Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-11
President Samuel Gompers
Gives Statistics to Fed
Grafton Convention.
OPENS AT ROCHESTER
Shows That Cause Is Dealt a
Heavy Blow by Los Angeles
Times Outrage.

Rochester, y. Y, Nov. 1.-THE an
nual reports Of the president, secre-
tary and treasurer Of the American
Federation OF Labor were presented
to the 32nd annual convention of the
organization In session here today.
The report of President Samuel
Gompers was a thorough and yolumin-
Gus review OF the work OF the organ
ization for the past year, particularly
with regard 20 legislation endorsed
and supported by the federation. Dis
cussing the growth of the federation,
Mr.. Gompers' report set forth that
during the year ending Sept. 30. 1912,
260 charters were issued TO labor or
ganizations afiiliating with the fedora
ton.
The average membership reported,
and upon whom per capita tax was
paid by the affiliated organizations TO
the American Federation Of Labor dur
ing the past year" said the report
was 1,770.145, an increase over the
number reported for 1911 which was
1,761,s35. Sept 80. 1912, the member
ship OF the affiliated organizations was
1871 .26S."
President Gompers reported progress
IN the organization of the international
labor movement in Canada, and in
Porto Rico. In Canada he reported a
total membership of from 10000 to
10000 In the trades and labor con
gress. and in Porto Rico he declared
1G0 unions had been organized with
1000 members Improved working con-
ditions were reDorte6> In both Canada
and Porto Rico.
Los ANGELES STRIKE.
President GompeTs' report included
statements from the building trades,
metal trades, mining, railroad employees
and union label trades departments,
showing the progress made by each
department OF the federation during
the year. In the report was included
statement by Albert J. Berries, secre-
tary-treasurer OF the metal trades de-
partment. in which he said:
The Los Angeles strike continued
for period covering more than 21
months. At the beginning of the fight
organization among the workers of
that city was In a deplorable condition.
II is generally conceded by those who
were on the ground that our fight
for the shorter workday would have
been won had Il not been for the de
plorable calamity IN connection with
the destruction OF the Los Angeles
kv,g1
cap. after the public declaration of
labor's position and attitude toward
the alleged crime, there was still a
chance Of winning. up to the time
when the guilt OF the McNamaras was
established by their confession. Then
Il was recognized that there was no
chance OF winning the strike or per-
suading the employers TO make con-
cessions."
After discussing the visit OF Carl
Legien. secretary OF the International
Secretariat, to the United States last
spring. Mr. Gompers' report recon-
mended that the American Federation
send a representative 10 the meeting
OF the Secretariat IL one is held in
1913. and that, II no meeting is held
in that year. the federation invite the
secretariat TO meet at San Francisco
in 1915. during the Panama-Pacifio eX-
position, either Immediately before or
Immediately following the convention
OF the American Federation.
REVIEWS LEGISLATIVE WORK.
The report highly recommended the
Labor Forward movement organized in
Minnesota for spreading the union la
Dor doctrines
Mr.. Gompers discussed at length the
efforts Of the American Federation to
organize workers in the steel industry.
He outlined an extensive campaign Of
education among foreigners working in
the steel mills.
Reviewing the legislative work OF the
year Mr. Gompers set forth that Is
members Of trade unions affiliated with
been elected 10 the house OF represen-
tatives. OF these Is. four are members
OF the house committee on labor, Of
which Representative Wilson Of Penn
sylvan!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 en-
dorsed and urged b. the federation Of
labor.
Among the measures mentioned in
the report we're the eight-hour law,
The children's bureau law. the law
creating an Industrial relations com.
mission, law giving postal clerks right
OF hearing petition, and association,
and the law prohibiting the use Of