Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-11-11
WDELEGATESAT
LADORCONVENT|ON
Fight for Recognition May Be
Made by Several Union
Bodies.

ROCHESTER,, n. y, NOV. IL
When Samuel Gompers. president of
the American Federation of Labor,
called the thirty-second annual con-
vention of that organization to order
here today. he faced the smallest
number of delegates assembled IN
many years Up ii this morning the
credentials committee had acted upon
the credentials of 1856 delegates ana
only a small number was added 10
This total before the opening of the
convention. Additional delegates We're
expected today. however
No word has been heard TO indi-
rate that the elements opposed to the
administration of President Gompers
will make an organized effort u oo's'
him.
The steamfitters probably VIII MAKE
q fight for recognition. They were
ordered by the Atlanta convention 10
nmalgamate with the PLUMBERS
which they have failed to do. The
.,,..mfitters have filed credentials, bt
II was said that the committee un-
aonbtedly would report against CIV
ing them recognition On the oof.
Tbe same situation exists IN regard
~ rho Amalgamated Carpenters anu
The United Brotherhood OF carpenters
and Joiners. The former organlzdlioil
was ordered to amalgamate Win eiie
Tfnited Brotherhood, but they nave
not done SO. Up to the opening Oh
The convention no delegate represent
ing the Amalgamated Carpenters hau
arrived. ..rso,a
Duncan Mcdonald, OF Sprlhsiieio'
III presented the report OF the COM
mittee on credentials. There were
two contests, action on which was
deferred.
The report was adopted. The CON
yention then adjourned until p IN.
rhe anonual reports of the presl7
dent. secretary and treasurer oil the
American Federation of Labor We're
presented to the thirty second annuai
convention of the organization IN ses-
sion here today.
The report of President Samuel
Campers was a thorough and vol
luminous review of the work of the
orpa nization for the past year, par
ticularly with regard to leglslatloh
indorsed and supported by the red
GRAFTON. Discussing the growth OF the
federation, Mr.. Gompers's report set
forth that during the year endlhs
September 80, 1912. $50 charters were
Issued to labor organizations afhllat-
ing with the federation
President Gompers reported prog
ress in the organization of the inter
national labor movement IN CANADA
and in Porto Rico. In Canada he
reported a total membership of from
SC. 900 to 10000 in the Trades and
Labor Congress. and IN Porto Rico
he declared 100 unions had been or
eanized with 5000 members. I'M
proved working conditions were re-
ported in both Canada and Porto |
Rico.
President Gompers's report included |
statements from the Building Trades, !
Metal Trades. Mining, Railroad en-
pfoyees and Union Label trade sde-
partments, showing the progress
made by each department of the Fed
Grafton during the year.
After discussing the visit of Carl
Legien, secretary of the International |
Secretariat, to the United States last |
spring. Mr.. Gomperss report recon-
mended that the American Fedora
ton send a representative to the |
meeting of the Secretariat if one is
held in 1918, and that, If no meeting
is held in taat year, the Federation
invite the Secretaliat to meet at san |
Francisco in 1915, during the Pana-
n,a-Paeific Exposition, either imme-
diately before or Immediately fol-
lowing the convention of the Alneri-
can Federation.
Mr.. Gompers discussed at length |
the efforts of the American Federa>
tion to organize workers in the steel
INDUSTRY. He outlined an extensive |
campaign of education among Tor
eigners working in the steel mills.
Reviewing the legislative work OF |
the year. Mr.. Gompers set forth that
fifteen members of trade unions af-
fliated with the American Federation |
of Labor had been elected to the I
House of Representatives. OF these
fifteen four are members of the House |
committee on labor, of which Repre- |
sentative Wilson. of Pennsylvania, a |
union miner, is chairman. To the /
labor members of the House Mr. |
Gompers gave much of the credit for
the passage of a score Of bills in |
dorsed and urged by the Federation
of Labor
The report Of Secretary Frank Nor
rison. of the federation, showed total
receipts of $207, 1873 for the year and
expenditures of S277.479. The fedora