The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-11-17
FLIES FROM SHIP ASSAILS Mr.. TAFT.
GOmperS Raps President at
Federation Convention.
JfERS GREET CANNON'S NAME
Labor Leader Denounces Mr.. Taft
For Opposing Labor Legislation
at the Last Session Of
Congress.

ST. Louis. Mo-. Nov. l5.-Bitterly de-
nouncing the attitude OF President
Taft toward labor In regard TO anti
Injunction legislation and enforcement
of the Sherman antitrust law, Samuel
Gompers made his annual report as
president OF the American Federation
Of Labor.
Politics, the failure OF congress to
pass many important acts demanded
by labor, the progress that was made
on minor legislation and denunciation
OF judge-made law took up most OF
Mr.. Gompers time. His report was
the feature OF the thirtieth annual
convention Of the Federation, which
will convene In session for two weeks
The opening session was devoted to
welcoming the delegates and honorary
guests, some of them from England
The afternoon session was devoted to
reports OF Mr. Gompers; the secretary
Frank Morrison. and the treasurer
John B. Lennon
The anti-injunctlon bill introduced In
congress by Representative Reuben o
Moon, OF Philadelphia was the point
on which Mr.. Gompers made his first
attack on President Taft and equally
as bitterly an attack on the Philadel
phla congressman. This bill, the labor
leader asserted, was without one bil
Of relief for labor and simply put into
law the use OF the Injunction against
which labor complained so bitterly
This bill, he asserted. had President
Taft's full support while that OF Rep
resentative William b. Wilson, OF
Pennsylvania, carrying the real remedy
demanded by labor. was opposed BY
Mr.. Taft.
Mr.. Gompers also denounced the ac
ton OF the president, as he said, IN
forcing the lower house Of congress tC
recede from its amendment to the sun
dry civil appropriations bill that would
have prevented the use OF the Sher
man antitrust law against labor un
ions. He asserted that Mr.. Taft showed
the greatest qualification at the defea
OF this rider" and declared that thu
president used coercion to accomplish
its defeat.
"The labor movement is greater thar
any party PLATFORM said Mr.. Gomperi
in responding to the addresses OF vel
come. because it Is governed by
principle as true as nature itself, ant
because 1t expresses the discomfort o
the masses"
Jeers Greet cannon's Name.
The session was turned into an In
sureent political rally by owen Miller
president OF the Missouri Federation
of Labor. Jeers greeted the name o
Joseph G.. Cannon, and loud applause
the name Of Champ Clark.
Victor Berger. Of Milwaukee, th'
first Socialist to be elected to con
gress, received many congratulation
from his fellow delegates.
Seventy-fve women were In the con
yention as delegates. One OF them Il
Miss Zula Taylor, twenty years old
who will cast the entire vote OF tn
state OF Kansas, having been electe'
the representative OF the Kansas Fed
Grafton Of Labor. She is secretary ant
treasurer OF the Kansas Carmen
Workers union.
Mr.. Gompers told OF laying com
plants against the United States Stee
corporation before President Taft an
then reverted to the strike Of the un
organized workmen of the Bethlehem
Steel company. He added:
Consequently the United State
senate allowed a resolution to pass, IN
troduced at the instance OF the Amer
can Federation of Labor, which al
thorized the federal bureau Of labor {
investigate conditions in the stee
works at South Bethlehem.
1T is recommended that during tn
approaching sessions Of the legisli
lures in Pennsylvania, West Virgini'
Ohio. Indiana, Illinois. Wisconsin, All
bama and elsewhere that the state al
thorities be urged to institute tho
ough Investigations and proceeding
against the corporation UNITED State
SteeD in so far as II is operating Ill
! gally and improperly within the stat
or states. and il is further urged tbs
the investigation be extended to IN
industrial and economic conditions pr
vailIng among the workers In the Il
dustry."
The annual report Of Secretary Mo
rison says that there were l,56l'ls
members at the close of the isc'
year, Sept. 30, 1910. gain OF 5000
over last year. but 100000 smaller tina
their biggest year. 1904. The FEEDER
ton has a reserve fund OF $1S3,OO
There were S27 strikes in the la
wear. OF which 470 we're won. 2bs al
pending, "a we're compromised an
only 62 were lost