The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-11-14
WORK
OF FEDERATION
As Well as An Amount of
Legislation in Behalf of
Labor Unions.
TWO MILLIONS SPENT
Among the Workers as the
Result Of Strikes during
the Year.

the Year.
ROCHESTER,. y. ", Nov. H..
The ANIMAL reports Of the president, /
secretary and treasurer OF the
American Federation o. l.apor were
presented to the thirty-second an
nual convention of the organization
in session here today.
The report of President Samuel
Gompers was a thorough and volim-
nous review Of the work Of the or
ganization for the last year, partic-
ularly with regard 10 legislation en-
dorsed by the federation. Discuss
ing the growth of the federation.
Mr.. Gompers's report set forth that
during the year ending September
30, 1912. 2GO charters were issued
to labor Organizations affiliating
with the federation
"The average membership re-
ported, and upon whom. per cap,rat
tax was paid yithe affiliated organ
Iizations to the American Federation
OF Labor during the last year" said
the report, was 1,TTO,145, an in.
crease over the number reported for
1911 which was la761 ,SS5. On. Sep
tember 30, 1912, the membership of
the affiliated organizations was H.
S41,26S."
President Gompers reported prog.
ress in the organization of the in
terhatioaaa labor movement in Cana
ia and in Porto Rico. In Canada
he reported total membership Of
from 10000 to 20, 900 in the Trades
and Labor Congress, and in Porto
Rico he, declared 16O unions had
been organized with 1000 members.
improved working conditions were
reported in both Canada and Porto.
President Compress report In
cluded statements from the building
trades, metal trades, mining, rail
road employees and4@unien 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, secretary-treas-
urer of the metal trades departments,
lin which h sald.s=s
! The Los Angeles strike contin-
ued for period covering more than
, twenty-one months. At the begin
ming Of the fight organization among
the workers OF that city was in
deplorable condition. 1t is generally
conceded by those who were on the
ground that onr fight for the shorter
Work day would have been won, had
it not been for the deplorable ca
lamity in connection with. the de.
struction of the los angeles Times
building. Even with this handicap,
after, the public declaration of Ia.
boris position and attitude toward
the alleged crime. there was still
chance of winning, up to the time
the guilt Of the McNamaras was es-
,tablished by their confession. Then
rit was recognized that there was no
chance OF winning the strike. or per-
suading the employers to make CON
cessions."
f! After discussing the visit of Carl
Legien, secretary of the lnterna-
tional Secretriat. TO the United States
last spring, Mr.. Gompers's report
recommended that the American
Federation send representative to
,the meeting of the SeeretarIat ii one
is held in 1913, and that, If no meet
ing is held in that year the fedora
! ton invite the secretariat to meet at
San Francisco in 1915. during the
Panama exposition, either immedl-
ately before or Immediately follow
ing the convention OF the American
federation.
The report highly recommended
the labor forward movement organ
lied in Minnesota for spreading the
union labor doctrines.
Mr.. Gompers discussed at length
the efforts Of the American Fedora
ton to organize workers in the steel
industry. He outlined an extensive
campaign Of education among for
eigners working in tine steel mills.
Reviewing the legislative work OF
the year Mr.. ompers set forth that
fifteen members of trade unions at
flliated with the American Fedora
ton of labor had been elected to the
House OF Representatives. OF these
fifteen four are members of the
House committee on labor, of which
Representative Wilson, of Pennsyl-
yaniS, a union miner, is chairman.
To the labor members OF the House,