The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-14

iIcl liz OuI Interests VIII Nc
imperilled and the desired relief re-
tarded, no matter which party has the
majority"
Mr.. iiompers refers very briefly to
the contempt of court proceedings
against Vice President John Mitchell,
Secretary Morrison and himself, which
are still pending before the courts in
the District of Columbia.
The Mcnamara case, however, is
taken up at some length and fully re-
viewed. President Gompers expresses
his faith in the innocence of the men
now on trial at Los Angeles for al
legged dynamiting outrages and de-
moval from Indiana to California.
The Wilson bill, o pending IN
congress, a so-called anti-injunction
measure. which has the support of Ia
Dor. is warmly endorsed ard President
Gompers calls upon all organized la
Dor to work for its early passage. MIR.
Gompers expresses the belief that by
united action the Wilson bill may be
passed at the next session, and he eX-
presses the opinion that even should it
be vetoed by President Taft a great
victory would be partly won. He de-
clared labor could expect little volun-
tary help from the president on the
anti injunction legislation.
TO the subject of immigration. much
of the report is addressed. Several
plans arc proposed for bringing the
migratory laborer into the ranks Of
organized labor. Further restriction
of immigration is deemed necessary
and schemes of distribution of immi-
grants are discussed.
|. Turn which way we NAY, the fact
Invariably confrOnts us, in our en-
deavor to ameliorate the lot Of the la
borers now in America, that there
must be a restriction of immigration.
| II act Friction nc l, 49,
United States immigration commits
sion. is. IL not the first step toward or
ganizing migratory laborers, at least
an essential step. There are sufficient
workers on the Pacific coast at the
present time, were their shifting about
intelligently systematizcd. to perform
all the pressing work there through
out all the seasons of the year. The
main trouble has been that the en-
ployers have not paid any adequate at
tention to the laborer as a social entity
except at the moment when one is to
be hired. Society has not concerned
itself seriously about the casual work.
The early completion Of the Pam
anna canal. however. will without
doubt bring about a total change in
the labor situation of the Pacific coast.
both internally and with relation to
other countries. 1t has already been
NAi NlluI III ~ lIlII ILU-
rope may be landed via the Panama
canal at Pacific coast seaports for -
less sum than is required to pay the
passage to inland points in states Of
the middle west. 1t is to be rcmem-
bcred that the enormous fleets of for
cign vessels which are in tho immi-
grafton trade arc seeking business the
world over. In a single year, aided by
the climate, the present transatlantic
fleet could carry 500, 200 wage-workers
from the southeast Of Europe to the
Pacific coast ports, while also trans
porting the average yearly number to
the Atlantic coast ports. This is a
more than probable forthcoming con-
dition to be faced by our fellow trade
%unionists of Washington, Oregon, and
California
In the f%ederation's fight for en-
ployers' liability n Workingmen's
compensation laws. progressive legisla-
massachusetts. New Jersey, New
Hampshire, New York. Ohio. Califor-
mia, Florida. Illinois, Kansas, Vermont.
Washington and and Wisconsin. The
work OF h commission. which has
been hearing suggestions for federal
laws. is highly commended and it is
Expected that some report will he
made to the coming congress-.
Tho work of the United States bit
reau of mines is establishing mine
rescue stations through the coal re-
gions and the campaign of education
which the bureau has been carrying
on among miners, is warmly COM
mended.
In an appeal for better laws to pro-
tect life and health in factory build
ings. President Gompers refers to the
fire in the Triangle Shirt Waist COM
pany's building in New York last
April ins which 143 girls lost their
lives.
In scoring the so-callcd efficiency
and scientific management systems.
President Gompers declared as false
statements that the systems have in
creased wages. File charged that the
systems work undue hardship on the
laborer and result in nc material gain.
The fight for the eight-hour day,
President Gompers said, is steadily go
ing on. and he declared that labor
men could find satisfaction in the fact
that the last congress applied the
cight-hour law to h construction Of
ba%ttleships. and that those provisions
of the law had been put into effect by
the ~ecuti officers of the govern
ment.
Among the other subjects treated in
the report are child labor. locomotive
boiler inspection, the Danbury Hat
tiers cause.-The senate third degree i'm
vcstigation. seamen's rights, railroad
track inspection. insurance laws. the
strike of the women's garment work.
ers. the Baldwin locomotive works
strike and the work of the fedcration's
organizers. Each is treated briefly,
reporting progress. but without any
recommendations other han those
hitherto expressed.
The membership of the organiza-
ton was never SO great. According to
Secretary MOrrison's report, its inan-
cial condition is excellent. The treas
ury shows Il balance of nearly $780,
900 on hand. Nearly $1,000. 900 was
~disbursed in support of strikes by the
various unions which are affiliated
with the federation. During oil the
federation issued 326 charters to UNI
ions. bringing the total of its organ
~ization membership to 1.464. In i'm
dividual membership the federation
gained nearly zoo, 900 during the year.
Tho American Federation of Labor
through its aliated organizations has
today the largest membership in. its
history" said President Gompers in
conclusion. Its standing is sound .
and prospects are bright. In its long
drawn-out legal contests there is moro
reason than ever to assume tina la
important strikes during the year, we
have had gains, and there has been a
tendency to continue the shortening of
the work day. to do away with child
labor. and to animate the unorganized
masses with a desire to take part in
the great labor movement.
Our movement has no schism with
III. All opposition to its policies. it's
procedures. its form of organization,
and its tactics. come from without,
All who would divert it from its cstab-
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