United labor bulletin., 1910-02-04
A. F. OF L. LABOR DEPARTMENT.

Pursuant TO action of the Denver con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor. the union label trades department
of that body was organized at meeting
held in Washington, D. C., last winter.
and the organization began operations
on April /. The second convention met
at Toronto, Canada. November and 6.
just prior TO the annual session of the
Federation of Labor. President Lynch.
Second President Miller. Secretary
Treasurer Hays and Hugh Stevenson of
Toronto Union No. 81. attended as repre-
sentatives of the International Typo
graphical Union.
At the opening session. with President
John r. Lennon in the chair, the commit
tee on credentials reported that sixty
eight delegates were entitled to take part
10 the deliberations. In the appointment
OF committees. President Lynch was
placed at the head OF the committee on
secretary's report. Vice-President Miller
was assigned TO the committee on presi-
dents report. and Secretary-Treasurer
HAYS to the committee on label propa-
ganda. Later, at the annual election of
officers. Mr. Hays was elected second
vice-president. which carries with it
membership on the executive board of
the department.
The report of Thos r Tracy. secre-
tary of the labor department shows that
so far thirty-seven national and interna-
tional unions, with an approximate mem
bership OF 365000. are now affiliated with
the new organization. Those labor bodies
having labels. store cards or buttons. de-
noting that the articles being labeled
have been made by union men or women,
are entitled to affiliation with the depart
ment. There are some seventy of such
organizations affiliated with . the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. and many have
under consideration the matter of join
ing the new department, and the secre-
tary asserts that. from the present out
look. there will shortly be at least 10000
members of organized labor under its
Jurisdiction.
In concluding his report. Secretary
Tracy expresses the opinion that this
department will fill long-needed want in
helping to strengthen and build up our
affiliated organizations. To do this, how
ever. requires renewed vigor and energy
on the part of all our members and
friends. The organized labor movement
of our country has never been so fiercely
attacked as II has been in the past few
years. and is being attacked at the pres
ent time with injunctions court decis-
ions. hostile attitude of the National
Manufacturers Association, their shafts
of bitterness and enmity pointed at us
from all sides. and the movement now
Cleaves and Kirbys against the union
label should be of sufficient reason for
our members and friends to wake up to
the necessity of furthering their own in
terests. First. by organization. and then
by steadfast insistence for union-made
products. sold and delivered by union
men and women"
Among other things, the report of the
executive board says;
THAT there is greater interest being
products is evident to most every one
who is observing the interest taken in
most localities Men and women who
never know much about union made
goods are beginning to take interest, ana
particularly is this true among the farm
ing communities. This. to our minds. is