. of NJ, granting
them their present jurisdiction, would
rob the Machinists of some members in
the metalliferous mining districts As
we go to press the convention has taken
no action in this matter, and if none is
taken. then the executive board of the
proceed with the affiliation plan as
adopted by the referendum.
In the Hearst matter. Board Member
Jos. Hutchinson, on the fifth day of the
session, instroduced a lengthy resolution
denouncing William Randolph Hearst.
owner and publisher of number of
widely read newspapers in various parts
of the country, as an enemy to organized
labor, inasmuch as he has countenanced
the lockout in the Black Hills, where
men are forced to sign a pledge not to
belong to any labor organization. Dele
gate Hutchinson in his resolution calls
on all labor men and upon all national
and International labor organizations to
denounce Hearst as an enemy to labor
unionism Notwithstanding the fact that
he constantly poses as a great friend of
labor unions. The resolutions was on
motion postponed until legal counsel had
been secured on the resolution. A legal
opinion was obtained by President
Meyer to the effect that there was no
record of any court having held 1t to be
unlawful to call man an enemy. There
upon the resolution was adopted, and
the executive board instructed to carry
out its provisions.
On Tuesday of this week almost the
entire days session was executive. and
other time of the convention has been
taken up with what may rightly be
called necessary routine matter.
A special committee appointed for
that purpose presented resolutions de-
ploring the death OF Freeman Knowles.
of the Black Hills, former member of
congress. a Populist. and always a
strong advocate of the cause of the man
who tolls.
The proposition to decrease the men,
bership of the executive board from
eleven to seven members was adopted
by the convention. and will now go to a
vote of the general member
ship for approval or rejection.
The Bulletin is pleased to note that
MRS. Emma Langdon. a member OF Den
YER typographical Union No. 10, who
for the past two years has been visiting
many OF the mining districts in the In
terest OF the Miners Magazine. has been
elected assistant secretary of the con-
vention. She is most efficient official