The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-01-07

of the convention were open to the pub
lie and the representatives of the press
were given the choicest seats. 1t was
pointed out that when the National AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers meets in an
nual convention, they meet behind
closed doors, and if, perchance, a re.
lporter is discovered in the hall, the
business is suspended until the reporter
has been thrown out. The American
labor movement is not star chamber
institution.
President Gompers' annual report
consumed three hours in the reading
and covered every phase of trade union
activity. That he read to the end with
out any sign of fatigue was proof of
the mans physical vitality. l can only
give you few of the questions COW
cred in his report but would earnestly
recommend that our members secure
land read the entire document. He re-
viwed the entire history of the cele-
brated Buck Stove and Range case. As
this case cast its shadow over the entire
proceedings of the convention, will re-
fer to it later on.
efforts have been made and will
continue to be made by the executive
council to extend the workings of the
leight hour day to every department of
1.-THE government service.
"On May 30th, 1908, bill to provide
compensation for accidents occurring to
employes of the United States govern
ment was obtained wholly and solely
through the activities OF the federation
officials. It was admitted that this
bill was not all that was required but
lit was an important step in the right
direction.
"a vigorous fight and so far success
full has been made against the passage
of the vicious shipsubsidy bill with its
obnoxious provisions detrimental to the
Interests of American seamen.
"Interests in congress hostile to or
ganized labor conspired to have the
printing of the census reports done out
side of the government printing office,
said office being under the working of
the eight hour day. The legislative COM
mIttee of the federation co-operated
with the officers of the Typographical
Union of Washington, D. c., and sue
ceeded in having the reports printed
and bound in the government printing
loffice and were also successful in hav-
ling feature included in the census
| bill providing for an enumeration of
the unemployed, and the causes and
lperiods of unemployment.
"The most precious heritage of a
nation is its children" and child labor
received special consideration in the re-
port. Fortytwo states and the DIS
trict of Columbia now have laws in
some form or other to control and pro-
tect children in reference to terms of
employment.
The right to withhold or bestow pat
lronage, or, in other words, the right
of boycott, it was declared must be held
sacred
This excerpt from the report, cover
ing political action, I believe, worthy
of our attention:
owe must be- partisan for principle
and not for party, but we must make
manifest the fact that we have political
|power and that we intend to use it;
otherwise the ballot will become an i'm
potent weapon. Our members and friends
cannot expect that the officers of the
federation can impress either upon po-
litical parties or upon congress the de-
mands of the workers for justice and
right unless those workers themselves
have shown sufficient interest in the
use of their political power as to make
it clear that they are the potent force
behind their chosen officers and repre-
sentatives. The potency of the ballot
Ibegins in the primary, independent of
la party, and there the workers must
begin to assert their adherence to la
boris principles and demands. There the
workers make of themselves an educa-
tional force. They must endeavor to
draw with them those unorganized,
perhaps, or who have not yet become
familiar with the legislation that is
needed. Let us restate that there can
be no coercion of any man along party
lines. Labor must learn to use parties
to advance our principles, and not al
low political parties to manipulate us
for their own advancement. The dis
tinction is easily understood and readily
carried into effect. If each worker as
an individual uses the ballot for the
advancement of the principles for which
labor stands and has declared there will
be no question in future as to the power
of labor to achieve its just demands;
political apathy and partisan adherence
win weaken; political activity and par
tisanship for labor's principles will
bring strength and success. The activ-
lity, the loyalty of the workers in ev-
cry part of the country is what we
need in order that our political power
o~1 Viz