Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-11-09
A. F. of L. Says TOilerS
Are Hit Hardest by
Strife
GREATH GROWTH
OF FEDERATION
In rhe Iinited Preas.

allied organizations here today. Con-
WINGED that the greatest burdens Of
the European war are falling on the
shoulders Of the toilers, the council
declared:
"The working people, the masses Of
the worlds population, can end all
wars IL they but have the indepen-
dence to think, and to give their
convictions reality by daring to do
Wars will cease only when society
is convinced that human life is really
sacred and when society establishes
agencies, international as well as
national. for protecting lives"
The officers declared the conven-
ton must adopt some constructive
plan 20 stop warfare.
The great growth Of the Fedora
ton was emphasized in the annual
statement of Secretary Frank Morri-
son. Since the meeting a year ago,
he reported. 62,SS2 laborers have
joined. making the total membership
over two million. In twenty-five
states and Porto Rico 225 charters
we're issued TO new branches. There
was a balance of $102.492.81 in the
treasury at the close Of the year.
Secretary Morrison declared that
as a result OF the 957 strikes, condi-
| tions for 74,350 workers were materi-
/ ally improved The total cost Of the
strikes, counting the 100000 raised
| by unions for the assistance Of
strikers, amounted to $4,3S9.510.
The annual report was replete with
recommendations regarding, and
severe COMBINATIONS of "feudal con-
ditions" IN Colorado, West Virginia
and Michigan. It's suggestions even
extended to the recommendation to
Congress that the United States pur-
chase Thomas Jefferson's homestead,
Monticello" and George Washing
| toms home at Mount Vernon,
Discussing conditions In Colorado,
! the report said:
"All the organized agencies of the
state were subservient to the cor
porations. The laws OF the state re-
| garding miners we're broken with
| cynical disregard. Civil authority in
Colorado broke down under the con-
test that ensued. The state militia
was put at the service of the coal
| companies. Brutality. coercion and
bloodshed followed.
president Wilson, In his letter
stated that the duration of the Color
ado strike, its many stages and pos
sibilities, had made It of national i'm.
pOrtance. Yet, as there was no in.
dicatiOn of purpose to reach an ad.
justment Of differences IL Is now ne.
cessary to determine whether or not
the President was justified in using
the army Of the United States indefi-
al. 90 Il
the issue which ultimately reverts 70
the nation. II involves the larger
issue of whether despotism shall be
permitted TO exist under the guise OF
industry. We hope for the ultimate
success of the miners of Colorado"
Pointing out the great loss of life
destruction of property and suffering
brought on by the European war, the
report declares:
"For centuries, the nations will
suffer from this cruel, mad, stupid
waste-for the fathers Of the mex
. generation will be unfit physically
and mentally.
For years peace societies hav'
\ presented arguments for peace The.
have adopted peace resolutions ant
j. have declared for various interna
y tional sentiments, but they hav
u made little effort to give these vision
reality in the organization Of societ
q and the relations among nations. Blu
10 this war has shown that war canno
n put an end to itself.
he "In addition to establishing a sen
timent and conviction for peace, Their
- must be agencies established for tn
maintenance of peaceful relation
among nations and for dealing wit
international issues. Militarism an
competitive armament must be abo
ished and tribunals for awarding jus
tice and agencies for enforcing dc
y Examinations must be instituted. In
\ ternational interests and issues exis
Political institutions should be estal
lished corresponding to political d.
! velopments.
This convention should. aye, mui
adopt some constructive suggestio
and take some tangible action upc
this world problem which so intin
ately affects the workers Of all coul
tries"
The annual report also contains
number Of special reports of inve
tigators. W. ID. Mahon and L.
Bland, OF Detroit, who we're Sc
abroad to study labor condition
- among employees of the municipal
= owned railways and railroads repo
- ted on conditions in German
France, Switzerland and Italy. The
mission was interrupted by the wa
They said their investigations show
that whatever benefits foreign wor
ers enjoyed resulted from activiti
OF the trade unions.
One thousand delegates. represe
ting the organized workingmen
America are attending the conve
ton. All looked forward TO one
the greatest sessions in the histo
of the Federation. which was o
- ganized in this city In 1880.
In addition to the authorized del
= gates. hundreds of union men fro
q all parts of the country, we're prese
To watch the inner workings of a n
tional convention. The committee
charge Of the general arrangement
planned to care for 5000 visitors du
ing the twelve days OF meetings.
The most talked about single eve
on the twelve days program is Z
historical pageant and parade. aloi
with a court of honor that Is TO
celebrated Friday night. Hundre
of floats, depicting the various crai
affiliated with the mother organic
Is ton. and 5000 union musicians. "
feature the spectacle. over 1870
trade union men have signified tbs
intention OF being In line. Two ba
quets. three theatre parties. two pr
tessional boxing matches. sight 50
ing tours. etc. are the main ever
in the entertainment program.