East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-11-14

st. Louis. Nov. 14.-All the hosts
of organized labor throughout the
United States are represented by
delegates in the annual session opened
today by the American Federation Of
Labor. President Samuel Gompers,
who is presiding, will doubtless be re-
elected without serious opposition.
Matters affecting labor to be
brought to the attention of congress
at its next session, the Post suit
against the federation, labor troubles
throughout the country, and affilia-
tion with the Canadian labor unions
are among the important matters up
for consideration.
Resolutions will probably be adopt
ed expressing regret for the loss of
life and property in the disaster which
destroyed the building Of the Los An
geles Times. but bitterly condemning
the proprietor and officials Of the
Times for placing the blame at the
door OF organized labor.
All of the state and many Of the
local trades organizations Of the
country have sent delegates TO the
convention. and several foreign ma
tions are represented by fraternal del
egates The present session Is the
thirtieth annual convention OF the
federation.
Berger, recently elected to con-
gress from Wisconsin on the social
lists ticket, is among the delegates.
It Is said he will oppose Gompers'
reelection.
Gompers and Berger conferred to-
day but did not discuss the question
OF extending the activities OF the fed
Grafton. 1t is intimated that II the
federation endorses socialism. Berger
will seek election as president of the
organization.
The attendance is the largest in the
history of the federation. It Is ex-
pected It will take two weeks to COM
plete the business. The reports show
the federation has increased in men,
bership by four hundred thousand
during the year.
Gompcrs' Report.
Samuel Gompers, during the course
OF the day, made his annual report
which was very long and covering
every phase of the labor movement.
In the introduction he said:
''Thirty years ago, upon the urgent
appeal of a number of earnest and
far-seeing trade unionists, a conven-
ton was held in Plttsburg. Pa. There
and then the foundation for our fed
Grafton of trades and labor unions
was laid Upon that foundation
structure has been reared perhaps be-
yond the vision of its builders Soon
after the establishment of our feder-
alton, and after its purposes came to
be understood, the toilers began to
realize not only that it was eminent
Iy practicable but also that 1t had
within it's possibilities the elements to
inspire hope and courage for the
achievement Of labor's highest aspira-
tions. By the years of devoted work
of its adherents. and through Its at
tainments. the federation has earned
the respect and confidence of the
workers who rallied to its standard
and defended 1t against its traducers
and would-be destroyers.
twenty-five years ago the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor held an an
nual convention in this city. That
convention reviewed the progress
which had been made and 1t deter
mined upon well-defined policy for
the Inauguration of shorter work.
day, to the end that an eight-hour
day should be established.
The impetus and quickening i'm
pulse given to the labor movement
and the great cause Of justice and hu-
manity by the retrospective view to
be taken by the workers who will