The Washington herald., 1914-11-18
LABOR LEADERS
At big Dinner
Differences Are Forgotten in
Banquet Hall, Where They
Make Merry.
PEACE POLICY PLEASING
Mrs. Conboy Coaxes $1,000 from
Delegates for Southern Workers by
Describing Pihable Condition.

Philadelphia, Nov II-Committee re-
ports and Jurisdiction wrangles were for
gotten tonight when the delegates to
the American Federation of Labor con-
vention, held their annual banquet at
the Hotel Walton. Six hundred repre-
sentatiyss Of organized craft in America
sat at the tables and cheered remarks
by their leaders anent the achievements
of labor and the future OF the toller
President Gompers was toastmaster and
Mayor Blankenburg and members Of his
cabinet were the invited honor guests.
Remarks were informal and mostly rem
iniscent.
Members Give MOnoIOEues.
In the intervals between the speeches.
President Gompers called on members for
solos and mono!ogues. The banquet Of
ficially lasted from O'Clock until mid
night, but around numerous small tables
in cafes. private parties of old friends
carried the festival into the morning.
The convention only held a morning
session today. The perfunctory committee
reports had been showed well out of the
way yesterday and today there was a
lull while the committeeman still were
holding hearings on the two-sided ques-
tons. The disputes between the car
penters and sheet metal. workers, be
tween the painters and the railways de-
par anu the VI
tion by industries, all are likely to come
up tomorrow.
At this mornings session a little wo-
man appeared on the platform, who by
an almost dry recital OF facts in con-
nection with recent strikes in Georgia,
threw the convention into a storm of
resentment. and coaxed more than 1900
from delegates. She was Mrs. Sara A.
ConbOy. who directed the strike in the
mills Of Atlanta Mariaffa nd vicinity
She told Of seeing men and women dy-
ing Of pellagra because Of malnutrition.
of children born blind and paralyzed.
because Of prenatal conditions: Of chill
dren OF six and seven years old working
in the mills for % cents a week: of wom-
en- fainting over their looms. because
they had gone to work within few
hours after the birth Of their babies.
Worse Than Negro Slavery.
mo conditions that ever attended ne
gro slavery" said Mrs COnboy. were
ever so horrible as those that are kill
ing on these helpless slaves of the cot
ton trades.
81 want this convention to vote 800
for the immediate relief OF those strik-
ers' shouted out Max Hayes, the So
CiaIist leader. THE men who have
broken with misery the bodies of these
women and children ought TO he in the
blazing circle OF nerdltlOn
President GOmpers said such n motion
could not be entertained. but that as III
dividuals. the delegates could give. TN
give what l can" said GOmpers. reach
ing down in his pocket Then Hayes did
the same. Hats began to be passed. and
in less than five minutes. Mrs Conhoy
was standing behind a foOt-hiCh pile Of
money on the seCretary's table.
The organization committee brought
hack the resolution recommending a war
Of determination with tn railway broth
erhods and the Unaff:lated national
unions. recommending nonConCuTrencr.
and the policy OF peace in the labor
world was settled upon by an over
whelming majority. The carpenters
resolution for "a canvass for n siX-hOur
day was adopted.