The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-01-13

10 the Ot1lcerS ana Members OF the
Ninth Annual Convention of the In
ternational Shingle Weavers Union
of America. Greeting:-
For the second time it is my privi-
lege to report to this convention, and
through it to the membership at large,
a synopsis of the work done by the
thirteenth annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor in ses-
sion at st. Louis, and my impressions
of the development of the labor move
ment in America during the past twelve
months. l can repeat what l said last
year in rendering my report, that it is
utterly impossible to give the compre
hensive analysis that the members
ought to have. One must attend one of
those big conventions for himself and
study the leaders of unionism at first
hand 20 come to proper understanding
of the men and their motives. Realiz-
ing this, any delegate to representa-
tive body should regard his opportunity
to meet the leaders of the movement,
the opportunity to hear great economic
problems discussed by men of thought,
as a great responsibility. Realizing
this responsibility, l have tried to en-
body in this report the most salient
and important features of the conven-
tion, excluding much that might have
been of interest, but was secondary in
Importance
First, l want to comment on the dis
torted, false reports of the great meet
ing sent out by portion of the st.
Louis press. Our labor movement is
continually msrepresented by people
who are opposed to the organization
of workingmen. Some of this misrep-
resentation is due to ignorance of our
aims and objects, some of it is due to
a deliberate attempt to mislead and
discredit the labor movement. Know
ing the power of public opinion, they,
who, knowing better, will deliberately
convey false impressions of any re-
form movement, are the greatest enem-
les, the most dangerous, we havs to
fight.
The convention had scarcely been
called to order before one of the big
daily papers appeared with story that
the Socialist delegates were plotting
the overthrow of the officers of the
federation. Victor Berger, of Mil
waukee fame, was the accredited lead
er of the revolt and his supported can
didate to succeed Gompers was named.
It was not true When Berger read
the article he went to Mr.. Gompers and
assured him of the absolute ,ity of
the story A few days later the paper
re- iterated the story and stated that
the Socialist delegates had removed
from the hotel in which the officers
had their headquarters and had all
gathered in another hotel where they
might plot and connive to their hearts
content. This was untrue. At the ad
journment of the convention the re-
port was sent out that when the old
officers were placed in nomination for
reelection, the Socialists got up and
marched out of the house in a body
Not one word of truth in that report,
either. The Socialists in the main who
attend these annual gatherings are
constructive men and not to be fooled
into unwise tactics. The labor move
ment must be guided, not browbeaten,
and they are men who are willing to
work with the leaders of the labor
movement, though they differ widely in
their political and economic views. They
know that the labor problem is one of
evolution and that we do not take ad-