The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-11-11

~SSSA%SSSS"S
nual reports of the president, secre-
tary and treasurer Of the American
Federation of Labor were presented to
the thirty-second annual convention
OF the organization in session here to-
day.
The report of Pres. Samuel Gompers
was a thorough and voluninous re-
view of the work of the organization
for the past year, particularly with
regard to legislation endorsed and sup
ported by the federation. Discussing
the growth of the federation, MIR.
Gompers' report set forth that during
the year ending Sept. go 1912, 26O
charters were issued to labor organi-
cations affiliating with the federation.
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 1,77O,145, an increase over the
number reported for 1911 which was
1,761,SS5. On Sept. 80, 1912, the mem
bership of the affiliated organizations
was 1.S4126S."
President Gompers reported progress
in the organization of the information
al labor movement in Canada, and in
Porto Rico. In Canada he reported a
total membership of from $4,000 to TO-, :
600 i'll the Trades and Labor congress.
and III Porto Rico he declared 100
unions had been organized with 5000
members. Improved working condf-
tionS were reported in both Canada
and Porto Rico.
President Gompers' report included
statements from the building trades,
metal trades, mining, railroad en-
ployes, and union label trades depart
ments, showing, the progress made by
each department of the federation dur
ing the year. Insthe report was includ-
cd statement by Albert J. Berres.
secretary treasurer Of the metal trades
department, in which he said:
THE Los Angeles strike continued
for a period covering more than TWEEN
tx-one months. At the beginning Of
the fight organization among the
workers of that city was in deplor-
able condition 1t is generally con-
seeded by those who were on the GROUND
that our fight for the shorter work
day would have been won, had II not
been for the deplorable calamity in
connection with the destruction Of The
Los Angeles Times building. Even
with this handicap, after the public
declaration of labor's position and at
titude toward the alleged crime, there
was still q chance of winning, up to
the time when the guilt OF the Nc
Namaras was established by their
confession. Then it was recognized
that there was no chance of winning
the strike. or persuading the employ
ers to make concessions"
: After discussing the visit of Carl
Legien, secretary of the International
Eecretariat, to the United States last
spring, Mr.. Gompers' report recon-
nended that the American federation
send a representative to the meeting
of the secretariat If one is held in
1918. and that, If no meeting is held
in that year the federation invites the
secretariat to meet at San Francisco
in 1915, during the Panama Pacific ex-
position, either Immediately before or
Immediately following the convention
of the American federation.
The report highly recommended the
Labor Forward movement organized
in Minnesota for spreading the union
labor doctrines. H
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
fifteen members of trade unions aft
Hated with the American Federation 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 Will
son of Pennsylvania, 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 endorsed and urged by the
federation Of labor.
Among the measures mentioned in
the report were 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
white phosphorus in the manufacture
Of matches.
MIR. GornpeTs discussed fully the ex-
tension of the eight hour law as con-
tanned in the various appropriation
bills for government work during the
fiscal year, and in the special acts
passed at the last session of congress.
The subject of scientific manage
n1eI1t'' and the efforts of the American
federation to ''thWart the schemes" for
the installation of various manage
ment systems" in government work
were taken up at length by Mr.. Comp
ers. He reviewed the investigation OF
the So-called Taylor system by a
special committee of the house.
The report also reviewed the work
for the extension OF the Federal En-
ployers Liability and Workmens com
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