Evening star., 1916-01-08
Secretary Wilson Delivers the
Principal Address at
A. F. [. Ceremonies.
SAMUEL G0MPERS WIELDS
TR0WEL, PLACING STONE
Prominent Government Officials
and Leaders in Labor World
in Attendance.

In the presence of government officials,
officers and members of international,
national and local trade organizations,
dred interested spectators, the corner
stone of the American Federation of
Labor building, being erected at the
northwest corner of 9Th street and
Massachusetts avenue northwest. was
laid with appropriate ceremonies at
noon today.
The principal address was delivered
by Secretary Wilson of the Department
of Labor: Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation of Labor,
who welded the trowel at the setting
of the stone, also spoke. Secretary Will
son said that the erection of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor building
marks great epoch in the history of
unionized wage earners in America.
He paid compliment to the federation
and recited some of it's, accomplish
ments, saying that what has been ac-
complished by unionized labor has not
been. entirely for the union working
man or woman, but that the non-union
workers of the country had been bene-
flied.
Corner Stone Was a Gift.
The corner stone was presented to the
American Federation of Labor by
Henry J. Gompers, son of President
Gompers.
An inscription Of the stone was chis-
eled into it's face by Mr.. Gompers, who
is stonecutter. 1t reads: American
Federation of Labor-Founded 1851
this edifice erected for service in the
cause of labor. justice. freedom, hu-
manity-1915-16."
A copy of the constitution of the
| 0f Ia hn nh
graphs of President Wilson, Secretary
Wilson and Mr.. Gompers, written senti-
ments by these men, together with
photographs of the executive COM
the present committee, coins, newspa =
pers and other articles were deposited
in a copper box which was placed in a
chiseled-out recess in the stone.
Present at the Ceremonies.
Among those present at the cere-
monies. in addition to Secretary Wilson
and President Gompers, were Senator
Hughes of Georgia, Representative
Casey of Pennsylvania, Assistant Sec
retary Louis F. Post of the Department
of Labor, John B. Depsmore, solicitor
of the Department of Labor: Anthony
ICaminetti. commissioner general OF
immigratidn: Alfred Hampton. assistan Mt
commissioner general of immigration
Robert Watson, chief clerk, Depart
ment of Labor; George c. Box, disburs-
ing clerk, Department of Labor; Brice
Edwards, chief of section twenty four
bureau of immigration; T. J. Powderly
chief of the division of information OF
| the Department of Labor, formerly
president of the Knights of Labor
James F. OConnell, vice president OF
the American Federation of Labor;
John Lennon, treasurer of the fedora
ton; William Spencer, secretary-treas-
urer building trades department OF
| the federation; Albert Berries. secre-
| tary of the metal trades department
| Matt Comerford. president of Interna-
tional Steam Filters and Operating
Engineers Union; William H. John
ston, president International Machin-
lists Union; George Preston, secretary
of the union, and Fred Hewitt, editor
of the unions journal: John A.
Moffitt, United States Commission
er of Conciliation: John H
Lorch. president of the local Ma.
president local flate Printers Union;
H. F. Oehler, president Book binders
Union; John B. Colpoys, secretary OF
Central Labor Union, and Luke F. Lud.
| low, treasurer Central Labor Union.
About 100 union musicians, under the
direction of Prof. Antonio Cello, es.
corted the officers of the American
Federation of Labor from the head
quarters at Sth and G streets to tho
site of the new building.