The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-11-15
In Address to Convention He
FayOrS Law
TO RESTRAIN ABUSE POWER
Criticises Justice GOf--Sees Novel and
Undoubtedly Fallacious" Prin-
ciple in the Recent
Order.

st. Louis, Nov. l5.--the 30th annual
convention of the American Federation
of Labor began here yesterday and will
continue for two weeks. The morning
session was devoted to welcoming tho
delegates and honorary guests, some Of
them from England.
The afternoon session was devoted 70
reports of the president, Samuel Com
pers; the secretary, Frank Morrison, and
the treasurer, John b. Lennon. Sessions
will be held at least twice daily during
the two weeks An elaborate entertain
ment program has been provided for the
delegates
President Gompers, in his address to
the delegates, said that the impetus and
the quickening impulse given to the la
Dor movement and the cause of Justice
and humanity for which it stood could
only be understood and appreciated by
comparison of the conditions of the
working men before the foundation OF
the federation and since then 1t wa
obvious to ALL be said, that progress
had been smade in the physical well
being, and mental moral political an
social advancement Of the toilers.
Organize, Agitate, Educated" is N
keynote of his report.
As to the union in politics he says;
AS a matter OF history, America
labor organizations national as well
local, have come to disastrous endin
through converting themselves froi
trade unions, with clear principles al
accepted methods and tried leadershi,
into political parties with vote-catchin
platforms, campaign methods and heree
Of the passing hour for standard beal
ers The lesson that has been heede
by the rank and file Of the trade union
and has been learned by the veterans
the American Federation OF Labor is
trust all the time to definite and time
tried union economic methods, and
the ballot only ia so far as results ar
to be foreseen to a positive eertaint3
The political measures to be achieve
must, beyond doubt. form the caus
for the workers proceeding TO vote t,
gether. but by the side of these measur
the fortunes Of parties and POLITICAL
fall TO a subordinate, even neghgibi
place"
Recalling the growth in strength
the organization he pointed out that a
the first convention in Pittsburg only
six international unions had been repre-
scented, with a number of scattering To-
calls; IN st. Louis, 20 years ago, there had
been II international unions with few
central bodies and locals there were nov
affiliated with the federation 100 inter-
national unions. 80 state federations, 632
city central bodies, 49, local trade unions
and ZIG federal labor unions, total of
,43s bodies The international unions
had approximately $4,000 local unions
under their jurisdiction. He urged that
greater and more persistent work of
organization be planned and carried into
effect, and that a slight increase per cap
tia from affiliated organizations be voted
Denying the charges that the move
ment of trades unionism was narrow
Mr.. Gompers said the union was not
machine fitted to the work OF directly
affecting all the civic, social and POI
litical changes necessary in society, but
ii taught the power OF combination to
the working classes. it disciplined them,
led them to perform tasks that we're
possible and permitted the members to
attempt any form OF social experiment
which would not imperil the organiza-
ton.
Trades unionism, he argued, was the
soundest base yet laid for every project
that gave promise to the working class
of firm and solid advance.
Referring TO the decision of Justice
Golf of the New York city supreme
court in the matter of the ladies' gar
ment workers strike and injunction, Mr..
Gompers said-
"An incident toward the close of the
strike was the issue Of an injunction by
Judge Golf which nut before
the American people the novel and I'M
doubtedly fallaeious principle that to
strike for the so-called closed shop is
illegal. The effect Of the injunction was
greater determination on the part Of
the strikers to win. The Judges action
was not taken seriously, either by the
press or the public but it emphasized the